Pneumatic actuator system and method

Abstract

A fluidic actuator including an angled bottom plate having a cap and first and second plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the cap. The fluidic actuator further includes a top plate coupled about the cap of the angled bottom plate and a rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and top plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluidic actuator comprising:
 an elongated V-shaped bottom plate having:
 an elongated cap, 
 first and second elongated planar plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the elongated cap, the first and second elongated planar plate arms defining planar faces, and 
 an open internal cavity defined by and extending below the elongated planar plate arms; 
   an elongated planar top plate coupled to the elongated V-shaped bottom plate about the elongated cap of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate;   a rotatable coupling between the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and the elongated planar top plate that only allows the elongated planar top plate to rotate to the left and to the right about the elongated cap of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate; and   a first and second set of one or more bellows disposed respectively on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling between the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, with the first set of one or more bellows extending between and coupled to a first side of the top plate and the first elongated planar plate arm of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and with the second set of one or more bellows extending between and coupled to a second side of the top plate and the second elongated planar plate arm of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate.   
     
     
         2 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated planar top plate and first and second elongated planar plate arms are defined by sheets of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second elongated planar plate arms of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate extend from the elongated cap at an acute angle. 
     
     
         4 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more photovoltaic cells coupled to the elongated planar top plate and wherein selective inflation of the first and second sets of one or more bellows is configured to rotate the elongated planar top plate based on a position of the sun. 
     
     
         5 . A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of fluidic actuators of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fluidic actuators are disposed along a common axis of rotation and wherein the respective first and second sets of one or more bellows of the plurality of fluidic actuators disposed along the common axis of rotation are inflated in unison to collectively rotate a set of photovoltaic cells coupled to the elongated planar top plates based on the position of the sun. 
     
     
         6 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic actuator is configured to assume a configuration wherein the fluidic actuator has a central plane of symmetry that extends through the elongated cap, with first and second sets of one or more bellows disposed respectively on opposing sides of the central plane of symmetry, and with the first and second elongated planar plate arms on opposing sides of the central plane of symmetry. 
     
     
         7 . A fluidic actuator comprising:
 an elongated V-shaped bottom plate having:
 an elongated cap, and 
 first and second elongated planar plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the elongated cap, the first and second elongated planar plate arms defining planar faces; 
   an elongated planar top plate coupled about the elongated cap of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate; and   a rotatable coupling between the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and the elongated planar top plate.   
     
     
         8 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the rotatable coupling between the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and the elongated planar top plate only allows the elongated planar top plate to rotate side-to-side about the elongated cap of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate. 
     
     
         9 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 7 , further comprising a first and second set of one or more bellows disposed respectively on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling between the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, with the first set of one or more bellows extending between and coupled to a first side of the top plate and the first elongated planar plate arm of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate and with the second set of one or more bellows extending between and coupled to a second side of the top plate and the second elongated planar plate arm of the elongated V-shaped bottom plate. 
     
     
         10 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more photovoltaic cells coupled to the elongated planar top plate and wherein selective inflation of the first and second sets of one or more bellows is configured to rotate the elongated planar top plate based on a position of the sun. 
     
     
         11 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated V-shaped bottom plate comprises an open internal cavity defined by and extending below the elongated planar plate arms. 
     
     
         12 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the fluidic actuator is configured to assume a configuration wherein the fluidic actuator has a plane of symmetry that extends through the elongated cap, with first and second sets of one or more bellows disposed respectively on opposing sides of the plane of symmetry, and with the first and second elongated planar plate arms on opposing sides of the plane of symmetry. 
     
     
         13 . A fluidic actuator comprising:
 an angled bottom plate having:
 a cap, and 
 first and second plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the cap; 
   a top plate coupled about the cap of the angled bottom plate; and   a rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and top plate.   
     
     
         14 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , wherein the angled bottom plate is V-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second plate arms define planar faces. 
     
     
         16 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and the top plate only allows the top plate to rotate side-to-side about the cap of the angled bottom plate. 
     
     
         17 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , further comprising a first and second set of one or more bellows disposed respectively on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling. 
     
     
         18 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , further comprising a first and second set of one or more bellows disposed between the angled bottom plate and the top plate, with the first set of one or more bellows extending between and coupled to a first side of the top plate and the first plate arm of the angled bottom plate and with the second set of one or more bellows extending between and coupled to a second side of the top plate and the second plate arm of the angled bottom plate. 
     
     
         19 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more photovoltaic cells coupled to the top plate and wherein selective inflation of first and second sets of one or more bellows is configured to rotate the top plate based on a position of the sun. 
     
     
         20 . The fluidic actuator of  claim 13 , wherein the fluidic actuator is configured to assume a configuration wherein the fluidic actuator has a plane of symmetry that extends through the cap, with first and second sets of one or more bellows disposed respectively on opposing sides of the plane of symmetry, and with the first and second plate arms on opposing sides of the plane of symmetry.