Stem with secondary curvature in extension
AssigneeRTL Materials Ltd.
InventorAndrew Daton-Lovett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a STEM with secondary curvature in extension and to methods of manufacture. In an aspect, an extendible member (10) is provided which is configurable between a coiled form (11) and an extended form (12). The member comprises a longitudinal shell resiliently biased in a slit tube form in which it has a first curvature relative to the hoop of slit tube and has a secondary curvature relative to the longitudinal axis of the member. The slit tube can be opened out at the slit to assume an open form in which it has a flattened cross section in transitioning from the extended form to the coiled form. The strain energy when coiled is lower than the peak strain energy in the member when transitioning from the extended to the coiled form.
Claims12
An extendible member which is configurable between a coiled form and an extended form, comprising a longitudinal shell resiliently biased in a slit tube form in which it has a first curvature relative to the hoop of the slit tube and has a secondary curvature relative to the longitudinal axis of the member, wherein the slit tube can be opened out at the slit to assume an open form in which it has a flattened cross section in transitioning from the extended form to the coiled form, wherein the strain energy when coiled is lower than the peak strain energy in the member when transitioning from the extended to the coiled form.
An extendible member having a secondary curvature when extended, running substantially along the axis of extension or retraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.