The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 21, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2000
David P. Cadogan, Middletown, DE (US);
John K. Folke, Harrington, DE (US);
John K. Lin, Middletown, DE (US);
Charles R. Sandy, Camden, DE (US);
ILC Dover, Inc., Frederica, DE (US);
Abstract
A method and lightweight apparatus ( ) that provide linear actuation effected by the controlled inflation of a deployable tube ( ) permits the deploying end ( ) of the tube ( ) to be guided out in a linear motion by a yoke ( ) that constrains the inflated portion of the tube ( ) immediately behind it A means for imparting resistance to deployment facilitates a smooth actuation by controlling both the rate and the directionality of deployment, and by maintaining a uniform internal pressure in the tube being deployed. A frame assembly ( ) at the deploying end ( ) of the tube ( ) can be configured to interface with a variety of components to be linearly deployed.