LINEAR MOTION DEVICE WITH EXTENDING TUBE FOR POSITIONING

摘要

Linear motion devices that may include a band configured to be helically interlinked into a tube, where the band includes a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses that engage the plurality of protrusions to link the band with itself. The linear motion devices also include a sliding guide configured to link and unlink the band, where the sliding guide includes an outer layer, an inner layer, and a ramp between the outer and inner layers having a helical incline to support a bottom portion of the band. The linear motion devices include a driving mechanism that is in contact with the band, the driving mechanism configured to move the band through the sliding guide up the helical incline to link the band, thereby extending the tube, and to move the band through the sliding guide down the helical incline to unlink the band, thereby retracting the tube.

主权项

1. A linear motion device comprising:
a band configured to be helically interlinked into a tube, the band including a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses that engage the plurality of protrusions to link the band with itself; a sliding guide configured to link and unlink the band, the sliding guide including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a ramp between the outer and inner layers having a helical incline to support a bottom portion of the band; and a driving mechanism in contact with the band, the driving mechanism configured to move the band through the sliding guide up the helical incline to link the band, thereby extending the tube, and to move the band through the sliding guide down the helical incline to unlink the band, thereby retracting the tube.