A method of transporting a material includes at least one series of interconnected tube sections that can be opened or closed. At least one downstream tube section holds the material to be transported. A liquid jet is generated which accelerates the held material upstream out of at least the first downstream tube section into at least one opening upstream tube section which then holds a material part waiting for a next liquid jet to propagate that part to the next upstream tube section.

This invention concerns a contractile device. The device includes a body, which has a wall including a tessellation of elements. The body is deformable through pressurisation of fluid within the body between a first, extended state and a second, contracted state in which the axial length of the body is reduced and the internal volume increased compared to the first, normal state. The tessellation of elements includes a series of protruding and intruding formations which are arranged such that the body remains substantially cylindrical through its deformation between its normal and deformed states. The protruding and intruding formations of the tessellation of elements may be in the form of protruding and intruding pyramids.

A fluid flow pump comprising a suction inlet, a discharge outlet, and a movable part inside the chamber. The pump includes circular first upstream and downstream lips such that: over a first portion of the movement of said movable part in the chamber, the circular first upstream lip then allowing free passage for fluid between the first space and the suction inlet; and that over a second portion of said movement, the circular first upstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing to the suction inlet, the circular first downstream lip allowing fluid to pass from the first space to said discharge outlet and preventing fluid from passing to said first space.

The cyclic flow apparatuses consistent with the technology disclosed herein are configured to sealably couple to a liquid flow circuit. The cyclic flow apparatus is configured to change a flow velocity of a liquid through a filter media holder. In various embodiments, the cyclic flow apparatus is configured to change the flow velocity of the liquid through a portion of the liquid flow circuit. The cyclic flow apparatus can be configured to cyclically change the flow velocity of the liquid in the liquid flow circuit through the filter media holder.

There is disclosed a hollow tube body used for a liquid feeding member and deformable by pressurization, wherein: an axial cross-section of the tube body has two opposing long side parts and two opposing short side parts; four corner portions formed by the long side parts and the short side parts each have a shape curved to protrude outward; each of the long side parts has a recessed part recessed inward and continuing from the corner portions; and a portion other than the corner portions of each of the short side parts is in a flat shape.

An example pump for driving a biological fluid is described herein. The pump can include an inner tubular structure and an outer tubular structure arranged around the inner tubular structure. The outer tubular structure can be configured as an artificial muscle. The pump can also include a gel layer disposed between the inner and outer tubular structures.

A valve for a reciprocating pump includes a housing, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first valve element, and a second valve element. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The first and second chambers are within the housing. The first chamber includes a first valve seat and is fluidly connected to the inlet. The second chamber includes a second valve seat and is fluidly connected to the outlet. The first valve element is disposed in the first chamber and includes a spring-loaded check valve element. The second valve element is disposed in the second chamber and includes a buoyant material.

A valve for a reciprocating pump includes a housing, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first valve element, and a second valve element. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The first and second chambers are within the housing. The first chamber includes a first valve seat and is fluidly connected to the inlet. The second chamber includes a second valve seat and is fluidly connected to the outlet. The first valve element is disposed in the first chamber and includes a spring-loaded check valve element. The second valve element is disposed in the second chamber and includes a buoyant material.

A reciprocating fluid pump includes a pump body, a subject fluid chamber, a first plunger located within the subject fluid chamber of the pump body and having a first head portion and a first bellows, the first plunger configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the first head portion and the first bellows have a first cross-sectional dimension, and a second plunger located within the subject fluid chamber of the pump body and having a second head portion and a second bellows, the second plunger configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the second head portion and the second bellows have a second cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension.

In many pump types, in particular in orbital pumps, there is an optimization need with regard to the running characteristics, in particular with regard to parameters which relate to the delivery flow. What is provided is an orbital pump device for delivering liquid medium by a rotational movement including a hydraulic housing surrounding a hydraulic chamber in a fluid-tight manner at least one membrane unit which is arranged inside the hydraulic chamber in flat contact with an inner jacket surface of the hydraulic housing; and an inlet and an outlet provided in the hydraulic housing. At least one crowning is provided at the inner jacket surface and/or at the membrane unit such that a radial gap between the membrane unit and the inner jacket surface is defined by the crowning in a circumferential section of less than 360, and in particular less than 180.