Patent ID: 6132187
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
A pump comprising:a flexible tube having a generally circular cross section and an inner diameter;a thin, elongated, and flexible strip having a relatively uniform width and having generally parallel side edges;said strip width being greater than said inner diameter of said tube;said strip being inserted within said tube, and said strip thereby operating to cause said tube to deform to a generally elliptical cross section, with said strip edges being generally sealed by engagement with said inner diameter of said tube;said strip thereby forming a first chamber on one side of said strip;said strip thereby forming a second chamber on an opposite side of said strip;at least one bistable dome formed in said strip;a direction of protrusion of said at least one bistable dome operating to switch back and forth between said first and second chambers as said tube and strip are subjected to alternate bending, as a unit, in one direction generally normal to said strip and then in an opposite direction generally normal to said strip; andsaid switching of said at least one bistable dome in one of said directions operating to reduce a volume of one of said chambers as a volume of the other of said chambers is concomitantly increased.