Method and apparatus for advancing tethers

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5758731
SERIAL NO

08613563

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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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.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
LOCKHEED IDAHO TECHNOLOGIES COP O BOX 1625 IDAHO FALLS ID 83414

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Zollinger, W Thor Idaho Falls, ID 6 238

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