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US 5,203,319 AGranted
Fluid controlled biased bending neck
AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorsDominick Danna, Allan I. Krauter, Raymond A. Lia
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AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorsDominick Danna, Allan I. Krauter, Raymond A. Lia
Estimating the term…
A tubular, fluid-controlled bending neck is provided for an elongated flexible probe, such as a video borescope. An elongated tubular elastomeric bladder is fitted to a proximal connector that fits onto a distal end of the probe insertion tube, and a distal fitting seals the distal end of the bladder. A tubular braid is disposed over the bladder to confine the same and is mechanically attached to the distal fitting and to the proximal connector. The connector provides communication of fluid pressure from a controlled fluid pressure source to the interior of the bladder. An elastically bendable, but axially substantially incompressible spine is disposed at the interface between the bladder and the braid. This spine is preferably set or biased to be curved into one bending direction. As fluid pressure is applied to the bladder, the bladder inflates laterally. This shortens the braid on the side away from the spine, thereby bending the neck in the opposite direction. By applying a pressure intermediate between a zero pressure and the pressure required for full bending the bending neck will assume a straight orientation.
A tubular, fluid controlled bending neck that comprises a plurality of elastomeric bladders, a tubular braid disposed over said bladders and confining the same;
A tubular, fluid-controlled bending neck that comprises a plurality of elastomeric bladders, a plurality of tubular braids disposed respectively over said bladders and confining the same, proximal and distal fittings sealing the proximal and distal ends of the bladders and mechanically attaching to the proximal and distal ends of the braids, means for selectively communicating a fluid pressure from a controlled fluid pressure source to the interiors of said bladders for controllably inflating selected ones thereof, and an elastically bendable but substantially incompressible spine centrally disposed with said braids and bladders being distributed circumferentially about said spine, said spine being connected mechanically to the proximal and distal fittings, such that when said fluid pressure is applied to a selected one of the bladders, the associated braid expands laterally and shortens axially on the side away from the spine, thereby bending the spine and the neck a controlled amount that depends on the fluid pressure applied.
A tubular, fluid-controlled bending neck that comprises a plurality of elongated tubular elastomeric bladders;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.