JP5116604B2 - Polymer actuator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an actuator that deforms when a potential difference is applied between electrodes, and more particularly to a polymer actuator that deforms due to movement of ions by an electric field.

Patent Document 1 describes an actuator using an ion exchange resin.
In FIG. 6 of the same document, a plurality of legs are integrally formed inside a ring-shaped actuator element, and when the voltage is applied to the legs via a lead wire or the like, the legs can be bent. Is.

  Patent Document 2 describes an actuator using an ion exchange resin having a C shape. In this actuator, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes, the negative electrode is deformed into a convex shape and a positive electrode concave shape, so that the entire actuator can be deformed into a substantially conical shape.

In the actuator described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to obtain a large driving force by using a plurality of legs at once and by concentrating the driving force on the inner peripheral side in the actuator described in Patent Document 2. It is said that.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-282992 JP 2005-27444 A (FIG. 1)

  However, in the thing of patent document 1, the leg part and the ring-shaped part are integrally formed, and when a leg part bends, the inner peripheral side of the ring-shaped actuator element which forms a support part will be an axial centerline with a leg part. The shape is easy to deform in the vertical direction parallel to the. In addition, as described in Patent Document 1, when a difference occurs in the displacement amounts of the plurality of leg portions, the actuator element itself is deformed into a wave shape.

  For this reason, in order to drive such an actuator stably, it is necessary to firmly hold and fix the support portion (ring-shaped actuator element), which leads to an increase in size and complexity of the fixing member, There is a problem that the cost is likely to rise.

  On the other hand, if the support member is too strongly held and fixed by the fixing member, the movement of the leg portion is liable to be restrained. For this reason, there is a problem that the displacement amount of the actuator becomes small or a large driving force cannot be generated. Arise.

  Increasing the number of legs can increase the driving force, but there is a limit to arranging a large number of legs so that they can be driven stably in a limited space. There is also a problem that it is difficult to raise.

  The present invention is for solving the above-described conventional problems, and provides a polymer actuator capable of securely fixing a fixed end of a laminate and generating a larger driving force in a limited space. The purpose is to do.

The present invention provides a polymer actuator comprising a laminate in which a pair of electrode layers are respectively laminated on both surfaces of an electrolyte layer.
A fixing member having a plurality of fixing portions extending radially from the center is provided,
The fixed end of the laminated body is fixed to the fixed portion, and the free end of the laminated body is disposed between the adjacent fixed portion and the fixed portion.

  In the present invention, since a plurality of laminated bodies can be firmly fixed and arranged in a limited space, a large driving force can be stably generated. Alternatively, the load resistance can be increased stably.

In the above, it is preferable that the laminated body protrudes on both sides of the fixed portion.
In the above means, the number of stacked bodies that generate the driving force can be substantially increased, so that the driving force of the entire actuator can be increased.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the fixed portion is formed in an arc shape.
In the above means, the area of the fixed end for fixing the laminated body can be increased, so that the laminated body can be securely held and fixed.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the free end of the laminated body has two sides, and a dimensional difference is formed between the length dimension of one side and the length dimension of the other side.

  In the above means, a twist is positively formed in the push-up portion at the tip, so that a larger driving force can be generated.

  Or the free end of the laminate is formed with three sides, the side facing the fixed part is formed shorter than the other two sides, and the length dimension of one of the other two sides It is preferable that a dimensional difference is formed between the first side and the other side.

  In this way, if the shape of the laminate is trapezoidal rather than triangular, the tip of the free end is not the corner of the triangle, but the upper base of the trapezoid is formed, and twisting occurs compared to the triangular shape. This makes it easier to obtain a greater driving force.

  In the above, the fixing member is formed of a conductive first fixing member and a second fixing member, and the fixed end side of the laminated body is connected to the fixing portion of the first fixing member and the second fixing member. What is pinched | interposed between the fixing | fixed part of a fixing member is preferable.

  With the above means, the laminate can be reliably fixed by being sandwiched from above and below.

  The first fixing member and the second fixing member are formed of a conductive material, the first fixing member is connected to an electrode layer formed on one surface of the electrolyte layer, and the second fixing member The fixing member may be connected to the electrode layer formed on the other surface, and the first fixing member and the second fixing member may be insulated.

  In the above means, the first fixing member and the second fixing member can be used as the wiring member. For this reason, the wiring structure can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In this invention, the fixed end of a laminated body can be fixed reliably. Moreover, even if it fixes in this way, a big driving force or a load resistance can be raised.

  In addition, utilization efficiency in a limited space can be increased, and a larger driving force can be stably generated.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the basic principle of an ion conductive type polymer actuator. FIG. 1A shows a state before driving, and FIG. 1B shows a driving state.

First, the basic configuration of the polymer actuator will be described.
An ion conductive polymer actuator 1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes an electrolyte layer 2, a first electrode layer 3 provided on one surface of the electrolyte layer 2, and the other of the electrolyte layer 2. This is configured as a laminated body 1A in which a second electrode layer 4 provided on the surface of the first electrode layer 4 is stacked.

  The electrolyte layer 2 is a resin layer capable of ion exchange, and is obtained by impregnating a cation exchange resin with an electrolytic solution as an electrolyte. The cation exchange resin is obtained by introducing a hydrophilic functional group such as a sulfonic acid group or a carboxyl group into polyethylene, polystyrene, fluororesin or the like. The electrolytic solution is a polarizable organic solvent or ionic liquid containing a salt. Further, the electrolyte layer 2 may be a gel obtained by mixing an ionic liquid into a base polymer such as polyvinylidene fluoride.

  In the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4, a conductive filler is included in the same electrolyte layer as the electrolyte layer 2. That is, the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4 are configured by further mixing a conductive filler such as carbon nanotube or carbon nanofiber in an ion exchange resin impregnated with an electrolytic solution. Or the electroconductive filler may be mixed in the inside of the said gel-like layer containing a cationic liquid.

  By laminating the sheet-like resin to be the electrolyte layer 2, the sheet-like first electrode layer 3 and the sheet-like second electrode layer 4 mixed with the conductive filler, FIG. 1A can be formed. This laminated body 1A has a structure in which the boundary surface between the electrolyte layer 2 and the first electrode layer 3 and the boundary surface between the electrolyte layer 2 and the second electrode layer 4 are bonded in a strong contact state.

  Further, as another method of forming the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4, a plating bath or a metal complex solution is used to form gold or metal on both surfaces of the cation exchange resin constituting the electrolyte layer 2. The first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4 may be formed by attaching a conductive metal such as silver or copper. In this case, the conductive metal has a structure in which a part of the conductive metal enters the resin constituting the electrolyte layer 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, when an electric field is applied to the electrolyte layer 2 such that the first electrode layer 3 is on the anode side and the second electrode layer 4 is on the cathode side, The cation moves to the second electrode layer 4 on the cathode side. When the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4 are formed by mixing a conductive filler in an ion-exchangeable layer like the electrolyte layer 2, the first electrode layer 3 The cations dissociated in the second electrode layer 4 also move to the second electrode layer 4 side.

  As a result, inside the electrolyte layer 2, the volume tends to expand at a position biased toward the second electrode layer 4 side. That is, since an expansion stress is generated on the second electrode layer 4 side and an expansion strain is generated based on the expansion stress, a bending stress is generated in the stacked body 1A, and as shown in FIG. 1A bends and functions as the polymer actuator 1.

  In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1B, one end of a laminate having the same configuration as that of the laminate 1A forming the polymer actuator 1 is defined as a fixed end 1a and the other end is defined as a free end 1b. . In particular, the tip portion of the free end 1b is used as a push-up portion A for lifting a pushed-up member such as a key top.

  The deformation amount ΔH is the difference between the position in the Z direction in the initial state of the free end 1b and the position in the Z direction after deformation when the free end 1b is bent and deformed in the Z direction with reference to the fixed end 1a. Means. The amount of deformation is proportional to the distance between the fixed end 1a and the free end 1b. The driving force is the maximum force that can lift the free end 1b of the polymer actuator 1, or the maximum load that can maintain the deformation amount ΔH = 0 when the load applied to the free end 1b is increased ( Load capacity).

Hereinafter, the polymer actuator having the above basic configuration will be described.
FIG. 2 explains the basic principle of the polymer actuator fixing method of the present invention, (A) is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a laminate and a fixing member, and (B) is a side view showing a connection state. It is.

  The polymer actuator shown in FIG. 2 (A) is formed with a laminate 10 having a substantially semicircular shape, for example. The laminated body 10 has a linear shape with a fixed end 11 at a portion, and a free end 12 at a side having an opposite convex shape.

  The laminated body 10 is fixed with a fixed end 11 sandwiched between a pair of fixing members 21 and 21 from above and below. The pair of fixing members 21 and 21 are both made of a conductive metal material.

  A non-conductive adhesive 61 is applied to a joint surface on which the fixed end 11 is not disposed, of the surfaces of the one fixing member 21 and the other fixing member 21 facing each other, and the laminated body 10 is fixed by the adhesive 61. The end 11 is firmly fixed to the fixing members 21 and 21. Alternatively, the fixing end 11 is firmly clamped and fixed by screwing between one fixing member 21 and the other fixing member 21 using a non-conductive screw (not shown). It may be.

  Thus, if it joins using the nonelectroconductive adhesive 61 or a screw | thread, after fixing, the insulation between one fixing member 21 and the other fixing member 21 can be maintained. At the same time, one fixing member 21 and the first electrode layer 3 formed on one surface of the laminate 10 are in contact with each other, and the other fixing member 21 and the second electrode formed on the other surface of the laminate 10 are contacted. The electrode layer 4 can be brought into contact. Thereby, it is possible to establish a conductive connection between the one fixing member 21 and the first electrode layer 3 and between the other fixing member 21 and the second electrode layer 4. For this reason, the pair of fixing members 21, 21 can be used as a wiring member for applying a voltage between the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a separate wiring pattern or lead wire, and the wiring structure can be simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), a predetermined voltage is applied between the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4 provided on both surfaces of the laminated body 10 so that the electrolyte layer 2 is viewed from above and below. When an electric field is applied, bending deformation occurs in the laminate 10 according to the direction of the voltage. At this time, the laminated body 10 bends and deforms in a direction perpendicular to the surface according to the direction of the electric field on the free end 12 side with the fixed end 11 as a reference.

  Thus, in the polymer actuator of the present invention, the laminated body 10 can be securely fixed by firmly sandwiching the fixed end 11 of the laminated body 10 between the fixing members 21 and 21, and a stable operation is realized. can do.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a polymer actuator constituted by using a plurality of laminated bodies as the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The polymer actuator shown in FIG. 3 includes a first fixing member 22 and a second fixing member 23 that are both conductive. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the first fixing member 22 is overlaid on the second fixing member 23, and only the first fixing member 22 is illustrated. The configuration of the second fixing member 23 is the same as that of the first fixing member 22, and the parentheses in the drawing indicate the reference numerals of the parts constituting the second fixing member 23.

  The first fixing member 22 has a wheel shape, and includes a ring portion 22b directed to the outer peripheral side, and a plurality of fixing portions 22a extending radially from the center of the ring inside the ring portion 22b. ing. Similarly, the second fixing member 23 includes a ring portion 23b formed in an annular shape, and a plurality of fixing portions 23a extending radially outward from the center of the ring inside the ring portion 23b. Has been.

  The central angle between the adjacent fixed portions 22a and 22a in the first fixing member 22 and the central angle α between the adjacent fixed portions 23a and 23a in the second fixed member 23 are both constant. FIG. 3 shows the case where the central angle α is 45 degrees.

  The 1st fixing member 22 and the 2nd fixing member 23 are piled up in the state where mutual fixing part 22a and fixing part 23a were aligned in the circumferential direction. At this time, the fixed end 11 of the laminated body 10 having a substantially semicircular shape is interposed between the fixing portion 22a of the first fixing member 22 and the fixing portion 22a of the second fixing member 23 facing each other in the plate thickness direction. It is pinched.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there are 8 pieces between 8 fixing portions 22 a provided on the first fixing member 22 side and 8 fixing portions 23 a provided on the third fixing member 23 side. Each laminated body 10 is fixed. Each laminated body 10 has a substantially fan shape between one fixed portion 23a and the other fixed portion 23a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction when the fixed end 11 is sandwiched between the fixed portion 22a and the fixed portion 23a. It is fixed in a state protruding toward the space 24 formed as. In addition, all the laminated bodies 10 protrude in each space 24 so that the free end 12 may become the same direction in the circumferential direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3).

  The fixing method of the laminated body 10 in this case is the same as that in the case of FIG. That is, when the first fixing member 22 and the second fixing member 23 are opposed to each other, on the joint surface where the fixed end 11 of the laminate 10 is not disposed, for example, on the joint surface of the ring portion 22b and the center of the ring It is fixed by applying a non-conductive adhesive on the joint surface of the part.

  Thereby, between the 1st electrode layer 3 currently formed in each laminated body 10, and each fixing | fixed part 22a of the 1st fixing member 22, conduction connection is carried out similarly, and the 2nd electrode layer of each laminated body 10 is carried out. 4 and each fixing portion 23a of the second fixing member 23 are electrically connected. At the same time, the insulation state between the first fixing member 22 and the second fixing member 23 is maintained.

  Therefore, when a predetermined voltage is applied between the first fixing member 22 and the second fixing member 23, the electrolyte layers 2 of all the laminated bodies 10 fixed between them are viewed from the thickness direction. An electric field can be applied. For this reason, all the laminated bodies 10 can be simultaneously bent and deformed in the same direction.

  In this polymer actuator, each of the plurality of laminated bodies 10 generates a driving force, so that the driving force generated as a whole actuator can be increased in proportion to the number of the laminated bodies 10.

  Therefore, even if the driving force generated by each laminated body 10 is small, it is possible to generate a large driving force as a whole of the polymer actuator by collecting these driving forces. Thus, in this invention, it can be set as the polymer actuator excellent in efficiency by arrange | positioning the several laminated body 10 in the limited space.

  FIG. 4A is a plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing a first modification of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a second modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, and FIG. 4C is a plan view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a third modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. 4A to 4C, the hatched portion is the laminate 10.

  The polymer actuator shown in FIG. 4A is different from the polymer actuator shown in FIG. 3 in that the fixing portions 22a and 23a are formed in a curved arc shape instead of a linear shape. In this modification, the substantial length dimension in the radial direction of the fixing portions 22a and 23a connecting the ring portion 22b and the center portion thereof can be made longer than the length dimension in the embodiment of FIG. it can. For this reason, it becomes possible to fix the fixed end 11 of the laminated body 10 in a wide area, the fixed state of the laminated body 10 can be stabilized, and the displacement operation length La can be increased. The amount of displacement can be increased. Moreover, the displacement operation length La can be further increased by adopting the shapes as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C.

  FIG. 5A is a plan view of a polymer actuator showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5B is a plan view showing an enlarged laminate constituting the polymer actuator, and FIG. 6 is a laminate. It is a top view similar to (B) of Drawing 5 showing other shapes.

  The fixing member of the polymer actuator shown in the second embodiment is the same as the actuator shown in the second and third embodiments. That is, the first fixing member 22 provided with a plurality of fixing portions 22a radially inside the ring portion 22b, and the third fixing member 23 provided with a plurality of fixing portions 23a radially inside the ring portion 23b. In the state aligned in the circumferential direction, they are assembled in the plate thickness direction.

  However, in the second embodiment, the laminated body 10 is not semicircular, and is formed of substantially triangular shapes having different lengths of two sides constituting the free end. This is different from the polymer actuator shown in the form and modification.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, the laminate 10 is formed as a substantially triangular shape having a fixed end 11 as a base, a first side 12a extending in the radial direction, and a second side 12b extending in the circumferential direction. Yes. The fixed end 11 constituting one side of the triangle is sandwiched between the fixed portion 22 a of the first fixed member 22 and the fixed portion 23 a of the second fixed member 23. The length dimension L1 of the first side 12a is longer than the length dimension L2 of the second side 12b (L1> L2), and a dimensional difference (L1-L2) is provided between them.

  A voltage is applied between the first electrode layer 3 and the second electrode layer 4 provided on both surfaces of the laminated body 10 to apply an electric field to the electrolyte layer 2 to cause bending deformation in the laminated body 10. If it does, the twist resulting from the said dimension difference (L1-L2) will generate | occur | produce in the raising part A which is the front-end | tip of the laminated body 10. FIG. For this reason, a force component due to torsional deformation is added to the push-up portion A in addition to the driving force due to normal bending deformation, and a larger driving force is generated.

  Therefore, since the polymer actuator shown in the second embodiment includes a plurality of such laminates 10, as a whole, compared with the polymer actuator shown in the first embodiment and the modification example. A larger driving force can be generated.

Furthermore, the shape of the laminated body 10 may be a shape as shown in FIG.
The laminated body 10 shown in FIG. 6 is formed in the trapezoid shape which consists of the 1st edge | side 12a and the 2nd edge | side 12b which were provided in the left-right dimension, and the upper bottom part 12c and the lower bottom part 12d. Among these, the lower bottom 12d side constitutes the fixed end 11 fixed by the fixing portions 22b and 23b.

  And the free end 12 which protrudes toward the adjacent fan-shaped space 24 from the fixing | fixed part 22b, 23b has three sides of the 1st edge | side 12a, the 2nd edge | side 12b, and the upper bottom part 12c. The upper bottom portion 12c facing the fixing portions 22b and 23b is formed shorter than the other three sides (the first side 12a, the second side 12b, and the lower bottom portion 12d), and this portion functions as a push-up portion. is there.

  Also in this embodiment, since a dimensional difference is provided between the first side 12a and the second side 12b continuous at both ends of the upper bottom portion 12c, when the laminate 10 is operated by applying a voltage. It is possible to generate a large twist in the upper bottom portion 12c and generate a larger driving force.

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
The polymer actuator shown in the third embodiment is also configured to have the first and second fixing members 22 and 23 as in the first and second embodiments, and only the shape of the laminate 10 is formed. Is different.

  The laminated body 10 is formed in a substantially isosceles triangle, and is sandwiched between the fixing portion 22 a of the first fixing member 22 and the fixing portion 23 a of the second fixing member 23.

  Specifically, the fixing portion 22a of the first fixing member 22 and the fixing portion 23a of the second fixing member 23 are aligned in the circumferential direction so as to overlap in the plate thickness direction. One fixing part 22a and the other fixing part 23a are arranged so as to pass through the vertices of the isosceles triangle (the center part of the ring) forming the laminated body 10 and to bisect the bottom of the outer peripheral side vertically. The laminate 10 is firmly fixed in a state of being sandwiched between one fixing portion 22a and the other fixing portion 23a.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the portion sandwiched between the fixing portion 22a of the first fixing member 22 and the fixing portion 23a of the second fixing member 23 is the fixing end 11 of the laminated body 10, and The other part forms the free end 12. The free end 12 protrudes into the spaces 24 and 24 in both sides from the overlapping portion of the fixing portion 22a of the first fixing member 22 and the fixing portion 23a of the second fixing member 23, respectively. The shapes of the free ends 12 and 12 protruding into the spaces 24 and 24 on both sides are right triangles, and are bilaterally symmetric with respect to the fixed portion 22a and the fixed portion 23a.

  The fixing method of the laminated body 10 is the same as that of said embodiment. For this reason, when a predetermined voltage is applied between the first fixing member 22 and the second fixing member 23, an electric field is generated in the laminate 10, and the free ends 12, 12 facing both sides are bent and deformed. Can be generated.

  Moreover, as in the second embodiment, there is a dimensional difference between the lengths of the first side 12a and the second side 12b that form the free ends 12, 12. For this reason, in addition to the drive force by normal bending deformation, the force by a twist component is added to the raising part A. Therefore, it is possible to increase the driving force and the load resistance of each stacked body 10 and to extract a larger driving force.

  In the polymer actuator shown in the third embodiment, two free ends 12 and 12 are provided in one laminated body 10. For this reason, the double push-up portion A can be arranged in one space 24, and the driving force generated also for the entire polymer actuator can be increased compared to the first and second embodiments. Become.

  Such a polymer actuator can be used as a device for setting keys arranged in a keyboard device to an active state, for example. Alternatively, since the area of the space 24 that forms the opening can be changed when the stacked body 10 is operated, it can be considered to be used as a flow rate adjusting device for piping, for example.

It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the basic principle of an ion conductive type polymer actuator, (A) The state before a drive, (B) is a drive state, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The basic principle of the fixing method of the polymer actuator of this invention is demonstrated, (A) is an exploded perspective view which shows an example of a laminated body and a fixing member, (B) is a side view which shows a connection state, As a first embodiment of the present invention, a plan view showing a polymer actuator configured using a plurality of laminates, The top view similar to FIG. 3 which shows the 1st modification among the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, The top view similar to FIG. 3 which shows the 2nd modification among the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, The top view similar to FIG. 3 which shows the 3rd modification among the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (A) is a plan view of a polymer actuator showing a second embodiment of the present invention, (B) is an enlarged plan view showing a laminate constituting the polymer actuator, A plan view similar to (B) of FIG. 5 showing another shape of the laminate, The top view which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention,

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Polymer actuator 2 Electrolyte layer 3 1st electrode layer 4 2nd electrode layer 1A, 10 Laminated body 11 Fixed end 12 Free end 12a 1st edge | side 12b 2nd edge | side 12c Upper bottom part 12d Lower bottom part 22 1st fixing member 23 second fixing member 22a first fixing member fixing portion 23a first fixing member fixing portion 22b second fixing member ring portion 23b second fixing member ring portion 24 space 61 adhesive A push-up

Claims (7)

In a polymer actuator comprising a laminate in which a pair of electrode layers are laminated on both sides of an electrolyte layer,
A fixing member having a plurality of fixing portions extending radially from the center is provided,
A polymer actuator, wherein a fixed end of the laminate is fixed to the fixing portion, and a free end of the laminate is disposed between adjacent fixing portions.   The polymer actuator according to claim 1, wherein the laminate protrudes on both sides of the fixed portion.   The polymer actuator according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is formed in an arc shape.   The free end of the laminate is formed with two sides, and a dimensional difference is formed between the length dimension of one side and the length dimension of the other side. The polymer actuator according to any one of the above.   The free end of the laminate is formed with three sides, the side facing the fixed portion is formed shorter than the other two sides, the length dimension of one side of the other two sides and the other The polymer actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a dimensional difference is formed between the side length of each of the two.   The fixing member is formed of a conductive first fixing member and a second fixing member, and the fixing end side of the laminate is fixed to the fixing portion of the first fixing member and the second fixing member. The polymer actuator according to claim 1, wherein the polymer actuator is sandwiched between the first and second portions.   The first fixing member and the second fixing member are formed of a conductive material, the first fixing member is connected to an electrode layer formed on one surface of the electrolyte layer, and a second fixing is performed. The polymer actuator according to claim 6, wherein the member is connected to an electrode layer formed on the other surface, and the first fixing member and the second fixing member are insulated from each other.

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