Fluid pump and expandable energy storage device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsNicholas M. Nardacci, Jeffrey L. Cipolla
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Abstract
A fluid pump and expandable energy storage device includes a substantially igid circular band, a substantially rigid central hub, a membrane fixed to the band and to the hub, the membrane being enlargeable by a fluid introduced into the device, and a plurality of rods interconnecting the band and the hub. The enlargeable membrane is adjacent the rods, such that enlargement of the membrane causes movement of the hub and portions of the rods away from a plane of the band. The movement causes twisting and bending of the rods, biasing the rods to return to their original positions upon release of the fluid. Upon such release, the membrane and the rods immediately return to their non-enlarged states, forcing the fluid out of the device at a high velocity.
Claims12
A fluid pump and expandable energy storage device comprising:
- a substantially rigid circular band;
- a substantially rigid central hub;
- a membrane fixed to said band and to said hub, said membrane being enlargeable by a fluid introduced into said device;
- and
- a plurality of elastic rods interconnecting said band and said hub, said enlargeable membrane being adjacent said rods, such that enlargement of said membrane causes movement of said hub and portions of said rods away from a plane of said band, said rods undergoing strain to accomodate said movement, said strain biasing said rods to return to their original positions, whereby upon release of the fluid, said rods immediately return to their original positions, forcing the fluid out of the device at a high velocity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.