IP Library › Patent Application 17834003
Patent Application
App. No. 17/834,003

TAPERED HYDRAULIC HOSE, METHODS OF MAKING, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF IN ROBOT SYSTEMS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/834,003
Abstract

A robot has a body, a hydraulic control system physically coupled to the body, and a hydraulically-actuated component physically coupled to the body. The hydraulically-actuated component is hydraulically coupled to the hydraulic control system by a hydraulic hose. The hydraulic hose has a length, at least a portion of which extends from a first end to a second end, and a diameter, wherein the diameter of the hydraulic hose at both the first end and the second end is a first diameter, and wherein the at least a portion of the length includes a tapered section in which the diameter of the hydraulic hose decreases, continuously and monotonically, to a second diameter, the second diameter being less than the first diameter. The body includes a restricted region through which the hydraulic hose passes in traversing a path between the hydraulic control system and the hydraulically-actuated component.

Claims (32)

1 . A method of adding at least one tapered section to a hydraulic hose, the method comprising:

affixing a first end of at least a portion of the hydraulic hose to a first suspension point;

hanging a first weight from a second end of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose;

applying heat to a first region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose;

monitoring a displacement of the first weight; and

removing heat from the first region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose when the displacement of the first weight meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying heat to a first region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose includes applying heat by an external heat source to the first region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the applying heat by an external source to the first region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose includes applying heat by an electric heater.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

hanging a second weight from the second end of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose;

applying heat to a second region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose;

monitoring a displacement of the second weight; and

removing heat from the second region of the at least a portion of the hydraulic hose when the displacement of the second weight meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing heat from the first region of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose when the displacement of the first weight meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold causes the at least one tapered section to include a predetermined taper.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing a first end of at least a portion of the hydraulic hose to a first suspension point includes affixing a first end of at least a portion of a thermoplastic hose.

7 . A method of adding at least one respective tapered section to each of a first and a second hydraulic hose, the method comprising:

affixing a first end of at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose to a first suspension point;

hanging a first weight from a second end of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose;

applying heat to a first region of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose;

monitoring a displacement of the first weight; and

removing heat from the first region of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose when the displacement of the first weight meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the adding at least one tapered section to the second hydraulic hose includes:

affixing a third end of at least a portion of the second hydraulic hose to a second suspension point;

hanging a second weight from a fourth end of the at least a portion of the second hydraulic hose;

applying heat to a first region of the at least a portion of the second hydraulic hose;

monitoring a displacement of the second weight; and

removing heat from the first region of the at least a portion of the second hydraulic hose when the displacement of the second weight meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the hanging a first weight from a second end of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose and the hanging a second weight from a fourth end of the at least a portion of the second hydraulic hose includes hanging a common weight from the second end of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose and the fourth end of the at least a portion of the second hydraulic hose.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the applying heat to a first region of the at least a portion of the first and the second hydraulic hose includes applying heat from a common external heating source.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising applying heat to a second region of the at least a portion of the first and the second hydraulic hose.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the removing heat from the first region of the at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose when the displacement of the first weight meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold causes the at least one tapered section to include a predetermined taper.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the affixing a first end of at least a portion of the first hydraulic hose to a first suspension point includes affixing a first end of at least a portion of a thermoplastic hose.