Actuating means able to be activated by fluid action

Abstract

An actuating means adapted for fluid activation has a contractile hose terminally secured by clamping on at least one head piece. The contractile hose fits into an annular clamping gap or nip, whose wall bears saw tooth serrations, the saw tooth serrated areas being so arranged that their teeth are radially opposite each other and arranged in pairs each at the same level. The outer saw tooth serrated area is located on a compression sleeve, which is radially pressed to join it with the hose end section surrounded by it.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. [0001] The invention relates to an actuating means able to be activated by fluid action comprising a contractile hose, extending between two head pieces and adapted, under fluid action in the space within it, to undergo radial expansion while simultaneously exerting axial tension forces on the head pieces involving a tendency to draw same together, the contractile hose having a hose body of a material with rubber elastic properties and a strand structure embedded in the wall of the hose body with a coaxial arrangement, said contractile hose being secured to at least one head piece by having an end section thereof clamped in an annular clamping gap, which is defined by the outer periphery of an inner head piece part extending axially into the contractile hose and the inner periphery of an outer head piece part coaxially surrounding the contractile hose at the level of the inner head piece part. THE PRIOR ART. [0002] In the case of an actuating means of th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Owing to the saw tooth serrated areas it is possible for both the inner head piece part and also the outer head piece part to bite into the elastic material of the hose body so that there is a powerful interlocking effect, so that even in the case of a high tension load a drawing of the contractile hose out of the respective head piece is prevented. Since the teeth of the saw tooth serrated areas lie at the same axial level, the strand structure embedded in the hose body is essentially only subjected to transverse compression and not to flexure so that despite substantial compression a straight longitudinal alignment of the strand structure may be ensured. Accordingly slipping of the contractile hose out of the clamping gap is opposed. Furthermore the danger of damage to the strand structure at the teeth tips is minimized in this way. Damage to the material is furthermore prevented by the preferably strictly radial pressing of the two parts of the head piece so that during assembly axial relative movement between the saw tooth serrated areas are prevented, which could otherwise lead to damage of the elastic material of the hose body.

[0017] It has been found to be particularly advantageous if the height of the teeth of the saw tooth serrated areas is so selected that it is approximately equal to ¼ of the wall thickness of the hose body.

Problems solved by technology

This causes a radial expansion of the contractile hose resulting in a tendency to axially contract so that tension forces are applied to the head pieces, whose action on the head pieces involves moving same together.

The clamping connection between the contractile hose and the head pieces has turned out to be problematical more especially on the occurrence of substantial tension forces.

Although the clamping face of one of the clamping units is provided with several projections, which are able to bite into the material of the contractile hose, there is danger of the contractile hose's being pulled out of the clamping gap.

This design does however involve increased design complexity, something which renders manufacture more costly.

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