Patent ID: 6447361
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A63H,Y10T

Abstract:
A balloon driving apparatus for bending a balloon at folded portions, where an outline of said balloon is formed by filling said balloon with a pressurized gas inside said balloon, said balloon driving apparatus comprising:a pump device having a gas discharge hole and a gas suction hole; an actuator configured to be disposed inside the balloon and supported by an inside structure of said balloon for filling said balloon with a pressurized gas, said pressurized gas forming an outline of said balloon by filling said balloon with said pressurized gas, said actuator having movable portions which are expanded or contracted when said pressurized gas flows into or out of said actuator through a flowing hole to change a gas volume of said actuator; and a discharge and suction selector valve device having a valve main body comprising: a partition which is displaced inside said valve main body; a first flowing hole connected by a flexible pipe to said suction hole for flowing in said pressurized gas; a second flowing hole connected by a flexible pipe to said suction hole for flowing out said pressurized gas; a third flowing hole connected by a flexible pipe to said hole for flowing-in and out said pressurized gas; and a fourth flowing hole which is open for flowing in and out said pressurized gas being provided to given positions of said main valve body, said partition being disposed in any one of a first disposition state for connecting said first flowing hole and said second flowing hole, a second disposition state for connecting said first flowing hole and said third flowing hole and connecting said second flowing hole and said fourth flowing hole, and a third disposition state for connecting said second flowing hole and said third flowing hole and connecting said first flowing hole and said fourth flowing hole; said movable portions of said actuator being connected to said folded portions inside said balloon such that when said movable portions are moved, such movements are transmitted to the folded portions.