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US 10,675,959 B2Granted
Hierarchical inflatable structures and methods
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsNilesh D. Mankame, Paul W. Alexander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Products and methods are provided for inflatable structures. In various exemplary embodiments, an inflatable structure is provided with multiple variable chambers including a first variable chamber and a second variable chamber. A first boundary envelope defines the first variable chamber and a second boundary envelope defines the second variable chamber. The first and second boundary envelopes separate the first chamber from the second chamber. The first and second variable chambers are defined by an operative scale that may differ by an order of magnitude between the first and second variable chambers.
Claims20
An inflatable structure comprising:
- multiple variable chambers including a first variable chamber and a second variable chamber;
- a first boundary envelope defining the first variable chamber;
- a second boundary envelope defining the second variable chamber, the first and second boundary envelopes separating the first variable chamber from the second variable chamber;
- an inflation system configured to inflate the first variable chamber to a first pressure and to inflate the second variable chamber to a second pressure higher than the first pressure for a higher stiffness of the second boundary envelope as compared to the first boundary envelope;
- and
- a base configured as an interface between the inflation system and the first and second variable chambers, the base including a first nozzle in fluid communication with the first variable chamber and a second nozzle in fluid communication with the second variable chamber;
- wherein the first and second variable chambers are defined by an operative scale that differs by an order of magnitude between the first and second variable chambers;
- wherein the operative scale is volume with the first variable chamber defining a first volume when fully inflated and the second variable chamber defining a second volume when fully inflated, the second volume smaller than a first volume by the order of magnitude.
5 more elements
A method of deploying an inflatable structure comprising:
- constructing the inflatable structure with multiple variable chambers including a first variable chamber and a second variable chamber, a first boundary envelope defining the first variable chamber;
- and a second boundary envelope defining the second variable chamber;
- constructing an inflation system to inflate the first variable chamber to a first pressure and to inflate the second variable chamber to a second pressure higher than the first pressure for a higher stiffness of the second boundary envelope as compared to the first boundary envelope;
- adding a base as an interface between the inflation system and the first and second variable chambers, the base including a first nozzle in fluid communication with the first variable chamber and a second nozzle in fluid communication with the second variable chamber;
- separating the first variable chamber from the second variable chamber by the first and second boundary envelopes;
- and
- defining the first and second variable chambers by an operative scale that differs by an order of magnitude between the first and second variable chambers,
- wherein the operative scale is volume with the first variable chamber defining a first volume when fully inflated and the second variable chamber defining a second volume when fully inflated, the second volume smaller than a first volume by the order of magnitude.
5 more elements
An inflatable structure comprising:
- multiple variable chambers including a first variable chamber and a second variable chamber;
- a pressure source configured to inflate the inflatable structure;
- a first conduit in fluid communication with the first variable chamber and with the pressure source;
- a second conduit in fluid communication with the second variable chamber and with the pressure source;
- an inflation system configured to inflate the first variable chamber through the first conduit and to inflate the second variable chamber through the second conduit;
- a first pressure sensor disposed in the first conduit;
- a first valve controlling flow through the first conduit;
- a second pressure sensor disposed in the second conduit;
- a second valve controlling flow through the second conduit;
- a controller configured to operate the pressure source and the first and second valves in response to the first and second pressure sensors to inflate the first variable chamber to a first pressure and to inflate the second variable chamber to a second pressure;
- a first boundary envelope defining a first volume of the first variable chamber;
- a second boundary envelope defining a second volume of the second variable chamber, wherein the first volume is approximately ten times the second volume in magnitude;
- and
- wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure so that multiple configurations of the inflatable structure or articulations are provided by selective pressurization of the multiple variable chambers.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.