Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
373 words
A device for creating a cyclic pressure pulse in a closed volume of fluid, said device comprising: means enclosing a volume of fluid for defining a closed system, said means including a flexible member forming a boundary portion of said enclosing means, said flexible member being biased in a first position extending in a direction outwardly of said enclosing means and movable to a second position extending in a direction inwardly of said enclosing means, drive means for moving said flexible member from said biased first position to said second position, said driving means including (i) a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, (ii) valve means operably connected to said flexible member for alternately opening and closing said fluid outlet, said valve means opening said fluid outlet when said flexible member is in said second position, and (iii) a source of fluid under pressure operably connected to said fluid inlet of the housing to increase the pressure within said housing to move said flexible member inwardly of said enclosing means to said second position whereupon said valve means opens said fluid outlet of the housing to vent the pressurized fluid within said housing and allow said flexible member to return to the biased first position to begin a new cycle in which said source of fluid under pressure again increases the pressure with said housing to move said flexible member inwardly of said enclosing means, said enclosing means includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said inlet and outlet each having a valve means for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough, and, said device further includes a source of fluid under pressure connected to said fluid inlet of the enclosing means whereby each of the valve means for said inlet and outlet can be opened to flush fluid out of said enclosing means and each of said valve means can be selectively operated to raise the pressure of the fluid in said enclosing means by opening the valve means for the inlet and closing the valve means for the outlet and operated to lower the pressure of the fluid in said enclosing means by closing the valve means for the inlet and opening the valve means for the outlet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
373 words
A device for creating a cyclic pressure pulse in a closed volume of fluid, said device comprising: means enclosing a volume of fluid for defining a closed system, said means including a flexible member forming a boundary portion of said enclosing means, said flexible member being biased in a first position extending in a direction outwardly of said enclosing means and movable to a second position extending in a direction inwardly of said enclosing means, drive means for moving said flexible member from said biased first position to said second position, said driving means including (i) a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, (ii) valve means operably connected to said flexible member for alternately opening and closing said fluid outlet, said valve means opening said fluid outlet when said flexible member is in said second position, and (iii) a source of fluid under pressure operably connected to said fluid inlet of the housing to increase the pressure within said housing to move said flexible member inwardly of said enclosing means to said second position whereupon said valve means opens said fluid outlet of the housing to vent the pressurized fluid within said housing and allow said flexible member to return to the biased first position to begin a new cycle in which said source of fluid under pressure again increases the pressure with said housing to move said flexible member inwardly of said enclosing means, said enclosing means includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said inlet and outlet each having a valve means for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough, and, said device further includes a source of fluid under pressure connected to said fluid inlet of the enclosing means whereby each of the valve means for said inlet and outlet can be opened to flush fluid out of said enclosing means and each of said valve means can be selectively operated to raise the pressure of the fluid in said enclosing means by opening the valve means for the inlet and closing the valve means for the outlet and operated to lower the pressure of the fluid in said enclosing means by closing the valve means for the inlet and opening the valve means for the outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
The device of claim 1 further including: tube means having a flexible portion passing through said enclosing means and two end portions extending outwardly of said enclosing means, said flexible portion assuming a first shape and each of said end portions having a one-way valve means to limit flow through said tube means to one direction, the cyclic pressure pulses created within said enclosing means compressing said flexible portion of said tube means during a peak in one of said cyclic pressure pulses to force fluid out of said tube in said one direction means through one of said valve means, said flexible portion of the tube means expanding toward said first shape during a trough in one of said cyclic pressure pulses to draw fluid into said tube means in said one direction through the other valve means whereby fluid enters and exits said tube means in pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1, further including: valve means for regulating the rate of fluid flowing from the fluid source under pressure into said housing to control the frequency of the motion of the flexible member between said first and second positions.