Fluid controlled biased bending neck

• US 5,203,319 A
• Filed: 02/08/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lia, Raymond A., Danna, Dominick, Krauter, Allan I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERICHETTI, CINDY
• Application Number:
  US07/652,660
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4
• US Class Current: 600/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0053 using distributed actuators, e.g. artificial muscles
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/103 using inflatable bodies that contract when fluid pressure is applied, e.g. pneumatic artificial muscles or McKibben-type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/26 using light guides for illumination G02B23/2469

Abstract

A tubular, fluid-controlled bending neck is provided for an elongated flexible probe, such as a video borescope. An elongated tubular elastomeric bladder is fitted to a proximal connector that fits onto a distal end of the probe insertion tube, and a distal fitting seals the distal end of the bladder. A tubular braid is disposed over the bladder to confine the same and is mechanically attached to the distal fitting and to the proximal connector. The connector provides communication of fluid pressure from a controlled fluid pressure source to the interior of the bladder. An elastically bendable, but axially substantially incompressible spine is disposed at the interface between the bladder and the braid. This spine is preferably set or biased to be curved into one bending direction. As fluid pressure is applied to the bladder, the bladder inflates laterally. This shortens the braid on the side away from the spine, thereby bending the neck in the opposite direction. By applying a pressure intermediate between a zero pressure and the pressure required for full bending the bending neck will assume a straight orientation.

Claims

1. A tubular, fluid controlled bending neck that comprises a plurality of elastomeric bladders, a tubular braid disposed over said bladders and confining the same;

proximal and distal fittings sealing the proximal and distal ends of the bladders and mechanically attaching to the proximal and distal ends of the braid, means for selectively communicating fluid pressure from a controlled fluid pressure source to the interiors of said bladders for controllably inflating selected ones thereof, and an elastically bendable but substantially axially incompressible spine centrally disposed within said braid and with said bladders being distributed about the spine, said spine being connected mechanically to said proximal and distal fittings, such that when fluid pressure is applied to a selected one of the bladders, the braid expands laterally and shortens axially on the side adjacent the inflated bladder, thereby bending the spine and the neck a controlled amount that depends on the fluid pressure applied.

2. The tubular bending neck of claim 1 wherein there are two of said bladders disposed on either side of said spine.

3. The tubular bending neck of claim 1 wherein there are four of said bladders arranged in two opposed pairs.

4. The tubular bending neck of claim 1 wherein there are three of said bladders distributed at 120 degrees about said spine.

5. A tubular, fluid-controlled bending neck that comprises a plurality of elastomeric bladders, a plurality of tubular braids disposed respectively over said bladders and confining the same, proximal and distal fittings sealing the proximal and distal ends of the bladders and mechanically attaching to the proximal and distal ends of the braids, means for selectively communicating a fluid pressure from a controlled fluid pressure source to the interiors of said bladders for controllably inflating selected ones thereof, and an elastically bendable but substantially incompressible spine centrally disposed with said braids and bladders being distributed circumferentially about said spine, said spine being connected mechanically to the proximal and distal fittings, such that when said fluid pressure is applied to a selected one of the bladders, the associated braid expands laterally and shortens axially on the side away from the spine, thereby bending the spine and the neck a controlled amount that depends on the fluid pressure applied.

6. The tubular bending neck of claim 5 wherein said spine is bonded to each of said braids over their mutual lengths.

7. A tubular, fluid-controlled bending neck that comprises a plurality of elongated tubular elastomeric bladders;

at least one tubular braid disposed over said bladders and confining the same;

a distal fitting means for sealing the distal end of the bladders and mechanically attaching to the distal end of the braid;

a proximal connector to which the proximal end of the at least one braid is anchored, including means for communicating fluid pressure from a controlled fluid pressure source to an interior of a selected one of the bladders for controllably inflating same; and

an elastically bendable but substantially axially incompressible spine disposed to one side of one of said bladders and including means at its proximal and distal ends mechanically fixed to said connector and said fitting means, respectively;

such that when fluid pressure is applied to the interior of the selected bladder, the braid expands laterally and shortens axially on one side, thereby bending the neck a controlled amount that depends on the fluid pressure applied.