US5154108A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact metallic bellows
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1990-05-17
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Granted: 1992-10-13
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Expires: 2010-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A compact metal bellows preferably for converting pressure changes into lar motion, has alternating inner and outer welds accomplished by a laser weld technique. An inner weld fixture is provided for deflecting a portion of the bellows away from the very small beam spot of the laser weld process. The compact metallic bellows of the present invention is particularly adapted for fitting into a small space and taking advantage of its equal free length and solid length to provide a spring force equal the sum of the spring force of each of the several metallic diaphragms.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon R. McClelland
- 👤 Robert J. Steele, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:08
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01B; F01B19/00; F16; F16J; F16J3/00; F16J3/04; F16J3/047; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A compact metallic bellows, comprising: a plurality of flat metallic diaphragm members, each flat metallic diaphragm member having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, either the inner diameter edges or the outer diameter edges of adjacent metallic diaphragm members welded together to form a bellows, the welded edges alternating between the inner diameter edge and the outer diameter edge; each diaphragm member having generally parallel facing surfaces and the facing surfaces of adjacent diaphragm members resting in a flat abutting relationship, whereby the bellows has a compressed length and solid height, substantially the same as its free length, and a weld joint formed to join the edge of adjacent metallic diaphragm members which weld joint has a width approximately less than or equal to the thickness of the welded metallic diaphragm members and is noninterfacing with the abutting relationship of the facing surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A compact metallic bellows, comprising: a plurality of flat metallic diaphragm members, each flat metallic diaphragm member having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, either the inner diameter edges or the outer diameter edges of adjacent metallic diaphragm members welded together to form a bellows, the welded edges alternating between the inner diameter edge and the outer diameter edge; each diaphragm member having generally parallel facing surfaces and the facing surfaces of adjacent diaphragm members resting in a flat abutting relationship, whereby the bellows has a compressed length and solid height, substantially the same as its free length, and a weld joint formed to join the edge of adjacent metallic diaphragm members which weld joint has a width approximately less than or equal to the thickness of the welded metallic diaphragm members and is noninterfacing with the abutting relationship of the facing surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A compact metallic bellows as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of flat metallic diaphragm members is an odd number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A compact metallic bellows as set forth in claim 2 wherein three flat metallic diaphragm members are provided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A compact metallic bellows as set forth in claim 2 wherein the inside diameter of at least one flat metallic diaphragm is less than the remaining flat metallic diaphragms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A compact metallic bellows as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flat metallic diaphragm members have generally circular outside diameter edges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A compact metallic bellows as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flat metallic diaphragm members have generally circular inside diameter edges.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of welding edges of adjacent flat metallic diaphragm members to manufacture a compact metallic bellows, the method comprising the steps of: securing the flat metallic diaphragm members in abutting relationship, the metallic diaphragm members having edges to be joined by welding; welding the edges so as to provide a weld joint thickness approximately equal to and no greater than the combined thickness of the metallic diaphragm members, and deflecting adjacent flat diaphragm members during the weld process.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of welding edges of adjacent flat metallic diaphragm members to manufacture a compact metallic bellows, the method comprising the steps of: securing the flat metallic diaphragm members in abutting relationship, the metallic diaphragm members having edges to be joined by welding; welding the edges so as to provide a weld joint thickness approximately equal to and no greater than the combined thickness of the metallic diaphragm members, and deflecting adjacent flat diaphragm members during the weld process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method of welding edges of adjacent flat metallic diaphragm members as set forth in claim 7, the method comprising the additional steps of: securing outer diameter edges of a first and a second adjacent metallic diaphragm members in abutting relationship for welding attachment; laser welding the outer diameter edges, thereby providing a laser welded joint in which the weld joint thickness is approximately equal to and not greater than the combined thickness of the metallic diaphragm members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method of welding edges of adjacent flat metallic diaphragm members as set forth in claim 8, the method comprising the additional steps of: securing inner diameter edges of the second and a third adjacent metallic diaphragm members in abutting relationship for welding attachment; and laser welding the inner diameters, thereby providing a laser welded joint in which the weld joint thickness is approximately equal and not greater than the combined thickness of the metallic diaphragm members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of welding adjacent flat metallic diaphragm members as set forth in claim 9, the method comprising the additional step of deflecting the first metallic diaphragm so as to expose the inner diameter edges to be welded.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-13 | 1996-04-13 | 1996-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-13 | 2000-04-13 | 2000-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-13 | 2004-04-13 | 2004-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |