Disclosed is a device including at least one circulating zone and at least one fluid including at least one more-paramagnetic liquid and at least one less-paramagnetic liquid forming a liquid-liquid interphase, the device including at least one element generating, in the circulating zone, a magnetic field, wherein the less-paramagnetic liquid is surrounded by the more-paramagnetic liquid in the circulating zone or wherein the more-paramagnetic liquid is surrounded by the less-paramagnetic liquid in the circulating zone. Also disclosed is a method including circulating at least one less-paramagnetic liquid inside one or more circulating zones of a device including at least one circulating zone and at least one more-paramagnetic liquid in the circulating zone.

Disclosed is a device including at least one circulating zone and at least one fluid including at least one more-paramagnetic liquid and at least one less-paramagnetic liquid forming a liquid-liquid interphase, the device including at least one element generating, in the circulating zone, a magnetic field, wherein the less-paramagnetic liquid is surrounded by the more-paramagnetic liquid in the circulating zone or wherein the more-paramagnetic liquid is surrounded by the less-paramagnetic liquid in the circulating zone. Also disclosed is a method including circulating at least one less-paramagnetic liquid inside one or more circulating zones of a device including at least one circulating zone and at least one more-paramagnetic liquid in the circulating zone.

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.

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.

Mechanical tubular diaphragm pump features are presented herein. Such a tubular pump can include a resilient tube having a lumen and a pair of upstream and downstream check valves located along the same fluid pathway as the lumen. The tubular pump further includes a motorized reciprocating unit and a depressor configured to be moved by the motorized reciprocating unit to cyclically depress and release the resilient tube. The resilient tube forces fluid within the lumen downstream past the downstream check valve as the resilient tube is depressed by the depressor, and further pulls upstream fluid past the upstream check valve and into the lumen as the resilient tube returns upon release by the depressor. Multiple resilient tubes may be used in the same pump. The tube(s), depressor, and valves may be attached to a housing that is modularly removable from the motorized reciprocating unit.

Mechanical tubular diaphragm pump features are presented herein. Such a tubular pump can include a resilient tube having a lumen and a pair of upstream and downstream check valves located along the same fluid pathway as the lumen. The tubular pump further includes a motorized reciprocating unit and a depressor configured to be moved by the motorized reciprocating unit to cyclically depress and release the resilient tube. The resilient tube forces fluid within the lumen downstream past the downstream check valve as the resilient tube is depressed by the depressor, and further pulls upstream fluid past the upstream check valve and into the lumen as the resilient tube returns upon release by the depressor. Multiple resilient tubes may be used in the same pump. The tube(s), depressor, and valves may be attached to a housing that is modularly removable from the motorized reciprocating unit.

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.

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.

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.

A vacuum pump includes a hollow container that has a vacuum port and internal chamber walls. The vacuum port opens to an exterior of the container and the chamber walls define chambers that are in fluid communication with the vacuum port. There are flexible bladders disposed in the chambers. The flexible bladders include vents that open through the container to the exterior. A plunger in the container includes arms that extend into the chambers such that each of the flexible bladders is situated between one of the arms and one of the chamber walls. The plunger is moveable between a home position and an upstroke position to compress and deflate the flexible bladders via the vents and thereby change the volume of the flexible bladders. The change in the volume draws a vacuum through the vacuum port.