Showing papers on "Bellows published in 2000"

Fluid metering device

Abstract: A fluid dosing device for a pressurised fluidic medium, includes a pressurised fluid chamber (13) in a housing (1), a valve needle (3) extending through the chamber (13) and having its first end (22) subjected to a stroke action outside the chamber (13 and its second end (23) forming, together with a valve seat (2) positioned on the housing (1), a valve joined to the chamber (13 A metal bellows (17) serves as the lead-in element for the first end (22) of the valve needle (3) from the chamber (13) outwards, in which the external pressure is less than internal chamber (13) pressure, the chamber being tightly hermetically sealed.

Rotor blade flap driving apparatus

Abstract: A flap is attached to a rear end of a blade so as to be angularly displaceable. Displacement magnifying means magnifies the amount of displacement from an actuator to drive the flap. An input portion to which the displacement is applied from the actuator is expandably and contractibly supported by bellows. Likewise, an output portion to which the input amount of displacement is magnified is expandably and contractibly supported by a bellows. Consequently, displacement magnifying means is realized in which, compared with a existing piston with O ring which slides on the cylinder inner wall, no deterioration in response characteristic due to high friction occurs when the actuator is displaced at high speed, and no fluid leakage due to deterioration or wear of the O ring occurs. According to this structure, a rotor blade flap driving apparatus is obtained which has displacement magnifying means with fast response and no fluid leakage.

Development and evaluation of an experimental undulating-fin device using the parallel bellows actuator

Abstract: To investigate the undulating median fin propulsion and its potential for implementation in man-made underwater vehicles, a "fin actuator" has been developed. The device consists of eight parallel bellows actuators or PBAs (fin rays) arranged in a series and interconnected via a flexible material (fin membrane). The PBAs are pneumatically driven and allow for bending movements in any orientation plane. Position data are provided by flexible electrogoniometers. The forces generated from the fin actuator undulations are measured by a pair of tri-axial force sensors. Initial testing has concentrated on 2D fin ray motions, whereby each PBA moves laterally, with the deflection angle performing a sinusoidal variation. Preliminary measurements, for a range of the propulsive waveform parameters, demonstrate reversible thrust generation and good agreement with the theoretical predictions of a momentum-based model.

Inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein

Abstract: An inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein that includes a shell, a plurality of air bladders, and an inflater. The shell is hollow and made of a flexible material so as to have both a collapsed mode when not in use and an inflated mode when in use. The plurality of air bladders line the shell entirely, are in fluid communication with each other, but independently movable relative to each other for conforming to the item. The inflator includes a flap valve that is disposed in a throughbore in the shell, and is in fluid communication with, and selectively allows inflation of, the plurality of air bladders, a nipple that replaceably extends through the flap valve, a manual valve that is attached to the nipple, a length of hose that is attached to, and is in fluid communication with, the manual valve, and a manual accordion style bellows foot pump that is attached to, and is in fluid communication with, the length off hose. When the nipple is extended through the flap valve, and the manual valve is opened, the manual accordion style bellows foot pump is repeatedly stepped on and inflates the plurality of air bladders.

Superconductive magnet including a cryocooler coldhead

Abstract: A magnet, such as an open or closed magnet, has a first assembly with at least one superconductive main coil and with a first vacuum enclosure enclosing the main coil(s). A first cryocooler coldhead has a rigid first housing and is generally vertically aligned. A first flexible bellows is vertically aligned, has a first end attached to the first housing of the first cryocooler coldhead and has a second end attached to the first vacuum enclosure of the first assembly.

Plastic bellows inserted into soles

Abstract: A plastic bellow system inserted into the sole of a shoe. The system having a first pair and a second pair of side-by-side plastic bellows in the forward portion and the rear portion of the shoe sole. The bellows placed in hollows formed in a midsole. The first pair of bellows having two convolutions with an opening formed in the lower convolution. The second pair of bellows having three convolutions with an opening formed in the lower convolution. A pneumatic valve associated with each bellows and the exterior of the midsole. The user can modify foot position by operating the valve of each bellows of the first and second pair of plastic bellows to inflate or deflate each bellows to thereby modify the volume of each bellows.

Pedestal mounted full reservoir air spring piston

Abstract: An air spring has a piston formed of a high strength plastic material consisting of a main shell and a bottom end sealing plate extending between a pair of concentric inner and outer annular walls. A pair of internal auxiliary reservoirs or subchambers are formed within the piston and are in fluid communication with each other and with the main air chamber formed by a flexible bellows extending between the piston and an end plate. A plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs extend between the inner and outer annular walls of the shell and a rigid central post. A central planar support surface having an area approximately 20% than that of the piston base area provides a reduced surface area for mounting the piston on a smaller support surface.

Accumulator and manufacturing process thereof

Abstract: Disclosed is an accumulator comprising: a pressure vessel; an elastic bellows in which a compressed gas is sealed, an end of the bellows being fixed to an interior of the pressure vessel; a flow path having an opening communicating with the interior and an exterior of the pressure vessel; a valve connected to a movable end of the bellows to operatively close the opening according to elastic motion of the bellows; and a hydraulic chamber partitioned from a gas chamber formed in an interior of the bellows containing the compressed gas. The valve comprises an upper surface which can cover the opening, and plural circular protrusions which surround the entire circumference of the opening and can closely contact the circumference of the opening.

Flexible conduit having a cylindrical knit metal wire element

Abstract: A flexible conduit includes a corrugated tubular metal bellows having a minimum inner diameter; cylindrical end fittings secured to the bellows; a metal hose disposed coaxially within the bellows and having a maximum outer diameter which is less than the minimum inner diameter of the bellows; and a free annular cylindrical space situated between the bellows and the metal hose. The cylindrical space has an outer diameter equaling the minimum inner diameter of the bellows and an inner diameter equaling the maximum outer diameter of the metal hose. The conduit further has a hollow cylindrical knit wire element positioned in the cylindrical space. The knit wire element radially fully occupies the cylindrical space without projecting radially therefrom.

Expansion joint device

Abstract: An expansion joint device, wherein both ends of an axially extendable bellows type outer tube (31) are connected liquid-tightly to a pair of connecting path end parts (20) so as to form an extendable path part (30), a tube-shaped resin film (33) not allowing fluid to pass is disposed on the internal surface of the bellows type outer tube (31), both axial end parts of that film are connected liquid-tightly to the connecting path end parts, and a tube-shaped part (34) located at the intermediate part of the tube-shaped resin film (33) covers liquid-tightly the inner surface of the bellows type outer tube (31), whereby it is prevented that the fluid flowing through the inside or foreign matter contained in the fluid remains in the inner peripheral surface recessed part of the bellows type outer tube (31) so as to ensure the sanitation and quality maintainability of the expansion joint device and, in addition to or instead of the bellows type outer tube (31), the inside and outside sleeves are overlapped slidably with each other so as to also form an expansion outer tube.

Flexible fuel filler pipe

Abstract: A molded fuel filler pipe for use in automobiles, in particular cars, comprises a one-piece structure which is blow molded. The conduit produced in the blow mold has a smooth edged tubular portion and a bellows portion which is molded at the same time. By deforming the bellows portion, flexibility in the relative location of the two ends of the conduit is provided. This eliminates taking two separate pieces and joining those pieces which may give rise to fuel vapour permeation through the joints.

Bellows seal with spring-loaded radial secondary seal

Abstract: A mechanical seal (10) of the invention includes relatively rotatable seal rings (15)(16) and a secondary seal (65) therefore. The secondary seal (65)(140) is a C-shaped spring (71)(141) loaded gasket having upper and lower gasket legs (67)(68). The gasket (65)(140) is provided between two of the seal components, for example, between an axially movable seal ring (16) and a bellows flange (97). The gasket (140) has one leg thereof confined axially to transmit axial loads between the seal ring (16) and the bellows flange (97). Also, the upper and lower gasket legs are biased axially apart by a spring (71)(141) to permit radial movement between the seal ring and the bellows flange and also accommodate different rates of thermal expansion between the seal ring (16) and bellows flange (97).

Pneumatic suspension for front axle of motor vehicle; has articulated component on air-spring cover in area near connection of axial or transverse elastomer air-spring bellows

Abstract: The suspension (1) has a pot-shaped air-spring cover, an air-spring piston (30, an axial (7) or transverse (7') elastomer air-spring bellows, a vibration damper and a chassis connection (19). An articulated component (22,22') is located on the air-spring cover in the area (A) near the air-spring bellows connection. The articulated component allows pivotal displacements when under pressure and forms a radial second air-spring loop.

Balloon-shaped structure driving apparatus and discharge/suction selector valve device used for the balloon-shaped structure driving apparatus

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon-shaped structure driving apparatus by which portions of a balloon-shaped structure can be caused to move easily and reliably and weight and cost can be reduced and a discharge/suction selector valve device. A rotating blade of the discharge/suction selector valve device is rotated to a suction operating position to connect an air outlet and an air flowing hole, to exhaust air from actuators toward a pump device, and to contract a bellows portion. At this time, the actuators pull acting portions of arm portions of a balloon robot main body, the balloon robot main body is bent at allowance portions which can be bent, and the arm portions are forcibly moved down.

Flexible dip tube for liquid dispenser

Abstract: A flexible dip tube for a liquid dispenser, the tube comprising an elongated integrally formed element having elongated end sections and an elongated intermediate section with a pair of spaced bellows defining flexible/weight portions respectively between one end section and the intermediate section and between the other end section and the intermediate section, one of the bellows functioning as a weight filled with liquid causing the tube to flex at the other end of the bellows.

Vehicle axle suspension

Abstract: The invention relates to an axle suspension for air-suspended utility vehicles and the like with which the vehicle chassis is supported by a pneumatic spring. Said spring is configured as a plunger piston assembly, is preferably cylindrical, and has a plunger piston (6) that is designated for supporting and guiding pneumatic spring bellows (5). The pneumatic spring bellows are connected via an upper mounting plate (7) to the vehicle chassis resting thereupon and are connected, e.g. via a lower base plate to the top of the plunger piston which is supported, for example, on a leaf spring assembly (1). The inventive vehicle axle suspension is characterized in that either a downward pointing collar (10) of a predetermined height is provided on the peripheral edge (20) of the mounting plate, and the pneumatic spring bellows are placed with the upper end thereof on the lower end of the collar at a corresponding distance from the primary plane of extension of the mounting plate, or the pneumatic spring bellows are fastened to the peripheral edge of the mounting plate itself and are enclosed underneath the mounting plate by at least one collar of a predetermined height.

Downhole actuator, and a flow rate adjuster device using such an actuator

Abstract: An actuator ( 14 ) designed to remain without maintenance down a well for a prolonged period comprises at least one sealing bellows ( 44 ) and preferably a compensation bellows ( 46 ) between the well fluid and an internal chamber ( 30 ) that is full of hydraulic fluid. The bellows ( 44, 46 ) serve to make it possible either to omit dynamic elastomer gaskets altogether or at least to protect them from the well environment. The actuator ( 14 ) e.g. of the electromechanical type, can serve in particular to control a valve ( 12 ) having an opening of adjustable size. Both bellows ( 44, 46 ) are advantageously made of stainless steel. They can be mounted end-to-end or they can be quite separate.

Design of a higher harmonic RF system for the Advanced Light Source

Abstract: We report on the design and fabrication of a third harmonic radiofrequency (RF) system for the Advanced Light Source (ALS) to be used for lengthening the bunch and increasing the Touschek-dominated beam lifetime. We plan to install five single-cell 1.5 GHz copper RF cavities in one-half of an ALS straight section with a predicted increase in the lifetime by a factor of 3. Each RF cell is designed to sustain a maximum voltage of 125 kV with a power dissipation of 5 kW. We present measurements made on an aluminum cavity model characterizing the RF properties of cavity such as the cavity R / Q and higher-order modes (HOMs). In particular, resonances in the cavity tuners were studied in order to avoid heating of the tuner bellows. Initial measurements of the copper cavities indicate a Q value of 21 000, resulting in a shunt impedance of 1.69 MΩ per cell.

Bellows type air spring and vehicle height adjustable suspension using the same

Abstract: The present invention provides a bellows type air spring, which includes a bellows body, and first and second end members. The bellows body has a generally hollowed cylindrical shape with upper and lower open ends and a longitudinal axis extending between the upper and lower open ends. The bellows body also defines therein an air chamber for receiving the air, thereby allowing the bellows body to be expanded and contracted along the longitudinal axis. The first end member is disposed in the lower open end for sealing the same, and defines therein a through hole for receiving a body of a shock absorber. The second end member is disposed in the upper open end for sealing the same, and defines therein a through hole for receiving a retractable rod of the shock absorber.

Pneumatic suspension system

Abstract: A pneumatic suspension system forming a McPherson strut has a pneumatic suspension pot with an integrated strut bearing, pneumatic suspension bellows made of an elastomer material, a pneumatic suspension piston, an outer guide and a damping device. The essential features of the system are: the pneumatic suspension bellows have an inclined loop whose effective diameter defined by the top and bottom extremes of the loop is substantially perpendicular to the force application line. The outer surface of the pneumatic suspension piston has cylindrical and conical parts which form a rolling contour which is not rotationally symmetrical with respect to the damping axis and which is adapted to the effective diameter of the inclined loop of the pneumatic suspension bellows in that the effective diameter is substantially parallel to the preferably rounded edges of the rolling contour. The outer guide completely surrounds the inclined loop of the pneumatic suspension bellows during both rebound and spring deflection.

Liquid dispensing valve

Abstract: A liquid valve particularly suited for dispensing of glue at high repetition rate has a solenoid-retracted pin that normally engages a valve seat to close the valve. Glue under pressure enters the chamber in which the pin operates, close to the valve seat. To seal against the flow of pressurized glue up along the pin toward the solenoid, and also to exert a light valve closing force on the pin, a thin metal bellows member is sealed and fixed to the pin near its lower end, at one end of the bellows, and to a connector within which the pin slides, at an opposite, upper end of the bellows. The geometry of the valve seat and the valve closure end of the pin is such that only a very slight retraction of the valve pin opens the valve sufficiently to deliver glue at full velocity through the valve orifice. The valve is capable of accurate glue dispensing through a wide range of operating pressure.

Double bellows vacuum operated lifting apparatus

Abstract: A vacuum operated lifting apparatus includes a piston having a pressure side and a suction side, respectively, and being movably received in a cylinder, wherein a piston shaft projects through a bottom of the cylinder from the pressure side of the piston and having a through passage for connecting the piston pressure side with the atmosphere. An axially compressible space is connected to a vacuum source for evacuation of the chamber and sealed in air-tight attachment to the piston suction side, the space being confined within the wall of a flexible bellows.

Air-spring arrangement; has oscillation damper with adaptive damping system module and protective sleeve that fits over adaptive damping system module and is secured with adapter element

Abstract: The arrangement (1) has an air-spring cover (2), an air-spring piston (3), an air-spring bellows (7), an oscillation damper (11) with an adaptive damping system module (14) and a protection sleeve (17) with a folded middle part (A) and two connection areas. The inner diameters (D1,D2) of the connection areas (B,B') of the protection sleeve are large enough to slide the protection sleeve over the adaptive damping system module. The excessive free space inside the second connection area (B') is filled by an adapter element (18). The adapter element is closed to form a ring and engages the end area (6) of the air-spring piston or a container tube of the oscillation damper.

Processing apparatus for microelectronic devices in which polymeric bellows are used to help accomplish substrate transport inside of the apparatus

Abstract: Transport system that allows in-process microelectronic devices inside a chamber to be easily moved, regardless of whether the chamber is open or sealed. Advantageously, the source of in-process device motion is located outside of the chamber, while the motion is transferred to the wafer via a polymeric bellows. Inside the chamber, there are no parts of the system that rub against other componentry. Consequently, the system generates little, if any, contaminants.

Straw having valve function

Abstract: A straw including a straw body defined therein with a passage extending throughout the length of the straw body, a bellows portion formed at a desired portion of the straw body, the bellows portion having a desired length, and a tube arranged in the bellows portion and integrally formed with the bellows portion, the tube having a desired elasticity and being configured in such a fashion that opposite inner surface portions thereof are in close contact with each other in a bent state of the bellows portion by a desired angle, thereby closing the passage of the straw body. The straw not only has a function capable of allowing the user to easily adjust the orientation of the straw, thereby easily adjusting the spouting direction of the straw upon drinking the beverage, but also has a valve function for selectively opening and closing the straw, as desired, thereby being capable of adjusting the flow rate of the beverage being spouted through the straw while keeping the taste and aroma of the beverage, preventing foreign matters from being introduced into the container, and preventing the beverage from being unintentionally spouted from the container due to an impact applied to the container.