Bellows

Abstract

This article is a flat bellows (folded bellows) made of thin sheet metal that prevents chips and the like generated when a machine tool processes a workpiece from entering openings or rails of the machine tool. Flat bellows are formed by alternating mountain folds and valley folds, but when flat bellows are formed of thin sheet metal, plastic deformation stress is applied to the tops of the mountain folds and the bottoms of the valley folds due to the expansion and contraction of the bellows, so the durability of the tops and bottoms becomes an issue. When viewed from the front, this bellows has an approximately triangular shape with acute-angle mountain folds based on the horizontal mountain fold ridgeline, then obtuse-angle valley folds based on the horizontal valley fold ridgeline, and then obtuse-angle mountain folds based on the horizontal mountain fold ridgeline, with mountain fold sides, valley fold sides, and mountain fold sides continuing between the top and bottom, as shown in the reference perspective view showing the names of each part. This bellows is a flat bellows made of thin sheet metal with such approximately triangular shapes continuing in a wavy pattern. When this bellows expands or contracts, the opening and closing angle at the top and bottom is restricted by the expansion and contraction of the obtuse angles of the valley folds and the obtuse angles of the mountain folds. This reduces the stress on the top and bottom, prevents plastic deformation, and ensures the durability of the flat bellows made of thin sheet metal.

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