Rigidized inflatable structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956745-B2
Application number	US-201514688210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A composite structural element is described, including: a first laminate layer comprising a plurality of first material layers; a second laminate layer comprising a plurality of second material layers; and an inflatable bladder configured for connection with a fluid inflation or deflation source and disposed in-between the first and second laminate layers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composite structural element, comprising:
a first laminate layer comprising a plurality of first material layers;
a second laminate layer comprising a plurality of second material layers, wherein at least one of the first and second laminate layers is housed in a flexible sleeve; and
an inflatable bladder configured for connection with a material infusion or vacuum source and disposed between the first and second laminate layers;
wherein the composite structural element is configured to rigidize when the bladder is inflated.

2. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein each of the first material layers is made from a material the same as any other first material layers or different from at least one other first material layer.

3. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein each of the second material layers is made from a material the same as any other second material layers or different from at least one other second material layer.

4. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the bladder has a membrane and the first and/or second material layers adjacent to the bladder are bounded to the bladder's membrane.

5. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein one of the first material layers and one of the second material layers are sealed together to form the membrane of the bladder.

6. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and second laminate layers are configured to become more rigid when the bladder is pressurized.

7. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second laminate layers are configured to curve when the bladder is pressured.

8. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second laminate layers is configured to increase when the bladder is pressurized.

9. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second laminate layers is configured to increase and the first and/or second laminate layers are configured to curve when the bladder is pressured.

10. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and second laminate layers each independently comprise 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more first or second material layers, respectively.

11. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the space between the first material layers or the second material layers is configured for connection with a vacuum source.

12. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the facing surfaces of the two adjacent first material layers or the two adjacent second material layers are textured to create high friction between the first material layers or between the second material layers, respectively, when the bladder is inflated.

13. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first or second material layers are rubberized to create high friction between the material layers when the bladder is infused.

14. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent first or second material layers have patterned surfaces to create a mechanically interlocked bond between laminates when the bladder is infused.

15. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the two facing surfaces of the adjacent first material layers or the adjacent second material layers each comprises a set of opposing ratcheting teeth configured to interlock to impart directional bending effects after the bladder is infused.

16. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent first or second material layers are bounded together.

17. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent first material layers or the second material layers freely slide pass one another.

18. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the composite structural element is configured to de-rigidize when the bladder is deflated.

19. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first or second laminate layer comprises integrated electronic circuitry.

20. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second laminate layers are sealed in the sleeve and the sleeve is configured for connection with a vacuum resin infusion system.

21. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein both the first and second laminate layers and the bladder are housed in a sleeve.

22. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the composite structural element is capable of being rolled or folded.

23. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second material layer further comprises one or more openings configured to allow viewing access into the bladder.

24. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the composite structural element has a tapered geometry.

25. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first or second laminate layers are made from puncture-resistant and/or bulletproof materials.

26. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second laminate layers is housed in a sleeve containing shear thickening fluids.

27. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the structural element has a rigid body when the bladder is infused.

28. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the composite structural element permanently rigidizes when the bladder is inflated.

29. The composite structural element of claim 28 , wherein at least one material layer comprises polymerizable monomers susceptible to UV polymerization.

30. The composite structural element of claim 28 , wherein the bladder is configured for connection with a resin infusion source or a foam inflation source.

31. The composite structural element of claim 28 , wherein the material layer comprises pre-preg composite materials configured to be cured through chemical, radiant, or electrical means.

32. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second laminate layers are sealed in the sleeve and the sleeve is configured for connection with a vacuum source.

33. The composite structural element of claim 32 , wherein the bladder is configured to be infused before the sealed sleeve is subjected to the vacuum.

34. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the bladder houses one or more system components.

35. The composite structural element of claim 34 , wherein the system component is a soft actuator.

36. The composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second material layer further comprises one or more openings passing through the bladder and the first and/or second material layer.

37. The composite structural element of claim 36 , wherein the opening is configured to house one or more additional system components or materials.

38. A device comprising a composite structural element of claim 1 , wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a splint, a wing structure, a load bearing scaffold, a shelter, a bullet proof structure, a communication tower, bridge and a truss.

39. The device of claim 38 , wherein the splint is a splint

Assignees

• Harvard College
• Soft Robotics Inc

Inventors

• Galloway Kevin C
• Knopf Ryan
• Lessing Joshua Aaron

Classifications

• B32B27/40

  comprising polyurethanes · CPC title

• B32B2571/02

  defensive, e.g. armour plates or anti-ballistic clothing · CPC title

• B32B15/08 Primary

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B2535/00

  Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter · CPC title

• A61F13/04

  Plaster of Paris bandages; Other stiffening bandages (A61F13/06 - A61F13/15 take precedence; orthopaedic casts made from stiffening bandages A61F5/01) · CPC title