Nabco Limited

Tsutomu Togashi

Yoshiaki Nakaya

Masahiko Okuda

Norio Shiraishi

There is provided an air-cylinder apparatus for use in a prosthetic limb capable of effectively adjusting the pressure characteristics over a wide range of walking speed. A second chamber defined by a piston is increased in pressure by air confined therein in accordance with the bending motion of the knee. Air is restricted from flowing out of the second chamber by a constant throttle valve In addition, the second chamber is divided into plural chambers in accordance with increase in bending angle of the knee and air is restricted from flowing out of the newly divided chambers by throttle valves corresponding thereto. The division of the second chamber is achieved by mutual engagement between a projection on the piston side and a recess on the bottom part of a cylinder body.

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Kobe, Japan

Tsutomu Togashi