Looking for engineering terms to describe the following:

[jld123]

Hello everyone...

I am trying to find the right terminology and/or pictures of something that can be described like this:

"the input jacks are fixed in position with respect to the body, and the body is designed so that when the body is expanded or contracted, the jacks move with it in proportion. For example, the distance between the jacks increases or decreases in proportion to the expansion or contraction of the body"

I envision something that looks like this:

/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`\/`…

The input jacks rest on the flat peaks. And when the body is expanded or contracted, the inputs move in proportion.

the height of the input jacks shouldn't rise/fall with compression/expansion - while still staying in proportion to the body none the less.


Is there a name for something in engineering that does this?

Or maybe more importantly, can anyone find any images (maybe on google images) that show what is described above?

Im having a very hard time with this.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[rb1957]

the input jacks are equi-spaced on the body, and remain equi-spaced as the body contracts or expands

 

[jld123]

that is correct.... is there a name for this kind of mechanism, or do you know of a product that has this type of movement?

I am looking for a pic of something with this functionality as well, but dont know the right search terms in google to find the right images.

Any help would be amazing.

Thanks!!!

 

[graybeach]

Could you say that the jacks are connected by a manifold that equalizes the pressure to them?

 

[rb1957]

well it depends on how "the body" is built ...

it's easy if the body is built up from similar modules, one jack per module. the modules could fit together, with say nested tubes, a slightly larger ID on one side, a slightly smaller OD on the other (the smaller tube would fit inside the larger one). their position (spacing) could be controlled by scissor links, providing a single actuation to control the spacing of the set.

but that all depends on how the body is built, and why it is wanted to sxpand or contract it ??