Patent ID: 11891986
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 18:
19. An artificial muscle device comprising:
a layered actuation structure comprising actuation platforms interleaved with mounting platforms to form actuation cavities therebetween;
an intermuscular board;
an artificial muscle disposed at a side of the intermuscular board, wherein the artificial muscle comprises:
a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region;
a dielectric fluid housed within the housing; and
an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region, thereby applying pressure to the intermuscular board,

wherein:
the artificial muscle and the intermuscular board are disposed in each of the actuation cavities; and
the intermuscular board is configured to:
receive uneven pressure from one of the artificial muscle; and
spread the uneven pressure and apply it in a direction away from the one of the artificial muscle.