Portable Compressor System Using MU Alloys, Employed as Assistive Devices

A metal hydride (MH) actuator that uses the reversible reaction between the heat energy and mechanical energy of a hydrogen absorbing alloy is characterized by its small size, low weight, noiseless operation and a mechanical compliance. Therefore, the MH actuators are suitable as a power source of rehabilitation or assistive devices. However, the MH actuators have a disadvantage that the hydrogen gas inside the actuators is not safe. In order to avoid the disadvantage and obtain wider application than conventional MH actuators, we proposed an MH air compressor that produces the air pressure by converted from the hydrogen pressure of the MH actuator. The advantages of this air compressor that size is small and shape is changed into freely enabled realization of unprecedented assistive technology devices for persons with disability. A new small transfer aid system which helps rising from a wheelchair is experimentally developed by making use of some advantages of this compressor