Pumping device, particularly suitable for compressing fluids on deep sea-bottoms

Claim 1

A pumping device comprising: (a) two identical containers; (b) an internal elastic membrane partitioning each container into two chambers, each of said membranes having a decreasing thickness from its peripheral edge towards its central part and fixed at said edge to the middle of said container; (c) a plurality of metal rings in each of said membranes for increasing the stability of said membranes during deformation thereof, wherein said rings are concentric to each other and parallel to a horizontal plane at said middle of said container and wherein said rings decrease in cross sectional surface area relative to one another from the peripheral edge of each of said membranes to the central portion thereof; (d) an intake line and a delivery line connected to one chamber of each container for the intake and delivery of product, said pair of chambers being on the same side of the membrane in each container; (e) a distribution box connecting the other pair of said chambers with a hydraulic pump to control the flow of hydraulic fluid therebetween; (f) switching means connected to said containers and distribution box for causing said box to change the flow of hydraulic fluid from one of said containers to the other when the product in one of said containers has fully deformed said membrane therein, whereupon the product causing said deformation is decharged from said container into said delivery line.