CN112013069B

CN112013069B - Expandable structural member

Info

Publication number: CN112013069B
Application number: CN201910472460.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·W·亚力山大; N·D·曼卡姆
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2019-05-31
Filing date: 2019-05-31
Publication date: 2022-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-31
Also published as: CN112013069A

Abstract

A structural member includes an inflatable bladder. The structural member may comprise a fabric shell disposed around the outer surface of the bladder, or a spacer element attached to the inner surface of the bladder. The fabric shell or spacer element constrains the shape of the bladder to shape the bladder to a desired shape and increase the load bearing capacity of the bladder.

Description

Expandable structural member

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to an expandable structural member.

Background

The structural member is used to carry or transfer loads. The inflatable structural member includes an inflatable bladder as the primary load-bearing member. The bladder is filled with a pressurized fluid which creates an outward pressure on the bladder wall which can support the load. However, if a load is applied to a smaller area of the bladder, the bladder may deform under the load. To increase the load bearing capacity of the bladder, a fabric shell may be used to enclose the bladder. The fabric shell provides a force that resists expansion so that the bladder does not deform much under load and/or can withstand greater loads.

Disclosure of Invention

A structural member is provided. The structural member includes a bladder and a spacer element. The bladder has walls forming a pressure chamber. The wall includes an inner surface facing the pressure chamber and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface. The spacer element is disposed within the pressure chamber and attached to an inner surface of the bladder wall. The spacer element is operable to constrain expansion of the bladder in response to an internal fluid pressure within the pressure chamber that is greater than atmospheric pressure.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid, such as, but not limited to, air, is disposed within the pressure chamber. The fluid exerts a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure on the inner surface of the pressure chamber wall.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the wall includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The first wall portion and the second wall portion are disposed opposite to each other, and the pressure chamber is disposed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The spacer element comprises a first layer attached to the first wall portion and a second layer attached to the second wall portion. The spacer element further comprises a spacer filament extending between and interconnecting the first and second layers of the spacer element.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the walls of the bladder are flexible such that outward expansion of the walls in response to internal fluid pressure within the pressure chamber tensions the spacer wires to increase the load bearing capacity of the bladder.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the spacer element includes a first region and a second region. The first region constrains the bladder to a first shape and the second region constrains the bladder to a second shape different from the first shape. In another aspect of the invention, the first region provides a first restraining force against expansion of the wall and the second region provides a second restraining force against expansion of the wall, the first restraining force being different from the second restraining force.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the spacer element is a textile material, including at least one of a woven or knitted structure. In another aspect of the invention, the first and second regions differ in one of stitch type, stitch pattern, needle size, yarn type, yarn denier, fiber type, fiber size, stitch density, warp yarn pattern, weft yarn pattern, or weave type.

Another structural member is also provided. The structural member includes a bladder and a fabric shell. The bladder has walls that form a pressure chamber. The wall includes an inner surface facing the pressure chamber and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface. The fabric shell is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the bladder. The fabric shell includes a first region and a second region. The first region of the fabric shell provides a first restraining force to the bladder in response to a predetermined outward pressure from the bladder. A second region of the fabric shell provides a second restraining force to the bladder in response to a predetermined outward pressure from the bladder. The wall of the bladder includes a motion control feature. The first and second restraining forces, in combination with the motion control feature, cause the fabric shell and bladder to assume a predetermined shape in response to a predetermined outward pressure from the bladder.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid, such as, but not limited to, air, is disposed within the pressure chamber. The fluid exerts a fluid pressure on the bladder wall that is greater than atmospheric pressure to create a predetermined outward pressure.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the fabric shell is a fabric material including at least one of a woven or knitted structure. In another aspect of the invention, the first and second regions of the fabric shell differ in one of stitch type, stitch pattern, needle size, yarn type, yarn denier, fiber type, fiber size, stitch density, warp yarn pattern, weft yarn pattern, or weave type.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the motion control feature includes one of a different thickness of the wall, a density of different fiber reinforcement in the wall, or a defined helix angle of reinforcing fibers helically wound around the bladder wall.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a motion control feature includes a wall having a first region exhibiting a first physical characteristic and a second region exhibiting a second physical characteristic.

In one embodiment, the first physical characteristic of the first region comprises a first wall thickness providing a first bending strength and the second physical characteristic of the second region comprises a second wall thickness providing a second bending strength. The first wall thickness and the first bending strength are different from the second wall thickness and the second bending strength.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, the wall includes reinforcing fibers helically wound around the bladder wall. The reinforcing fibers define a helix angle, the helix angle in the first region being different from the helix angle in the second region.

In another embodiment of the invention, the wall of the bladder is a fibrous reinforcement material having a fiber density, the fiber density in the first region being different from the fiber density in the second region.

Thus, the fabric of the structural member, whether the spacer element or the fabric shell, constrains the bladder. The characteristics of the fabric can be varied to control the shape of the bladder. Thus, by varying the stitch type, stitch pattern, needle size, yarn type, yarn denier, fiber type, fiber size, stitch density, warp yarn pattern, weft yarn pattern, or weave type in the fabric, the bladder can be contoured to provide a desired shape and increase the load bearing capacity of the structural member. In some embodiments, the walls of the bladder may include motion control features to further control the shape of the bladder in response to the fluid pressure within the pressure chamber.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the present teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the structural member of the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the structural members of the second embodiment in a deflated state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structural members of the second embodiment parallel to the longitudinal centerline and in a deflated condition.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the bladder of the structural member of the second embodiment in a deflated state.

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the structural member of the second embodiment in an expanded state.

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structural member of the second embodiment perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline.

Detailed Description

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as "upper," "lower," "upward," "downward," "top," "bottom," etc., are used descriptively in the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the present teachings may be described herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components and/or various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such block components may include a number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout the several views, a first embodiment of a structural member is shown generally at 20A in fig. 1. Referring to fig. 1, structural member 20A includes bladder 22 and spacer elements 24. Bladder 22 includes a wall 26 that forms a pressure chamber 28. The wall 26 includes an inner surface 30 facing the pressure chamber 28 and an opposite outer surface 32. The wall 26 includes a first wall portion 34 and a second wall portion 36. The first wall portion 34 may be considered an upper portion of the wall 26 as seen on the page of fig. 1, and the second wall portion 36 may be considered a lower portion of the wall 26 as seen on the page of fig. 1. Bladder 22 may also include one or more sidewall portions 38, as seen on the page of fig. 1. The side wall portion 38 extends between and connects the first wall portion 34 and the second wall portion 36 to form the enclosed pressure chamber 28. The first wall 34 and the second wall 36 are arranged opposite each other, wherein the pressure chamber 28 is arranged between the first wall 34 and the second wall 36.

The wall 26 of the bladder 22 is made of a flexible material. As used herein, the term "flexible material" is defined as a material that is capable of bending and/or stretching without permanent deformation and without rupture. For example, the walls 26 of the bladder 22 may be made of silicone, polyurethane, natural rubber (latex), other resilient gas-tight polymers, or metal foil, but are not limited thereto. The wall 26 of the bladder 22 may be formed to assume a desired shape, as described in more detail below.

Fluid 40 is disposed within pressure chamber 28 and is bounded by walls 26 of bladder 22. Accordingly, it should be understood that pressure chamber 28 of bladder 22 is fluid-tight. Fluid 40 exhibits or exerts a fluid pressure greater than atmospheric pressure against walls 26 of bladder 22. In this manner, pressure chamber 28 is pressurized by fluid 40 to expand walls 26 of bladder 22 outwardly away from the center of pressure chamber 28. Fluid 40 may include, but is not limited to, a gas, such as air or nitrogen. In other embodiments, fluid 40 may comprise a liquid.

The spacer element 24 is disposed within the pressure chamber 28 and attached to the inner surface 30 of the wall 26 of the bladder 22. The spacing element 24 is a textile material that includes at least one of a woven or knitted structure. The term "textile material" as used herein refers to a textile material formed by one or more of weaving, knitting, crocheting, braiding, or a combination thereof, and wherein weaving produces a woven structure in the textile material, knitting produces a knitted structure in the textile material, crocheting produces a crocheted structure in the material, and knitting produces a braided structure in the textile material. It should be understood that a fabric material manufactured using a combination of these methods may have a portion of the fabric material that includes multiple structures, e.g., knitted portions may be formed using knitted fibers, fibers may be knitted through knitted or crocheted structures to provide dimensional strength and/or stability, crocheted edges may be formed on the knitted or braided structures, knitted layers may be knitted together to form a multi-layer fabric material, e.g., a 3D fabric material, etc. The fabric material may include one or more types of fibers, including organic fibers such as animal fibers, plant-based fibers, synthetic fibers such as polymer fibers, carbon-based fibers, ceramic-based fibers such as glass fibers, metal-based fibers including steel-based fibers and/or wire and aluminum-based fibers and/or wire, one or more of blended fibers such as animal/synthetic blended fibers, animal/plant blended fibers, plant/synthetic blended fibers, glass/polymer blended fibers (glass fibers), metal/synthetic blended fibers, and the like, and/or combinations of two or more of the various fiber types. Animal fibers may include wool fibers produced from the hair and/or fur of animals providing hair/fur suitable for fiber production, including by way of non-limiting example sheep, goats, rabbits, llamas, and the like, as well as silk fibers produced from insect cocoons, and the like. Plant-based fibers may include fibers produced from plants that provide plant materials suitable for fiber production, including but not limited to cotton, flax, wood (acetate, rayon), bamboo, jute, hemp, raffia, pineapple, soy. By way of non-limiting example, the synthetic fibers may include fibers made from one or more of acrylic, kevlar, nylon, nomex, polyester, spandex, and the like. By way of non-limiting example, the fibers may be formed by spinning, extrusion, drawing, and the like. The textile material may be formed from yarns comprising a plurality of fibers that have been woven or twisted together or otherwise woven or connected to form yarns. The textile material may include monofilament fibers, multifilament fibers, staple fibers, or a combination thereof.

Spacer element 24 may include, but is not limited to, spacer fabric 25. The exemplary embodiment shown in the figures and described herein includes a spacer element embodied as a spacer fabric 25. However, it should be understood that the spacer element 24 may comprise some other textile material than the exemplary spacer textile described herein. For example, the spacing element 24 may alternatively comprise a tubular structure.

Spacer fabric 25 is a three-dimensional knitted or woven fabric comprised of two separate substrates, first layer 42 and second layer 44, with first layer 42 and second layer 44 being joined together but spaced apart by spacer yarns, i.e., spacer filaments. The spacer fabric 25 comprises a first layer 42 and a second layer 44, wherein the first layer 42 is attached to the first wall portion 34 and the second layer 44 is attached to the second wall portion 36. Spacer filaments 46 extend between first layer 42 and second layer 44 of spacer fabric 25 and interconnect first layer 42 and second layer 44.

The first layer 42 may be attached to the first wall portion 34 in a suitable manner, such as, but not limited to, adhering the first layer 42 to the first wall portion 34 with an adhesive, or by some other means of permanently attaching the first layer 42 to the first wall portion 34, and preventing the first layer 42 from separating from the first wall 34. Similarly, the second layer 44 may be attached to the second wall portion 36 in a suitable manner, such as, but not limited to, adhering the second layer 44 to the second wall portion 36 with an adhesive, or by some other means of permanently attaching the second layer 44 to the second wall portion 36, and preventing the second layer 44 from separating from the second wall portion 36. Spacer filaments 46 are attached to first layer 42 and second layer 44, respectively. Spacer filaments 46 may include a single filament woven between first layer 42 and second layer 44, or a plurality of individual strands of filaments each extending between and interconnecting second layer 44 and

second layer

42, 44.

First layer 42 and second layer 44 may include and be made of suitable fibers such as, but not limited to, polymer yarns, polymer monofilaments, metal wires or cables, elastomeric yarns or monofilaments, active material fibers, or combinations thereof. The spacer filaments 46 may include and be made from suitable fibers such as, but not limited to, polymer yarns, polymer monofilaments, metal wires or cables, elastomeric yarns or monofilaments, active material fibers, or combinations thereof. Further, as described above, the first layer 42 and the second layer 44 may be woven or knitted fabrics.

Spacer fabric 25 is operable to constrain expansion of bladder 22 in response to an internal fluid pressure 48 applied by fluid 40 within pressure chamber 28. As described above, fluid 40 exerts an internal fluid pressure 48 on wall 26 of bladder 22 that is greater than atmospheric pressure. When the first and

second wall portions

34, 36 are spaced apart from each other by the internal fluid pressure 48 exerted by the fluid 40 in the pressure chamber 28, the first and

second layers

42, 44 of the spacer fabric 25 attached to the first and

second wall portions

34, 36, respectively, move away from each other. As first layer 42 and second layer 44 are moved away from each other, spacer filaments 46 extending between and interconnecting first layer 42 and second layer 44 are stretched and brought into an elongated or tensioned state. Once the spacer wires 46 are tensioned, the spacer wires 46 constrain further movement or expansion of the first and

second wall portions

34, 36 away from each other. In this manner, spacer fabric 25 limits outward expansion of walls 26 in response to internal fluid pressure 48 exerted by fluid 40 within pressure chamber 28.

Spacer filaments 46 include a plurality of segments 50 that extend between first layer 42 and second layer 44 and interconnect first layer 42 and second layer 44. It will therefore be appreciated that once the spacer wire 46 is tensioned, each of these sections 50 is tensioned. Each of the tension sections 50 of the isolation wire 46 acts as a preload column that can carry a load 56. Thus, the plurality of segments 50 of spacer wires 46 greatly increases the load bearing capacity of structural member 20A. By incorporating the spacer fabric 25 into the pressure chamber 28 and pressurizing the pressure chamber 28 until the individual segments 50 of the spacer filaments 46 are tensioned, the spacer filaments 46 prevent the wall 26 from expanding in areas away from the load 56, thereby reducing the deformation of the bladder 22 in response to the load 56.

The spacer fabric 25 and bladder 22 can be formed to include and/or define a first region 52 and a second region 54. The first region 52 and the second region 54 may be defined as different regions or areas of the structural member 20A. The first region 52 and the second region 54 may be configured differently to provide different characteristics. For example, the spacer fabric 25 and the first region 52 of the bladder 22 may be configured to provide a different shape and/or load bearing capacity than the second region 54. Although first and

second regions

52, 54 are described herein, it should be understood that structural member 20A may include a plurality of differently configured regions to provide desired characteristics to structural member 20A. For example, the first region 52 may constrain the bladder 22 to a first shape and the second region 54 may constrain the bladder 22 to a second shape, the second shape being different from the first shape. Alternatively, first region 52 may provide a first restraining force against expansion of wall 26 to achieve a first load-bearing capacity and second region 54 may provide a second restraining force against expansion of wall 26 to achieve a second load-bearing capacity, wherein the first restraining force is different from the second restraining force.

The configuration of the spacer textile 25 may differ between the first and

second regions

52, 54 in a manner that provides the desired difference in characteristics between the first and

second regions

52, 54. For example, first regions 52 may differ from second regions 54 in one or more of stitch type, stitch pattern, needle size, yarn type, yarn denier, fiber type, fiber size, stitch density, warp yarn pattern, weft yarn pattern, or weave type. It should be understood that the wall 26 of the bladder 22 may be varied between the first and

second regions

52, 54 to further enhance the desired difference in characteristics between the first and

second regions

52, 54. For example, the first and

second regions

52, 54 of the wall 26 may be made of different materials having different stiffnesses and/or flexibilities.

Referring to fig. 2-6, a second embodiment of the structural member is shown generally at 20B. Structural member 20B includes bladder 62 and fabric shell 64. The bladder 62 includes a wall 66 that forms a pressure chamber 68. The wall 66 includes an inner surface 70 facing the pressure chamber 68 and an opposite outer surface 72. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures and described herein, the wall 66 is formed to have a generally circular cross-sectional shape extending along a longitudinal centerline 74 to form a tubular structure. However, it should be understood that other embodiments of the structural member 20B may be configured to have different shapes than the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein.

The wall 66 of the bladder 62 is made of a flexible material. As used herein, the term "flexible material" is defined as a material that is capable of bending and/or stretching without permanent deformation and without rupture. For example, the wall 66 of the bladder 62 may be made of silicone, polyurethane, natural rubber (latex), other resilient, air-tight polymers, or metal foil, but is not limited thereto.

As shown in fig. 6, fluid 76 is disposed within pressure chamber 68 and is constrained by wall 66 of bladder 62. Thus, it should be understood that the pressure chamber 68 of the bladder 62 is fluid-tight. The fluid 76 exhibits or exerts a fluid pressure greater than atmospheric pressure against the walls 66 of the bladder 62. Thus, pressure chamber 68 is pressurized by fluid 76 to expand walls 66 of bladder 62 outwardly. Fluid 76 may include, but is not limited to, a gas, such as air or nitrogen. In other embodiments, the fluid 76 may comprise a liquid. The internal fluid pressure exerted by fluid 76 within pressure chamber 68 acts to create a predetermined outward pressure 78 on wall 66 of bladder 62.

The fabric shell 64 is disposed adjacent the outer surface 72 of the bladder 62. The fabric shell 64 wraps around the bladder 62 and substantially surrounds the bladder 62. The fabric shell 64 is a fabric material that includes at least one woven or knitted structure. The fabric shell 64 may comprise and be made of suitable fibers such as, but not limited to, polymer yarns, polymer monofilaments, metal wires or cables, elastomeric yarns or monofilaments, active material fibers or combinations thereof.

The fabric shell 64 includes a first region 82 and a second region 80. The second region 80 may alternatively be referred to herein as the central region 80. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the first region 82 may include a first sub-region 84A and a second sub-region 84B disposed on opposite sides of the central region 80 along the longitudinal centerline 74 of the structural member 20B. In one embodiment, the first subregion 84A and the second subregion 84B are substantially similar or identical in structure. In other embodiments, the first and

second sub-regions

84A, 84B are configured differently from one another.

The first region 82 and the central region 80 of the fabric shell 64 are distinct from one another to present the structural member 20B in a predetermined shape, generally shown in fig. 5. The first and

second regions

82, 80 of the fabric shell 64 may differ from one another in at least one of stitch type, stitch pattern, needle size, yarn type, yarn denier, fiber type, fiber size, stitch density, warp yarn pattern, weft yarn pattern, or weave type.

A first region 82 of the fabric shell 64 provides a first restraining force to the bladder 62 in response to a predetermined outward pressure 78 exerted on the bladder 62 by the fluid 76 disposed within the pressure chamber 68. It should be understood that the first and

second sub-regions

84A, 84B of the first region 82 may each be configured to provide a first restraining force along a respective axial portion of the structural member 20B. A central region 80 of the fabric shell 64 provides a second restraining force to the bladder 62 in response to a predetermined outward pressure 78 applied by the fluid 76 disposed in the pressure chamber 68.

As best shown in fig. 6, the central region 80 may be configured such that a first radial section 92 of the central region 80 provides a different restraining force than a second radial section 94 of the central region 80. In this way, the second restraining force provided by the central region 80 may be stronger or greater on one side of the structural member 20B than the other. In other words, the second restraining force may not be evenly distributed in a radial direction about the longitudinal centerline 74, but may be greater in one radial direction than the other radial direction. The second restraining force is greater in one radial direction than the opposite radial direction, causing bladder 62 to form a bend or kink in central region 80 when restrained by the first restraining force from first region 82.

The wall 66 of the bladder 62 includes a motion control feature 96. The motion control feature 96 is operable to form the wall 66 of the bladder 62 into a predetermined shape. Thus, the difference between the first and second restraining forces provided by the first and

central regions

82, 80 of the fabric shell 64, in combination with the motion control feature 96 of the wall 66, causes the fabric shell 64 and bladder 62 to assume a predetermined shape in response to a predetermined outward pressure 78 exerted on the bladder 62 from the fluid 76 within the pressure chamber 68, generally as shown in fig. 5. The structural member 20B described herein may be combined with a plurality of similarly configured structural members 20B to form a panel or other structure exhibiting a complex three-dimensional shape.

The motion control feature 96 may include a structural or physical feature of the wall 66 that is capable of biasing the wall 66 into a predetermined shape. For example, the motion control feature 96 may include a wall 66 having a first region 98 exhibiting a first physical characteristic and a second region 100 exhibiting a second physical characteristic. The features of the wall 66 that form the motion control features 96 may include, but are not limited to, the thickness of the wall 66, the density or ply pattern of the fiber-reinforced strands in the wall 66, or the orientation of the reinforcing fibers 106.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to fig. 3 and 6, the first physical characteristic of the first region 98 includes a first wall thickness 102 providing a first bending strength, and the second physical characteristic of the second region 100 includes a second wall thickness 104 providing a second bending strength. The first wall thickness 102 and the first bending strength are different than the second wall thickness 104 and the second bending strength. As shown in fig. 3, the first region 98 has a thinner wall thickness than the second region 100. Thus, the first region 98 will have a lower bending strength. This difference between the physical characteristics of the first region 98 and the second region 100 tends to cause the second region 100, i.e., the thicker portion of the wall 66, to form an outer or larger radius when bent, while the smaller wall thickness of the first region 98 will tend to form an inner or smaller radius when bent.

In another exemplary embodiment, referring to fig. 4, the wall 66 includes reinforcing fibers 106, the reinforcing fibers 106 being helically wound around the wall 66 of the bladder 62. The helically wound reinforcing fibers 106 form or define a helix angle. The helix angle in the first region 98 is different than the helix angle in the second region 100. A smaller helix angle, for example less than 57 degrees (57 °), tends to cause the bladder 62 to radially expand and contract or shorten along the longitudinal centerline 74 until the helix angle is approximately equal to fifty-seven degrees. Conversely, a larger helix angle, e.g., greater than 57 degrees, tends to cause the bladder 62 to radially contract and expand or lengthen along the longitudinal centerline 74 until the helix angle is approximately equal to 57 degrees.

In another embodiment, the wall 66 of the bladder 62 may include and be made of a fiber reinforced material. The fibrous reinforcement comprises fibers. The fibers define a fiber density, i.e., the volume or number of fibers per unit length along the longitudinal centerline 74. The fiber density can be varied to vary the bending strength of the wall 66. In addition, the fibers may be placed in a particular pattern (referred to as a ply pattern) to provide or change the bending strength of the wall 66.

The first physical characteristic of the first region 98 may include a first fiber density 108 and/or fiber lay-up pattern providing a first bending strength and the second physical characteristic of the second region 100 may include a second fiber density 110 and/or lay-up pattern providing a second bending strength. The first fiber density 108 and/or fiber lay-up pattern is different from the second fiber density 110 and/or fiber lay-up pattern. As shown in fig. 3, the first region 98 has a fiber density 108 that is less than a fiber density 110 of the second region 100. Thus, the first region 98 will have a lower bending strength. This difference between the physical characteristics of the first region 98 and the second region 100 tends to cause the second region 100, i.e., the higher fiber density portion of the wall 66, to form an outer or larger radius when bent, while the lesser fiber density of the first region 98 will tend to form an inner or smaller radius when bent.

The detailed description and drawings are a support and description for the present disclosure, but the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A structural member, comprising:

a bladder having a wall defining a pressure chamber, wherein the wall includes an inner surface facing the pressure chamber;

a fabric shell disposed adjacent the outer surface of the bladder, the fabric shell including a first region and a second region, the first region of the fabric shell providing a first restraining force to the bladder in response to a predetermined outward pressure from the bladder, the second region of the fabric shell providing a second restraining force to the bladder in response to the predetermined outward pressure from the bladder;

wherein the wall of the bladder includes a motion control feature, the first and second restraining forces in combination with the motion control feature causing the fabric shell and bladder to assume a predetermined shape in response to a predetermined outward pressure from the bladder;

the motion control feature comprises different thicknesses of the wall having a first region exhibiting a first physical characteristic comprising a first wall thickness providing a first bending strength and a second region exhibiting a second physical characteristic comprising a second wall thickness providing a second bending strength, the first wall thickness and the first bending strength being different from the second wall thickness and the second bending strength;

or the fiber density of different fiber reinforcement materials in the wall, the fiber density in the first region being different from the fiber density in the second region;

or a defined helix angle of the reinforcing fibers helically wound around the bladder wall, the helix angle in the first region being different from the helix angle in the second region.