Fluid Pressure Actuator Sleeve Structure for Stable Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pressure actuators face challenges in maintaining posture stability and have complex manufacturing processes due to the insertion of restraint members, leading to increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid pressure actuator design featuring an elastic tube with a reinforcement member, holders, and a self-supporting, flexible plate member outside the tube, coupled by an O-ring, which maintains posture while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a restraint member is inserted between the tube and the sleeve to maintain posture, then the posture stability is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the restraint member from the actuator structure. Instead of inserting a restraint member between the tube and sleeve, the patent uses the elastic tube's own elasticity and the sleeve's constraint to achieve posture stability, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs while maintaining the required stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a bellows-like soft sleeve is used to enable bending, then the flexibility is improved, but the bending shape becomes unstable and posture maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating asymmetric constraints on the elastic tube. The sleeve is designed to constrain the tube differently in different directions - providing strong constraint in the radial direction to maintain circular cross-section and posture stability, while allowing controlled deformation in the axial direction to enable bending. This localized differential constraint achieves both flexibility and shape stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic tube is constrained to maintain circular cross-section, then the posture stability is improved, but the bending capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by making the constraint characteristics variable. The sleeve provides strong radial constraint to maintain circular cross-section and posture stability under normal conditions, but allows controlled axial deformation when bending forces are applied. The constraint is not rigid but adapts to the applied loads, enabling both posture stability and bending capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for stable posture maintenance with reduced costs by eliminating the need for complex insertions and ensuring the actuator returns to its initial state upon pressure change, enhancing usability in gripping devices.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic tube (10) being radially expanded and axially contracted by a fluid pressure supplied to a tube body (11)
Implementation Method 2
an elastic tube (10) including a tube body (11) and a reinforcement member (12)
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a fluid pressure actuator includes an elastic tube including a tube body and a reinforcement member and being radially expanded and axially contracted by a fluid pressure supplied to the tube body. The fluid pressure actuator includes a first holder mounted on a first end of the elastic tube, and a second holder mounted on a second end of the elastic tube. The fluid pressure actuator includes a plate member being provided between the first holder and the second holder, being arranged outside the elastic tube, and having a corrugated part. The fluid pressure actuator includes a coupling member holding the plate member and the elastic tube.