CH462374A - Artificial pneumatic muscle - Google Patents

Description

  

  
 



  Artificial pneumatic muscle
The invention relates to an artificial pneumatic muscle.



   An artificial, pneumatic muscle for actuating prostheses and paralyzed limbs is already known. It consists of a rubber tube arranged in a nylon net and has a number of deficiencies that severely limit its application. For example, there is a significant hysteresis caused by the friction between the individual threads when the muscle is contracted. Furthermore, only a small force can be exerted with this muscle and the range of motion of the known muscle is disproportionately small.



   The purpose of the present invention is to overcome these shortcomings of known artificial muscles.



   This purpose is achieved in that the muscle according to the invention has a rubber tube, in the wall of which practically inextensible threads are enclosed, and which is closed at its end faces with closure parts.



   In the following, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained using drawings, for example. It shows:
1 shows a longitudinal section through an artificial, pneumatic muscle,
FIG. 2 shows the muscle according to FIG. 1 when contracting, and
3 shows another embodiment of the muscle according to the invention when it is contracted, the muscle having a significantly smaller diameter.



   According to FIGS. 1-3, practically inextensible threads 2 are arranged in a rubber pipe 1 at half the depth of the pipe wall, parallel to the pipe axis, close to one another, and are completely melted into the rubber. The tube is closed on both sides with a closure part 3 each, with a feed for compressed gas on one side and a perforated plate for attachment to an organ to be actuated being provided on the other side.



  In order to reduce the diameter of the artificial muscle during the contraction, some rings 4 are placed on the rubber tube according to FIG. 3.



   The artificial muscle is contracted by filling the rubber tube 1 through the relevant closure part 3 with compressed air, the extent of the shortening depending on the internal pressure in the tube and the elasticity of the tube. Without a load, the pipe is shortened by approx. 400 / o.



   This artificial muscle corresponds in terms of shape, size and working principle to the natural muscles, whereby the strength developed by them is equal to that of natural muscles.



   Of course, this arrangement can also be used to drive other organs and in automatic control devices.



   PATENT CLAIM
Artificial pneumatic muscle, characterized in that it has a rubber tube (1), in the wall of which practically inextensible threads (2) are enclosed, and which is closed at its end faces with closure parts (3).



   SUBCLAIMS
1. Artificial muscle according to claim, characterized in that the threads run parallel to the tube axis.



   2. Artificial muscle according to claim and dependent claim 1, characterized in that one or more rings (4) are placed on the rubber tube (1).

** WARNING ** End of DESC field could overlap beginning of CLMS **.



   

 

Claims (1)

** WARNING ** Beginning of CLMS field could overlap end of DESC **. Artificial pneumatic muscle The invention relates to an artificial pneumatic muscle. An artificial, pneumatic muscle for actuating prostheses and paralyzed limbs is already known. It consists of a rubber tube arranged in a nylon net and has a number of deficiencies that severely limit its application. For example, there is a significant hysteresis caused by the friction between the individual threads when the muscle is contracted. Furthermore, only a small force can be exerted with this muscle and the range of motion of the known muscle is disproportionately small. The purpose of the present invention is to overcome these shortcomings of known artificial muscles. This purpose is achieved in that the muscle according to the invention has a rubber tube, in the wall of which practically inextensible threads are enclosed, and which is closed at its end faces with closure parts. In the following, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained using drawings, for example. It shows: 1 shows a longitudinal section through an artificial, pneumatic muscle, FIG. 2 shows the muscle according to FIG. 1 when contracting, and 3 shows another embodiment of the muscle according to the invention when it is contracted, the muscle having a significantly smaller diameter. According to FIGS. 1-3, practically inextensible threads 2 are arranged in a rubber pipe 1 at half the depth of the pipe wall, parallel to the pipe axis, close to one another, and are completely melted into the rubber. The tube is closed on both sides with a closure part 3 each, with a feed for compressed gas on one side and a perforated plate for attachment to an organ to be actuated being provided on the other side. In order to reduce the diameter of the artificial muscle during the contraction, some rings 4 are placed on the rubber tube according to FIG. 3. The artificial muscle is contracted by filling the rubber tube 1 through the relevant closure part 3 with compressed air, the extent of the shortening depending on the internal pressure in the tube and the elasticity of the tube. Without a load, the pipe is shortened by approx. 400 / o. This artificial muscle corresponds in terms of shape, size and working principle to the natural muscles, whereby the strength developed by them is equal to that of natural muscles. Of course, this arrangement can also be used to drive other organs and in automatic control devices. PATENT CLAIM Artificial pneumatic muscle, characterized in that it has a rubber tube (1), in the wall of which practically inextensible threads (2) are enclosed, and which is closed at its end faces with closure parts (3). SUBCLAIMS 1. Artificial muscle according to claim, characterized in that the threads run parallel to the tube axis. 2. Artificial muscle according to claim and dependent claim 1, characterized in that one or more rings (4) are placed on the rubber tube (1).