A diaphragm latch may comprise a housing, a diaphragm disposed in the housing, a pin coupled to the diaphragm, an opening in the housing, and a pin aperture disposed in the first side, wherein the pin extends from the pin aperture. The diaphragm may be configured to move in response to a pressure being communicated through the opening, and the pin may be configured to at least one of extend or retract from the pin aperture in response to the diaphragm moving. The diaphragm latch may passively couple an inner fixed structure (IFS) to an intermediate case (IMC) during an overpressure event.

Exemplary embodiments relate to pressurizable housings for a soft robotic actuator. The pressurized housings may be divided into an upper chamber in fluid communication with an internal void of the actuator, and a lower chamber connected to an inlet and an outlet. The upper chamber and lower chamber may be separated by a piston. By supplying a fluid to the lower chamber via the inlet, the piston is moved into the space previously occupied by the upper chamber, which reduces the volume of the upper chamber and increases the pressure in the internal void. This action allows the actuator to be rapidly inflated, and further simplifies the pressurization system and reduces its weight.

An actuator assembly for moving a valve between an open position and a closed position includes an actuator housing forming at least a portion of a chamber. The actuator assembly also includes a support plate arranged within the actuator housing. The actuator assembly further includes a diaphragm coupled to the actuator housing and the support plate, the diaphragm expanding and contracting in response to a working fluid within the chamber. The actuator assembly also includes an indicator rod extending through the chamber and out of the actuator housing, the indicator rod being removably coupled to the support plate, wherein the indicator rod is arranged within an opening formed in the support plate, the indicator rod secured to the support plate via a coupling mechanism that releases the indicator rod in response to a pressure from the working fluid between the diaphragm and the support plate.

An actuator comprising a bottom plate, a top-plate and one or more hub assembly extending between and rotatably coupling the bottom and top plates. The actuator also includes one or more bellows units disposed between the top plate and bottom plate, the one or more bellows units comprising a first and second inflatable bellows coupled by a web extending between the first and second bellows, the first and second bellows defining respective and separate first and second bellows cavities, with the first bellows of the bellows units disposed on a first side of the bottom plate, and the second bellows of the bellows units disposed on a second side of the bottom plate, opposing the first side, and between the top and bottom plates.

An actuator comprising a bottom plate, a top-plate and one or more hub assembly extending between and rotatably coupling the bottom and top plates. The actuator also includes one or more bellows units disposed between the top plate and bottom plate, the one or more bellows units comprising a first and second inflatable bellows coupled by a web extending between the first and second bellows, the first and second bellows defining respective and separate first and second bellows cavities, with the first bellows of the bellows units disposed on a first side of the bottom plate, and the second bellows of the bellows units disposed on a second side of the bottom plate, opposing the first side, and between the top and bottom plates.

An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a nozzle, a loop, and a first tether. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and is configured to hold pressurized fluid therebetween. The nozzle is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the bladder. The loop is attached to one of the top and bottom end caps. A tether is disposed within the bladder, coupled to the other one of the top and bottom end caps, and extends through the at least one loop. The top end cap assumes a first position when the bladder is inflated. When the top end cap is adjusted from the first position to a second position, the first tether is configured to maintain the top end cap in the second position.

An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a nozzle, a loop, and a first tether. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and is configured to hold pressurized fluid therebetween. The nozzle is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the bladder. The loop is attached to one of the top and bottom end caps. A tether is disposed within the bladder, coupled to the other one of the top and bottom end caps, and extends through the at least one loop. The top end cap assumes a first position when the bladder is inflated. When the top end cap is adjusted from the first position to a second position, the first tether is configured to maintain the top end cap in the second position.

Hydraulically-amplified, self-healing, electrostatic transducers that harness electrostatic and hydraulic forces to achieve various actuation modes. Electrostatic forces between electrode pairs of the transducers generated upon application of a voltage to the electrode pairs draws the electrodes in each pair towards each other to displace a liquid dielectric contained within an enclosed internal cavity of the transducers to drive actuation in various manners. The electrodes and the liquid dielectric form a self-healing capacitor whereby the liquid dielectric automatically fills breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown. Due to the resting shape of the cavity, a zipping-mechanism allows for selectively actuating the electrodes to a desired extent by controlling the voltage supplied.

An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.

An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.