Ribbon Transducer and Pump Apparatuses, Methods and Systems

Abstract

The RIBBON TRANSDUCER AND PUMP APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS include, in various embodiments, a variety of mechanisms comprised of components that include flexible elements with persistently strained deformations. Under operation, the deformations may be reconfigured via actuation to produce useful work, or may be reconfigured when subjected to external forces, such as from flowing fluid. The external energy input used to reconfigure these deformations may be harnessed and converted into electrical energy or may be converted into useful mechanical work, such as pumping.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 first and second flexible sheet-like members, each having respective left and right side edges, having respective longitudinal axes oriented substantially parallel to each other and having respective inner and outer contact surfaces oriented substantially parallel to each other,
 wherein the longitudinal axes are oriented substantially parallel to a primary flow direction of a flowing first fluid, 
 wherein the outer contact surfaces project transverse to the longitudinal axes and are disposed in contact with the flowing first fluid, and 
 wherein the inner contact surfaces define a fluid passage containing a second fluid; 
   first and second rigid restraining members secured at a fixed distance from respective left and right side edges of the first and second flexible sheet-like members;   a first set of coupling members attached along the first rigid restraining member according to a first spacing distance, and attached along the left side edges of the first and second flexible sheet-like members according to a second spacing distance,
 wherein the second spacing distance is greater than the first spacing distance; 
   a second set of coupling members attached along the second rigid restraining member according to the first spacing distance, and attached along the right side edges of the first and second flexible sheet-like members according to the second spacing distance; and   wherein dynamic undulations of the first and second flexible sheet-like members caused by the flowing first fluid impart forces via the inner contact surfaces to the second fluid to transport the second fluid in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first and second flexible sheet-like members.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first set of coupling members and second set of coupling members attaches to the first and second flexible sheet-like members via at least two coupling member extensions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling members and second set of coupling members each comprise at least three linear coupling members. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling members and second set of coupling members each comprise coupling membranes. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling members and second set of coupling members each comprise both coupling membranes and at least three linear coupling members. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible sheet-like articles comprise electroactive material exhibiting an electrical response to mechanical strain. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elastic tube situated within the fluid passage, wherein the second fluid is contained within the elastic tube.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic tube is open to the flowing first fluid at an upstream end and closed at a downstream end except for an opening into a tube-like extension, and
 wherein the flowing first fluid and the second fluid are the same.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic tube is open to the flowing first fluid at an upstream end and closed at a downstream end except for an opening into another chamber, and
 wherein the flowing first fluid and the second fluid are the same.   
     
     
         10 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a flexible sheet-like member, having left and right side edges, having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to a primary flow direction of a flowing fluid, and having contact surfaces projecting transverse to the longitudinal axes and disposed in contact with the flowing fluid,
 wherein the flexible sheet-like member comprises an electroactive materials exhibiting an electrical response to mechanical strain; 
   first and second rigid restraining members situated proximate to the left and right side edges of the flexible sheet-like member;   a first set of at least three linear coupling members attached along the first rigid restraining member according to a first spacing distance, and attached along the left side edge of the flexible sheet-like member according to a second spacing distance,
 wherein the second spacing distance is greater than the first spacing distance; 
   a second set of at least three linear coupling members attached along the second rigid restraining member according to the first spacing distance, and attached along the right side edge of the flexible sheet-like member according to the second spacing distance; and   at least one power extraction component coupled to dynamic undulations of the electroactive material comprising the flexible sheet-like member caused by the flowing fluid to extract power therefrom.