公开(公告)号：US20180058480A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-01

申请号：US15671918

申请日：2017-08-08

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： KATSUHIKO ASAI ,  TAKAYUKI NAGATA ,  KAZUO INOUE

IPC: F15B15/10 ,  F15B15/06

CPC classification number: F15B15/103 ,  F15B15/06

Abstract: An actuator includes a displaceable portion, first to fourth artificial muscles, a pressure adjuster that changes a pressure of a fluid filled in the first and second artificial muscles, an open-close valve that allows a fluid to flow into or out of the third and fourth artificial muscles, and a controller that drives the pressure adjuster and controls the open-close valve. Each of the first to fourth artificial muscles includes a coiled elastic tube. In an outer circumferential surface of the tube, grooves are helically formed about an axis of the tube. The tube is filled with a fluid. In the first artificial muscle, a direction in which the tube is coiled is opposite to a direction in which the grooves extend helically. In each of the second to fourth artificial muscles, a direction in which the tube is coiled is the same as a direction in which the grooves extend helically.

公开(公告)号：US20170067491A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-09

申请号：US15244066

申请日：2016-08-23

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： KATSUHIKO ASAI ,  TAKAYUKI NAGATA ,  KAZUO INOUE

IPC: F15B15/10

CPC classification number: F15B15/103

Abstract: An actuator converts the pressure of a fluid into a change in the length of the actuator and is formed such that an elastic tube is spirally wound. The tube is wound around the axis of the actuator. One or more grooves are spirally formed on the outer surface of the tube along the axial center of the tube. When the fluid contained in the inside of the tube is pressurized, a torsional force is applied to the tube along the spirals of the one or more grooves and causes the actuator to contract in the axial direction. Even when an external force acts in a direction in which the actuator is bent, the volume of the inside of the tube is not substantially varied. Accordingly, the actuator can be allowed to freely move in a bending direction.

Abstract translation: 致动器将流体的压力转换成致动器的长度的变化，并且形成为使得弹性管螺旋缠绕。 管围绕致动器的轴线缠绕。 一个或多个凹槽沿着管的轴向中心螺旋地形成在管的外表面上。 当容纳在管内部的流体被加压时，扭转力沿着一个或多个凹槽的螺旋施加到管，并且致动器沿轴向收缩。 即使当外力在致动器弯曲的方向上作用时，管的内部的体积也不会发生实质变化。 因此，可以使致动器沿弯曲方向自由移动。

公开(公告)号：US20160242986A1

公开(公告)日：2016-08-25

申请号：US15006231

申请日：2016-01-26

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： TAKAYUKI NAGATA ,  STEPHEN WILLIAM JOHN ,  KATSUHIKO ASAI

IPC: A61H3/00 ,  A61F2/70 ,  A61F2/72 ,  A61H1/02

CPC classification number: A61H3/00 ,  A61F2/70 ,  A61F2/72 ,  A61F5/01 ,  A61F2002/5066 ,  A61F2002/6872 ,  A61F2002/701 ,  A61F2002/704 ,  A61F2005/0155 ,  A61H1/0262

Abstract: An assist wear item is worn on a portion of a living body and has an inner surface brought into contact with the portion. The assist wear item includes assisting actuators, contact sensors, and a controller. Each assisting actuator is driven to expand and contract. The assisting actuators are linearly arranged along an expansion/contraction direction of a muscle at the portion. Each contact sensor detects a contact with an outer surface of the assist wear item. The contact sensors include a first contact sensor and a second contact sensor. The controller increases or decreases a driving power of expansion/contraction driving of an assisting actuator corresponding to a region ranging from the first contact sensor to the second contact sensor if the controller continuously receives a detection result indicating a contact from at least one contact sensor between the first and second contact sensors during a certain time period.

Abstract translation: 辅助磨损物品佩戴在生物体的一部分上并且具有与该部分接触的内表面。 辅助磨损物品包括辅助致动器，接触传感器和控制器。 每个辅助致动器被驱动以膨胀和收缩。 辅助致动器沿着该部分处的肌肉的伸缩方向线性地排列。 每个接触传感器检测与辅助磨损物品的外表面的接触。 接触传感器包括第一接触传感器和第二接触传感器。 如果控制器连续地接收到指示来自至少一个接触传感器的接触的检测结果，则控制器增加或减少对应于从第一接触传感器到第二接触传感器的区域的辅助致动器的膨胀/收缩驱动的驱动力 在一定时间段内的第一和第二接触传感器。