Dongseok Suh

US Patent:

20200191127, Jun 18, 2020

Filed:

Oct 9, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/596921

Inventors:

- Austin TX, US
Carter S. Haines - Murphy TX, US
Marcio D. Lima - Richardson TX, US
Monica Jung DeAndrade - Richardson TX, US
Shaoli Fang - Richardson TX, US
Jiyoung Oh - Richardson TX, US
Mikhail E. Kozlov - Dallas TX, US
Dongseok Suh - Plano TX, US
Ray H. Baughman - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

F03G 7/06
H02N 10/00
D04C 1/02
D01H 1/10
D01F 6/00
D02G 3/44
D02G 3/26
D02G 3/02
D01D 5/00
H02N 11/00

Abstract:

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate torsional actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize coiled yarns/polymer fibers and can be either neat or comprising a guest. In some embodiments, the actuator system includes a twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator, and at least one of (i) wire connections that enable electrical heating of the twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator, (ii) a radiation source and radiation pathway that enables photothermal heating of the twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator, and (iii) a delivery system for delivering chemicals whose reaction produces heating of the twisted and coiled polymer fiber actuator.