摘要 |
1,103,033. Bellows, pumps and motors. M. B. LOVEMORE. April 26, 1966 [March 23, 1965], No.18114/66. Headings F1A, F1N and F1P. A bellows pump or a compressed fluid operated bellows comprises a longitudinally extensible and collapsible corrugated tubular shell Fig. 1 of polygonal e. g. hexagonal cross-section and formed of six longitudinal extending laterally corrugated circumferentially spaced relatively movable elements 2 which together provide the hexagonal configuration; the gap 3 Fig. 2 between any two adjacent elements 2 being sealed by an interposed resilient member 4 which is correspondingly corrugated and the elements being prevented from deformation due to lateral forces by retaining members 9. When operating as a motor, brace plates 5 are located externally of the shell against the wall elements 2 in zones between adjacent valleys and crests defined by the corrugations. The plates 5 of different wall elements are separate from one another but those of any one element 2 are coupled together at their outer ends by channel members 6 which permit relative rolling movement between the associated pair of plates 5. The inner ends of each plate projects through and is resiliently sealed to a slot in the wall 2 and hooks over the hexagonal retaining ring 9. The ends of the shell are closed by plates one of which has a fluid inlet and exhaust port 13. When used as a pump the brace plates 5 are located within the shell as are the channel shaped coupling members 6; the returning rings being externally of the shell. In a modification the brace plates are dispersed with and the corrugations form alternately inwardly and outwardly facing folds (14a, 14b) Fig. 7 (not shown) each of substantially circular cross-section when collapsed. An annular retaining element (15) is located around the shell either in each outwardly facing fold or in each inwardly facing fold and is complementary in cross-sectional configuration to its fold when collapsed. |