Method and apparatus for advancing tethers
Abstract
A tether puller for advancing a tether through a channel may include a bellows assembly having a leading end fixedly attached to the tether at a first position and a trailing end fixedly attached to the tether at a second position so that the leading and trailing ends of the bellows assembly are located a substantially fixed distance apart. The bellows assembly includes a plurality of independently inflatable elements each of which may be separately inflated to an extended position and deflated to a retracted position. Each of the independently inflatable elements expands radially and axially upon inflation. An inflation system connected to the independently inflatable elements inflates and deflates selected ones of the independently inflatable elements to cause the bellows assembly to apply a tractive force to the tether and advance it in the channel. 9 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 672555
- Patent Number(s):
- 5758731
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-613,563
- Assignee:
- Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 2 Jun 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT; DESIGN; OPERATION; FASTENERS; MATERIALS HANDLING
Citation Formats
Zollinger, W T. Method and apparatus for advancing tethers. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Zollinger, W T. Method and apparatus for advancing tethers. United States.
Zollinger, W T. Tue .
"Method and apparatus for advancing tethers". United States.
@article{osti_672555,
title = {Method and apparatus for advancing tethers},
author = {Zollinger, W T},
abstractNote = {A tether puller for advancing a tether through a channel may include a bellows assembly having a leading end fixedly attached to the tether at a first position and a trailing end fixedly attached to the tether at a second position so that the leading and trailing ends of the bellows assembly are located a substantially fixed distance apart. The bellows assembly includes a plurality of independently inflatable elements each of which may be separately inflated to an extended position and deflated to a retracted position. Each of the independently inflatable elements expands radially and axially upon inflation. An inflation system connected to the independently inflatable elements inflates and deflates selected ones of the independently inflatable elements to cause the bellows assembly to apply a tractive force to the tether and advance it in the channel. 9 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1998},
month = {6}
}