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Title: 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 Laboratory (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}
}

Patent:
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