Back to results
US 5,251,538 AGranted
Prehensile apparatus
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorChristopher M. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling a workpiece comprising a vessel that is longitudinally extensible and pressurizable, and a nonextensible and laterally flexible member on the vessel. The member constrains one side of the vessel to be nonextensible, causing the vessel to bend in the direction of the nonextensible member when pressurized.
Claims5
An apparatus for handling a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a longitudinally extensible, pressurizable, and laterally flexible bellows, said bellows having a wall with closed first end and an open second end for receiving pressure,
- (b) at least one longitudinally nonextensible and laterally flexible member separate and distinct from said bellows that is placed either inside or outside the wall, said member having first and second ends and attached to the bellows with the first end of the member attached near the closed first end of the bellows and the second end of the member attached near the open second end of the bellows,
- (c) means for pressurizing the bellows such that upon pressurization the nonextensible laterally flexible member constrains a longitudinal section of the bellows to be nonextensible while remaining longitudinal sections of the bellows expand, thereby causing the bellows to bend in the direction of the constrained side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.