Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A fluid drive device comprising: a wall of a substantially resiliently distortable material forming a substantially tightly sealable chamber in the shape of a body of revolution the surface of which is defined by said wall; flexible substantially unstretchable spiral-wound filaments extending substantially next to one another about said wall and the axis of said chamber, part of said filaments being wound rightward and another part leftward in such a way that two arbitrary crossing filaments may undergo some angular displacement relative to one another, one end of each of said filaments being fixed relative to a working point at one end of said axis and the other end of each of said filaments being fixed relative to another working point at the other end of said axis; means defining a feed opening for said chamber through which a pressurized fluid may be introduced thereinto, said wall being distortable at least along one direction transverse to said axis in such a way that by regulating the fluid pressure in said chamber a relative displacement of said working points occurs; and a truncated cone-shaped transition piece on each end of said body extending over said filaments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A fluid drive device comprising: a wall of a substantially resiliently distortable material forming a substantially tightly sealable chamber in the shape of a body of revolution the surface of which is defined by said wall; flexible substantially unstretchable spiral-wound filaments extending substantially next to one another about said wall and the axis of said chamber, part of said filaments being wound rightward and another part leftward in such a way that two arbitrary crossing filaments may undergo some angular displacement relative to one another, one end of each of said filaments being fixed relative to a working point at one end of said axis and the other end of each of said filaments being fixed relative to another working point at the other end of said axis; means defining a feed opening for said chamber through which a pressurized fluid may be introduced thereinto, said wall being distortable at least along one direction transverse to said axis in such a way that by regulating the fluid pressure in said chamber a relative displacement of said working points occurs; and a truncated cone-shaped transition piece on each end of said body extending over said filaments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein each end of the chamber is closed by a plug and the transition piece clamps the filaments, together with the underlying wall, on the plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device defined in claim 1 in which the filaments are connected together at their crossing points in such a way that they form a netting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device defined in claim 1 in which the filaments are embedded in the wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which substantially as many rightward- as leftward-wound filaments are wound about said resiliently-distortable wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the leftward-wound and rightward-wound filaments are interlaced together, in such a way however that said angular displacement remains possible.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Drive device as defined in claim 6, in which the filaments are interlaced in the form of strands or bundles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the spiral-wound filaments form a substantially continuous netting about said resiliently-distortable wall of the tightly-sealable chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the spiral-wound filaments extend loosely from said resiliently-distortable wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which said working points are movable relative to one another between two end positions, an inactive position and a terminal active position, whereby in the inactive position the fluid pressure inside the chamber is minimum, and the slope angle of the spiral-wound filaments is larger than 36°, preferably between 50° and 80°, and in the terminal active position, said angle is substantially about 36°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which both ends of said revolution body are each closed by a plug, and said opening for feeding pressurized fluid is provided in at least one of said plugs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the revolution body is substantially cylinder-shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the free ends of said spiral-wound filament are twisted together in bundles, in the shape of a cable, and are fixed relative to the working points.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the filaments are enclosed in a resiliently distortable casing and a lubricant is provided between the wall and the casing to facilitate the relative displacement of said filaments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the slope angles of the leftward-wound and rightward-wound filaments are substantially the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which the slope angle of the leftward-wound filaments is different from that of the rightward-wound filaments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Drive device as defined in claim 1, in which a layer of distortable material is provided between the leftward- and rightward-wound filaments.