Patent GB-1302541-A (GB)
IPC: F04B43/02
Filed: 1969-02-07
Abstract: 1302541 Perestaltic machines INTERNATIONAL COMBUSTION (HOLDINGS) Ltd 3 Feb 1970 [7 Feb 1969] 6737/69 Heading F1F Fluid-flow apparatus operable as a pump, motor or compressor, comprises at least one fluid-flow path with at least one side of the or each fluid path being a flexible sheet, a plurality of members disposed at intervals along the length of the or each flexible sheet and connected thereto, the members being constrained to have a sequential movement such that the or each flexible sheet is constrained to the movement of a travelling transverse wave along the sheet. In one embodiment, a pair of flexible sheets 95, 96, Fig.11, on either side of a centre plate 104, are anchored at each end between rubber buffers 105, 106; 107, 108; 109, 110; 111 and 112 with the buffers 106, 111 defining two sides of an inlet duct which separates into two flow-paths and the buffers 108, 109 two sides of a common outlet duct. A further pair of flexible sheets 97, 98 are disposed on either side of another centre plate and similarly anchored at their ends to define two further flow-paths. Five eccentrics 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 mounted on a driven shaft 114, in the case of a pump or compressor, are each connected to the sheets by ball-and-socket universal joints and a thrust rod 123. The operational length of each is one wavelength but it may be any number of wavelengths with each wavelength representing a compression stage. The thrust rods are connected to the sheets at the ends each wavelength and at , ¢ and ¥ wavelength. The thrust rods are heavier than the sheets resulting in the forces to accelerate the rods being greater than the forces to decelerate the sheets. To compensate for this weights 142, 143, 144, 145, are evenly spaced along the sheets. The shaft 114 which is supported in bearings 134, 135 is provided with two sets of balance weights 136, 137 each having a pair of adjustable bobs. The sheets whose width corresponds to the width of the ducts are sealed with respect thereto by H section seals 226A, Fig.15. In another embodiment, eight sheets 200A, to 200H, Fig.16, are mounted in a single duct 201 with the four sheets 200A, 200C, 200E, 200G acting in unison and backing the other four sheets 200B, 200D, 200F and 200H which also act in unison. The ball-andsocket joints in this embodiment are replaced by linkages which are operatively connected to eccentrics (227) mounted on a shaft 226. A pair of channels 280, 281, Fig.17 extend on either side of the duct at their inlet ends and are fitted with manually-operable valves 284. At the outlet end of the duct, deflectors 291 deflect some of the output into the channels which may be recirculated at the inlet end according to the adjustment of the valves 284 to adjust output. To pass the gas along the duct at constant velocity the duct may be progressively reduced in cross-section from its inlet and by tapering its height, Fig.8. To permit gas to be taken off at two pressures, a take-off duct 193 may be fitted, e.g. at the ninth compression stage. Flap valves 195, 196 in the take-off duct and flap valves 197, 198 in the tapering duct 186 to control the output from either duct. The apparatus may operate as a motor by feeding compressed gas to the flexible sheets resulting in rotation of the shaft which now functions as an output shaft. To withstand high temperatures, the sheets may be formed from oxide fibres or carbon fibres. In other operational environments, "Terylene" (Registered Trade Mark) or glass fibre impregnated with silicone rubber may be used. Other parts of the apparatus are made from rigid materials such as metals or reinforced plastics.