Showing papers on "Bellows published in 1997"

Bellows driver slot valve

Abstract: A slot valve assembly (10) including a housing (11) having a central opening (19), a valve plate (32), a strongback (20) for carrying the valve plate, a pair of actuators (34, 36) for raising and lowering the strongback to position the valve plate over opening (19), and a second set of actuators (240) for moving valve plate (32) into seating engagement with housing (11). Second actuators (240) are in fluid communication with the working chambers (48, 50) of the first pair of actuators (34, 36). First actuators (34, 36) are located within housing (11) to give the housing a much shorter height.

The Bellows conjecture.

Abstract: Cauchy’s rigidity theorem states: If P and P’ are combinatorially equivalent convex polyhedra such that the corresponding facets of P and P’ are congruent, then P and P’ are congruent polyhedra. For many years it was unknown whether the same theorem was true in general for non-convex polyhedron. In 1977, more than 160 years after the work of Cauchy, Robert Connelly discovered a polyhedron P (without selfintersections) that allowed for a continuous deformation keeping the facets of P flat and congruent. It was soon noticed that the volume of Connelly’s polyhedron remained constant under the flexing motion, and the same fact was found to be true of all later-discovered flexible polyhedra. It was conjectured that this fact would hold in general, and it came to be known as the bellows conjecture. In 1995, Idjad Sabitov proved the bellows conjecture by showing that for any (oriented) polyhedron P, the volume of P is a root of a polynomial depending only on the combinatorial structure and edge lengths of P. Moreover, the coefficients of the polynomial are themselves polynomials of the squares of the lengths of the edges of P with rational coefficients, with the coefficient polynomials depending only on the combinatorial structure of P. Hence, the volume of a polyhedron P with combinatorial structure K is a finitely valued function of the edge lengths of P, and in this way the theorem may be viewed as a generalization of Heron’s formula for the area of a triangle. 1 Formulas from Antiquity Often attributed to Heron of Alexandria (though perhaps known already to Archimedes), Heron’s formula expresses the area of a triangle as a function of the side lengths. Heron’s Formula. Let T be a triangle with side lengths (a, b, c). Area(T ) = 1 4 √ (a+ b+ c)(a+ b− c)(a− b+ c)(−a+ b+ c) We all know from elementary geometry that a triangle is determined by its side lengths. With this knowledge, Heron’s formula is, perhaps, unsurprising. For quadrilaterals, we quickly observe that the side lengths do not uniquely determine the area, so there is no hope of finding a similar formula that holds in the same generality. However, if we restrict to the case of cylic quadrilaterals, i.e., quadrilaterals whose vertices all lie on a common circle, then an analogous formula does exist. Brahmagupta’s Formula. Let Q be a cyclic quadrilateral with side lengths (a, b, c, d). Area(Q) = 1 4 √ (a+ b+ c− d)(a+ b− c+ d)(a− b+ c+ d)(−a+ b+ c+ d) If we let an edge of Q have length 0, we see that Heron’s Formula appears as a special case of Brahmahgupta. It is natural to ask whether or not a similar formula exists for cyclic pentagons, hexagons, etc. Now Heron’s formula may be easily derived using nothing more than the Pythagorean theorem, and in [3], we see that Brahmagupta’s formula follows easily from Heron. Despite the relative ease of these first two cases, the formula for the cylic pentagon went unknown for over 1300 years after Brahmagupta recorded his formula for the quadrilateral. In 1994 D. P. Robbins discovered the formulas for both the cyclic pentagon and the cyclic hexagon and proved the following more general result. Theorem (Robbins [6]). For any natural number n, there exists a unique (up to sign) irreducible homogenous polynomial f (where we regard the first argument as degree 4, the rest as degree 2) with integer coefficients such that for any cyclic n-gon P , the edge lengths (a1, a2, . . . , an) and area K of P satisfy f(16K, a1, . . . , a 2 n) = 0.

Flexible fluid conduit element with a metal bellows

Abstract: To reduce turbulence in a fluid flow, especially exhaust gas from automotive internal combustion engines, within a flexible conduit element, a bellows (1, 40, 42) has an internal hose (6) located therein made of woven or knit metal wire. The hose is engaged against the internal corrugations of the bellows (1) and/or a connecting pipe (41) between adjacent bellows (40, 42) to guide the exhaust gases, and dampen vibrations and oscillations, which may become resonant with the corrugations of the bellows, and thereby decrease noise level during the gas flow. The hose (6) is engaged against the inner corrugations (3) of the bellows by, for example, first axially compressing the hose to result in permanent deformation of the wires to a diameter larger than the clear inner diameter of the bellows; by then forcing the hose into the bellows, the hose will resiliently compress and engage against the bellows. The hose, at least at one point remote from an attachment stub (4) has the wires thereof circumferentially connected so that, upon axial compression, the hose will bulge in barrel shape. More than one connection (17, 18, 20-22) of the wires may be used. The frictional engagement force may be enhanced and controlled by additional internal force spreading elements, such as springs and the like, or by formation of pimples or small bulges embossed on the outside of the hose.

Contraction-controlled bellows container

Abstract: A contraction-controlled bellows container (1) is disclosed, which can retain half or fully contracted configurations of the bellows ridges (2) whose upper walls (21) and/or lower walls (22) have at least one circumferential indentation (3) adjacent the corresponding outer hinges (23) and/or inner hinges (24). The indentations utilize the pressure applied onto the container effectively and get depressed further into the corresponding bellows ridges prior to the corresponding portions of the other walls, reducing the total pressure requirement. The indentations bring together the walls in which the indentations are provided into the bellows ridges (2). These walls are gradually turned in shape to lose their shape restoration thanks to their generally protruding configuration. Adjustment of the sizes of the indentations makes it possible to selectively contract the bellows ridges.

Device and method for determining gas volume and volumetric changes in a ventilator

Abstract: A detector for determining the volume and volumetric changes of respiratory gases in a closed circuit anaesthesia circuit having a bellows ventilator. The device includes a first sensor positioned with respect to the bellows for detecting and indicating when the bellows assumes a given expanded position in a bellows housing indicative of the given volume of respiratory gas in the circuit. A second sensor detects and indicates when the bellows assumes an expanded position indicative of the greater amount of expansion than that corresponding to the given expanded position. During respiratory cycles of the patient, indications from the first sensor in the absence of indications from the second sensor indicates that the volume of gas in the closed circuit anaesthesia circuit is not changing, but is remaining at that corresponding to the given expanded position of the bellows. Indications from both the first sensor and the second sensor indicates that the degree of expansion of the bellows is greater than that corresponding to the given expanded position and hence the volume of gas in the closed circuit anaesthesia circuit has increased. The absence of indications from both the first and second sensors indicates that the degree of expansion of the bellows is less than that corresponding to the given expanded position and that the volume of gas in the closed circuit anaesthesia circuit has decreased.

One-way actuation release mechanism for a system for applying medicament

Abstract: A medicament-dispensing system includes a cartridge for housing and actuating an accordion-like vial-dispenser for dispensing a calibrated amount of medicament by means of a single actuation motion which sequentially loads the vial-dispenser and dispenses the loaded medicament. The vial-dispenser has a front bellows portion, a rear bellows portion, an internal piston mechanism, a medicament storage chamber and a dosage cavity. The cartridge has a trigger mechanism which acts in concert with a notched lever and a wedge-shaped arm internally located in the cartridge to sequentially load the dosage cavity with medicament and discharge it. Depression of the trigger mechanism simultaneously extends, by means of the notched lever, the front bellows portion and compresses the rear bellows portion to load the dosage cavity with medicament. Once the notched lever has extended the front bellows portion a predetermined distance, the notched lever is disengaged from the front bellows portion by the wedge-shaped arm extending from the rear wall of the housing, thereby releasing the front and rear bellows portions, along with the internal piston mechanism, to return to original position and force the medicament from the dosage cavity via a nozzle of the vial-dispenser.

Respiratory nose mask

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain dislocation of a mask by a body movement, and reduce gas leakage to the minimum extent by providing a bellows-shaped elastic body between a surface where the mask is brought into close contact with a face and a frame in which the mask is installed. SOLUTION: When a bellows-shaped elastic body 7 is placed between a frame 3 and a mask 1, a peripheral shape of bellows coincides with a peripheral shape of the mask to be connected, and the contour of a recessed line or a pointed line of the bellows exists on a plane. Silicone rubber or the like being a material of the mask is used as a material of the bellows-shaped elastic body, and when it is integrally molded with the mask, a manufacturing cost is reduced, and the easily installing merits are produced. The pitch number, a distance between pitches and a thickness of the bellows are decided by the magnitude of pressure of positive pressure gas to be used, the size of the mask, a dislocation quantity and a dislocation angle to be restrained and a material to be used or the like. A height of the bellows shaped elastic body 7 is set to 10 to 30 mm, and the pitch number is desirable to be 2 to 10 pieces. A thickness of the bellows is also desirable to be 1 to 3 mm.

Device for compensating for flow resistance in a ventilator/respirator

Abstract: A device for compensating for flow resistance in an expiratory section of a ventilator system has a bellows system whose increase in volume during expiration is regulated by a regulatory device and a control unit, so that expired gas fills the bellows system. The increase in volume is regulated according to values measured for pressure so virtually complete compensation for flow resistance is attained. Pressure is measured with a first pressure gauge located by the bellows system, and a second pressure gauge located by the patient. The device can be a separate apparatus which is connectable to a ventilator, or can be totally integrated into the ventilator.

Anesthetic system with multiple valve-controlled bellows

Abstract: An anesthetic system has an external gas reservoir and three gas bellows arranged in the external gas reservoir to alternatingly collect or deliver breathing gas from and to a ventilator unit. In this manner a completely closed system is achieved with minimal consumption of, primarily, anesthetic. The bellows are regulated by a regulatory unit which, via a valve system, can selectively connect a source of drive gas to one or more of the containers in order to compress the gas bellows respectively contained therein. When no drive gas is supplied, each bellows passively expands.

Air intake system

Abstract: An air intake system for an internal combustion engine comprises an air pipe having at least one communication aperture in a pipe wall and opposite ends, and a resonator formed substantially coaxially about and spaced from an outer circumference of the air pipe and disposed substantially over the entire length of the air pipe. The resonator is connected at the opposite ends to the air pipe. The air intake system further comprises a flexible inner bellows formed at a portion of the air pipe and a flexible outer bellows formed at a portion of the resonator substantially overlying the inner bellows. The material for molding the resonator is changed at an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction of the resonator from a hard resin to a soft resin, with at least the outer bellows being formed from a soft resin.

Apparatus and method for laser welding the outer joints of metal bellows

Abstract: A laser welding machine includes an arbor for rotating a plurality of bellows diaphragms positioned together in side-by-side relation adjacent the laser. An optical tracker is provided for optically tracking a position of a rotating outer joint of the diaphragms as the arbor rotates. In addition, a low inertia beam steering mechanism is used for directing the laser beam to form a weld in the rotating outer joint responsive to the optical tracker. The laser may be an Nd:YAG, a diode laser, or carbon dioxide laser, for example. The optical tracker preferably includes a solid state camera and an illumination source positioned on opposite sides of the rotating outer joint to capture a shadow image of the joint. The welding machine may further include a processor and associated display operatively connected to the camera and to the beam steering means. The display may be used for displaying the shadow image of the rotating outer joint. The laser beam may be aligned horizontally, and indexing of joints and distance positioning for focusing the laser beam provided by an X-Y table.

Steam seal air removal system

Abstract: A turbine air sealing and condenser air removal system for use in steam plant equipment is arranged to increase steam plant efficiency, reduce oxygen concentration in condensate being returned to the steam generators, and simplify system arrangement and maintenance. This system incorporates dry running shaft seals at the high and low pressure turbine shaft glands. The turbine shaft glands are exhausted to a vacuum header which is exhausted by vacuum pumps. Air from the condenser is also exhausted to the common vacuum header. Non-rotating air seals on the turbine such as valve stem seals, which must only accommodate linear movement, can incorporate metallic bellows or conventional packings to prevent air leakage into the steam path or steam leakage out into the surrounding environment. The bellows seals may also incorporate stem glands which are exhausted to the turbine exhaust trunk to minimize the internal pressure of the bellows and prevent catastrophic failure which might occur if the bellows were to be pressurized with high pressure steam.

Method and apparatus for characterizing a specimen of semiconductor material

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the doping concentration profile of a specimen of semiconductor material. The specimen is positioned between a pair of electrodes, the specimen being disposed on one of the electrodes and being spaced form the other electrode by a nonconductive medium. In one implementation of the invention the nonconductive medium is air. A region of the surface of the specimen is illuminated with a beam of light of wavelengths shorter than that corresponding to the energy gap of the semiconductor material and which is intensity modulated at a predetermined frequency. A variable DC bias voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes, the variable DC bias voltage varying between that corresponding to accumulation and that corresponding to deep depletion for the specimen. The intensity of the light beam is low enough and the speed at which the DC bias voltage is varied is fast enough such that no inversion layer is formed at the surface of the specimen. A signal is also provided corresponding to the total capacitance between the two electrodes during the DC bias voltage sweep. A signal is provided representing the ac photocurrent induced at the region of the specimen illuminated by the light beam. The intensity of the light beam and frequency of modulation of the light beam are selected such that the ac photocurrent is nearly proportional to the intensity of the light beam. The doping concentration profile is then determined using the ac photocurrent, the total capacitance and the DC bias voltage. The apparatus includes a sensor assembly having a sensor tip which is mounted on an air bearing assembly. The air bearing assembly is suspended from a housing by a pair of bellows. In use, air is supplied to the air bearing assembly through the bellows causing the bellows to expand, lowering the sensor tip until the air bearing action stops the expansion. In another implementation of the invention, a light beam is not employed and the doping concentration profile is determined using the total capacitance, the capacitance of air, the DC bias voltage and the area of the electrode spaced from the specimen information.

Air bag against side collision

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To desirably regulate the expnsion condition of an air bag, and surely expand the air bag, eliminating any interference. SOLUTION: Gas spouting direction is controlled by connecting a bag 7 to an inflator 5 through a gas introducing portion 14 for restricting gas diffusion, wherein the bag 7 is comprised of a main body 9, a lower expanding portion 13, and an upper expanding portion 11 provided with a vent hole 16, so that the upper and lower expanding portion 11 and 13 are folded to make bellows within the main body. On expanding the air bag 7 by spouting gas from the inflator 5, at first, the expansion of the bag 7 is stared from the portion facing to an abdomen 8 where is more resistant to impact force than a breast 10 in the condition capable of absorbing the impact force, so that the expanding condition of the bag 7 is desirably controlled, resulting in the improvement in restricting an occupant 6. Further, vehicle body structure is provided not to interfere with the air bag when the upper and lower expanding portions 11 and 13 are expanded by inflating there from inside, so that the air bag 7 will be surely expanded.

Robot hand finger

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a robot hand finger capable of reducing its manufacturing cost for molding material and a core. SOLUTION: For a robot hand finger, a hollow bag shaped figer former A with the base end open and a preset length of part as a bellows 15 is molded of elastic resin and bent and deformed with the supply pressure of fluid from a fluid supply part into a hollow part to be elastically recovered with the discharge of the fluid while the base end of the finger former A is supported by a supporting member. The finger former A is molded for the bellows 15 to be formed in a circularly annular shape on all periphery of the finger former A. Liquid resin is poured therein and solidified for a groove 10 in peripheral part at the inner face side of the bellows 15 to be filled therewith into one unit. COPYRIGHT: (C)1998,JPO

Fuel dispensing apparatus

Abstract: A portable dispensing apparatus in which a fuel containing chamber is pressurized by a hand operated air pump. The fuel is dispensed by a pickup tube whose receiving end is within the chamber where it is joined to a flexible hose equipped with a bellows; the opposite end being connected to a valved handle outside the chamber and includes a nozzle for dispensing the fuel. An actuation lever pivotally mounted to the handle allows the operator to control the flow rate and velocity of emitted fuel so that even incremental amounts can be dispensed without difficulty. The flexible hose can be stored in a skirt on the handle.

Fuel supply apparatus for direct injection type gasoline engine

Abstract: A common rail delivers fuel to a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel directly into each combustion chamber of a direct injection type gasoline engine. A connected accumulator incorporates a gas-sealed type damper. A body portion of the damper can stretch and shrink by being constructed of a metallic bellows, and gas is sealed in the metallic bellows. The pressure at which the gas is initially sealed within the damper is set for 4 Mpa or more, more preferably, for 8 Mpa or more. Further, to secure suppression of a variation in normal operation fuel pressure (for example, 10-12 Mpa), the pressure at which the gas is initially sealed within the damper is set to be lower than the normal operation fuel pressure, more preferably, lower than the normal operation fuel pressure by 1 Mpa or more.

Workpiece attracting device

Abstract: A workpiece attracting device for attracting a workpiece having a curved surface has planar first and second housings securely coupled to each other by fasteners, and a suction pad made of a synthetic resin material and having a flange sandwiched between the first and second housings, and a bellows disposed in a hole defined in one of the first and second housings, the bellows being elastically deformable against the curved surface of the workpiece

Chemical supply system with a pair of bellows connected in series for pumping a fluid

Abstract: Connected to a flexible tube 13 which is expandable or shrinkable in the radial direction, are a flowpath 17 on the side of supply, which is provided therein with an on-off valve 21 on the side of supply, and a flowpath 19 on the side of discharge, which is provided therein with an on-off valve 22 on the side of discharge. A bellows 14 elastically deformable in the axial direction is disposed at the outside of the flexible tube 13 . This bellows 14 has a small bellows portion 24 and a large bellows portion 25 . An incompressible medium 43 is enclosed in a pump chamber 42 formed between the flexible tube 13 and the bellows 14 . An operating disk portion disposed between the small bellows portion 24 and the large bellows portion 25 is displaced in the axial direction, whereby the inner volume of the bellows 14 is changed, so that the flexible tube 13 is expanded or shrunk in the radial direction to carry out the pumping operation. With this arrangement, a chemical supply system simplified in construction and excellent in reliability can be provided.

Flexible pipe unit for use in exhaust pipe line of automotive engine

Abstract: A flexible pipe unit for an exhaust pipe line of an internal combustion engine comprises a metal bellows which has a front open end adapted to be connected to a first exhaust pipe and a rear open end adapted to be connected to a second exhaust pipe. A cylindrical outer case of metal is coaxially disposed about the metal bellows in a manner to define therebetween a cylindrical space. A first structure is arranged between a front end of the outer case and a front end of the bellows to achieve a mechanical connection therebetween. A second structure is arranged between a rear end of the outer case and a rear end of the bellows to achieve a mechanical connection therebetween. At least one of the first and second structures comprises a spring member by which the bellows and the outer case are resiliently connected.

Coaxial connector with bellows spring portion or raised bump

Abstract: A coaxial connector is provided which can be used in cable systems which transmit telephone and internet service in addition to traditional cable television service. The coaxial connector comprises a housing which can consist of one or several components having a central bore therethrough and a one or multiple piece insulator arranged in the central bore in the housing. The coaxial connector also includes a female center contact member which is arranged in the hollow interior of the insulator. The female contact member comprises an outer surface which defines an open mating end which is adapted to receive the center conductor pin of a mating male connector and includes a pair of double bellows spring portions which extend inwardly from the outer surface. A pair of raised bumps are arranged on the contact surface of each double bellows spring portion in order to focus the contact force provided by the double bellows spring portions.

Tire pressure indicator

Abstract: A tire pressure indicator includes a cylindrical connecter, a lamp cover combined with the connecter, and an electric conducting unit arranged in the lamp cover. The connecter has an air guide disc to press open an air valve of a tire to let air in the tire flow out into the connecter, If the air pressure in the tire is sufficient, a bellows in the connecter expands inward to push an inverted T-shaped disc inward, which then pushes inward a battery laterally put in an insulating ring so that the negative of the battery disconnected from a negative washer fitted on the inverted T-shaped disc, turning off an LED lamp fixed in the lamp cover. If the air pressure in the tire is insufficient, the bellows shrinks back, permitting the battery move back by elasticity of a spring and contact with the negative washer as to turn on the lamp.

Fuel retaining and collecting structure for an internal combustion engine high-pressure injection system

Abstract: The structure has a number of sleeves fitted about the conduits of a supply circuit supplying fuel to the injectors of an engine. Each sleeve is tubular, and has a bellows type main body, two opposite end portions, and an outlet fitting extending from one of the end portions. The sleeves are fitted to the conduits by fitting the end portions in fluidtight manner to fittings at opposite ends of the conduits. The outlet fitting of each sleeve is then connected to a catch header by a respective connecting line, which connects the inner cavity of the main body to the catch header to enable any fuel leakage from the conduits to flow into the catch header.

Gas detection system for a portable communication

Abstract: A hazardous gas detection system is integrated into a wireless communication device such as a two-way radio. The radio has housing (102) with an opening (104) for receiving external air. A bellows-like device (114) has a first side (116) which is attached to an audio speaker diaphragm (112) by a rigid interconnect element (126). A fixed second side (118) of the bellows has first and second ports, 120 and 122. Vibrations from the speaker diaphragm are transferred to the bellows, causing the bellows to expand and contract. During bellows expansion, air is sucked into a first port (120) of the bellows. As the bellows contracts, the air is forced out through a second port (122) of the bellows and directed toward a gas sensor (132) mounted on an internal surface (106) of the radio housing. A warning mechanism in communication with the gas sensor provides forewarning of dangerously high gas concentration levels.

Pneumatic spring for motor vehicles e.g. use with shock absorbers

Abstract: The shock absorber has an automatically opening check valve(15,16) installed in the region of the lower edge of the bellows(10). The check valve is formed by a number of holes(15) in the component fastening the lower edge of the bellows, and by at least one component in the form of an annular membrane(16) closing all the holes in the event of an over-pressure inside the bellows.

Valve for a system having an energy-carrying medium

Abstract: Energy exchanger valve (8) with thermostat valve (12), a housing (9) with inlet (20) and outlet (21), a thermostat bellows displaceable spindle (30) with seal (42) which, by the expansion/contraction of the thermostat bellows and against the pressure of a surrounding spring (31) can close/open an opening (27) with a seating (27a) in a transverse wall (24) between the inlet (20) and the outlet (21), and a piston (13) controlled by differential pressure for the control of a medium's differential pressure across a pre-setting (11) and a thermostat valve (12) consisting of the seating (27a) and the seal (42) between the inlet (20) and the piston (13), the thermostat valve (12) being able to cut off the flow between the inlet and the outlet independently of the pre-setting (11). With the valve (8), only a predetermined maximum amount of the energy-carrying medium flows through the energy exchangers (5). If the differential pressure is increased when the valves on a pipe length are closed, the flow in the individual energy exchangers (5) is not increased.

Transmission joint sealing boot

Abstract: A transmission joint sealing boot comprising a flexible diaphragm member having a passageway extending therethrough, a first end defining an opening, an annular second end disposed opposite the first end, a flexible arcuate section connecting the first end and the annular second end of the flexible diaphragm member, the first end further including an inner surface and an outer surface, a bellows member having a passageway extending therethrough, the bellows member including a first end defining an opening, a second end disposed opposite the first end, and an intermediate bellows segment having a convoluted section disposed between the first end and the second end and connecting the first end and the second of the bellows member, wherein the second end defines an opening for receiving the first end of the flexible diaphragm member and the second end further including an inner surface and an outer surface, a magnetically active weld sleeve having an inner surface correspondingly shaped to mate with the outer surface of the first end of the diaphragm member such that the magnetically active weld sleeve is received on and abuts against the outer surface of the first end of the diaphragm member and an outer surface correspondingly shaped to mate with the inner surface of the second end of the bellows member such that the magnetically active weld sleeve and first end of the diaphragm are received within the opening of the bellows member whereby the magnetically active weld sleeve is disposed between the diaphragm member and the bellows member such that when the magnetically active weld is exposed to an electromagnetic field of current, the magnetically active weld sleeve melts and subsequently fuses the diaphragm member, the bellows member and weld sleeve together.

Double gas seal with bellows supported by backing and support rings

Abstract: An improved gas seal having inboard and outboard seal units each defined by a pair of opposed and relatively rotatable seal faces, one face of each pair having appropriate grooves which communicate with a pressurized barrier gas, preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen. The inboard seal unit, at its other seal periphery, communicates with a process fluid being handled by a rotating equipment, namely a pump. Each seal unit has one of the seal rings, the nonrotating ring in the preferred embodiment, urged axially toward its opposed ring by a compact bellows which axially cooperates between the respective seal ring and a backing member. The bellows is positioned to create an isolation between the barrier and process fluids and to provide an effective diameter to provide desirable balance of pressures as imposed on the axially moving seal ring to optimize seal performance. The bellows at one end is connected to a support ring which is urged toward the adjacent seal ring with an annular gasket maintaining a soft sealed contact therebetween. The other end of the bellows is connected to a pressure piston which seats against a stationary gland. The process fluid urges the pressure piston into contact with the support ring to increase the sealing pressure at the gasket in the event of an improper balance between the pressures of the barrier and process fluids.

Clothes washing machine or a similar appliance having improved loading duct

Abstract: A clothes washing machine, or a similar appliance such as a washer/dryer, includes a flexible duct, such as a bellows, arranged between the opening (5) of a door (4), intended for loading and unloading the clothes, and an associated opening (8) provided on an inner washing tub (10). Peripheral folds (16), the outer end (13) and a cylindrical band (15) of the bellows (12), are made with a material having elastomeric properties and a hardness of about Shore A 20 to 30. The inner end (15) of the bellows is made with a synthetic material having a hardness of about Shore A 40 to 50. The machine is low noise. A greater unbalanced load of clothes can be tolerated since the improved bellows minimize the vibrations, generated by the inner washing tub when the machine is operated, which are transmitted to the outer cabinet of the machine. The bellows have a low manufacturing cost and are interchangeable with those of conventional construction, namely those entirely made with a material of the same hardness (Shore A 33-35 or above).

Resin-made spring and a bellows type constant volume pump using the same

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin-made spring which, although the spring is made of a resin only, has a strength similar to that of a metal-made spring, and in which the strength is hardly reduced with time and can be maintained to a desired degree for a long term, and also to a bellows type constant volume pump which uses such a resin-made spring. The resin-made spring of the invention has a configuration in which a strip-like PTFE-made sheet 21 is bent in a zigzag manner in a longitudinal direction of the sheet with providing a predetermined swelling curvature R, side faces of bent portions 21a of the predetermined curvature are in close proximity to or in contact with each other, and the bent portions 21a of the predetermined curvature are elastically expandable and contractible by means of heat holding and cooling. Such a PTFE-made spring 20 is used as a spring for a check valve on the side of a tip end portion of a discharge hole 11 of the bellows type constant volume pump.