Showing papers on "Bellows published in 1996"

Implant module unit and rotating seal for prosthetic joint

Abstract: An implantable module for use with a prosthetic joint that utilizes a bellows and a rotating seal for encapsulating the articulating members of the implant. This invention is comprised of flexible metallic bellows which serve the same function as the presently used boot, which includes containing a lubricant to decrease the wear to the articulating surfaces and preventing the lubricant or wear debris from escaping into the surrounding tissues. The implant module has the novel feature of maintaining the articulating bearing surfaces in proper alignment by utilizing a spring force from the metallic bellows to augment the function of the tendons, ligaments, and muscles that have been surgically traumatized and to prevent exposure of the articulating surfaces to excessive expansion, compression, or rotational forces. Furthermore, a thrust bearing with rotating seal is located between the flexible bellows and the neck of the implant freeing the bellows from rotational cycles, thus increasing the life of the bellows. The thrust bearing transfers the spring force from the metallic bellows to the permanent implant and prevents axial movement of the rotating seal along the neck. The thrust bearing with rotating seal can also be used to enhance the performance and longevity of non-metallic flexible members. The implant module includes the metallic bellows, the thrust bearing with rotating seal and the enclosed lubricated articulating assembly. If necessary, the implant module may be surgically removed and replaced by a new implant module without disturbing the integrity of other implantable components that are affixed to bone.

Pneumatically operated positive shutoff throttle valve

Abstract: Pneumatically operated throttle valve which provides both positive shutoff and precise flow control. The valve has a seat surrounding an orifice and a poppet movable between open and closed positions relative to the seat for controlling communication though the orifice. The poppet is urged toward one of the two positions by a spring, and the force for moving the poppet toward the other position is provided by a frictionless bellows. The poppet is provided with a needle valve for precise control of flow through the orifice, and internal heaters are provided for heating the poppet and the seat directly to prevent condensation from forming on them. The bellows in combination with a low friction bearing effectively eliminates stiction and permits precise control of the valve over its entire operating range. In one disclosed embodiment, the bellows serves as the spring which urges the poppet toward one of the two positions as well as an actuator which moves it toward the other position. The valve can be configured to be either normally open or normally closed.

Detection of bellows collapsed condition in medical ventilator

Abstract: An improved system for the determining the collapse of a bellows within a canister as part of a ventilator system for delivering breaths to a patient via a patient circuit. The system measures the pressure in the bellows canister external of the bellows and measures the pressure within the interior of the bellow. A processor compares the pressures and determines when the pressure within the canister exceeds a predetermined offset in excess of the pressure within the interior of the bellows to conclude that the bellows is in a collapsed condition. In the preferred embodiment, the processor also uses, as input data, the flow delivered by the ventilator to the bellows canister to determine that offset value. When a bellows empty condition is determined, various actions can be taken, among them to signal an alarm and also to change various functions of the ventilator to prevent further difficulties in the overall system. In addition, the recognition of a bellows collapsed condition and an alarm or remedial action provides a safety measure to the patient in the event the pressure sensor that measures the pressure in the patient breathing circuit is missing or fails to a zero level.

Method and apparatus for advancing tethers

Abstract: A tether puller for advancing a tether through a channel may include a bellows assembly having a leading end fixedly attached to the tether at a first position and a trailing end fixedly attached to the tether at a second position so that the leading and trailing ends of the bellows assembly are located a substantially fixed distance apart. The bellows assembly includes a plurality of independently inflatable elements each of which may be separately inflated to an extended position and deflated to a retracted position. Each of the independently inflatable elements expands radially and axially upon inflation. An inflation system connected to the independently inflatable elements inflates and deflates selected ones of the independently inflatable elements to cause the bellows assembly to apply a tractive force to the tether and advance it in the channel.

Apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of an integrated circuit under test

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of a heat generating device. The invention is particularly adaptable to controlling the temperature of an integrated circuit under test. In one embodiment the invention involves the use of a bellows having a heat slug disposed at one end that is adapted to engage a surface of the heat generating device. The bellows is compliant and includes a cavity containing a heat transfer medium. The bellows cavity is in fluid communication with a heat transfer medium reservoir. Heat is transferred from the heat generating device by engaging the heat slug with a surface of the heat generating device and applying a force to the bellows. The compliant nature of the bellows provides the temperature control apparatus with a self-planarizing feature that maximizes the contact surface area between the heat slug and heat generating device.

Semiconductor wafer polishing machine and method

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer polishing machine and method are described in which a motor driven rotating spindle is coupled to the wafer carrier by a flexible coupling element. The carrier is releasably attached to a load transfer plate by a vacuum pressure chamber to enable removal of the carrier for loading and unloading of wafers prior to and after polishing. The motor and spindle together with the load transfer plate and carrier are moved between and raised rest position and a lowered polish position by a positioning cylinder. A load pressure bellows applies a polishing load force to the load transfer plate through an air lubricated thrust bearing to urge the wafers on the carrier against a rotating polishing table for polishing the wafers. The air bearing isolates the load force of the bellows from the rotational force of the spindle and allows sliding movement of the load plate relative to the bellows. The carrier, load transfer plate and the polishing table may all be made of rigid foam material, such as metal or ceramic, in order to reduce the mass and weight of these elements while providing them with a strong rigid construction.

Air spring leg with telescopic component formed as shock absorber

Abstract: The telescopic component has a cylinder in which is inserted a piston and combined with is a variable vol. air chamber, which is enclosed by a first housing part with spinning movement and connected to the piston, a second housing part held on the cylinder, and a bellows arranged between the two housing parts. The cylinder-side housing part (3) with its end remote from the bellows is arranged with spinning movement on the cylinder of the telescopic component (4). On the cover of the cylinder of the telescopic component a flange-type collar (6) is arranged, which via a ring part (5) of elastomer material is connected with spinning movement to a flange-type ring are on the cylinder-side housing part.

Flexible connection tube for automotive exhaust system

Abstract: A flexible connection tube for an automotive exhaust system comprises a flexible metal bellows (1) connected between a run of exhaust piping for absorbing expansion or contraction of the exhaust piping, and an outer knitted metal-wire braid (2) covering the outer periphery of the bellows for protecting the bellows from damage and for preventing the bellows from stretching to its full length. The outer knitted metal-wire braid is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by knitting plural metal-wire bundles (each bundle being produced by a plurality of parallelly bonded metal wires) alternately with each other in spiral directions with respect to the axial direction of the bellows. Apertures (4) are defined by many groups of four adjacent metal-wire bundles (2a) knitted alternately with each other. A total opening area of all of the apertures is set within a range of 20 % to 50% with respect to an over-all area of a curved surface of the outer knitted metal wire braid, for providing a substantially cylindrical low-density knitted outer metal wire braid.

Voice coil motor with air guide and air bellows

Abstract: A voice coil motor has a flux return housing with at least one magnet and a soft iron cantilevered core. A coil holder, including an electrical coil spaced from magnet, is telescoped over the core with an air gap between the sides of the coil holder and the sides of core. The coil holder has an open end and a closed end forming with the distal end of the core a pressurized air bellows, which can vertically support a payload such as a Z-axis motion stage. The coil holder is telescopically movable with respect to the core along the air gap supplied with pressurized air through longitudinal air ducts in the core and through transverse orifices extending from the ducts to the air gap. A regulator is connected to a core central bore for adjusting pressure in a bellows chamber between the coil holder closed end and the distal end of the core for supporting the payload.

Vacuum indicator for a bottle

Abstract: A bottle includes a cap secured on top and having a pipe extended upward and communicating with the interior of the bottle. A pump device is disposed on the cap for vacuuming the bottle. A bellows member is engaged on the pipe and includes a lower end secured to the cap and an enclosed upper end. A cover is engaged on the cap and includes an aperture for allowing the enclosed upper end of the bellows member to move upward beyond the cover. The enclosed upper end of the bellows member may be moved downward for indicating a vacuum status of the bottle when the bottle is vacuumed by the pump device.

Pressure relief tire valve

Abstract: A pressure relief tire valve for inflating a tire wheel assembly has a tire inflation valve body having a chamber therein with openings through the top and bottom ends thereof and having a relief opening formed in the tire valve body. An inflation valve having a spring loaded central core to allow to pass inward is located in the tire valve body adjacent the tire inflation valve body top end for inflating the tire therethrough. An overpressure valve is located in the tire valve body for releasing air from the tire when the air pressure in the tire exceeds a predetermined level. The overpressure valve has a valve seat and valve element biased against the valve element by a compression for maintaining the valve element in a closed position until the predetermined air pressure is reached in the tire and to allow the valve element to open to release air through the valve body relief opening when the air pressure in the tire and to allow the valve element to open to release air through the valve body relief opening when the air pressure in the tire exceeds the predetermined pressure. A heat variable bellows supports the compression spring and is responsive to changes in temperature of the air in the tire so that the overpressure valve can prevent overinflating the tire as well as loss of tire pressure upon an increase of air pressure in the tire from an increase in temperature of the air in the tire.

Tuned mass damper with tunable damping and antifriction rolling mass

Abstract: A container (12, 112) with an inside surface and a mass (10, 110) mounted for oscillation in the container (12, 112) with a pair of bellows (150, 180) in the container (12, 112) each having a bias spring (156, 186) therein and a removable end (146, 172) to expose the interior of the bellows (150, 180) to exchange the spring (156, 186) for easy tuning of the damping characteristics and a plurality of balls (132, 134, 136, 138), one each positioned in a plurality of troughs (122, 124, 126, 128) around the periphery of the mass (10, 110) proximate the ends there to bear against the inside surface so as to provide low friction oscillation of the mass (10, 110) in the container (12, 112).

Hand held steam dispensing hair-care apparatus

Abstract: What is disclosed is a hand-held steam dispensing apparatus having a removable water reservoir, the reservoir containing a diaphragm dividing the reservoir into a large chamber and a small chamber wherein water from the large chamber may flow quickly into the small chamber, but water in the small chamber is restricted from flowing into the large chamber, a spring biased bellows pump with two one-way valves for allowing water to be pumped out of the bellows into a heating enclosure when the bellows is compressed and for allowing water to fill the bellows when the bellows expands. The heating chamber is coated to cause the water to form a thin film whereupon the water is heated to form hot water vapor which then expands through a barrel into a perforated tube. The water vapor passes out of the perforations to provide hot water vapor to a user's hair.

Self-pumping air suspension spring mounted on a shock absorber assembly

Abstract: Self-pumping air suspension spring for a motor vehicle, comprising a roller bellows, which form a spring chamber, a spring carrier which consists of a cylinder and a piston rod (which piston rod can move axially in the cylinder, whereby the roller bellows are functionally connected to the cylinder and the piston rod), a vestibule with at least one connection to the spring chamber and at least one connection to the air reservoir, which can be of any appropriate type. In the event of a movement of the piston rod, there is a pumping action via the vestibule in connection with at least one non-return valve in the spring chamber, whereby the vestibule is located inside the spring chamber enclosed by the roller bellows and the cylinder. At least one of the components of the air suspension spring executing the pumping action is formed by the piston rod. It is appropriate if the cylinder is used in conjunction with a vibration damper which is part of an air suspension spring.

Design studies on a vacuum bellows assembly with radio frequency shield for the KEK B factory

Abstract: A bellows assembly with a radio frequency (rf) shield has been designed and developed for the KEK B factory (KEKB). The rf shield is the usual finger type but has a special spring finger to press contact fingers onto the beam tube. A test of the mechanical performance using a trial model shows good results. Further experimental studies are focused on the two key points of the finger‐type rf shield, that is, the contact force of fingers and the length of slits between adjacent fingers. First, to reduce the excess abrasion at contact points, the necessary contact force is studied experimentally utilizing microwaves. Abnormal heating is checked by transmitting a 508 MHz cw microwave through a trial model in a coaxial line. Arcing at the contact point in vacuum is observed by transmitting a 2856 MHz pulse microwave in a rectangular waveguide equipped with a model piece of the rf shield. A contact force of 50 g/finger is found to be necessary. Second, the optimum slit length is studied with a strategy to minimize the higher order mode (HOM) power leaked from the beam tube into the inside of the bellows while keeping a sufficient sliding stroke. The coupling coefficient, β, of the rf shield is measured experimentally from the Q value of a TE mode resonance in a cylindrical cavity connected to the bellows assembly. Using the measured dependence of β on the slit length, a rough estimation of leaked HOM power is tried for the KEKB. The expected leaked power is about 6–18 W for a slit length of 20 mm, which is in the allowable range. The results obtained through these experiments are reflected to the design for the KEKB: the contact force of 80–100 g/finger will be adopted finally considering the manufacturing error of typically ±10 g/finger in our test and leaving a margin for higher frequencies. The nominal slit length will be set to be 20 mm, keeping the expansion/contraction of ±10 mm.

Method and equipment for dosing small amounts of liquid quantitatively

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for quantitatively dosing small amounts of liquid, especially in clinical or other similar wet-chemical analyzers. The dosing employs a liquid space, the volume of which can be changed and which is connected to a dosing channel so that, by increasing or decreasing the volume of the liquid space, a suction or an injection through the dosing channel is achieved. The liquid space is formed by flexible bellows which are freely movable back and forth to provide the reversible deformations which change the volume of the liquid space. The movements are effected using an actuator which is connected to the bellows without transmissions containing sliding surfaces. The actuator comprises precisely repeatable positions and is calibrated according to the invention by measuring the sizes of the dosages produced by the movements between the positions. The dosing is effected after that by selectively repealing the calibrated movements. The actuator can be formed by a stepper motor, and a cam shaft rotated by the stepper motor propelling the bellows back and forth. The nonlinear interdependent relationship between the rotation of the shaft and the change in the volume of the liquid space makes possible a wide range of calibrated dosage sizes.

Strain monitoring system

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for detecting deformation in solids in deep holes having a resilient vessel (12) pre-stressed into a rock formation. The vessel (12) is filled with fluid (14) and is sealed except for an outlet tube (16) of small diameter which extends all the way to, or close to, the surface (18). There the outlet tube (16) terminates in an extensible bellows (20). The whole apparatus is completely filled with fluid (14). Any deformation of the vessel (12) will cause fluid to be forced through the outlet tube (16) and so cause the bellows (20) to extend or contract. This motion can be monitored by any position-sensitive transducer (22) such as a linear variable differential transformer or capacitance bridge. A second tube (24) of the same length and size as the outlet tube (16) is filled with the same fluid. This tube (24) terminates at the bottom in close proximity to the resilient vessel (12). It also has a bellows (26) and a displacement transducer (28) at its upper end at the surface (18).

Exhaust gas manifold for an internal combustion engine and method of making such exhaust gas manifold

Abstract: An exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine with at least two cylinders includes at least two adjacent connection branches which are interconnected by collection pipe sections having an expansion compensating bellows for accommodating differential thermal expansion therebetween and a gas flow guide pipe structure which extends into the bellows At least one of the collection pipe sections comprises a multi-layered pipe wall with which the expansion compensating bellows is integrally formed

Collapsible steering column

Abstract: A collapsible steering column includes a bellows tube with a corrugated portion in which the radius varies regularly along the length of the tube. A connective portion is located at both ends of the bellows tube, and transfer portions are located between each of the connective portions and the corrugated portion. By inserting a reinforcement into the end portion of the bellows tube, the strength and rigidity of the connective portion increases. Press forming, stamp forming, rivet forming, and/or adhesive methods are applied to connect the end portion of the bellows tube and the reinforcement.

Flexible connection arrangement for connecting a pipe of an exhaust system to an engine, especially in a motor vehicle

Abstract: A flexible connection arrangement for connecting a pipe of an exhaust system to an engine is provided at one of its axial ends with a fastening flange and at its other axial end with a connection piece for the end of the pipe to be received. The connection piece and fastening flange are connected with one another via a helical spring. A metallic bellows and a damping insert which extends coaxially to the bellows, encloses the bellows radially externally and contacts the turns of the bellows are provided between the connection piece and the fastening flange. The helical spring is connected at both of its axial end regions with the connection piece and fastening flange, respectively. The connection at the fastening flange is effected via two fastening locations, one of which lies at that end of the helical spring, while the second fastening location is arranged so as to be offset to the first fastening location by an angle of 45° to 53°. The first fastening location viewed in the winding direction of the helical spring lies at an angle in the range of 10° to 20° in front of a radial tilt axis running vertical to the longitudinal axis of the connection arrangement, the connection arrangement being tilted about this tilt axis when used in the prescribed manner.

Air suspension unit for motor vehicle

Abstract: The unit has a single or many folded elastomeric bellows (11) with a diameter (dE) at its circular connection ring (13,16) to the vehicle body greater than the effective mean diameter (dwr) of a lower rolling bellows (21). The limits to the deformation of the rolling bellows are formed from the lowest surface (25) of its guide (19) and the exterior flange (26) of the cylindrical support member (23). The stiffness and thickness of the rolling bellows is less than that of the folded bellows. In the equilibrium state any small undulations in road surface cause movement in the unit principally by reaction of the rolling bellows. By larger movements the stiffer folding bellows come into action as the limits to movement of the rolling bellows are reached.

Peep control for bellows ventilator

Abstract: An improved system for the control of PEEP in a medical ventilator system having a ventilator and a bellows contained within a bellows canister. A pop-off valve that normally vents excess pressure within the bellows to atmosphere is modified such that its exhaust is vented to a predetermined pressure above atmospheric pressure, such as the PEEP pressure. In the preferred embodiment, that predetermined pressure is the pressure within the ventilator drive gas conduit that transmits the gas from the ventilator to drive the bellows and the exhaust from the pop-off is effectively isolated from that drive gas conduit to avoid contaminating the gas within that drive gas conduit.

Bellows, as well as air suspension system and axle lift system

Abstract: of EP0742113An air suspension system for a road vehicle, comprising an axle (6) having a trailing arm (3) close to each end, which trailing arms are each mounted on a spring hanger (2) which is attached to the chassis (1) of the road vehicle, a bellows (8) being provided between each trailing arm and the chassis, which bellows has a bellows rubber which is attached by means of a fixed fitting (11) to either the trailing arm or the chassis, and interacts in a disengaging manner with the other of these by means of a seating which permits only the transmission of compressive forces. The bellows rubber interacts, close to the seating, with positioning means (13) for holding the bellows rubber in a predetermined position.

Method for blow molding a CVJ boot

Abstract: A blow molded product which is generally tubular having first and second open ends and, a bellows section intermediate said first and second ends so that said product is flexible, has a skirt adjacent one of said first and second ends. The bellows section is formed in a blow molding operation and the skirt section is formed by compression molding. A preferred embodiment of the product has a rib extending internally of the wall of the blow molded section to strengthen the transition region between the bellows section and the compression compresses the steps of confining a parison in a mold and then introducing a core into the parison in the mold. The core moves thermoplastic material axially and possibly also radially and circumferentially. This process enables molding of a product with an external surface which may be substantially cylindrical with an internal surface which has lobes, ribs or other internal projections.

Air-spring leg

Abstract: An air-spring leg is disclosed having a telescopic element preferably in the form of a shock absorber and having an air chamber of variable volume which is combined with said telescopic element. A casing part is connected for wobbling movement to the cylinder of the telescopic element and also another casing part is provided capable of wobbling movement relative to the piston or piston rod of the telescopic element. A bellows is arranged between these casing parts.

Pressure balanced bellows seal

Abstract: A pressure balanced bellows seal for a valve or pump is disclosed. The bellows seal includes a seal bellows assembly which is operatively and sealingly attached to the valve stem, a counterbellows assembly which is substantially concentric with the seal bellows assembly, a midplate which operatively joins the seal bellows assembly and the counterbellows assembly in an end-to-end arrangement, and an inert fluid within the cavity formed by the seal bellows assembly and the counterbellows assembly and which is moveable therebetween to compensate for volumetric changes resulting from the axial movement of the valve stem. The inert fluid balances the pressure of the process fluid and distributes it substantially uniformly against the seal bellows assembly and the counterbellows assembly thus substantially eliminating any pressure stresses within the bellows assemblies.

Chemicals supplying device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chemicals supplying device featuring a simple structure and excellent reliability. SOLUTION: A supplying side passage 17 on which a supplying side opening and closing valve 21 is provided and a discharging side passage 19 on which a discharging side opening and closing valve 22 is provided are connected to a flexible tube 13 capable of being freely and elastically expanded and contracted in the radial direction, and a bellows 14 capable of being freely and elastically deformed in the axial direction is arranged outside the flexible tube 13. This bellows 14 is provided with a small bellows part 24 and a large bellows part 25, and an incompressible medium 43 is filled in a pump chamber 42 between the flexible tube 13 and the bellows 14. An operating disk part between the small bellows part 24 and the large bellows part 25 is axially displaced, the volume inside the bellows 14 is changed, and therefore, the flexible tube 13 is radially expanded and contracted, and the pump operation is performed.

Blocking device for air through aperture

Abstract: The device is intended esp. for a car shock absorber and contains at least an element (4) so expansible, as to cover the entire cross-section of the air through aperture. Pref. the element is expansible under the supply of a gaseous medium, pref. air. Typically a bellows is used as the expansible element, symmetrically designed w.r.t. its centre axis (5). Alternatively the bellows is of asymmetric design with folds at one side only. The expansible element may be a hose, coating with a swivelable flap.

Electron linear accelerator

Abstract: PURPOSE:To eliminate electric discharge or damage in a high frequency window or a bellows due to microwave power so as to apply the large microwave power into an acceleration tube by directly connecting the acceleration tube and a klystron by a vacuum waveguide. CONSTITUTION:An electron beam accelerator is composed of an electron gun 31, an acceleration tube 32, and a klystron system 33. The system 33 includes a klystron 34, a klystron tank 35, and a control power source 36. The klystron 34 and the microwave application port 32a of the acceleration tube 32 are directly connected by a vacuum waveguide 1, whereon an ion pump 42 is provided via an exhaust tube 2. Consequently, a bellows, a high frequency window, and an optical sensor conventionally provided are dispensed with to eliminate electric discharge or damage caused in them, allowing application of microwave power larger than conventional into the acceleration tube 32.