Fluid pressure actuator

Abstract

An actuator including an actuation member at least partially defining a chamber and a fluid generating media disposed in the chamber. The fluid generating media includes a first electrochemical composition and a second electrochemical composition. The first and second electrochemical compositions are together electrochemically responsive to a first fluid for generating a second fluid. The actuation member is actuatable via a pressure of the second fluid. A method of controlling an actuator is also included.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuator comprising:
 an actuation member at least partially defining a chamber; and   a fluid generating media disposed in the chamber and including a first electrochemical composition and a second electrochemical composition, the first and second electrochemical compositions together being electrochemically responsive to a first fluid for generating a second fluid, wherein the actuation member is actuatable via a pressure of the second fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the media comprises a controlled electrolytic metallic material. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the media comprises a plurality of powder particles, the first electrochemical composition comprises a plurality of particle cores and the second electrochemical composition comprises a plurality of coating layers, and each powder particle includes one of the particle cores and one of the coating layers disposed on the particle core. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the particle cores and the coating layers are each metallic materials, and the particle cores have an oxidation potential more negative than that of the coating layers. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the particle cores comprise Mg, Al, Zn, Mn, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the coating layers comprise Al, Zn, Fe, W, Co, Ni, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the particle cores have a diameter of about 5 nm to about 300 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the coating layers have a thickness of about 25 nm to about 2500 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemical composition comprises a plurality of first powder particles, and the second composition comprises a plurality of second powder particles, the first and second powder particles comprising different electrochemical materials. 
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more ports into the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein a check valve is disposed each of the one or more ports for maintaining the pressure in the chamber in order to actuate the actuation member. 
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 10 , further comprising a mechanism for selectively opening the one or more ports. 
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanism is a plug that is removable upon exposure to the first fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The actuator of  claim 13 , wherein the plug is a timer or fuse used to control a timing of actuation of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The actuator of  claim 13 , wherein the plug comprises a controlled electrolytic metallic material. 
     
     
         16 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is a piston. 
     
     
         17 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a downhole fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid includes brine, acid, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         19 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         20 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid is hydrogen. 
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling an actuator comprising:
 exposing a fluid generating media to a first fluid, the media including a first electrochemical component and a second electrochemical component;   reacting the first and second electrochemical components electrochemically together upon exposure to the first fluid for generating a second fluid with the media; and   actuating an actuation member of the actuator with a pressure of the second fluid.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising setting a volume, a composition, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing of the fluid generating media for controlling an actuation speed, an actuation magnitude, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing of the actuator upon exposure of the fluid generating media to the first fluid.