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.
- Inventors:
-
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871585
- Patent Number(s):
- 5758731
- Assignee:
- Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; advancing; tethers; tether; puller; channel; bellows; assembly; leading; fixedly; attached; position; trailing; located; substantially; fixed; distance; apart; plurality; independently; inflatable; elements; separately; inflated; extended; deflated; retracted; expands; radially; axially; inflation; connected; inflates; deflates; selected; ones; apply; tractive; force; advance; retracted position; extended position; selected ones; fixed distance; distance apart; fixedly attached; tractive force; /175/
Citation Formats
Zollinger, W Thor. Method and apparatus for advancing tethers. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Zollinger, W Thor. Method and apparatus for advancing tethers. United States.
Zollinger, W Thor. Thu .
"Method and apparatus for advancing tethers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871585.
@article{osti_871585,
title = {Method and apparatus for advancing tethers},
author = {Zollinger, W Thor},
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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}