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US4615260A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pneumatic actuator for manipulator

Assignee: Bridgestone Corp
•
Filing: 1984-04-25
•
Granted: 1986-10-07
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Expires: 2004-04-25
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Abstract

Abstract A pneumatic actuator includes an elastic tubular body, closure members sealingly closing its ends and a braided structure made of braided cords reinforcing the tubular body. The braided structure is expanded in its radial direction and simultaneously contracted in its axial direction together with the tubular body when pressurized fluid is supplied into the tubular body. According to the invention the braided cords of the braided structure comprises monofilaments each having a smoothly rounded outer surface of a large radius of curvature. A protective layer may be provided between the tubular body and the braided structure or a filler such as an incompressible fluid substance having no constant shape is provided in the tubular body, or diameters of both ends of the braided structure and braided angles at both the ends are made larger than those at a substantially mid portion of the braided structure. The actuator according to the invention decreases damage of the tubular body to elongate its service life and exhibits an improved contacting performance and high fatigue strength and can greatly save air consumption to eliminate the disadvantage of much air consumption of the air-bag type actuator without adversely affecting its advantages.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takeo Takagi
  • 👤 Yuji Sakaguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 19:35
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/10; B25J9/14; B25J9/142; B25J17/00; B25J17/02; B25J17/0258; B25J17/0266; B25J17/0275; F; F15; F15B; F15B15/00; F15B15/08; F15B15/10; F15B15/103

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A pneumatic actuator comprising; a tubular body made of rubber-like elastic material, closure members sealingly closing ends of said tubular body and braided structure reinforcing an outside of said tubular body and made of braided cords of high tensile fibers, said braided structure being expanded in its radial direction and being simultaneously contracted in its axial direction together with said tubular body when pressurized fluid is supplied in a cavity of said tubular body through one of said closure members, wherein diameters of both ends of said braided structure and braided angles at both ends are made larger than those at a substantially mid portion of said braided structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A pneumatic actuator comprising; a tubular body made of rubber-like elastic material, closure members sealingly closing ends of said tubular body and braided structure reinforcing an outside of said tubular body and made of braided cords of high tensile fibers, said braided structure being expanded in its radial direction and being simultaneously contracted in its axial direction together with said tubular body when pressurized fluid is supplied in a cavity of said tubular body through one of said closure members, wherein diameters of both ends of said braided structure and braided angles at both ends are made larger than those at a substantially mid portion of said braided structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said braided cords of said braided structure comprise monofilaments each having a smoothly rounded outer surface of a large radius of curvature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 2, wherein said monofilament comprises a number of fine filaments twisted to form a bundle and a rubber-like elastomer coated on said bundle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 2, wherein said monofilament has an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein a protective layer is provided between said tubular body and said braided structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said protective layer is finely braided so as to be expansible and contractible in a tricot weave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tubular body consists of two elastic layers to form said tubular body an inner layer and an outer layer and, said protective layer formed the outer layer and made of an elastomer highly resistant to damage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein a filler is provided in said cavity of the tubular body without obstructing the expansion and contraction of the tubular body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 8, wherein said filler is an incompressible fluid substance having no constant shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 8, wherein said filler is solid grains having a grain size distribution to be filled under the densest condition. l
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
A pneumatic actuator as set forth in claim 8, wherein said filler is a bar-like elastic body flexible only in its expanding and contracting directions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE503775C Cited
US2789580A Cited
GB847656A Cited
US3086550A Cited
GB971556A Cited
US3638536A Cited
US3645173A Cited
FR2076768A5 Cited
DE2330393A1 Cited
SU631329A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-10-06 1990-04-07 1990-10-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-10-06 1994-04-07 1994-10-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-10-06 1998-04-07 1998-10-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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