Method and an arrangement for obtaining a translatory movement between two mutually contacting bodies

An arrangement for obtaining a translatory movement of one body relative to another with which it is in contact, said arrangement comprising

• at least one body having at least one active portion intended to be brought into contact with the other body and laong which portion at least one wave can be caused to move,
• said wave either causing an interruption in the contact between said bodies and separating two parts of said active portion which are in contact with the other of said bodies, or forming a contact between the bodies and separating two parts of said active portion which are not in contact with the other of said bodies,
• thereby causing the distance between two arbitrarily selected points of respective pairs of said parts measured along the surface of the active portion to be longer than the shortest distance between said points;
• and
• at least one roll which is displaceable relative to the active portion for advancing waves therein.

Method of obtaining a translatory movement between two mutually contacting bodies, wherein at least one wave is caused to move along at least one active portion of at least one of said bodies, p1 said portion being in contact with the other of said bodies,

• and wherein the wave either causes an interruption in said contact between said bodies and separates two parts of said active portion which is in contact with the other of said bodies, or forms a contact between said bodies and separates two parts of said active portion which are not in contact with said other body,
• thereby causing the distance between two arbitarily selected points of respective pairs of said parts measured along the surface of the active portion to be longer than the shortest distance between said points;
• said active portion comprising a closed space;
• and including the steps of
• generating an overpressure with respect to atmospheric within said closed space;
• positioning hollow cushions within said closed space, oriented longitudinally with respect to said motion;
• and wherein the step of advancing the waves comprises cyclically filling, and evacuating, said hollow cushions with a compressed fluid to cyclically expand and contract said cushions in said space to form a continuous movable wave therein.

An arrangement for obtaining a translatory movement of one body relative to another with which it is in contact, said arrangement comprising

• at least one body having at least one active portion intended to be brought into contact with the other body and laong which portion at least one wave can be caused to move,
• said wave either causing an interruption in the contact between said bodies and separating two parts of said active portion which are in contact with the other of said bodies, or forming a contact between the bodies and separating two parts of said active portion which are not in contact with the other of said bodies,
• thereby causing the distance between two arbitrarily selected points of respective pairs of said parts measured along the surface of the active portion to be longer than the shortest distance between said points;
• wherein the active portion comprises an outer flexible layer defining a closed space therein in which an internal pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure prevails, and fluid-expandible cushions located within said closed space adapted to be cyclically filled and evacuated to form the advancing waves in said active portion.