A thermal actuator includes a piston slidingly within a cylinder. The piston cooperates with the cylinder to define a cavity. The piston also includes a rod extending away from the cavity. A magnetic field generator selectively imparts an alternating magnetic field to the cylinder, and inductively heats a heating element mounted within the cavity. The cavity also includes a volume of a phase-change material, which is melted by the heating element. The melting phase-change material expands to drive the rod from a retracted position to an extended position.

A soft-bodied actuator can be configured to be in a pinched or contracted configuration when power is not supplied to the actuator. Thus, a supply of electrical energy is not needed to maintain the actuator in the pinched or contracted configuration. The actuator can include a central bladder. The central bladder can include a flexible casing that defines a central fluid chamber. The central fluid chamber can include a dielectric fluid. A first conductor and a second conductor can be operatively connected to opposite portions of the central bladder. The actuator can be configured such that, in the activated mode, the first and second conductors receive electrical energy from a power source such that they are like charged, causing the first and second conductors to repel each other. The central fluid chamber can include a particulate material to help maintain the central bladder in the pinched configuration.

A dual mode thermal actuator (hereafter the actuator) includes a first cup defining a first chamber filled with thermally-responsive wax and a second cup defining a second chamber filled with thermally-responsive wax. A piston is disposed between the first and second cups. A first guide is received by the first cup. The first guide surrounds the piston and extends axially away from the first cup. A second guide is received by the second cup. The second guide surrounds the piston and extends axially away from the second cup. Expansion of the wax in the first chamber or expansion of the wax in the second chamber causes the actuator to go from a retracted position to an extended position. Expansion of the wax in the first chamber and expansion of the wax in the second chamber also causes the actuator to go from the retracted position to the extended position.

A fluid driving device is provided. The fluid driving device includes: a receiving body having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are disposed opposite to each other. A fluid is received in the receiving body, and the receiving body is elastic. A first magnetic force generating module is disposed on the first side, and a second magnetic force generating module is disposed on the second side. The interaction between the first magnetic force generating module and the second magnetic force generating module causes a deformation of the receiving body to drive the fluid to flow.

A soft-bodied actuator can be configured to be in a pinched or contracted configuration when power is not supplied to the actuator. Thus, a supply of electrical energy is not needed to maintain the actuator in the pinched or contracted configuration. The actuator can include a central bladder. The central bladder can include a flexible casing that defines a central fluid chamber. The central fluid chamber can include a dielectric fluid. A first conductor and a second conductor can be operatively connected to opposite portions of the central bladder. The actuator can be configured such that, in the activated mode, the first and second conductors receive electrical energy from a power source such that they are like charged, causing the first and second conductors to repel each other. The central fluid chamber can include a particulate material to help maintain the central bladder in the pinched configuration.

A single-use pressure-controlled actuator for downhole well tools or mechanisms is provided. The actuator is configured for control of activation/deactivation by agency of wellbore fluid pressure (e.g., pressure levels of drilling fluid or drilling mud in the wellbore). The actuator is further configured for hydraulic actuation by agency of the wellbore fluid. The actuator comprises a plunger displaceably mounted on a sealed cylinder body, with a non-reclosable frangible device closing off wellbore fluid access to an interior of the cylinder body. The frangible device is configured for automatic in response to exposure of wellbore fluid pressures exceeding a predetermined activation threshold. Failure of the frangible device causes exposure of the plunger to the wellbore fluid, resulting in actuated movement of the plunger by hydraulic action of the wellbore fluid.

A dual mode thermal actuator (hereafter the actuator) comprises a first cup defining a first chamber filled with thermally-responsive wax and a second cup defining a second chamber filled with thermally-responsive wax. A piston is disposed between the first and second cups. A first guide is received by the first cup. The first guide surrounds the piston and extends axially away from the first cup. A second guide is received by the second cup. The second guide surrounds the piston and extends axially away from the second cup. Expansion of the wax in the first chamber or expansion of the wax in the second chamber causes the actuator to go from a retracted position to an extended position. Expansion of the wax in the first chamber and expansion of the wax in the second chamber also causes the actuator to go from the retracted position to the extended position.

A method of performing wireless actuation by inductive heating of magnetic particles. The method provides a bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming an interior area, the bladder configured to expand or retract so as to change an area of the interior area, (ii) a plurality of magnetic particles suspended in a fluid medium and disposed within the interior area, and (iii) a sleeve disposed on the outer surface of the bladder. The method excites the plurality of magnetic particles by application of an alternating magnetic field to which the particles reaction. The method causes, by the excited magnetic particles, a phase transition to the fluid medium within the interior area which causes the bladder to expand, such that the sleeve confining the bladder generates actuation from the expansion or retraction of the bladder.

An artificial muscle actuator that includes a housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode each include a metal film. The first electrode includes an insulation bilayer disposed on the metal film of the first electrode in an orientation facing the second electrode. In addition, the insulation bilayer includes an acryl-based polymer layer disposed on the metal film and a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) layer disposed on the acryl-based polymer layer.

The invention relates to an actuator device comprising at least one output element, which can be applied with a fluid and can thereby be moved into at least one retaining position. An actuator is provided which can be operated in a pumping operation by controlling the actuator, in which at least one part of the actuator can be alternatingly moved in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction via the controlling of the actuator, whereby the fluid can be conveyed to the output element in order to apply the output element with the fluid. A discharge channel is also provided, via which the fluid can be discharged from the output element.