Patent ID: 8879775

Claim:
An actuator apparatus comprising a smart material device, a compensator, a movable supporting member, at least three mechanical webs, and at least three actuating arms wherein (a) said compensator has a first mounting surface, (b) said mechanical webs comprise a first compliant member attached 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 arms comprise a first actuating arm end attached to one said mechanical web and an opposed second actuating arm end; (e) said mechanical webs are spaced around said movable supporting member; and (f) said smart material device is affixed between said first mounting surface and said second mounting surface; wherein 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 first and second compliant members to flex, thereby moving said actuating arms such that motion of said second actuating arm end is across a distance greater than the expansion of said smart material device.