Patent ID: 8025297
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: F16L,G01L

Abstract:
1. A bellows for use in a dynamic device, comprising: a generally tubular elongated bellows body having a first end and a second end with a midportion extending therebetween, the body having a cross sectional shape and a cross sectional dimension, a longitudinal bellows axis being defined from the first end to the second end; the bellows body defined by a wall generally enclosing a volume, the wall having a generally cylindrical inner surface and a generally cylindrical outer surface; the bellows body comprising a stack of generally hoop shaped elements alternating between generally hoop shaped elements formed of a high compliance material and generally hoop shaped elements formed of a low compliance material, the generally hoop shaped elements formed of the high compliance material having an inner radius defining a portion of the inner surface of the wall and an outer radius defining a portion of the outer surface of the wall, the inner radius spaced from the outer radius by a thickness, t, and the generally hoop shaped element having a height, h; and the cross sectional shape and dimension are generally constant between the first and second ends; wherein the thickness, t, and the height, h, for each of the layers of high compliance material are chosen such that; the total strain energy, U is within 20% of a minimum obtainable total strain energy for any values of t and h; or; the maximum shear strain, γ is within 20% of a minimum obtainable maximum shear strain for any values of t and h; wherein G is a predetermined shear modulus of the high compliance material; ε is a predetermined axial strain of the high compliance material along the longitudinal axis of the bellows; and ΔP is a predetermined peak dynamic pressure difference between a pressure in the volume enclosed by the bellows and a pressure exterior to the bellows.