| 摘要 |
985.003-GKP TITLE: HIGH PRESSURE FLUID DRIVEN TENSION ACTUATORS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING THEM INVENTOR: HENRY M. PAYNTER High pressure, fluid-driven tension actuators, axially contractible upon inflation by a suitable fluid such as compressed air to convert fluid pressure energy into linear contraction displacement, employ nearly spherical shell surfaces when inflated constrained by meridian and parallel elements. The inflatable shells are formed of elastomeric resilient material, and the constraining elements in certain embodiments of the invention comprise a reinforcing, tubular, knitted, fabric sleeve that axially encompasses, conforms to, and is bonded to a resilient, hollow bladder which defines a fluid chamber having at least one conduit connected at a polar location to bladder and sleeve for inflating and deflating the chamber. The parallel and meridian elements for constraining the elastomeric resilient shell include a generally square constraining pattern extending in an equatorial band around the shell upon inflation of the nearly spherical shell. The constraining elements serve to define an outer limit to spherical expansion of the bladder or shell and reinforce the bladder against rupture upon inflation by high pressure fluid, and the energy for the actuator to return to its initial formed shape is derived from the shear of each region of the shell and the bending of the elastomeric material. Constructing the high pressure tension actuators with knitted constraining elements includes the steps of pulling the knitted sleeve onto the bladder, inserting and binding the fluid conduit or conduits into their respective polar locations, inflating the assembly,coating the bladder and sleeve with bonding material, setting the bonding material, e.g. by blowing hot air on it, deflating and elongating the assembly; (as preferred optional steps the assembly is inserted into an axially fluted mold, and then the elongated assembly is reinflated so that its exterior assumes the shape of the interior of the mold), and curing the bonding material at an elevated temperature below the melting temperature of the bonding material.
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