Showing papers on "Bellows published in 2013"

Folding behaviour of Tachi-Miura polyhedron bellows.

Abstract: In this paper, we examine the folding behaviour of Tachi–Miura polyhedron (TMP) bellows made of paper, which is known as a rigid-foldable structure, and construct a theoretical model to predict the mechanical energy associated with the compression of TMP bellows, which is compared with the experimentally measured energy, resulting in the gap between the mechanical work by the compression force and the bending energy distributed along all the crease lines. The extended Hamilton's principle is applied to explain the gap which is considered to be energy dissipation in the mechanical behaviour of TMP bellows.

A MEMS electrochemical bellows actuator for fluid metering applications

Abstract: We present a high efficiency wireless MEMS electrochemical bellows actuator capable of rapid and repeatable delivery of boluses for fluid metering and drug delivery applications. Nafion®-coated Pt electrodes were combined with Parylene bellows filled with DI water to form the electrolysis-based actuator. The performance of actuators with several bellows configurations was compared for a range of applied currents (1–10 mA). Up to 75 boluses were delivered with an average pumping flow rate of 114.40 ± 1.63 μL/min. Recombination of gases into water, an important factor in repeatable and reliable actuation, was studied for uncoated and Nafion®-coated actuators. Real-time pressure measurements were conducted and the effects of temperature, physiological back pressure, and drug viscosity on delivery performance were investigated. Lastly, we present wireless powering of the actuator using a class D inductive powering system that allowed for repeatable delivery with less than 2 % variation in flow rate values.

Micromachined piezoelectric spirals and ultra-compliant packaging for blood pressure energy harvesters powering medical implants

Abstract: This paper introduces a novel energy harvesting technique and an associated packaged device aimed at powering intracardiac active medical devices by scavenging energy from ordinary blood pressure variations. We present the innovative concept of a micro-bellows packaged implant that deforms due to cyclic blood pressure variations in the cardiac cavities. This bellows transmits stresses on a spiral-shaped piezoelectric transducer that converts mechanical deformations into electric energy. The particular shapes of the different components (bellows and spiral) are designed to dramatically increase the mechanical energy that is harvested. The miniature bellows design, fabrication through electrodeposition for high compliance and hermeticity, and experimental characterization are presented. The specific challenges that arise in spiral shapes piezoelectric harvesters working in bending mode are discussed and we present a method to predict the non-trivial optimal electrode placements for maximum efficiency. This design process is completed by an associated microfabrication method and three types of piezoelectric bimorph spiral samples with doubled-sided microstructured electrode patterns are presented. The experimental performances of these prototypes are confronted to numerical simulation. A power of 4.15 μW/cm3 at 1.5 Hz has been obtained for the best design and we predict that tens of micro-Watts per cubic centimeter could be obtained using similar design process and material.

Piezoelectric Deflection Sensor for a Bi-Bellows Actuator

Abstract: We employ a piezoelectric transducer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for a new application: tracking the shape of a highly flexible cantilever. The sensor was attached to the bi-bellows, a pneumatic actuator developed by the authors. We demonstrate how the sensor responds to changes of the actuator's shape and discuss its limitations. The combination of an internal pressure sensor and a PVDF sensor enables measurements of external forces applied on the actuator, in addition to its self position.

Bellows syringe fluid delivery system

Abstract: A bellows assembly for a fluid delivery system is a multi-component device that includes a cylindrical pressure jacket and a bellows syringe that is received within the pressure jacket. The bellows syringe includes a cap member and a bellows member. The bellows syringe in one embodiment is adapted to be secured to the pressure jacket by the cap member. The cap member is formed with a discharge port, which may be formed as conventional luer fitting. The discharge port is disposed coaxially within an annular wall on the outward facing side of the cap member and may be recessed within the annular wall. The bellows member is a hollow body that includes a series of bellows sections or rings. A distal end of the bellow member is formed with a discharge neck terminating in a discharge port, and the proximal end is formed with a closed end wall.

Flexible tube for exhaust pipe of automobiles

Abstract: A flexible tube for an exhaust pipe of an automobile includes a bellows member having corrugations thereon; an interlocking member positioned in the bellows member with a predetermined gap from the bellows member and having a spiral groove formed thereon to absorb deformation; a braid member positioned to surround the outside portion of the bellows member and braided to be flexibly deformed with a large displacement with respect to a displacement and tension in a compression direction; cap members coupled for fixing the braid member on the outside of the both ends of the bellows member; and intermediate members formed in the shape of a ring and having one end fixed to the bellows member and the other end fixed to the interlocking member by overlapping the interlocking member inwards, wherein the bellows member has protrusion portions, a center part and both end parts.

Rice quality online nondestructive testing device based on hyperspectral imaging

Abstract: The utility model discloses a rice quality online nondestructive testing device based on hyperspectral imaging, comprising a camera bellows, a movable platform for placement of a rice sample and arranged in the camera bellows, a light source used for emitting testing light to the rice sample and arranged in the camera bellows, an image collection module used for collecting spectrum and images of the rice sample, an extending arm arranged in the camera bellows and a control unit for receiving the signal from the image collection module to calculate the rice quality, wherein the optical axis of the testing light and the horizontal plane have an included angle of 45-80 degrees; and the image collection module is arranged at the free end of the extending arm. The rice quality online nondestructive testing device based on hyperspectral imaging disclosed by the utility model can simply and rapidly detect the interior and exterior quality of rice without destruction and with high testing efficiency and good accuracy.

Air spring piston for a heavy-duty vehicle

Abstract: An air spring piston for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a bumper and a connecting means for an air spring bellows. The bottom portion is mounted on a structure of the vehicle. The top portion and bottom portion are connected to each other to form a piston chamber and include a bearing means for reacting bumper forces from the bumper to the bottom portion and to the structure of the vehicle on which the bottom portion is mounted. The piston chamber is in fluid communication with a bellows chamber of the air spring via an opening, wherein the geometry of the opening is such that during dynamic spring movements, the pressure in the piston chamber and the pressure in the bellows chamber are not equalized.

Flexible bellows igniter seal

Abstract: A flexible bellows assembly is disclosed for sealing an engine igniter for use with an engine. The bellows assembly includes a mounting arrangement that is operable to be secured to a combustor diffuser instead of the combustor liner. The bellows has a component that impinges upon a surface of the combustor liner so as to form a sealed chamber between a metal diffuser and a ceramic combustion liner. An igniter passes through the sealed chamber and provides ignition to the combustor.

Corrosion and deposition protected valve apparatus and method

Abstract: An expandable and contractible shield around a bellows in a valve protects the bellows from corrosive gases and solid particles in the valve chamber. In a manifold valve assembly with multiple outlet ports and multiple valves in a common valve chamber, a respective expandable and contractible shield around each respective bellows of each respective valve in the assembly separates each bellows from corrosive gases and solid particles in the common valve chamber regardless of whether one or all of the valves in the assembly is opened or closed.

Solar heat collection tube

Abstract: A solar heat collection tube includes a center metal tube that allows a heat medium to flow therethrough, a glass tube that covers the outer circumference of the center metal tube to form an annular void between the glass tube and the center metal tube, and an absorber configured to absorb a difference in the thermal expansion between the center metal tube and the glass tube. The absorber has a connection cylinder and metal bellows. The metallic bellows are connected in series by the connection cylinder. The bellows are arranged to overlap in the radial direction with the connection cylinder located therebetween.

Composite device for space environment simulation vacuum equipment

Abstract: A composite device for space environment simulation vacuum equipment comprises an aluminum cylinder, refrigerant pipes, insulation heating bands, a temperature switch and a thermocouple, wherein the aluminum cylinder is arranged in a vacuum chamber; the refrigerant pipes are distributed on the surface of an external wall of the aluminum cylinder and connected with bellows; the bellows are connected with a refrigerator arranged outside the vacuum chamber; the insulation heating bands are connected with an insulation heating band power supply and distributed on the surface of an external wall of the aluminum cylinder; the temperature switch is arranged on the surface of the external wall of the aluminum cylinder; and the thermocouple is arranged above the surface of the external wall of the aluminum cylinder and connected with a temperature control meter. The composite device has the benefits that the device integrates three functions, namely high and low temperature heat sink, total cross-section faraday and high-temperature infrared baking, is simple in structure, economical and practical, saves the space, and can lower the fabrication cost and operating cost of the vacuum equipment.

Fluidic solar actuator

Abstract: A solar actuator comprises a top coupler, a bottom coupler, and a plurality of fluidic bellows actuators, wherein a fluidic bellows actuator of the plurality of fluidic bellows actuators moves the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler.

Billow packing assembly and anti-particle injector using this

Abstract: PURPOSE: A bellows packing assembly and a safety filter syringe using the same are provided to perform filtering using a pressure difference by the stroke of a piston. CONSTITUTION: A bellows packing assembly comprises a body part which is made of a soft silicone, is formed with an inner space, and has outlets on the upper part thereof, and a bellows packing (30) which is divided into supports which are extended downward from the bottom of the body part. The bellows packing comprises a bushing (40) which is formed with an inner space and has one end connected to the inner upper side of the body part, and a filter (20) which is supported on the other side end of the bushing and filters foreign materials mixed with an injection solution.

Pipettes and a pipette actuating system

Abstract: H:\m\intIeov enNRPrbl\DCC\MAS\7231712_l doex-12/8/2014 A pipette includes a dispensing piece and a separately formed and attached discrete bellows piece The dispensing piece includes a dispensing end through which liquid enters 5 or leaves the interior of the dispensing portion and a connecting portion which receives a corresponding connection portion at the lower end of the bellows piece The bellows piece includes a bellows portion having a plurality of circumferentially extending folds at intervals along the axis of the device The bellows portion defines a closed end wall against which an axial force may be applied to compress the bellows portion The bellows 10 portion does not extend the entire length of the bellows piece The pipette is arranged such that liquid may enter not only the dispensing piece but also the lower part of the bellows piece in use The folds of the bellows piece are arranged to avoid liquid being trapped in the folds when the bellows piece is compressed axially

New Volume Change Mechanism Using Metal Bellows for Buoyancy Control Device of Underwater Robots

Abstract: We propose a new volume change mechanism using a metal bellows for a buoyancy control device of underwater robots and vehicles. Our proposed buoyancy control method utilizes the volume change caused by the phase-change of materials. We chose paraffin wax as a phase-change material because its volume change exceeds other candidates. Our proposed device consists of a metal bellows and an aluminum housing that contains paraffin wax and water. The paraffin wax is heated and cooled by a nichrome wire and a peltier device. We conducted two experiments and confirmed that the heat sink in the aluminum housing increases the speed of the buoyancy change and that the thickness of the air layer is crucial for efficient insulating. Then, we built a prototype robot with the four devices and confirmed that the robot can change its buoyancy up to its maximum value.

External-pressure type bellows globe valve with non-rotating valve rod

Abstract: The utility model provides an external-pressure type bellows stop valve with a non-rotating valve rod. The stop valve comprises a valve body, a valve plug, special metal bellows, a valve base, a valve cover, a flange, packing, the valve rod, an adjustor, a valve rod nut and a shaft sleeve. The external-pressure type bellows stop valve is characterized in that the two ends of the special metal bellows are in welded seal fit with the valve plug and the flange and the valve plug is in threaded connection with the valve rod, so that a bellows assembly is formed; the bellows assembly is disposed in the valve base, metal seal rings are disposed above and below the flange, and the valve cover is in threaded fit with the valve base and tight seal therebetween is formed; the valve base is provided with a metal seal ring at the lower portion and is in threaded fit with the valve body for seal; the packing is disposed in the valve cover and between the valve cover and the valve rod and the adjustor is screwed into the valve cover and tightly presses the packing for seal; a bearing base is installed in the adjustor, two sides of the step of the valve rod nut are circumferentially provided with steel balls, the valve rod nut can be rotated easily and smoothly and located axially by adjusting the shaft sleeve, and the upper end of the valve rod nut is provided with a handle or a hand wheel; and the valve rod and the valve plug are driven to move linearly and vertically through rotation of the hand wheel, and the multiple seal protection of the opening and closing of the valve is achieved.

Design of Stiffness for Air Spring Based on ABAQUS

Abstract: In this paper, an axisymmetric finite element (FE) model of an air spring was carried out with the software ABAQUS to design its target vertical stiffness. The bellows was simulated by the reinforced surface element. The compressed gas in the cavity of the air spring was represented by the hydrostatic fluid element. The target stiffness is obtained by modifying the valid area of the cross section. At last, the results of experiment coincided well with the simulation data. The study shows that the static stiffness of air spring is sensitive to the effective area of the cross section. The conclusion has certain practical significance for the design and the optimization of the same kind of air spring.

Fitting up and welding method of major-diameter thin-wall stainless steel bellows

Abstract: The invention discloses a fitting up and welding method of major-diameter thin-wall stainless steel bellows, and belongs to the technical field of metal welding methods The fitting up and welding method of the major-diameter thin-wall stainless steel bellows is used for improving welding quality of inner cover major-diameter bellows of a cover type annealing furnace The technical scheme is that the method adopts the following steps that single-face V-shaped grooves are processed on the end faces of two bellows in abutting joint with each other; inner supporting and round adjusting are carried out on the connector positions of major-diameter bellows; location before welding is carried out; point welding fitting up is carried out on two major-diameter bellows; inner side welding seams are welded by using argon arc welding and CO2 shielded welding; outside welding seams are welded by using submerged-arc welding; acid-washing and passivation are carried out on the bellows; and detection during the welding and after the welding are carried out The fitting up and welding method of the major-diameter thin-wall stainless steel bellows can avoid the defects of coaxiality out of tolerance, unfitness of butt joint out of tolerance, burning through of a pipe wall, incomplete penetration of the inner portions of welding seams, incomplete fusing, gas holes, slag inclusion and cracks occurring in a fitting up and welding process of the major-diameter stainless steel bellows, guarantees the fitting up and the welding quality of the major-diameter thin-wall stainless steel bellows, greatly improves labor efficiency, and has obvious economic benefit

Compliance type inchworm creeping robot

Abstract: The invention relates to a compliance type inchworm creeping robot which is composed of a head cabin, a tail cabin and a traction cabin. The compliance type inchworm creeping robot comprises two motors, a pair of support frames, a pair of flexible transmission devices matched with each other, a bellows, a spring, a pulling rope and a series of gear transmission systems. The two motors are respectively used for controlling extension of the pair of support frames and winding and release of the pulling rope, the flexible transmission devices are used for enabling torque of one motor to be respectively transmitted to the two support frames, the bellows guarantees tightness of the traction cabin and compliance of the robot, the spring is used for guaranteeing that the robot can restore original body height during the winding and release of the pulling rope, and the series of gear transmission systems are used for transmitting the torque. Motility of the creeping robot is greatly improved, and the compliance type inchworm creeping robot has the advantages of moving flexibly and being compact in structure, small in size and light in weight.

Air spring module

Abstract: An air spring module including an air spring and a shock absorber for springing and damping vibrations of a motor vehicle chassis, including—at least two working chambers filled with compressed air and connectable via at least one valve, an air spring cover, a rolling bellows fixed to the air spring cover in an air-tight manner and at least partly delimits a first working chamber filled with compressed air, and a rolling piston, which is fixed to a cylindrical tube of the shock absorber and on which the rolling bellows rolls. A second and a third working chamber are arranged one above the other in the rolling piston so as to surround the cylindrical tube. The working chambers are separated from each other by an intermediate floor provided in the rolling piston and can be connected to the first working chamber via switchable valves arranged in the rolling piston.

Harness exterior protector

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a harness exterior protector composed of a bellows tube portion and a straight tube portion, able to be routed easily in a narrow space, and, able to increase the bending rigidity of the straight tube portion. A harness exterior protector (1) basically includes: a synthetic-resin-made flat bellows tube portion (2); and a flat straight tube portion (3) integrally continued to the flat bellows tube portion (2). A round bellows tube portion (2') may be provided instead of the flat bellows tube portion (2). A round straight tube portion (3') may be provided instead of the flat straight tube portion (3). Preferably, an inner peripheral surface (10) of the bellows tube portion (2) and an inner peripheral surface (5) of the straight tube portion (3) are continued straight to each other without difference in level.

Large diameter pipe flexible connection

Abstract: A flexible connection is described for use between a vertical, large diameter cold water conveying pipe and a floating platform that supports the cold water conveying pipe or another pipe to permit the pipe and the platform to rotate in roll and pitch directions relative to one another without imposing excessive bending moments or strain on the cold water pipe. The flexible connection also contains internal and external pressure across the connection. The flexible connection includes an articulation mechanism that interconnects the vertical cold water conveying pipe and the platform or a pipe on the platform, and a flexible, fluid impermeable bellows.

Bellows-type external combustion engine

Abstract: FIELD: engines and pumps.SUBSTANCE: rotary diaphragm-type bellows are used as working chambers. Bellows are composed of a set of radial long stiff rotary diaphragms and gastight resilient diaphragms with central holes arranged there between to allow ingress of working gas inside sealed assemblies of bellows. Combustion gases forced from external chamber wherein compressed air and fuel are fed are used as working gas. Return rotary displacement of such working bellows (with their common separation through angle a) is converted into resultant unilateral rotation of engine output shaft by overrunning couplings. The engine can run on whatever combustible fuels, e.g. liquefied air, coke, etc.EFFECT: higher efficiency of engine.

Air suspension device for vehicles, having individual control and only one pressure sensor

Abstract: An air suspension device for vehicles, in particular for commercial vehicles, including a valve block for aerating a plurality of air-spring bellows with compressed air from a compressed-air supply or for venting the air-spring bellows through an air vent, the valve block including at least one air-bellows valve assigned to an air-spring bellows or a group of air-spring bellows of the plurality of air-spring bellows, for individually aerating and venting this air-spring bellows or group of air-spring bellows. The present system provides for the valve block to additionally include a valve device, by which the at least one air-bellows valve may be simultaneously decoupled from the compressed-air supply and the air vent, and for a pressure sensor for measuring the air pressure in the flow path between the valve device and the at least one air-bellows valve to be provided on the other side of the corresponding air-spring bellows.

Surgical access device including gimbal mount cooperating with bellows

Abstract: A surgical access device includes a seal assembly having a seal housing and a gimbal mount disposed within the seal housing, the seal housing defining a central longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passage for receiving at least one surgical object therethrough and the gimbal mount adapted for angular movement relative to the central longitudinal axis. The surgical access device also includes a bellows configured to engage at least a portion of the gimbal mount, the bellows dimensioned and adapted to establish a biasing relationship with the gimbal mount, such that the bellows overcomes a frictional relationship between the gimbal mount and the seal housing, thereby moving the gimbal mount towards a position in which the passage of the gimbal mount is aligned with the central longitudinal axis. The bellows is configured to be attached to a side wall of the seal housing.

Gas lift valve with mixed bellows and floating constant volume fluid chamber

Abstract: A valve apparatus capable of withstanding high pressures and techniques for using this apparatus in various suitable applications are provided. The valve apparatus typically includes both an upper bellows comprising a standard, convoluted bellows and a lower bellows comprising an edge-welded bellows. The valve apparatus may also include a floating, constant volume fluid chamber that travels with the lower edge-welded bellows as the lower bellows compresses and expands in an effort to protect the lower bellows from very high internal volume fluid pressure.