US3620651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid flow apparatus
Assignee: International Combustion Holdings Ltd
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Filing: 1970-02-03
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1990-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Fluid flow apparatus operable either as a pump or as a motor in which a flexible sheet is constrained by means of connections at spaced points along its length to follow a traveling wave motion. The flexible sheet forms one bounding surface for a fluid flow path which is also bounded by an opposed sideplate which may be another flexible sheet. The traveling wave motion maintains the flexible sheet in traveling contact with the sidewall.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Frederick Hufton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:16
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H11/00; B63H11/02; B63H11/04; B63H11/06; F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/02; F04B43/025; F04B43/12; F04B43/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A fluid flow apparatus comprising in combination a. means defining at least one fluid flow path, said means comprising at least one flexible sheet defining a sidewall of said path and another sidewall cooperating with said one flexible sheet, said flexible sheet having the capability of transmitting tension along its length without substantial increase therein, b. a plurality of discrete movable members disposed at intervals along the length of the said flexible sheet and connected thereto, c. means proximate to said members for constraining movement of the latter to impose a traveling wave motion on said flexible sheet, d. said plurality of discrete, movable members including some connected to said sheet at points separated by a distance equal to n lambda /2 where n is an integer at least equal to 1 and lambda is the wavelength of the traveling wave, said some members being free to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the traveling wave, and, e. means interconnecting the ends of said sheet to form a loop for transmitting tension from one end of the sheet round the loop to the other end of the sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A fluid flow apparatus comprising in combination a. means defining at least one fluid flow path, said means comprising at least one flexible sheet defining a sidewall of said path and another sidewall cooperating with said one flexible sheet, said flexible sheet having the capability of transmitting tension along its length without substantial increase therein, b. a plurality of discrete movable members disposed at intervals along the length of the said flexible sheet and connected thereto, c. means proximate to said members for constraining movement of the latter to impose a traveling wave motion on said flexible sheet, d. said plurality of discrete, movable members including some connected to said sheet at points separated by a distance equal to n lambda /2 where n is an integer at least equal to 1 and lambda is the wavelength of the traveling wave, said some members being free to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the traveling wave, and, e. means interconnecting the ends of said sheet to form a loop for transmitting tension from one end of the sheet round the loop to the other end of the sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said other cooperating sidewall is a further flexible sheet, said apparatus further comprising f. means for imposing on said further flexible sheet a motion in contraflexing relationship with that of said first mentioned flexible sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said members comprise a first set of thrust rods each of which is connected, at one end, to the sheet and, at the other end, to the constraining means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising a plurality of weights distributed along the sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the weights are spaced uniformly along the length of the sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which some of the weights are connected to thrust rods of the first set and in which the mass of each weight connected to a thrust rod together with the mass of its associated portion of the thrust rod is substantially equal to the mass of any one of the weights not connected to a thrust rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the flexible sheet has a length equal to the surface length of one wavelength of the traveling wave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the thrust rods are disposed at each end of the sheet and at positions along the sheet spaced apart by one-quarter of a wavelength of the traveling wave.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said members comprise a first set of thrust rods, and in which said means for imposing contraflexing relationship on said further sheet comprise a further set of thrust rods which pass through said first-mentioned sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the thrust rods of the further set are connected to said other sheet at the same positions along said other sheet as the first set of thrust rods connected to the first-mentioned flexible sheet, the sets of thrust rods being connected to said constraining means for movement 180* out of phase with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each thrust rod is displaceable by an eccentric, the eccentrics being rotated by a common shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the fluid flow path has an inlet and an exit and further comprising g. a fluid bypass from said inlet to said exit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the bypass has a nozzle so that fluid is fed from the said exit directly into said inlet end, in the direction of flow of the fluid stream in said fluid flow path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the bypass includes a fluid flow control valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the flexible sheet is of a length greater than one wavelength of the traveling wave.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the flexible sheet is of tapering width, being wider at the inlet to said fluid flow path than at the outlet thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the wavelength of the traveling wave reduces along the length of the flexible sheet, being greatest at the inlet of said fluid flow path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE836006C
Cited
US3294031A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |