Abstract: Modular inflation systems and inflation segments including an inflation enclosure and a plurality of artificial muscle layers provided within the inflation enclosure in a stacked arrangement, each of the plurality of artificial muscle layers including one or more artificial muscles, wherein one or more plurality of artificial muscles of each of the plurality of artificial muscle layers are operable between an actuated state and a non-actuated state, and one or more fastening members for attaching the inflation segment to another inflation segment.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that includes a flexible envelope having a fluid chamber, a dielectric fluid housed within the fluid chamber, and an electrode stack that includes a plurality of electrodes and one or more abrasive strips. The electrode stack is housed within the fluid chamber and is configured to receive voltage. In addition, the one or more abrasive strips are each positioned between adjacent electrodes, such that when voltage is applied to the electrode stack thereby electrostatically drawing adjacent electrodes together, the one or more abrasive strips generate frictional engagement between adjacent electrodes to actuate the variable stiffening device from a relaxed state to a rigid state.

Abstract: A thermomagnetic apparatus for electric power production, comprising: a hollow toric vessel (30) delimited by a wall (31) having an outer toric surface (31a) having a toroidal direction, wherein the toric wall (31) encloses a volume containing a ferrofluid which comprises magnetic nanoparticles dispersed or suspended in a fluid carrier; a plurality of hydraulic conduits (36-39) in thermal contact with the outer toric surface (31a); a magnetic field source (62) coupled to the outer toric surface (62) and an extraction coil (65) which comprises a plurality of turns (65?) of electrical conductor wire arranged on the outer toric surface (31a).

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that include a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an electrode extension that extends into a cavity defined between an electrode of the first electrode structure and an opposing electrode of the second electrode structure. The first and second electrode structures may be arranged in a load-bearing state by applying a voltage thereto to electrostatically attract the electrode to the opposing electrode to press the electrode extension within the cavity. Friction between the electrode extension and engaging surfaces defining the cavity prevent the electrode extension from slipping within the cavity, thereby maintaining a structural relationship among the components of the first and second electrode structures in response to an application of a load to the variable stiffening device.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a housing having a generally cylindrical inner surface defining a generally cylindrical cavity within the housing, a stator operatively disposed within the generally cylindrical cavity, the stator including a plurality of stacked laminations wherein each lamination has an outer circumferential edge and a plurality of finger elements extending inward, and a layer of polymer disposed between a generally cylindrical outer surface of the stator and the generally cylindrical inner surface of the housing, such that the stator is fastened to the housing by the polymer. A method of manufacturing the electric motor assembly includes disposing a stator within a housing such that a gap is defined between the stator and the housing and the stator is not directly connected to the housing, and substantially filling the gap with a polymer capable of fastening the stator to the housing by only the polymer.

Abstract: A stator for an electrical machine, with at least one laminated stator core, and with at least one end cap following the laminated stator core in the axial direction of the stator, at least one line element, which is formed separately from the end cap and separately from the laminated stator core and has at least one first cooling channel, through which a cooling medium for cooling the stator may flow, being provided, having a first length region, extending in the laminated stator core, and a second length region, which extends in the end cap, which has at least one second cooling channel, through which the cooling medium may flow and which is fluidically connected to the first cooling channel.

Abstract: A stator includes a yoke extending in a circumferential direction about an axis line, a tooth extending from the yoke in a first direction toward the axis line, and a coil wound around and fixed to the tooth. The yoke has an inner wall surface facing the axis line. The tooth has a root part connected to the yoke. The inner wall surface of the yoke is a flat surface extending from an end of the root part of the tooth in the circumferential direction to an inner circumferential side relative to a plane passing through the end and perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes (i) a first actuator stack having a first primary electrode, a first secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the first primary electrode, and a first electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the first primary electrode and the first secondary electrode, (ii) a second actuator stack having a second primary electrode, a second secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the second primary electrode, and a second electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the second primary electrode and the second secondary electrode; and (iii) a bonding layer disposed between the first actuator stack and the second actuator stack.

Abstract: An artificial muscle that includes a first end plate opposite a second end plate, a flexible enclosure extending from the first end plate to the second end plate and housing a dielectric fluid, and a reciprocating electrode stack housed within the flexible enclosure and coupled to and extending between the first end plate and the second end plate. The reciprocating electrode stack includes one or more electrode pairs, each electrode pair having a positive electrode and a negative electrode physically coupled to one another along a first edge portion of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The artificial muscle also includes a plurality of electrode leads electrically coupled to the reciprocating electrode stack. Each individual electrode lead of the plurality of electrode leads extends from an individual electrode of the reciprocating electrode stack to the first end plate or the second end plate.

Abstract: A motor is provided that reduces noise and vibration, and a method is provided for manufacturing the motor and a cleaner having the motor. The motor includes a stator including a plurality of teeth that are spaced apart from each other in a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction and a coil that is wound around the plurality of teeth, a rotor that is disposed inside the stator, and a cage that is disposed in at least one of a plurality of slots that are formed between the plurality of teeth. The cage is configured to include a flow path to inject a bonding agent into at least one slot.

Abstract: An armature is presented. The armature includes an armature winding having a plurality of coils, wherein each coil of the plurality of coils is spaced apart from adjacent coils and comprise includes a first side portion and a second side portion. The armature further includes a first electrically insulating winding enclosure. Furthermore, the armature includes a second electrically insulating winding enclosure disposed at a radial distance from the first electrically insulating winding enclosure, wherein the armature winding is disposed between the first electrically insulating winding enclosure and the second electrically insulating winding enclosure. Moreover, the armature includes an electrically insulating coil side separator disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion of the plurality of coils of the armature winding. A superconducting generator including the armature and a wind turbine having such superconducting generator are also presented.

Abstract: A layered actuation structure includes a first platform pair and a second platform pair. Each of the first platform pair and the second platform pair include an actuation platform and a mounting platform, forming an actuation cavity of each of the first platform pair and the second platform pair. One or more connecting ledges of each platform pair couple at least one of the actuation platform and the mounting platform of each platform pair to at least one of an actuation arm and a support arm, respectively. A collective stiffness of the one or more connecting ledges of the first platform pair is different than a collective stiffness of the one or more connecting ledges of the second platform pair. The layered actuation structure also includes one or more artificial muscles disposed in the actuation cavity of the first platform pair and the second platform pair.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a shaft, and a stator disposed around the outer periphery of the shaft and including a plurality of slots extending toward the shaft. A plurality of coil units are arranged respectively in the plurality of slots. The coil units are each formed of a plurality of wires connected in parallel. One of the coil units that is arranged in at least one of the plurality of slots formed in the stator includes a plurality of winding groups that are connected in series and that have a different number of turns from each other. The winding groups are arranged in the slot in descending order of the number of turns in the direction toward the shaft.

Abstract: An actuator includes a base electrode, a counter electrode facing the base electrode, a first terminal connected to the base electrode, and a second terminal connected to the counter electrode. The base electrode includes a non-metal base material, a conductive thin film disposed on a side of the non-metal base material, the side facing the counter electrode, and an insulation layer disposed on the conductive thin film. The first terminal is connected to the conductive thin film. The counter electrode includes a flexible conductor that is deformable via a Coulomb force acting between the base electrode and the counter electrode upon application of a voltage to the first terminal and the second terminal.

Abstract: Provided are an electromechanical transducer including a light movable member that is easy to move and charged portions whose amount of electrostatic charge does not substantially change over time and a method for manufacturing such an electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: A footwear system can employ a brake and/or a clutch, such as a one-way clutch, to convert human motion into usable electricity. The brake and one-way clutch can be used together, such as on opposite ends of a spring. During a storage phase, the brake can be engaged and the one-way clutch disengaged so the spring stores an energy. After the storage phase, the brake can be removed to initiate the release phase since the brake is not stopping the spring, but the one-way clutch allows the stored energy to be released.

Abstract: A power generator or sensor apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a power generator is used for water wave energy harvesting. A further aspect provides a power generator including a buoyant, waterproof and/or enclosed outer shell, at least one enclosed inner shell located within the outer shell, a first plurality of balls located between the outer and inner shells, a second plurality of balls located within the inner shell, and spaced apart electrodes affixed to an interior surface of the outer shell. Moreover, an aspect of the present power generator uses fluid, such as water wave movement and wind blowing, to cause nested shells to move which moves multiple balls therein between spaced apart electrodes to generate triboelectric charges or energy for a variety of applications.

Abstract: An actuator drive apparatus according to a first aspect includes a first member, a second member that faces the first member via a gap, a gap sensor that detects a dimension of the gap, a first actuator that changes the dimension of the gap through input of a first voltage signal, and a second actuator that changes the dimension of the gap through input of a second voltage signal, in which the first voltage signal is a voltage signal that becomes a constant bias voltage after a lapse of a predetermined time, and includes an overshoot signal larger than the bias voltage before the lapse of the predetermined time, and the second voltage signal is a voltage signal that is feedback-controlled so that a detection value detected by the gap sensor approaches a target value.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a nexus and a first, a second, a third, and a fourth circuit board. Each of the first and second circuit boards is coupled to opposing sides of the nexus, and each of the third and fourth circuit boards is coupled to opposing sides of the second circuit board. The integrated circuit is transitionable between a first, open configuration, in which the first, second, third and fourth circuit boards and the nexus are substantially coplanar, and a second configuration, in which the first, second, third and fourth circuit boards and the nexus are coupled to one another to define a cavity therein.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for electrostatic machines which can act as both an electric motor, converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, and an electric generator, converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, are described. In some embodiments, a spring positioned between two oppositely charged plates may be used as an electric motor and/or electric generator.