HK1062841B - Process and device for feeding feedable material within a working chamber - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for transporting conveyable material in a working chamber

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and a device (reciprocating power machine, etc.) for conveying transportable materials (gaseous, liquid, pasty, granular) according to the preamble of claim 1 or claim 2. The conveying devices comprising elastically deformable wall elements of the working chamber are mostly referred to as diaphragm pumps, such as crank shaft devices (DE-OS 2212322 or DE-OS 19919908 and DE-PS 2211096, etc.) or wobble plate engines (DE-OS 4244619, etc.) or hose pumps, in which the driving force of the elastically deformable elements for defining the working chamber (diaphragm, hose wall, etc.) acts on the wall elements in a direction perpendicular to the material conveying direction. Depending on the function of such engines, energy is transferred to the input material. This is always intermittent, not a linear supply behavior. According to the way in which these known reciprocating engines operate, a standing wave is generated, i.e. within a wobble pump, which has a fixed intersection point on an imaginary axis, thereby allowing as complete a compensation of the wave as possible. In a diaphragm pump comprising several slide bars arranged one behind the other (see US4854836), a transport wave, which may be a standing wave, is also generated in the transport material (hose pump). Thus, in a hose pump or the like, the hose is squeezed in a manner similar to the rolling of a tire, expanding backward and producing a suction effect. In any case, we must use a reciprocating drive or use a continuous wave like motion.

Background

Firstly, these known driving methods have the disadvantage that the wear is high, since the side regions of the waves remain always in the same place. This means that the maximum stress always occurs in the same place. Independently of this phenomenon, dead spots occur, where the driving force is required in accordance with the changing driving frequency, i.e. in slow engines for pasty materials. If necessary, additional means must be provided to overcome these dead spots.

In other known methods of conveying pasty or granular material, the material is conveyed upwards, i.e. by means of a screw into an open chamber such as a trough, with the disadvantage that wear due to friction between the material and the conveying screw or trough is considerable.

Also membrane pumps in which the drive is effected by means of piezoelectric elements (DE-OS 198934536 and DE-OS 3618106) exhibit essentially the same disadvantages, especially for small-volume delivery.

Finally, marine propulsion engines (DE-GM 7712359) are known in which the material being transported (here water) is caused to pass through a chamber defined between an inlet and an outlet. Due to the thrust effect of the transported material and the corresponding arrangement of the inlet and outlet substantially below the horizontal plane, the vessel is propelled forward. In this case, the drive loss is also considerable.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventive method comprising the features indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1 and the inventive device comprising the features indicated in claim 2 exhibit the advantage that the intersection points of the waves generated by the drive for conveying the material migrate in the direction of conveyance of the material. This means that the standing wave does not remain in one place, and the intersection point moves with the conveyed material along the imaginary conveying axis. This migration wave itself proceeds like a snake, eel, etc. The wear in such engines is therefore much better balanced between the driving and driven elements, so that the material transport is much smoother. In this drive, an additional movement, which is covered by a basic movement in the other direction, generates a pulsation, which, according to the invention, generates material fluctuations. This allows to avoid friction and wear between the flexible wall element and the fixed wall. This means, therefore, that the wear of the inventive device is low and the noise is low. For flexible wall members, bend resistant materials may also be used. Since the material and in particular the flexible wall is not subjected to stress, it can be realized in a different manner and be thinner than in the known devices. Also, novel materials that do not meet the requirements of current devices may be used. The easy-to-use material according to the invention comprises in particular a fibre-reinforced plastic. These materials can be made gas impermeable by the addition of a thin metal layer. The device of the invention can therefore be used in new fields of application, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning applications. According to the invention and in contrast to the prior art devices, the restoring of the elastically deformable wall element can also be effected automatically in the pressure direction and/or suction direction.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the elastically deformable wall element, which is generally rigid, defines, together with the opposite fixed wall element, a working chamber, said wall element being able to form a sealing line perpendicular to the conveying direction, similar to a single-wall hose pump in which two opposite walls are pressed together along a generally perpendicular line. The cooperation of the flexible wall element with the fixed wall element allows a nearly completely sealed control of the delivery volume, so that a high pressure is obtained, depending on the distance left between the opposite wall elements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooperation between the resilient wall member and the inlet and outlet openings of the working chamber enables a valve action. Once the resilient wall member closes the inlet aperture, the material is conveyed forward under higher pressure to the outlet aperture. Likewise, the enlargement of the working chamber with the outlet opening closed and the inlet opening open produces a suction effect on the material to be conveyed.

According to the invention, the sealing line, i.e. the distance between the elastic wall element and the fixed wall element perpendicular to the conveying direction, is positively displaced. Thus, the migration fluctuation of the transported material can be controlled.

The corresponding embodiment of the invention makes it possible to move the sealing line perpendicular to the transport direction or close to the elastic wall element and the fixed wall element in the transport direction, so that the effect of the migration waves in the material can be exerted.

According to a basic embodiment of the invention, the elastic wall element of the working chamber comprises a membrane which can be easily activated in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to obtain the desired drive. The membrane preferably has an elongate extent, i.e. an oval extension, wherein the inlet opening is located at one end and the outlet opening is located at the other end. According to the invention, an advantageous clamping and sealing of the film can be obtained for slow running as well as fast running devices. Depending on the way the membrane is clamped, natural recovery of the membrane can be achieved in connection with the particular design of the particular application.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the drive means comprise a crank gear and a crank member for transmitting the stroke to the elastic wall member. In order to generate the transfer wave, the crank element is guided along a predetermined path during the stroke movement, so that the crank element performs a tilting movement in the conveying direction in addition to the movement generated by the stroke movement. The tilting movement produced by the stroke of the crank gear and the crank member controlled by the cam is achieved by a cam guide located between the crank gear and the elastic wall member. However, the cam rods may also be located on opposite sides of the resilient wall member. It is only important that the disturbing motion covers the motion of the crank gear, thus converting the stationary wave generated by the stroke motion into a traveling wave.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a transversely bendable form-fitting abutment is used to impart the tilting crank movement that generates the migration waves to the elastic wall element. This allows a corresponding degree of freedom to be obtained in the vertical direction between the crank drive end and the spring contact point.

According to a corresponding embodiment of the invention, the form-fitting abutment comprises a slide between the crank member and the elastically deformable wall member.

According to a correspondingly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the form-fitting abutment is in the shape of a rectangular beam which directly transmits the tilting movement of the form-fitting abutment to the flexible wall element. In this way, the crank/tilt motion is imparted directly to the material to be conveyed, thereby generating a pulsating and migrating wave.

Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an anti-bending plate is located between the crank element and the resilient wall element, which transmits the stroke movement and the tilting movement to the resilient element over a larger area. The plate may float against the wall member. In some cases, it is fixed to the wall member and floats relative to the end of the crank member. It is important that the plate has a supporting effect on the elastic wall element, so that, for other practical reasons, the wall element can be realized in the form of a flexible membrane.

According to a correspondingly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plate preferably comprises a resilient material, such as steel or hard plastic.

According to a correspondingly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the features gathered in claims 9-12 can also be used in other driving means, in particular when the driving force acts perpendicularly to the elastic wall element or the membrane or when similar problems occur.

According to another corresponding advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pulsation is generated by several driving elements operating perpendicularly to the conveying direction and arranged one behind the other and acting on the deformable wall element (see US4854836 and US 5961298).

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention and as described in the other embodiments above, the elastically deformable member is realized in the form of a membrane, the extension of which corresponds to the drive means comprising several elements. The membrane may be oval or approximately rectangular. This depends mainly on the additional functions to be performed by the membrane, such as the valve function or how many actuators are arranged one behind the other.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive means comprise a camshaft working together with a slide which at least directly contacts the membrane (see claims 9-12) to generate the movement. However, a connecting rod driven by a camshaft, a cross shaft, a rocker, or the like may be used. Thus, it is also possible to use a screw device parallel to the conveying direction, which is in helical driving contact with the film by its outer edge. The fixed wall opposite the membrane and defining the working chamber has a concave shape according to the radius of the screw device, this shape comprising inlet and outlet holes at the beginning and at the end of the tunnel-shaped working chamber.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device housing has a tube-like shape, wherein the tube wall serves as a fixed wall element.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device housing comprises two membranes parallel to each other and accommodates a double-acting drive between them. This allows the drive action to be achieved just as in an opposed cylinder engine. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in that the transport produced by one drive is staggered with respect to the transport produced by the other, thus resulting in a smoother transport and greater transport capacity.

According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the tubular housing has a circular cross-section of one working chamber. In contrast to a working chamber which may also be flatter and in which the membrane is in valve-active contact with the fixed wall part, a device comprising a working chamber with a circular cross section is optimized so that no contact occurs between the membrane and the opposite fixed wall part.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive means comprise at least a not directly transmitted magnetic force. This drive arrangement may show particular advantages, especially for small pumps in medical or micro-pump applications.

According to a correspondingly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the magnetic or piezoelectric force is generated and controlled electrically. Thus, for example, the migrating electromagnetic field that starts the membrane can be generated in a linear synchronous motor. This can be achieved by linear electromagnetic fields or by bending the migrating electromagnetic field, especially in low-pressure micropumps or in small compressors of about 5 bar. Or closed in a migration wave manner by the elastic force itself. Like the chip, the entire system can be realized in layers until the moisture absorption threshold is reached. The driving action can also be realized by means of magnetic coils as in loudspeakers or by means of a rocking element which is able to transmit the movement appropriately.

The conveying apparatus in which dynamic pulsation acts on the material to generate a migration wave in the conveyed material can be mechanically realized by various methods, and applications of the present invention are various. The invention is applicable not only to heavy duty pumps of average performance, but also to micro applications where corrugated pumping membranes can be used as elastic wall members. The invention can be used in particular in the medical field of microscopy, in which a drive with a shaft cannot be inserted. Another field of application is compressors ranging from high performance to micro performance.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention it is used as a propulsion device for ships and the like. The "migration wave" of the present invention produces a propulsive motion similar to fish and snakes or a pumping action similar to jellyfish. Generally, the driving action is similar to that of a ship propeller generated by absorption and repulsion. In this case, the invention is used similarly to a flow engine. Similar to the sea elephant advancing, the invention may also be used as an amphibian in muddy environments and perhaps on sand. A variant application of the invention is the bottom of a tank, where a migration wave acting on the bottom will transport the material forward, similar to a vibrating conveyor belt. In one application of the invention for a ship drive, the inlet is arranged below the level of the bow, the outlet is arranged at the stern and the working chamber is arranged between them. The driving means of the membrane on the deck side of the ship can be realized in various ways. Likewise, two such drive devices may be arranged parallel to each other in order to steer the vessel according to their transport capacity. It is also possible to provide a tubular device comprising a dual-acting opposed crank drive and use it as an outboard engine.

In a generally advantageous embodiment of the invention, the elastically deformable wall element is a membrane clamped along its outer periphery. The membrane cross-section assembly resembles the wave shape of a loudspeaker membrane. When the film passes its clamping plane, bending of the material is avoided, since the extension in the clamping plane is clearly less than the entire extension of the film. However, the membrane must adapt itself to the in-plane-clamping condition and to the extended condition of the membrane contacting the fixed wall. The wavy profile of the membrane enables high frequencies to be generated as in a loudspeaker without the disadvantage of buckling.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wing-shaped surface, which can be controlled hydraulically or pneumatically, is located in the membrane. Thus, the film itself can continuously perform a wave-like motion. In addition, according to the invention, an elongated flat or fibrous piezoelectric element is incorporated into the film to deform it and thereby produce the driving action of the invention. Deformation of surface portions by means of piezoelectric elements is well known in aircraft wings and helicopter rotating blades.

Further advantages and preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following description of the invention, the figures and the claims.

Drawings

Two embodiments of the present invention are shown in the figures and described more precisely. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the device of the present invention taken along line I-I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

fig. 4 schematically shows six different operating positions on a small scale;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the invention in longitudinal and transverse cross-sectional views in different operating positions;

FIG. 6 shows a variation of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an optimized diaphragm profile of the present invention; and

fig. 8 shows the use as a ship propulsion device.

Detailed Description

The invention is described in connection with a pump according to the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 1-4. In a pump housing 1 there is a crankshaft arrangement 2 which comprises an eccentric disc 4 on a drive shaft 3 and a connecting rod 5 driven by the drive shaft. At its distal end, the rod comprises a pin 6 guided in a groove 7 in the pump housing 1. The connecting rod 5 thus generates a tilting movement due to the interaction between the cam 6 and the slot 7 when undergoing the alternate stroke movement generated by the crank drive.

At its distal end, the connecting rod 5 acts on a slide 8 which transmits the pivoting and tilting movements to a spring plate 10 via a form-fitting abutment 9. In the region of the form-fitting seat, the spring plate 10 therefore follows not only the stroke movement of the connecting rod 5, but also its tilting movement. These movements are transmitted to a membrane 11 via the elastic plate 10. Along the membrane periphery, the membrane 11 is clamped between the housing 1 and a housing cover 13 by means of a shoulder 12. The pumping chamber 14 is enclosed between the membrane 11 and the cover 13 and comprises an inlet hole 15 for sucking in the material to be delivered and an outlet hole 16 for discharging the material. The parts 17 and 18 of the membrane 11 opposite the inlet opening 15 and the outlet opening 16 act like valves on these openings. Once the membrane 11 is lowered with the two portions 17 or 18, the valve will open. Conversely, when the position shown in fig. 1 is reached, the portions 17 and 18 close the holes 15 or 16.

Fig. 4 shows the operation of the pump in six different operating positions: in the operating position 4.6, the crankshaft arrangement 2 completely pushes the diaphragm 11 against the housing cover 13, thus closing the inlet opening 15 and the outlet opening 16.

In position 4.1, one can see that, despite the rotation of the drive shaft 3 to the right as indicated by arrow IV, the form-fitting plate 9 is still tilted to the left and thus opens the inlet opening 15 of the pumping chamber 14 through the elastic plate 10 and sucks in the material to be conveyed.

In position 4.2, the drive shaft 3 rotates further, thus increasing the volume of the pumping chamber 14.

In position 4.3, the connecting rod 5 reaches its lowest point, whereby the inlet opening 15 of the pumping chamber 14 is closed again by the membrane 11, but the outlet opening 16 is still not open.

In position 4.4, the form-fitting abutment 9 has tilted to the right and thus opens the outlet opening 16, while the inlet 15 is still closed. In this way, the pumping chamber 14 is reduced and material is expelled through the membrane 11.

As shown at position 4.5, the pumping chamber 14 is further reduced by continuing to rotate, eventually reaching the shown position 4.6.

The cycle shown in figure 4 is repeated for each revolution of the drive shaft 3. Due to the guiding action of the pins 6, 7 of the connecting rod 5, the connecting rod tip not only performs a stroke movement, but also performs a tilting movement, thus on the one hand creating a pulsating action on the material to be conveyed and on the other hand causing a migration wave in the material.

In a second embodiment, schematically illustrated in fig. 5, two membranes 19 are arranged parallel to one another and opposite one another in an approximately tubular pump housing 20, which are actuated by a camshaft 21 between the transport membranes 19 to generate a migration wave. Here, the material conveyance occurs in the longitudinal direction of the camshaft 21 as indicated by arrow V. The eccentric disk 22 of the camshaft 21 acts on the membrane 19 via a slide 23 which accommodates the eccentric 22 in a central bore 24 and via a spring plate 25. The slide 23 is guided along a guide groove 26 provided in the housing 20. In this case, the migration wave is not generated by the guide groove, but by the cooperation of four cams acting on the film one after the other. Thus, the pump function is not linear. In any case, the use of two films produces a double conveying action, in which the two working chambers work in a slightly staggered manner in time as a result of the rotation of the cam.

Fig. 5 shows the transport phases 5.1-5.6 which will be described in detail later. In any case, inlet openings 27, 28 and outlet openings 29, 30 are provided. The pumping chambers are designated 31, 32.

In phases 5.1 and 5.2, the inlet opening 27 of the pumping chamber 31 is closed, whereas the inlet opening 28 of the pumping chamber 32 is normally open due to a corresponding rotational misalignment of the camshaft 21. However, the outlet openings 29 and 30 are opened so that the material to be conveyed can be discharged.

In phase 5.3, the camshaft 21 is rotated by 90 °, so the membrane 19 now pushes the material out of the pumping chamber 31 through the outlet opening 29. At the same time, material is sucked in through the inlet aperture 27. However, material is still drawn in through the inlet aperture 28 within the pumping chamber 32 and due to the increased volume. When the membrane 19 comes into contact with the pump housing 20 in this region, the delivery process is stopped at the outlet opening 30. In phases 5.4 and 5.5, where 5.4 is a cross-section along VII-VII, the lower membrane 19 contacts the pump housing 20 at this portion, as a result of which the inlet opening 20 is now closed. In this phase, the camshaft 21 has rotated 90 °. The upper pumping chamber 31 of the pump correspondingly increases the volume on the left side, while material is conveyed onwards on the right side via the outlet opening 29.

In phase 5.6, the camshaft 21 is rotated again by 90 °, the outlet opening 29 now being closed. The inlet hole 27 is still open and draws the material to be conveyed into the pumping chamber 31, as indicated by arrow V. However, in the pumping chamber 32, the material is transported in the direction of the outlet opening 30. At the same time, material is loaded through the inlet aperture 28.

It is clear that such a transport device can be operated with only one membrane and thus with a low transport capacity. According to the invention, a cascade feed can also be realized, in which the camshaft is replaced by an electromagnetic drive. In this case, a cascade can be realized by a number of electromagnetic converters, which have as many outputs as there are converters to be started in cascade. For a four-stage cascade, the frequency generator has four output points and they are offset by 90 ° from one another. The ladder flow is controlled in ascending order according to the equal ascending stage. According to the invention, the migration waves are generated by the cascade of such devices and stroke systems by means of long membranes connected to them. The supply speed, stroke height and rise time are controlled by the generator frequency.

Fig. 6 shows a further variant of the second embodiment of the invention, in which the pump housing 33 is shown with an annular cross section, while the drive machine comprising the camshaft 21 and the membrane 19 is substantially identical to the embodiment shown in fig. 5. In this case, the membrane 19 does not touch the wall of the pump housing 33, so that one must work with a continuous feed as is generally found in flow engines, which differs from a feed with interruptions in the feed.

Fig. 7 shows by means of functional lines which membrane structures and corresponding fixed wall shapes will result in the smallest bending losses. In this way, the film periphery can be rigidly clamped without allowing any movement.

Fig. 7.1 shows a typical example of a working chamber defined by a slightly concave upper wall 34 and a correspondingly undulated membrane 35 which simultaneously define a working chamber 36 and meet progressively along the clamped periphery 37 of the membrane. During the working stroke along arrow VIII towards the fixed wall 34, the membrane 35 undergoes a certain bending and thus a maximum extent transversely to line IX. This bending occurs because the housing with the fixing wall 34 and the clamping area 37 is rigid, while the membrane 35 has a much greater extension in the unfolded position than in its position along line IX.

7.2 of fig. 7 shows a design according to the invention in which the fixing wall 38 is lip-shaped and the membrane 39 is slightly curved in its unfolded lower position. In its upper run, the membrane 39 passes through the centre line X, it being clearly seen that there is no bending problem due to its wavy shape.

7.3 of FIG. 7 shows design features including both a pump housing 40 and a diaphragm 3 defining the working chamber 36.

7.4 simply shows that the membrane 41 is clamped in the housing 40 by means of the shoulder 42, without any major bending or great stresses being expected in the clamping region of the membrane 41.

Fig. 8 shows another possibility of using the invention as a ship's drive engine. Here, too, the figures are very schematic. The keel plate of the ship is indicated by 34, on which plate a working chamber 45 is defined by a membrane 44. The working chamber comprises an inlet opening 46 and an outlet opening 47. By activating the membrane as described above, water enters through the inlet hole 46 and exits through the outlet hole 47 after passing through the working chamber 45. Marine propulsion devices according to the displacement principle are well known. The advantage here is the peristaltic effect, so that a propulsion over mud or mud and possibly non-sticky sand is conceivable. Such a vessel may be considered an amphibian, which is advantageous in muddy areas. Energy may be transferred to the membrane to activate the membrane 44 in various ways, such as by a windmill device disposed on the vessel.

In the same way that the membrane can be used to drive boats, it is also possible according to the invention to reverse the membrane function in order to transport liquids as well as mud and particles such as sand, etc., where the membrane is fully driven and constitutes the bottom of an open channel.

All features and characteristics shown in the description, the subsequent claims and the attached drawings are essential for the independent and combined aspects of the invention.

Reference symbols

1 Pump case

2 crank shaft device

3 drive shaft

4 eccentric disc

5 connecting rod

6 round pin

7 guide groove

8 sliding block

9 shape-matched support

10 elastic plate

11 bending-resistant film

12 convex shoulder

13 case cover

14 pumping chamber

15 inlet hole

16 outlet hole

17 part 11

18 part 11

19 transport film

20 pump casing

21 camshaft

22 eccentric disc

23 sliding block

24 center hole

25 elastic plate

26 guide groove

27 inlet hole

28 inlet hole

29 outlet orifice

30 outlet hole

31 pumping chamber

32 pumping chamber

33 pump casing

34 fixed wall

35 film

36 working chamber

37 peripheral region

38 fixed wall

39 bending resistant film

40 pump casing

41 bending-resistant film

42 hinge shoulder

43 keel bottom

44 film

45 drive chamber

46 inflow hole

47 outflow hole

I moiety

Section II

Section III

IV direction of rotation

Direction of flow of V

Section VI

VII part

VIII direction of travel

IX line

X center line

Claims (26)

1. Method for transporting transportable material in a working chamber comprising at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening and at least one elastically yielding wall element which is driven by drive means in a direction perpendicular or parallel to the direction of transport of the material, characterized in that,

the driving is performed in the form of a pulsating wave,

the elastically yielding wall element is resistant to bending,

actuation of the elastically yielding wall element takes place via discontinuously acting and associated force transmission points,

the undulations resulting from the deformation in the area of the discrete force transmission points extend beyond the respective force transmission points as a result of the resistance to bending of the elastically yielding wall element,

-generating a directional migration wave within said material in order to transport the material.

2. Device for conveying conveyable material in a working chamber for carrying out the method according to claim 1, said device comprising a working chamber (14, 31, 32, 36, 45) for conveying material in a material conveying direction between an inlet opening and an outlet opening (15, 16, 25, 27-30, 46, 47), said working chamber having at least one elastically yielding wall element (11, 19, 39, 41, 44), said device further comprising at least one drive means (2-10, 21-26) acting on the elastically yielding wall element (11, 19, 39, 41, 44) through a force transmission point for producing a conveying action,

-means are provided in the drive means (2-10; 21-26) for generating a pulsating action acting on the deformable wall element (11; 19; 39; 41; 44) and thus on the material,

-means are provided for generating a "migration wave" in the material between the inlet opening and the outlet opening (16; 28; 47),

the elastically yielding wall element is resistant to bending,

the force transmission between the drive means and the elastically yielding wall element comprises an engagement point between the drive means and said force transmission point,

-thus, the fluctuations resulting from the deflection at these force transmission points are caused to exceed these force transmission points.

3. A device for transporting conveyable materials within a working chamber as in claim 2, wherein the elastically yielding wall element (11; 19) forms a migration seal line with the generally stationary wall element (13; 24) located opposite the elastically yielding wall element and enclosing a working chamber (14; 26; 31; 32) due to the proximity of the wall element, said seal line extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

4. A device for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as claimed in claim 3 wherein a portion (17, 18) of said resiliently yielding wall member (11; 19) acts as a valve for said inlet opening (15) and said outlet opening (16).

5. A device for transporting conveyable material in a working chamber as in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sealing line formed by the driving means (2-10; 21-26) between the elastically yielding wall element (11; 19) and the fixed wall element (13; 20) shifts in the material transporting direction (V).

6. A device for transporting conveyable material in a working chamber according to any of claims 2-4, wherein at least a part of the elastically yielding wall elements (11; 19) comprises a membrane which is driven in a pulsating manner by the driving means (2-10; 21-26) in order to generate a migration wave in the material.

7. Apparatus for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in any one of claims 2 to 4 including:

-a shaft (5) which transmits the stroke movement to the elastically yielding wall element (11; 19),

-guiding means (7) which guide the shaft (5) in a predetermined manner during the stroke movement to generate a migration wave, and,

-means, each located on the distal end of the shaft (5), acting on the elastically yielding wall element (11; 19) in order to produce, in addition to the stroke movement produced by the drive means (2), a tilting movement perpendicular to the conveying direction.

8. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to claim 7, wherein a positive-fit piece (8) yielding in a direction perpendicular to the stroke movement is provided to impart a stroke/tilting movement generating a migration wave to the elastically yielding wall element (11).

9. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to claim 8, wherein the form-fitting block (8) comprises a slide between the distal end of the shaft (5) and the elastically yielding wall element (11).

10. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to claim 8, wherein the form-fitting block (8) has a beam-like elongated rectangular shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

11. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to claim 8, wherein an elastic plate (10) generating the movement of the elastically yielding wall element (11) is provided between the positive-fit block (8) and the elastically yielding wall element (11).

12. A device for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in claim 11 wherein the flexible sheet (10) comprises a flexible material.

13. A device for transporting conveyable material in a working chamber as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said driving means comprises a number of driving members (22) acting on the elastically yielding wall member (19) in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (V) and arranged one behind the other to controllably transmit a pulsating driving force to the elastically yielding wall member (19).

14. A device for transporting deliverable materials in a working chamber as claimed in claim 13, wherein the resiliently yielding wall member comprises a membrane (19) having an elongate shape in response to drive means comprising a plurality of drive members (22).

15. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to claim 14, comprising a drive mechanism comprising a cam shaft (21) and several cams (22) interacting with slides (23-26) acting on the film (19).

16. A device for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in claim 14, including a tubular housing (20; 33) wherein the tubular wall forms the fixed wall member.

17. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to claim 16, wherein two membranes (19) are arranged parallel to each other in the tubular housing (20), wherein a double-acting drive (21-26) is located between the two membranes (19).

18. A device for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as claimed in claim 16 wherein the working chamber (31) of said tubular housing (33) has a circular cross-section.

19. Apparatus for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said drive means includes magnetic or piezoelectric elements.

20. The device for transporting transportable materials within a work chamber of claim 19, wherein said magnetic or piezoelectric element includes a power generating mechanism and/or control mechanism.

21. Apparatus for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in claim 19 wherein said resiliently yielding wall member includes magnetizable material.

22. Apparatus for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in any one of claims 2 to 4 including means for use as a marine propulsion engine.

23. An apparatus for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in claim 22 wherein said vessel drive engine is located within or outside the hull of the vessel, the hull including an underwater entry port (46), a stern exit port (47) and a working chamber (45) therebetween.

24. Device for transporting transportable materials in a working chamber according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the elastically yielding wall element (39; 41) comprises a membrane which is firmly clamped along its peripheral region (42) and which, irrespective of the working position, exhibits a curved shape which ensures a permanently neutral bending/stretching behavior.

25. A device for transporting transportable materials within a working chamber as recited in claim 24, wherein said membrane (7.1-7.4) includes hydraulic or pneumatic airfoil sections, whereby said membrane itself can be subjected to continuous wave motion.

26. The device for transporting deliverable materials in a working chamber as claimed in claim 24, wherein the membrane comprises a flexible elongate, flat or fibrous piezoelectric element incorporated therein.