Methods and apparatus for selective rod actuation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664265-B2
Application number	US-201414484567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2014
Priority date	Sep 12, 2013
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

In exemplary implementations, a target rod is actuated. The target rod is part of a set of threaded, elongated rods, the longitudinal axes of which are substantially parallel to each other. The set of rods has an interior region and a perimeter region. Actuators induce vibrations in a set of perimeter rods. These vibrations are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes. Furthermore, the vibrations are transmitted to interior rods, causing a target rod in the interior region to rotate about, and translate along, the longitudinal axis of the target rod. The target rod undergoes stick-slip motion relative to adjacent rods.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of actuating a target rod, wherein:
(a) the target rod is part of a set of threaded, elongated rods, the longitudinal axes of which are substantially parallel to each other;
(b) the set of rods has an interior region and a perimeter region;
(c) the set of rods includes interior rods that are in the interior region and perimeter rods that are in the perimeter region; and
(d) one or more actuators that are connected to a set of perimeter rods induce vibrations in the set of perimeter rods, which vibrations include components that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes, and which vibrations are transmitted to interior rods, causing a target rod in the interior region to rotate about, and translate along, the longitudinal axis of the target rod.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target rod undergoes stick-slip motion relative to rods adjacent to the target rod.

Assignees

• Peters Benjamin
• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Peters Benjamin

Classifications

• B28B7/02

  Moulds with adjustable parts {specially for modifying at will the dimensions or form of the moulded article} · CPC title

• F16H25/02 Primary

  the movements of two or more independently moving members being combined into a single movement · CPC title

• H02K7/14

  Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans (with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06) · CPC title

• B29C33/308

  Adjustable moulds (for injection moulding B29C45/376) · CPC title

• F16H25/18

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title