多重チューブ推進機構のための自励式空圧流路切り替え装置

抄録

In this paper we present a device that can change its air flow passages and self-oscillates by a pressurized air source. The diameter and the length of the device are 20mm and 50mm, respectively, and can be used in a standard 25A pipe. Our previous works introduced bundled tube locomotive devices that can travel in pipes by sequential pressurization of the tubes. However, if the device becomes long or travel long distance, the air pressure needs long time to reach the front tip of the tubes, thus limiting the operating frequency and travel velocity. The proposed air flow passage changing device helps to solve this limitation by acting as an end-point flow switcher that can be dragged by a shorter locomotive device. This improves the performance of the locomotive device.