Soft body robot for in-pipe missions
US10451210B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2017 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L2101/30
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Passive robot for transporting sensors and instruments such as leak sensors into water pipes. The robot includes a leak sensor having a diameter to fit closely within a water pipe. A leak sensor is flanked by, and bonded to, substantially symmetrical first and second soft bodies. End caps are provided on each of the first and second soft bodies. Each of the soft bodies has a tapering configuration with a neck portion wherein a soft body length to neck width ratio is selected to allow the soft bodies to bend permitting the passive robot to pass through sharp bends and T junctions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.