Abstract:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an actuator having even better durability than the conventional actuator. Specifically, an actuator has an actuator main body constituted of a cylindrical tube capable of expanding/contracting by hydraulic pressure and a sleeve for covering an outer peripheral surface of the tube, the sleeve having a cylindrical structure formed by cords woven to be disposed in predetermined directions, wherein: the inner diameter r0 (mm) of the tube, the thickness t (mm) of the tube, the storage elastic modulus E′ (MPa) of the tube at 25° C., and the mesh aperture ratio A of the cords constituting the sleeve in a pressurized state satisfy the following formula (1):
Abstract:
A flexible pneumatic actuator assembly includes a front base, a rear base, a length of flexible tubing having a front end secured to the front base and a rear end secured to the rear base, a flexible piston rod extending through an aperture in the front base and into an internal volume of the length of flexible tubing, and a piston secured to the piston rod within the internal volume of the length of flexible tubing. The piston is configured to maintain an air tight seal against an inner wall of the tubing upon bending of the tubing in a region including the piston.
Abstract:
The tubular component of a fluid-driven tension actuator is made in a two layer system wherein a woven sleeve is immersed in a tubular shaped elastomeric material.
Abstract:
An actuator includes an elastic member extensible in axial directions when a pressurized fluid is supplied into the elastic member, and guiding device arranged outwardly of the elastic member and permitting the elastic member to move in the axial directions, but restraining the elastic member from moving in directions intersecting the axial directions. As the actuator is of an air-bag type so that energy of the pressurized fluid can be converted into mechanical movement with high efficiency. The actuator moves only in axial directions without expanding in radial directions, so that the actuator takes up little space in operation.
Abstract:
All-elastomer fluid-pressure-actuatable twistors have an elongated tubular wall of resilient elastomeric material extending between first and second mounting ends spaced from each other along a twist axis extending longitudinally within the twistor. The tubular wall encircles its twist axis and surrounds an elongated interior chamber. Interior reinforcing webs of resilient elastomeric material are joined to the wall. These web-partitions extend longitudinally within the chamber, separating the chamber into longitudinally extending compartments. By applying torque or other preform means in a first sense to the first mounting end relative to the second mounting end, the tubular wall and interior webs become twisted in the same sense around the twist axis into a generally helically-twisted configuration. Pressurized fluid fed into the twistor causes the tubular wall and internal webs to untwist, so overcoming the applied torque, and thereby turning the first mounting end relative to the second mounting end in a second sense opposite to the first sense. Each twistor advantageously can be molded or formed as an all-elastomer unit. Independently pressurized pairs of twistors are pre-twisted in opposite senses to form opposed pairs. When geared to a common shaft in a suitable twistor drive assembly, the opposed pair will provide for shaft rotation in either direction, the shaft being turned in opposite directions by feeding fluid with opposite unbalanced pressures into the opposed pair. Multiple twistor drive assemblies are stackable in an array so as to sum together their torque outputs.
Abstract:
Tension actuated, pressurized gas driven rotary motors are disclosed which convert force derived from linear contraction into rotary motion including a shaft mounted in a motor support housing to rotate relative to the housing with a drive assembly, the axis of which is offset eccentrically or inclined with the respect to the axis of the shaft wherein the drive assembly is coupled to the shaft. A plurality of pressurized gas responsive tension actuators are mounted about the axis of the shaft and operably linked to the drive assembly, with a gas distribution inlet and exhaust system for successively cyclically inflating and deflating each of the tension actuators to rotate the shaft relative to the housing. In a radial configuration embodiment of the invention the tension actuators are linked to the eccentric offset drive assembly with their axes extending radially outwardly from the shaft and in an axial configuration embodiment the tension actuators are linked to the inclined offset drive assembly with their longitudinal axes extending axially relative to the shaft.
Abstract:
The following description pertains to flexure structures, apparatuses comprising flexure structures, systems comprising flexure structures, methods of using flexure structures, methods of using apparatuses comprising flexure structures, and methods of using systems comprising flexure structures. The following description also pertains to methods, systems, and apparatuses for linear to rotary motion converters.
Abstract:
A rotary actuator and a method of using same are disclosed. The rotary actuator includes a rotor having a body and defining a plurality of contact surfaces, and a stator having a body and defining a plurality of inflatable bladders circumferentially spaced about the stator body. The stator is positioned relative to the rotor such that upon sequential inflation of the plurality of inflatable bladders, the rotor is caused to rotate.
Abstract:
It is an aim of the present invention to overcome urgent and pressing global troubles directly associated with the human right to live, such as the energy crisis, the economic crisis, and environmental pollution and the like which cannot be delayed or neglected any longer in order to meet the needs of the times. Further, it is an aim of the present invention to significantly reduce the dependency on a variety of fossil directly associated with global warming. Therefore, the present invention provides a cylinder driving apparatus using air pressure, with maximized energy, characterized in that the use of fossil fuel energy is reduced and the use of clean energy is proposed. The present invention relates to a cylinder diving apparatus in which a plurality of flexible tubes connected to a crankshaft are filled with high pressure air, alternately expand by expansion energy, and are elevated to operate and rotate the crankshaft. Further, the preset invention relates to an apparatus for minimizing friction and eliminating gravitational force which may interfere with the elevating movement, to thereby maximize the efficiency of the conversion of compressed air expansion energy into rotating movement. The present invention achieves a great and active supplement and improvement over Korean Patent Registration No. 0041791 and No. 0210368 granted to the applicant of the present invention, ad proposes an inventive structure of an assistant tube that provides a novel energy source. Conventional apparatus use a variety of fossil fuels as a power source, whereas the present invention eliminates the repeated rise of oil prices ad ends energy problems, enables people to enjoy a stable life and aids in economic development, and provides all mankind with a new environmentally-friendly energy resource to take the place of the innumerable conventional power sources. The cylinder driving apparatus using air pressure according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of flexible tubes arranged in a case to flexibly move via high-pressure air; a connecting rod fixed at each f the flexible tubes, and which penetrates through an upper portion of the case; a crank shaft sequentially coupled to the connecting rod to rotate via the elevating movement of the connecting rod; a high pressure tank for supplying high pressure air to the flexible tubes via an air line; and a valve arranged in each of the flexible tubes to divide the space in the flexible tube into an upper section and a lower section and to open/shut airflow in the upper and lower sections. The valve is shut to block the upper and lower sections from each other when the flexible tubes are filled with high pressure air, and opens when the flexible tubes are elevated to top center. The valve is connected to an assistant tube, the interior of which is equipped with a tensile spring force to keep the assistant tube compressed, to enable compressed air in the flexible tubes to flow to the assistant tube when the valve opens.