Patent ID: 8850892

Claim:
An actuator apparatus comprising a smart material device, an enclosed compensator, a movable supporting member, two mechanical webs, and at least one actuating arm wherein (a) said compensator has a first mounting surface, (b) said mechanical webs comprise a first compliant member attached to a compensator mounting surface further comprising means of attaching to said compensator, and a second compliant member attached to said movable supporting member (c) said movable supporting member comprises a second mounting surface opposed and substantially parallel to said first mounting surface, (d) said actuating arm comprises a first actuating arm end attached to one said mechanical web and an opposed second actuating arm end; and (e) said smart material device is affixed within said compensator, between said first mounting surface and said second mounting surface and is substantially surrounded by said compensator; whereby application of an electrical potential causes said smart material device to expand substantially without angular movement of said smart material device, thereby urging said movable supporting member away from said first mounting surface and causing said compliant members to flex, thereby moving said actuating arm such that motion of said second actuating arm end is across a distance greater than the expansion of said smart material device.