Tension actuator having constraining sleeve immersed in a single layer of elastomeric material

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.

Thus having disclosed this invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid-driven tension actuator for converting fluid pressure change into linear motion, said actuator comprising: 
 (1) a tubular sleeve of woven construction,    (2) a tubular body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material that substantially immerses the tubular sleeve and thereby forming an axially expandable tubular body that defines a fluid chamber, and    (3) a pair of end plugs that respectively reside in and extend from the tubular body and wherein at least one of said end plugs has an opening that enables fluid communication with the fluid chamber and wherein at least one of said plugs is connected to a mechanical coupling device.    
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve of woven construction is immersed in the body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material in a central of the actuator.  
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material defines an outer limit to axial expansion of the tubular body.  
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve of woven construction, lies in a center region of the body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material that substantially immerses the tubular sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve is of a simple weave construction.  
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve is of woven construction is a close mesh network.  
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve of woven construction is a close mesh network defining a configuration of adjacent squares encircling the equatorial region of a fully inflated tubular body.  
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein each of the two plugs is connected to a coupling device.  
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein each of the two plugs has a hole in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and is connected to a coupling device.  
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 1  that further comprises a clamping device for damping the two ends of the tubular body to a respective end plug.  
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric material is a latex compound.  
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric material is neoprene.  
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric material is a silicon rubber.  
     
     
         14 . A fluid-driven tension actuator for converting fluid pressure change into linear motion, said actuator comprising: 
 (1) a tubular sleeve of woven construction,    (2) a tubular body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material that substantially immerses the tubular sleeve and thereby forming an axially expandable tubular body that defines a fluid chamber, and    (3) a pair of end plugs that respectively reside in and extend from the tubular body and wherein each of the pair of end plugs has an opening that enables fluid communication with the fluid chamber and wherein each of the pair of end plugs is connected to a mechanical coupling device.    
     
     
         15 . The actuator of  claim 14  wherein the tubular sleeve of woven construction is immersed in the body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material in a central section of the actuator.  
     
     
         16 . The actuator of  claim 14  wherein the tubular body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material defines an outer limit to axial expansion of the tubular body.  
     
     
         17 . A fluid-driven tension actuator for converting fluid pressure change into linear motion, said actuator comprising: 
 (1) a tubular sleeve of knitted construction,    (2) a tubular body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material that substantially immerses the tubular sleeve and thereby forming an axially expandable tubular body that defines a fluid chamber, and    (3) a pair of end plugs that respectively reside in and extend from the tubular body and wherein each of the pair of end plugs has an opening that enables fluid communication with the fluid chamber and wherein each of the pair of end plugs is connected to a mechanical coupling device.    
     
     
         18 . The actuator of  claim 17  wherein the tubular sleeve of knitted construction is immersed in the body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material in a central section of the actuator.  
     
     
         19 . The actuator of  claim 17  wherein the tubular body of resilient, flexible, elastomeric material defines an outer limit to axial expansion of the tubular body.  
     
     
         20 . The actuator of  claim 17  wherein the tubular sleeve is of a knitted construction is a close mesh network knit.