WO2017062895A1 - Manufacture of an improved peristaltic transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

A peristaltic transport device comprising a tube member having an inner space to receive material, the member includes a series of repeating sections wherein each of the sections includes a plurality of finger-bladders to selectively occlude portions of the inner space according to a defined peristaltic sequence to transport the material through the inner space. An actuator assembly is coupled to the tube member to control the selective occlusion of the inner space by selectively expanding and contracting ones of the plurality of finger-bladders according to the defined peristaltic sequence. The actuator assembly simultaneously controls corresponding ones of the plurality of finger-bladders across the series of repeating sections. The plurality of finger-bladders are arranged such that opposing ones of the plurality of finger-bladders expand to abut against the other and inflate across an opposite side of the inner space.

Description

TITLE

MANUFACTURE OF AN IMPROVED PERISTALTIC TRANSPORT DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/239,726, filed October 9, 2015 entitled "MANUFACTURE OF AN IMPROVED PERISTALTIC TRANSPORT DEVICE," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a peristaltic transport device comprising a tube member having an inner space to receive material, the member includes a series of repeating sections wherein each of the sections includes a plurality of finger-bladders to selectively occlude portions of the inner space according to a defined peristaltic sequence to transport the material through the inner space. An actuator assembly is coupled to the tube member to control the selective occlusion of the inner space by selectively expanding and contracting ones of the plurality of finger-bladders according to the defined peristaltic sequence. The actuator assembly simultaneously controls corresponding ones of the plurality of finger-bladders across the series of repeating sections. The plurality of finger-bladders are arranged such that opposing ones of the plurality of finger-bladders expand to abut against the other and inflate across an opposite side of the inner space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following specification, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: FIG. 1 A is schematic illustration of a peristaltic transport system to transport material through a tube member by way of a controlled air supply, while Fig. IB shows a cross-sectional illustration of the tube member, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the tube member implementing a peristaltic sequence, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of a peristaltic transport system to transport the material through the tube member by way of a common air supply, while Fig. 3B shows a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the tube member, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a "smart" peristaltic transport system to transport the material through the tube member by way of a common air supply line coupled to a plurality of control valves, while Fig. 4B shows a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the tube member, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a logic table illustrating actuation of a bladder based on first and second control signals received at a corresponding control valve, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a peristaltic method illustrated in Fig. 2 and implemented by any one of a controlled air supply, common air supply, or "smart" peristaltic transport system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a schematic illustration of an oil boom floating on a sea which is towed by a boat, the oil boom embedding the peristaltic transport system therein, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a schematic illustration of concrete mixing using the peristaltic transport system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7C is a traditional flush toilet system, according to one embodiment.

Fig. 7D is a waterless toilet system leveraging the peristaltic transport system, according to one embodiment. Fig. 8A is a partial three dimensional rendering of an example practical implementation of the peristaltic tube member of the transport system illustrated in Fig. 1 A, according to one embodiment.

Fig. 8B is a cross sectional view of the tube member of Fig. 8 A along its width, while Fig. 8C is a cross sectional view of the tube member of Fig 8A along its channel length, according to one embodiment.

Fig. 9A is a partial three dimensional rendering of an example practical implementation of the peristaltic tube member of the transport system illustrated in Fig. 1 A, according to another embodiment.

Fig. 9B is a cross sectional view of the tube member of Fig. 9A along its width, while Fig. 9C is a cross sectional view of the tube member of Fig 9A along its channel length, according to one embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a top view schematic illustration of the finger-bladders disposed along the inner space at 90 degree angles relative the supply seams, according to one embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a top view schematic illustration of the finger-bladders disposed along the inner space at 30 degree angles relative the supply seams, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

A biomimetic version of the intestine can be made with non-stretch heat melded membranes. In one design the membranes are stacked in layers that when fused together with heat create a central sludge cavity sandwiched between bladders that are created in sets and connected to common airways. During operation the bladders are inflated in sequence and expand across the sludge channel thereby displacing the sludge. The inflation that creates the change in shape is caused by pressures adequate to deform the sludge. This pressure has to be within the rupture limits of the supply air lines, the inflating bladders and the sludge cavity. Each of these containment spaces are inflated with a common flow of pressurized air but due to their different shapes experience different stresses. This disclosure describes strategies that accommodate the strength limits of the membrane material and seam strengths.

Hoop Stress and Peel Strength

All inflated structures have to survive the hoop stresses created by the pull of the continuous encapsulating membrane. Small diameter cavity cross sections area able to withstand higher pressures than large diameter ones. This is due to the buildup of tension created in the membrane by the cumulative push of each unit area of pressure exerted by the pressurized gas along the entire contact area. Pressure within a free pliant cavity will expand it to a spherical cross section with a uniform curvature, which in turn determines the hoop stress. This stress is present along the entire membrane including any seams.

Failures occur at the weakest points, which in some peristaltic tube designs occur at the seams. The seams created by bonded layers are stressed in peel rather than shear. Peel applies the full rupture force against a single line of the joint while a shear seam can use the large area of a lap j oint to spread the force. In the current embodiment peel seams are used due to their ease of use and lower labor costs of manufacture. The designs described here overcome much of the peel seem limits by reducing the hoop stresses directly and indirectly.

Direct Hoop Stress Reduction

Direct reduction of hoop stress is done by reducing the diameter of the structure.

This is employed in the supply air channels, which in one design may be 1.1" flat, or .7" in diameter. These supply air channels may feed a bladder that is 2.4" long in order to span the sludge channel and 1.9" flat or 1.2" in diameter in the inflated profile. This bladder experiences a hoop stress about 70% higher than the supply air channels when fully inflated.

In most situations the inflating bladders are pressing against a sludge mass and there is very little actual hoop stress. The hoop stress is significant when the bladder is fully inflated and pressed against the far side of the sludge channel. Even in this position, the hoop stress is carried in part by the other seams that hold the sludge channel sides together. As a result, the seam stresses on the sides of the bladders is lowered. The central sludge channel experiences the highest direct hoop stress due to its larger inflated diameter.

Indirect Hoop Stress Reduction

Indirect reduction of hoop stress in the sludge channel involves the design of the bladders which span the channel. In designs with bladders longer than the span across the sludge channel, the inflated bladder may experience the full hoop stress of a 1.5" sludge channel in the example described. When the bladder inflates like fingers across the sludge channel and are long across the channel they become rigid from the inflation and resist bending. In other words, they act like stiff columns spanning the channel and do not present the same hoop stresses. Before inflation these skinny bladders are empty and pressed away from the center of the channel. As they begin to inflate they displace sludge equal to their volume increase. As they begin to fill to capacity they become rigid and compress against the seams at the edges of the sludge channel in their effort to straighten. These seams are pushed away from the center of the channel while the mid-spans are drawn together. The edge seams as a result are stressed in shear rather than by being peeled apart by the hoop stress. This alternative method of exerting displacement forces on the sludge channel provide a means to escape the limits normally imposed by peel limits on larger diameter channels.

Activating Air Volume

Another issue affecting the performance of all inflation activated peristaltic tubes is the volume of air required to displace the sludge. In the case of long bladders the ratio is nearly one to one. As the bladders become thinner like fingers they required total occlusion air volume gets smaller, despite the increased number of fingers required to propel sludge the same distance. This can be explained by the action of the inflated columns that are able to occlude the sludge space by creating opposed rigid columns with less total air than the occluded space.

Another artifact of manufacturing able to reduce the total required volume is the seam width. The seam acting in peel need not be wide as only the edge of the seam in peel resists rupture stresses. However, electing to use a wider than needed seam width increases the spacing of the bladders along the channel without requiring additional air.

Seam width can be increased as long as the inflated finger shaped bladders can inflate into an inflated bladder on the opposite side. This means that seam can be almost half as wide as the bladder, decreasing the required air proportionately. The smaller inflated volume of the skinny finger bladders decreases the total change in length caused by inflation. This in turn limits the gross deflection of the entire tube assembly.

Opposing Bladders

One embodiment arranges the inflating bladders on different sides of the sludge channel so that their inflated profiles better seal against each other. The current design uses a top set of bladders that are inflated in a sequence of 1,3,5,7 while a bottom set of bladders are inflated in a sequence of 2,4,6,8. This insures that every sequence of inflation alternates from top to bottom of the sludge channel. The air channels that feed the bladder sets are arranged in pairs on each side of the bladders. In most cases the air channels inflate on opposite sides of the channel in addition to alternating from top to bottom. Together these sequences limit the gross deflection of the peristaltic tube. For example, because the bladder membranes do not stretch, their inflation results in a length reduction along the length of the inflated bladder. Excessive distortions of the peristaltic tube during operation occur if these alternating sequences are not arranged.

In summary, the limits of the membrane material and seam strength limits can be managed by employing the benefits of slender inflated columns. This design can be created with simple seams of membrane layers by the application of a heated bar or RF energy through all layers simultaneously. The size and shapes of the bladders are able to avoid the normal limits created by hoop stresses. Added benefits of this design include the reduction of the air volume per tube length required to inflate the occluding sections and the reduction of gross deflections of the entire peristaltic tube during operation.

Fig. 1A shows a schematic illustration of a peristaltic transport system 100 to transport material 105 through a tube member 110 by way of a controlled air supply, while Fig. IB shows a cross-sectional illustration of the tube member 110, according to one embodiment. The peristaltic transport system 100 comprises an actuator assembly 1 15 coupled to the tube member 1 10. The actuator assembly 115 controls the transport of the material 105 through the tube member 1 10 by causing selective occlusion of an inner space 112 within the tube member 1 10. The selective occlusion constricts volume capacity of the inner space 112 and propagates this volume constriction along the tube member 110. The actuator assembly 1 15 functions to occlude the inner space 112 according to a defined peristaltic sequence as illustrated in Fig. 2 and discussed in detail below.

The selective occlusion of the inner space 1 12 causes the resulting propagated volume constriction to transport the material 105 from a receiving end 1 16 of the tube member 110 toward an output end 1 17. The receiving end 1 16 configured to receive an initial influx of the material 105 while the output end 117 serves to output the material into, for example, a receptacle. The material 105 being transported through the tube member 110 may, for example, comprise fecal sludge, mud, sewage, cement, oil, gasoline, viscous mixture of liquid and solid components, or any other slurry.

The actuator assembly 115 comprises a compressor 120 to supply air to respective ones of a plurality of bladders 125 (individually referenced 125A-125H, respectively, and collectively referred to herein as 125) disposed within the tube member 1 10, a supply valve 130 that may be actuated to selectively supply air to respective ones of the plurality of bladders 125, a microcontroller unit (MCU) 140 to control the compressor 120 and the supply valve 130, and a power supply 145 to power the compressor 120.

The tube member 1 10 can be divided into repeating sections 127a, 127b, ... , and 127n (collectively referenced 127), each of which include its own set of the plurality of bladders 125. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1A, each section 127 has a set of eight bladders 125 A, 125B, 125C, ... , and 125H. It will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments may include more or less bladders within the sections 127 of the tube member 1 10. Although the tube member 110 may be divided into sections 127, the sections of the tube member 1 10 are connected such that the material 105 may pass from one end of the tube member 1 10 to the opposite end without any leakage. Additionally, the sections 127 allow for modular design and construction of the tube member 110. The tube member 1 10 may take the form of a tube, pipe, sleeve, or the like and may be of non-permeable material to prevent the transported material from penetrating the tube member 110 surface and entering the surrounding environment.

Additionally, the tube member 1 10 may be flexible to allow for placement throughout uneven terrain and varying levels of incline, as well as uneven surfaces.

The tube member 110 may comprise sidewalls that are flexible in that it changes shape to occlude the inner space 112. Flexible materials can vary in their ability to flex or stretch. Flexible materials include all manner of plastic films and coated fabrics.

Peristaltic systems using flexible material may accommodate length changes caused by bladder inflations. Stretchable materials such as urethanes and rubbers can be used as long as the design accommodates the material's stretch limits. This is best illustrated by the inability to inflate a chain of balloons at the same rate - the first to begin inflating will fully inflate before others due to the ease of inflating into large curved surface relative to small ones. Materials may hold the pressurized contents without rupturing and while remaining sealed at joints. Seams made with lap joints can use the large contact area to distribute forces to the materials where shear forces are lower while seams attached along a seam (as in thermal welding two sheets together) concentrate the rupturing forces concentrated along a peel line. Accommodating the seams required to construct a peristaltic system may incorporate the design limits for materials. The compressor 120 supplies air to the plurality of bladders 125 via one or more supply lines 135A, 135B, 135C,... , and 135H (collectively 135) selectively coupled to the supply valve 130. The supply lines 135 and the plurality of bladders 125 are arranged such that a single supply line simultaneously supplies air to corresponding ones of the bladders 125 across each of the repeating sections 127. For example, in response to the supply valve 130 selecting supply line 135A, the compressor 120 supplies air throughout the supply line 135 A and all first bladders 125 A are inflated simultaneously across the repeating sections 127. Conversely, all the first bladders 125A may be deflated simultaneously upon opening the supply line 135 A to the atmospheric and allowing air from the first bladders 125A to vent out.

The compressor 120 may take the form of a pump or any other traditional air compressor unit that can supply compressed air to the supply valve 130. The supplied air may have a higher pounds per square inch (PSI) pressure than the air pressure within the supply line 135 and respective ones of the bladders 125. As an example, the PSI pressure within the plurality of bladders 125 may be in the range of 1-15 PSI. In one embodiment the compressor 120 may take the form of an electric powered compressor charged via the power supply 145, where the power supply 145 takes the form of at least one of a DC battery source, an AC outlet, solar panels, wind power, hydro-electric source, or the like. Alternatively and/or additionally, the compressor 120 may take the form of a vehicle exhaust pipe or bellows.

As mentioned above, the MCU 140 is operable to control the compressor 120 and the supply valve 130 to selectively deliver pressurized air to respective ones of the plurality of bladders 125. The MCU 140 may comprise a small computer on a single integrated circuit having a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. The MCU 140 may be programmed to implement the defined peristaltic sequence, illustrated in Fig. 2 and defined in detail below, in response to receiving 116 an initial user input.

As illustrated in Fig. 1A, the supply valve 130 may take the form of a rotating valve having a mechanical arm which is selectively rotated to connect with respective ones of the supply lines 135. Alternatively, the supply valve 130 may comprise a valve having a plurality of openings connected to respective ones of the plurality of supply lines 135. In this alternative embodiment, the valve might include a rotatable wiper that covers all but one of the plurality of openings. As such, although all the compressor 120 air supply is received at the supply valve 130, only the uncovered opening will allow supplied air from the compressor 120 to fill the corresponding supply line 135. The rotatable wiper may control exhaust timing related to the plurality of bladders 125 filled with air. For example, it may fill a first supply line 135A and associated first bladders 125A, then rotate to fill a second supply line 135B and associated second bladders 125B while keeping the first bladders 125A filled, and then may rotate to fill a third supply line 135C and associated third bladders 125C while simultaneously causing the first bladders 125 A to empty. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other embodiments of supply valves may be implemented to selectively transfer supplied air from the compressor 120 to the supply lines 135 and to exhaust air.

The supply lines 135 may take the form of flexible or rigid material capable of receiving air, gas, water, or the like for the purpose of filling respective ones of the bladders 125. The supply lines 135 may be made of the same material as the tube member 110. The supply lines 135 may be designed to bring the pressurized air, gas, or liquid to the sequence of bladders 125 in adequate volume to provide adequate transport speeds. In other words, the supply lines 135 are configured to hold the required pressures and can be collapsible. In some cases, the supply lines 135 also function as exhaust lines, in which case the supply line tubes 135 are protected from compression. When the peristaltic system 100 is one that routes the supply and exhaust lines within the transported material space or inner space 1 12, the peristaltic system 100 design includes lines 135 that can withstand the occluding pressures of the operating peristaltic system 100. This may result in the supply lines 135 being rigid in response to crushing pressure.

As noted above, respective ones of the supply lines 135 are connected with corresponding ones of the plurality of bladders 125 across the repeating sections 127. For example, the supply line 135 A interconnects the 125 A bladders located within each of the sections 127 of the tube member 1 10. As such, it can be noted that the 125A bladders across the repeating sections 127 have the supply line 135A as a common supply line. Of course, the same can be said for the remaining supply lines 135B - 135H and their corresponding bladders 125B-125H across the repeating sections 127 of the tube member.

The common supply line arrangement for corresponding bladders 125 across the repeating sections 127 allows for simultaneous occlusion or opening of the inner space 112 of the tube member 1 10 at different locations throughout the tube member 110. The ability of the peristaltic system 100 to transport the material 105 in one direction and vertically against gravity includes some level of occlusion. The intruding part of the system 100 causes displacement of the material 105. For example, when the material 105 is blocked in one direction it will move in an opposite direction. One outcome of occlusion at multiple points along a transport tube is that the cumulative effect of back pressure (often caused by head pressure) can be reduced and eliminated. In the case of transporting a fluid vertically, each occlusion need only support the fluid in its immediate cavity by transferring the forces to the tensile strength of the tube wall. The tube member 110 may still carry the weight of total fluid, but not by pressure transmission within the fluid. As long as each repeating section 127 of the peristaltic tube 110 remains occluded during cycling, pressures do not accumulate. Consequently, at some point, a second adjacent cavity will reach occlusion before the current cavity can be released. Should complete occlusion not be reached backflow will occur without accumulating pressure as long as the last cell is free to "slip" as well. This means that a water column of 300' that normally creates a head pressure of 130 psi at the bottom can be designed to move water in segments that create only ½ psi. This simplifies many design problems of dealing with high pressures otherwise required.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the tube member 1 10 at discrete times to - 19 during the peristaltic sequencing of occlusions through the inner space 1 12 of the tube member 1 10, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The actuator assembly 1 15 may cause selective ones of the plurality of bladders 125 to expand and contract according to the defined peristaltic sequence illustrated in Fig. 2. Respective ones of the plurality of bladders 125 may be expanded to fill at least a portion of a volume of the inner space 112 of the tube member 1 10. Such expansion causes the occlusion within the inner space 112 and ultimately shifts the material 105 toward the output end 1 17 of the tube member 1 10. In particular, during occlusion, a first one of the plurality of bladders 125 A may be expanded to abut against an inner wall 1 19 of the tube member 1 10. Additionally, a second one of the plurality of bladder 125B, positioned adjacent the first bladder 125 A, may be expanded to abut against the adj acent expanded first bladder 125 A as well as the inner wall 119 of the tube member 1 10. The expanded second bladder 125B causes the material 105 to be incrementally transported away from the first bladder 125 A and toward the output end 1 17.

The peristaltic sequence illustrated in Fig. 2 results from consecutive expansion of the first and second bladders 125 A and 125B, respectively, in each of the repeating sections 127 of the tube member 1 10, simultaneously. This consecutive expansion of the first and second bladders 125A, 125B is propagated along the plurality of bladders 125 concomitantly with corresponding first and second bladders 125 A, 125B in each of the repeating sections of the member. Additionally, the consecutive expansion of the first and second bladders 125 A, 125B propagated along the plurality of bladders 125 in each of the repeating sections 127 is followed by consecutive compression of the first and second bladders 125 A, 125B.

For example, referring to Fig.2, at to and ti the first and second bladders 125 A, 125B are inflated across each of the sections 127. Then at t2 to t3, the first and second bladders 125 A, 125B (which were previously inflated) are now consecutively deflated or compressed, while the following bladders 125C, 125D are consecutively expanded across the sections 127. These expansion/compression actions are propagated along the inner space 1 12 of the tube member 110 as depicted at to ts>. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the propagating expansion/compression actions of the plurality of bladders 125 cause the propagating volume constriction along the tube member 1 10. In response to the propagating volume constriction, the material 105 is peristaltically transported to the output end 117.

Fig. 3A shows a schematic illustration of a peristaltic transport system 200 to transport the material 105 through the tube member 1 10 by way of a common air supply 235, while Fig. 3B shows a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the tube member 110, according to one embodiment. It will be noted that similar or identical components and structures appearing in previous figures will not be described in detail so as not to obscure the essence of the additional embodiment. Rather, detailed description of additional and/or different functioning components and inter-connections will be described in detail. The peristaltic transport system 200 comprises an actuator assembly 215 coupled to the tube member 1 10. Similarly to Fig. 1 A, the actuator assembly 215 controls transport of the material 105 through the tube member 1 10 by causing selective occlusion of an inner space 112 within the tube member 110. The selective occlusion constricts volume capacity of the inner space 112 and propagates this volume constriction along the tube member 110. The actuator assembly 215 functions to occlude the inner space 1 12 according to the defined peristaltic sequence illustrated in Fig. 2 and as discussed in detail above.

The actuator assembly 215 comprises a compressor 120 to supply air to a single supply line 235 common to all the plurality of bladders 125, a plurality of valves 237a, 237b, ... and 237h (collectively referenced 237) to control access of the supplied air from the supply line 235 to each of the plurality of bladders 125, and a microcontroller unit (MCU) 240 programmed to cause the valves 237 to operate such that corresponding bladders 125 expand and contract according to the defined peristaltic sequence (See Fig. 2). The supply line 235 may, for example, supply air at around 100 PSI while air pressure within ones of the bladders 125 is around 1 -5 PSI.

The tube member 110 may be divided into repeating sections 127a, 127b, ... , 127n (collectively 127), each of which includes its own set of the plurality of bladders 125 and the plurality of valves 237. Each of the plurality of valves 237 simultaneously controls the supply of air to/from corresponding ones of the bladders 125 across each of the repeating sections. For example, as illustrated in Fig, 3 A, each section 127 has a set of eight bladders 125A - 125H and a set of eight valves 237a-237h, respectively. The plurality of valves 237 are arranged such that a first one of the valves 237a simultaneously controls air flow to/from a first one of the bladders 125A across each of the repeating sections 127. As mentioned above, the MCU 240 is operable to signal the respective valves 237 to expand or compress corresponding bladders 125. The valves 237 cause expansion by allowing air flow from the single supply line 235 into the respective bladders 125, and compression by opening a vent to the atmosphere. The MCU 240 may operate to signal the valves 237 pneumatically, mechanically, and/or electronically. As illustrated in Fig. 3B, the MCU 240 may, for example, be coupled to a rotating mechanical arm 230 which serves to mechanically couple the MCU 240 with respective ones of the plurality of valves 237. The rotating arm 230 is operable to connect to each of the valves 237 one at a time. For example, when the mechanical arm 230 is coupled to the first valve 237a, the MCU 240 signals the first valve 237a across each of the sections 127 to allow air flow from the supply line 235 into the corresponding first bladder 125A across each of the sections 127. After the MCU 240 signals a second valve 237b to inflate a second bladder 125B it signals the first valve 237a to vent air from the first bladder 125A to the atmosphere. While the venting of the first bladder 125A takes place, the MCU 240 signals third valve 237c to inflate third bladder 125C. This continuation of this inflate/vent cycle across the bladders 125 of the repeating sections 127 is what implements the peristaltic sequence illustrated in Fig. 2. The MCU 240 may, for example, signal respective valves 237 by way of a pilot air supply or electric signal.

The valves 237 may be located remote from the MCU 240. In such embodiment the MCU 240 might be communicatively coupled to the valves 237. For example, the MCU 240 may transmit communication signals to respective ones of the valves 237. These transmitted signals energize respective ones of the valves 237 to allow the supply line 235 to provide air to corresponding ones of the bladders 125 or to vent air from the corresponding bladder 125 to the atmosphere. Fig. 4A shows a schematic illustration of a "smart" peristaltic transport system 300 to transport the material 105 through the tube member 110 by way of a common air supply line 335 coupled to a plurality of control valves 340, while Fig. 4B shows a cross- sectional schematic illustration of the tube member 110, according to one embodiment. It will be noted that similar or identical components and structures appearing in previous figures will not be described in detail so as not to obscure the essence of the additional embodiment. Rather, detailed description of additional and/or different functioning components and inter-connections will be described in detail.

The "smart" peristaltic transport system 300 comprises an actuator assembly 315 coupled to the tube member 110. Similarly to the embodiment described in Figs. 1A and 3 A, the actuator assembly 315 controls transport of the material 105 through the tube member 110 by causing selective occlusion of an inner space 112 within the tube member 110. The selective occlusion constricts volume capacity of the inner space 112 and propagates this volume constriction along the tube member 110. The actuator assembly 215 functions to occlude the inner space 112 according to the defined peristaltic sequence illustrated in Fig. 2 and as discussed in detail above.

The actuator assembly 315 comprises the compressor 120 to supply air to the single supply line 335 common to all the plurality of bladders 125, and the plurality of control valves 340 to control expansion and compression of corresponding bladders 125 in response to detected pressure within neighboring bladders 125. The plurality of control valves 340 receive control signals in response to activation of respective ones of pressure sensors 360 A, 360B,... 360H (collectively referenced 360) embedded within the plurality of bladders 125. The pressure sensors 360 may, for example, take the form of small blisters such that in response to expansion of a respective bladder 125, the blister 360 is compressed. The compressed blister 360 emits a control signal transmitted as a control input to the appropriate control valve 340. In the event no compression of the blister 360 occurs, then a control input indicating non-inflation or compression of the corresponding bladder 125 is transmitted as the control input to the appropriate valve 340. In another embodiment, the pressure sensors 360 may be operable to detect and/or measure pressure within respective ones of the bladders 125. Based on the detected pressure, the pressure sensors 360 transmit the control inputs to the appropriate control valves 340. The control input signals indicate whether the corresponding pressure sensor 360 detected an inflated or compressed bladder 125. It will be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art that any type of pressure sensor such as, for example, mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic may be used to provide a control signal to respective valves 340. Additionally and/or alternatively, the blisters 360 may be disposed within the inner space 112 of the tube member 110 and outside the plurality of bladders 125.

The control valves 340 are coupled to respective ones of the bladders 125 such that each of the valves 340 controls air flow to/from corresponding ones of the bladders 125. Each of the valves 340 controls expansion/compression of its corresponding bladder 125 based on the detected state of the bladder 125 located immediately before and immediately after that corresponding bladder 125 (as described in more detail below). As such, the control valves of Fig. 4A may be referred to as "smart" valves. The control valves 340 facilitate expansion of corresponding bladders 125 by allowing passage of air from the supply line 335 to the corresponding bladder 125. Additionally, the control valves 340 facilitate compression of corresponding bladders 125 by venting air from within the bladder 125 to the atmosphere. The control valves 340 may comprise a small computer on a single integrated circuit having a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals which are used to control an embedded valve. Fig. 5 shows a logic table illustrating actuation of one of the plurality of bladders 125 based on first and second control signals 370, 380, respectively, received at a corresponding control valve 340, according to one embodiment. Reference will now be made to the table in Fig. 5 in conjunction with Fig. 4 A. Each of the control valves 340 receives the first and second control signals 370, 380, respectively, to determine the proper control of air to/from a corresponding bladder 125 ("Bladder _n"). The first control signal 370 stems from a first one of the sensors 360 disposed within an adjacent prior bladder 125 ("Bladder _n-i"), while the second control signal 380 stems from a second one of the sensors 360 disposed within an adjacent subsequent bladder 125 ("Bladder _n+i"). In response to the received first and second control signals, each of the control valves 340 will cause the corresponding bladder 125 ("Bladder n") to inflate, deflate, or remain unchanged from its current state.

In particular, each of the control valves 340 will follow the control rules outlined in Fig. 5 when determining whether to inflate, deflate, or leave Bladder _n unchanged. The control rules implemented by the control valves 340 comprise three logic scenarios: (1) Bladder _n-i is expanded ("H") while Bladder _n+i is compressed ("L"); (2) Bladder _n-i is compressed ("L") while Bladder _n+i is expanded ("H"); and (3) both Bladder _n-i and Bladder _n+i are compressed ("L").

In light of the three logical scenarios discussed above, respective ones of the control valves 340 will:

[A] inflate Bladder _n, in response to scenario (1);

[B] deflate Bladder _n, in response to scenario (2); and

[C] will not cause a change to the compressed/expanded state of Bladder _n, in response to scenario (3). Implementing the above logic rules based on the detected state of the bladder 125 located immediately before (Bladder _n-i) and immediately after (Bladder _n+i) respective control valves 340 across repeating sections 127 of the tube member 1 10 will cause a self- propagating inflation wave. The self-propagating wave will implement the defined peristaltic sequence discussed above and illustrated in Fig 2. In this manner the self- propagating wave will propagate at a speed allowed by full inflation status of respective ones of the bladders 125. Consequently, thicker material 105 will flow slower and take longer to trigger the successive inflations of the peristaltic sequence.

The self-propagating wave of the peristaltic sequence may be initiated by a manual trigger. For example, a user initiates the peristaltic sequence by causing the first bladder 125A across the repeating 127 to inflate - either manual inflation or sending an appropriate trigger signal to the corresponding ones of the control valves 340A. After that, the peristaltic wave of constricting the inner space 1 12 of the tube member 105 is set into motion until manual interruption by a user or the control valves 340 are automatically programmed to stop the process. Additionally, it should be noted that once the peristaltic sequence is set into motion (after manual or automatic triggering), the control valves 340A having the corresponding first bladder 125A, will receive its first control signal 370 from the sensor 360H disposed within bladder 125H and its second control signal from the sensor 360B disposed within bladder 125B.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a peristaltic method 600 illustrated in Fig. 2 and implemented by any one of a controlled air supply, common air supply, or "smart" peristaltic transport system 100, 200, 300, respectively, according to one embodiment. At 605, the method 600 begins in response to a manual or automatic activation of the actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 to cause peristaltic transport of the material 105 through the tube member 110. For example, a user might decide to initiate the peristaltic process or the actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 may be programmed to begin actuation at a defined day and time.

At 610, the first bladder 125A, located across all repeating sections 127, may be expanded to abut substantially against an inner wall 1 19 of the tube member 1 10, thereby causing occlusion within the inner space 112 and ultimately begins to shift the material 105 toward the output end 117 of the tube member 1 10.

At 615, the second one of the plurality of bladders 125B, located across all repeating sections 127 and positioned adjacent the first bladder 125A within each section 127, may be expanded to abut against the adjacent expanded first bladder 125A as well as the inner wall 1 19 of the tube member 1 10. The expanded second bladder 125B causes the material 105 to be incrementally transported away from the first bladder 125 A and toward the output end 1 17.

At 620, in response to the second bladder 125B being fully expanded and occluding the inner space 112, a subsequent third bladder 125C (across all repeating sections 127 of the tube member 110) expands concomitantly with compression of the first bladder 125 A.

At 625, in response to the third bladder 125C being fully expanded and occluding the inner space 112, a fourth bladder 125D (subsequent the third bladder 125C and located across all repeating sections 127 of the tube member 1 10) expands concomitantly with compression of the second bladder 125D.

At 630, the actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 determines whether to halt the peristaltic method 600. For example, stoppage of the peristaltic transport of the material 105 may occur when the material 105 has been completely transported and thus entirely emitted from the tube member 1 10. Alternatively, the actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 may receive a control signal indicating a request to halt the peristaltic sequence of occlusions. If the material 105 has been entirely emitted from the tube member 1 10 or a stoppage control signal has been received by the actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315, control passes to 605 and the actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 waits to receive another request for peristaltic transport of the material 105 through the tube member 1 10.

If no halting of the process has been requested, then control passes back to 610 and the method steps are applied to and propagated along subsequent ones of the plurality of bladders 125 located across the sections 127, as illustrated in time sequence t4-t9 of Fig. 2.

This propagated method 600 across all bladders 125 throughout the tube member 1 10 forms the peristaltic sequence implemented by the various peristaltic transport systems 100, 200, 300 described herein. It will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art that the above recited steps may be implemented in different order without departing from the scope of embodiments of the invention. Additionally, the method 600 may include more or fewer steps than those recited above as deemed necessary to carry out the functions of various embodiments discussed above and in the claims.

Reference will now be made to Figs. 7A- 7D which illustrate a few practical applications of the embodiments described above. Below are just a few practical implementations of the above described embodiments and it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that many other applications exist and are well within the scope of the invention.

Oil spill boom: Figure 7A shows a schematic illustration of an oil boom 700 floating on a sea which is towed by a boat 705, according to an embodiment. The boom 700 may comprise the tube member 1 10 described above. The tube member 1 10 may float on the sea and include a plurality of valves 710, for example one-way valves, that capture the seawater therein. In the event of an oil spill on the sea, the tube member 1 10 runs a peristaltic sequence on the captured oil-seawater to output clean seawater back into the sea. It will be appreciated to those of ordinary skill in the art that the floating tube member 110 could be used to remove other types of unwanted deposits or muck from the seawater.

Biogas generator: Standard configurations of fecal holding tanks require the fecal material to be stirred to cause bacteria to break down the waste. However, fecal waste input into the tube member 110 undergoes the defined peristaltic sequence. This peristaltic sequencing causes mixing that will break down the waste to create methane. Air vents or ports may be coupled to sides of the tube member 110 to allow for release and subsequent capture of the methane. Consequently, the tube member 110 may create useable gas without having to reveal the fecal matter and its associated foul odor to the environment.

Additionally, the peristaltic sequencing of the fecal matter separates water from it. Individual plant cells are found on the fecal waste with water captured inside. As the fecal waste is transported through the tube member 1 10 via the peristaltic method 600 described above, the plant cell walls are broken and water released. This water is ultimately separated out by the tube member 110.

Concrete: Figure 7B shows a schematic illustration of concrete mixing using the peristaltic transport system 100, 200, 300 described above, according to one embodiment. Contents, such as sand 715, rocks 720, and water 725, may be added to an intake receptacle 730 coupled to the tube member 110. Contents of the receptacle 730 may be input into the tube member 1 10 undergoing the defined peristaltic sequence (illustrated in Fig. 2). The peristaltic sequence mixes the contents within the inner space 1 12 of the tube member 110 and forms a cement mixture 735. For example, after about 5 gallons of the mixture 735 being peristaltically transported through the tube member 1 10, the cement mixture 735 may be at the desired consistency. The configuration of Fig. 7B allows for a consistency of the mixture 735 to be altered in real-time, for example, as the cement mixture 735 is being poured. This means that while pouring the cement mixture 735 at a first consistency, the contents added to the receptacle 730 may be altered such that the subsequent 5 gallons or so of the cement mixture 735 will take on a second consistency. Consequently, one may fill a first area of rebar with cement 735 of a first consistency and a second area of rebar with cement 735 of a second consistency. For example, the rebar area may have extra firm cement density along the perimeter and soft cement density in the center.

Waterless toilet: Fig. 7C shows a traditional flush toilet system 740, while Fig. 7D shows a waterless toilet system 745 leveraging the peristaltic transport system described above, according to one embodiment. The flush toilet system 740 requires the addition of water to convert the fecal waste into slurry 750. Once in a slurry formation 750, the fecal waste may travel to overcome a trap 755 and down toward a sewer 760. The flush toilet system 740 is designed with the trap 755 so that air 756 emanating from the pungent sewer system 760 does not bubble into the toilet and into a house.

The flush toilet system 740 requires an inclined pipe infrastructure to leverage gravity to bring the slurry waste downstream and into the ground. Additionally, the flush toilet system 740 needs to pump out all the slurry stored deep in the ground to recycle the slurry. The waterless toilet system 745 simplifies the toilet system by eliminating the need of water and a powerful pump.

Referring to Fig. 7D, fecal waste 765 that enters the peristaltic transport system travels through the tube member 110 and then outside. For example, 30 feet of peristaltic transport may be sufficient to transform the fecal waste 765 into compost dirt 770.

Additionally, a portion of the tube member 110 may be heated, for example, at 160^°F for 4 hours to kill pathogens in the fecal waste 765. Vertical water pumping: Another practical application of the peristaltic transport system is to pump fluid (e.g., water, oil) from deep beneath the ground to above ground. Such application leverages the useful characteristic of no pressure accumulation within the tube member 110. Each of the repeating sections 127 of the tube member 1 10 holds its own pressure. In other words, the pressure needed to inflate the bladders 125 of a single section 127 having the material 105 within the inner space 1 12 is the maximum pressure per section required to transport the material 105 across any distance.

For example, if a well is located 1000ft below ground level, it is possible to pump water upwards using merely a 100 PSI air compressor. This is because every section 127 of the peristaltic tube member 1 10 takes care of its own pressure. If the peristaltic tube member 110 comprises 4ft repeating sections 127, then 6 PSI would be enough to move water upward 1000ft. This is because 6 PSI of air may be sufficient to inflate the respective bladders 125 within respective ones of the sections 127 and thus cause the fluid to peristaltically transport within each of the respective section 127. Consequently, via the peristaltic transport system 100, 200, 300 discussed above, low pressure would be enough to pump water from 1000ft below ground level to the ground.

Peristaltic tube absorption: The peristaltic tube member 110 encompasses a large surface area. Sidewalls of the tube member 1 10 may be designed to absorb certain contaminants embedded within the material 105 as the material 105 is peristaltically transported through the inner space 1 12. For example, sludge dirt may be the material 105 transported through the inner space 1 12 of the tube member 1 10. Certain heavy chemicals embedded within the material 105 may bind to the surface of the inner space 1 12. For example, sludge dirt might enter the tube member 110 while cadmium exits. It will be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art that other minerals, chemicals, or nutrients may be extracted by the tube member 1 10 by way of its absorptive properties. For example, the oil-seawater that is captured within the tube member 1 10 (discussed above) may be peristaltically transported through the inner space 112 while the oil binds to the surface of the inner space 1 12 and the seawater is filtered through the sidewalls and into the sea. The oil may, for example, be pumped back into the boat 705 for later disposal or use.

Having described some embodiments of the invention, additional embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains. Specifically, although reference was made to a peristaltic transport system 100, 200, 300 having an actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 that causes the expansion/compression of bladders 125 disposed within the tube member 1 10, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the actuator assembly 115, 215, 315 may alternatively and/or additionally cause constriction of the inner space 1 12 within the tube member 1 10 by exerting a mechanical force against the outside walls of the tube member 1 10. The external mechanical force may occur at select locations and propagate toward the output end 117 of the tube member 1 10 so as to implement the defined peristaltic sequence. The external mechanical force causes the tube member 110 to compress against itself in those select locations. For example, instead of including the plurality of bladders 125 within the inner space 112, the tube member 110 may be coupled to a plurality of mechanical rollers that exert stress against the tube member 110 to cause occlusion of the inner space 1 12. The actuator assembly 1 15, 215, 315 may operate to propagate the mechanical rollers along the repeating sections 127 of the tube member 1 10 to propagate the volume constriction along the tube member 110, thereby transporting the material 105. In one embodiment, respective ones of the plurality of rollers are disposed along the repeating sections 127 such that a single roller is associated with a single section. As such, the external constriction force applied to the tube member occurs simultaneously at corresponding points along the sections 127 of the tube member 1 10.

Alternatively and/or additionally to the plurality of rollers, a set of spheres may be connected to a line and disposed within the inner space 112 of the tube member 1 10. The set of spheres may, for example, be pulled via the line through the inner space 112 and effectively operate to squeegee the material 105 from the tube member 110.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art there are different ways to contribute to constriction of space within the tube member 1 10. For example, the tube member 110 may undergo variations in length and/or shape at discrete points along its walls. Such variations in shape cause selective constriction of the inner space 112 throughout the repeating sections 127 of the tube member 110. In one embodiment, the walls of the tube member 1 10 are triggered to swell at specific times and then shrink, thus causing selective constriction of the inner space 1 12. The triggering may occur in response to the walls of the tube member 1 10 coming into contact with fluid (e.g., water). The fluid may cause the tube member 1 10 to shrink at the point of contact while the shrinking contracts the tube member 1 10, thereby constricting the inner space 112.

Conversely, the tube member 110 expands at the point of contact when the fluid evaporates from the external sidewalls of the tube member 1 10.

Consequently, the constriction of the inner space 1 13 and the peristaltic sequence described above may occur in response to constricting the external size or circumference of the tube member 110 at select locations, rather than swapping volumes. Of course, the tube member 110 may be constructed of any type of fiber that allows for such

shrinking/ expanding characteristics.

Although the embodiments described above disclose the use of compressed air to actuate the plurality of bladders 125 to expand/contract, the actuator assembly 115, 215, 315 may control the expansion/contraction of the plurality of bladders 125 by applying at least one of fluid (e.g., water), gas, or the like to the bladders 125.

Additionally, propagating the volume constriction along the tube member 110 may be implemented in response to a mechanical lever (e.g., bellows) manually actuated by a human. As such, the peristaltic transport device 100, 200, 300 may be implemented without the need of a power source.

Finally, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art the direction of propagation of the volume constriction along the tube member may be reversed and is not limited to a single directional propagation.

Fig, 8A shows a partial three dimensional rendering of an example practical implementation of the peristaltic tube member 1 10 of the transport system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1A, according to one embodiment.

The tube member 1 10 may be coupled to the supply lines 135 along each of its sides. For example, each side of the tube member 1 10 may be coupled to one or more supply lines 135 that serve as a conduit for compressed air to access the bladders 125. The supply lines 135 may have respective conduits 810 that allow for air flow to the bladders

125. The bladders 125 are coupled to the supply lines 135 via a supply seam 815 positioned along each side of the tube member 1 10. The supply seam 815 allows for a seal between the supply lines 135 and the bladders 125 such that air flow may transfer to/from the bladders 125 solely via the respective conduits 810. As illustrated in Fig. 8A, each bladder 125 is coupled to the side of the tube member 1 10 and to the supply lines 135 along a length D of the supply seam 815.

Additionally, the bladders 125 are coupled to the tube member 1 10 and insulated from one another via channel seams 805. The channel seams 805 may be formed by any method known in the art to couple and seal material together. For example, the channel seams 805 may be formed via welding, heating, adhesive contact, or the like. The channel seams 805 are positioned along a length L of the tube member 1 10 channel 112. The resulting configuration allows for the bladders 125 to be disposed along the channel 1 12 and insulated from one another via channel seams 805. and the supply seams 815.

Fig. 8B is a cross sectional view of the tube member 110 of Fig. 8A along its width, while Fig. 8C is a cross sectional view of the tube member of Fig 8A along its channel 112 length, according to one embodiment.

As illustrated in Figs. 8B and 8C, the bladders 125 are arranged such that when inflated, each bladder 125 abuts against an opposing inner wall of the tube member 1 10. Such bladder arrangement results in manufacturing of relatively large diameter bladders 125 where respective ones of the bladders 125 swell to occlude the inside of the tube member 110.

In response to inflation of the bladders 125, stress is exerted on the channel seams 805 and the supply seams 815 because the inflated bladder 125 tugs on the seams 805, 815. In particular, inflation of the bladders 125 causes buildup of tension in the bladders 125 by the cumulative push of each area of pressure exerted by the pressurized air, gas, water or the like, along the entire contact area. Pressure within each expanded bladder 125 will expand it to a spherical cross section with a uniform curvature, which in turn induces a hoop stress along the channel and supply seams 805, 815, respectively. Failure or tearing of these bladders 125 will typically occur at the weakest point, namely along the channel and/or supply seams 805, 815.

Hoop stress is the force per cross section area. With regard to failure or tearing along the seams 805, 815, the relevant force is force per length of stretched area. This amounts to lbs/in along the seams 805, 815. The lbs/inch of force presses out along the bladder 125 which at any point wants to pull it apart. Consequently, the entire circumference of the bladder 125 contributes to the force that wants to break it at any point, and in particular at the weakest point, namely, along the seams 805, 815.

Such force creates a hoop stress of pressure x bladder diameter. For example, a 2 inch diameter bladder inflated at 10 PSI experiences 201bs/in of force along its seams 805, 815 (e.g, For every inch, the bladder supports 201bs.). In other words, the stress trying to pull apart the bladders 125 equals to the pressure inside the bladder 125 times a diameter of the bladder 125. This hoop stress is related to curvature of the bladder 125. The larger the curvature, the greater the hoop stress attempting to pull the bladder 125 from its seams 805, 815.

Consequently, pressure inside an area of the bladder 125 develops tension in the bladder 125 itself and pushes out at every square inch (i.e., hoop stress), which in turn accumulates the tension. That pressure per square inch may press out accumulatively along the seams 805, 815, and cause tearing at the seams 805, 815.

Fig. 9A shows a partial three dimensional rendering of an example practical implementation of the peristaltic tube member 1 10 of the transport system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 A, according to another embodiment.

Similarly to Fig. 8 A, the tube member 110 is coupled to the supply lines 135 along each of its sides. For example, each side of the tube member 110 may be coupled to one or more supply lines 135 that serve as a conduit for compressed air, gas, water or the like to selectively inflate the bladders 125. The supply lines 135 may have respective conduits or outlets 810 that allow for air, gas, water to flow to/from the bladders 125. The bladders 125 are coupled to the supply lines 135 via the supply seam 815 positioned along each side of the tube member 110. The supply seam 815 allows for a seal between the supply lines 135 and the bladders 125 such that air flow may transfer to/from the bladders 125 solely via the respective conduits 810. As illustrated in Fig. 9A, each bladder 125 is coupled to the side of the tube member 110 and to the supply lines 135 along a length d of the supply seam 815.

As in Fig. 8A, the channel seams 805 may be responsible for coupling the bladders 125 to the tube member 110 and insulating each of the bladders 125 from the other throughout the tube member 110 channel. The channel seams 805 are positioned along the length L of the tube member 110 channel 1 12.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9A, the supply seam 815 length d associated with each bladder 125 is less than the supply seam 815 length D associated with each bladder 125 of Fig. 8A, while the channel seams 805 have the same length L as in Fig. 8A. As will be described in more detail below, having a narrower supply seam 815 length d for each bladder 125 equates to a smaller circumference throughout the bladder 125, which in turn, produces less stress along the bladder 125 seams 805, 815.

Fig. 9B is a cross sectional view of the tube member 110 of Fig. 9A along its width, while Fig. 9C is a cross sectional view of the tube member 110 of Fig 9A along its channel 112 length, according to one embodiment.

As illustrated in Figs. 9B and 9C, the bladders 125 are arranged opposite each other. For example, bladder 125G inflates to occlude approximately half the inner space 1 12 of the channel while bladder 125H, positioned opposite bladder 125G is inflated to occlude the other half of the inner space 112 within the tube member 110 channel.

Inflating opposing bladders 125 has the net effect of causing the transport of the material 105 through the tube member 1 10 via selective occlusion of the inner space 1 12. The selective occlusion constricts volume capacity of the inner space 1 12 and propagates this volume constriction along the tube member 110.

The bladders 125 of Fig. 9A may be designed to have a much smaller diameter and thus smaller supply seam 815 length d than bladders 125 of Fig. 8A. The smaller bladder 125 diameter and supply seam length d results in the formation of finger-shaped bladders 125 or narrow columns extending across the inner space 112 length L rather than a balloon-like elliptical bladder 125 of Fig. 8A, which has a large diameter. In one embodiment, the finger bladders 125 of Fig. 9A may be half the diameter of those in Fig 8A. Additionally, because the finger bladders 125 are narrower, there are more bladders 125 along the tube member 110 in Fig. 9 A than in Fig. 8 A.

Because the finger-bladders 125 have a relatively small circumference or diameter and remain extending across the inner space 112, each finger-bladder 125 may occlude up to half the inner space 112 of the tube member 110. Consequently, the finger-bladders 125 may be arranged opposite one another such that respective opposite ones of the bladders 125 can be inflated to occlude the entire inner space 112 by abutting the two inflated finger-bladders 125 against the other (See e.g., Figs. 9B, 9C).

Because the finger-bladders 125 have a small diameter or circumference extending like a long rigid column across the length L of the inner space 112, the stress exerted on the seams 805, 815 is less than in the Fig. 8A embodiment. In particular, hoop stress is proportionate to pressure x bladder diameter. As the finger-bladder 125 has a smaller diameter/circumference, the hoop stress along the seams 805, 815 is reduced as well. Basically, the curvature is what induces the stress along the seam. When there is small curvature along the seam then less stress is present.

Another way to describe the reduced hoop stress on the seams 805, 815 in Fig 9A is that the total force in Fig. 8A attempting to break the bladder at its weakest point, along the seams, is now split between two finger-bladders 125H, 125G of Figs. 9A-C.

Additionally, that split total force is now concentrated at two different seam locations - a first seam location 815H coupled to the bladder 125H and a second seam location 815G coupled to the bladder 125G. This is in contrast to that total force being concentrated at a single seam location 815B (See, Figs. 8A,8B).

In addition to reduced hoop stress along the seams 805, 815, the finger-bladder 125 construction of Figs. 9A-C allows for better leverage when moving the material 105 through the inner space 112. The smaller diameter of the finger-bladders 125 and increased curvature provides the leverage. This is analogous to a human fingertip penetrating play doe or a nail penetrating wood easily because all the force is presented at a small curved point. As such, penetrating force is concentrated at that point.

Another advantage of the finger-bladder 125 configuration of Figs. 9A-9C is that it takes less total air, gas, water, or the like when compared to the embodiment of Fig. 8A- 8C to move the same amount of material 105 through the inner space 112. This is because the opposed finger-bladder 125 columns expand such that each abuts against the other, rather than a single inflatable balloon-style bladder 125 (See, Figs. 8B, 8C) inflating across the opposite side of the inner space 112 of the tube member 110.

Figs. 10 shows a schematic illustration of one of the Fig. 9A finger-bladders 125 disposed along the inner space 112 of the tube member 110 and at a 90 degree angle relative the supply seam 815, while Fig. 11 shows a schematic illustration of one of the Fig. 9 A finger-bladders 125 disposed along the inner space 112 of the tube member 110 and at a 30 degree angle relative the supply seam 815, according to an illustrated embodiment.

Figs. 10 and 11 show top views of the example practical implementation of the peristaltic tube member 110 of Fig. 9A, according to one embodiment. In particular, Fig. 10 illustrates the finger-bladders 125 disposed along the inner space 112 at 90 degree angles relative the supply seams 815, while Fig. 11 illustrated the finger-bladders 125 disposed along the inner space 112 at 30 degree angles relative the supply seams 815. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the finger-bladders 125 may be disposed at other acute angles relative the supply seam 815.

The width W of each finger-bladder 125 remains the same in both Fig. 10 and 11. In one embodiment, the width of each finger-bladder is 0.3 inches. However, the length LI of the finger-bladders 125 of Fig. 10 is less than the length L2 of the finger-bladders of Fig. 1 1. For example, LI may be approximately equal to half of L2 or a fraction of L2.

The design of Fig. 1 1 (i.e., angling the finger-bladders 125 at acute angle relative the supply seam 815) is advantageous when the weld seam, which may consist of a number of layers, becomes substantially stiff. For example, the weld seam may be so stiff that inflating the finger-bladder 125 at low pressure may not adequately inflate the finger- bladder 125. This is because when finger-bladders are inflated it shrinks along the length L of the inner space 112, and thus must overcome the seam stiffness and the inflated supply lines 135.

Creating a set of fingers that span the length of the inner space 1 12 at angles less than 90 degrees relative the supply seams 815 allows a small diameter finger-bladder 125 to inflate and move material with a highly curved surface and creates a shrinkage predominantly across the length of the inner space 112. Because there is a minimum of welded layers spanning the inner space 112 (i.e., the channel), the shrinkage can more readily be overcome. Additionally, each finger-bladder 125 is longer (L2>L1). For example, Fig. 10 may have a finger-bladder 125 length of LI =0.8 inches, while the finger- bladder 125 of Fig. 1 1 has a length of L2=1.6 inches. The increased length of the finger- bladder 125 due to the acute angle configuration illustrated in Fig. 11 results in more localized total force aiding the shrinking.

The Fig. 11 acute angle configuration is also advantageous in that the material (e.g., sludge) is transported or pushed through the inner space 112 (from the receiving end 116 to the output end 117) with an angled front, similar to a snow plow. Such angles transport may further streamline transport of the material 105. When the small 90 degree finger-bladders 125 inflate they gather material 105 in from the length of the tube member 110 channel while the angled finger-bladders gather most of their length from the span of the tube member 110 channel. This offers much less resistance and distortion to the inflated parts of the tube member 110.

The additional configurations of the finger-bladders 125 can alternatively and/or additionally be summarized as follows:

The above embodiment causes reduced peeling force generated on the ends of the inflated "finger" columns that spanned the sludge channel. In the case of bladders that are square or longer the entire volume of the bladder inflates and the entire circumference of the essentially circular cross section bears on the seams. With the occluding action of inflating small diameter bladders that span the sludge channel the resulting force on the seams is less. This is because the area of the bladder that the internal pressure can bear on is reduced to about twice the diameter instead of Pi (3.1412). For example, if the diameter of the sludge channel is 1" an inflation bears on 2" of inflated beam and 3.1412" of circular bladder wall. This represents a significant reduction in tearing force on the seam. In addition the narrow finger bladders create a shorter continuous seam under pressure at any time and the edge effect of being next to a non-stressed seam (since that bladder is flaccid) adds additional strength. The edge effect uses some of the bladder wall's stiffness to carry some of the rendering force.

The above disclosed embodiment allows the forces for a set of inflated beams spanning the sludge channel to be approximated by a set of two hinged plates. The plates are hinged on one long side and sealed on the other so as to hold air pressure. The pressure serves to separate the plates, but since they are hinged on one side the separating force is applied to the sealed edge, and measured in lbs/in along the sealed edge. The uniform pressure of air acts perpendicularly on the rigid plate across the span and generates a single point of force on the sealed seam edge. Consider that the force on the first patch of plate close to the hinge generates almost no force on the far edge. For pressure on the hinge line, no force is felt on the far edge. At the half way point, exactly half the force is generated at the far end. In total, the cumulative force is halved because the hinge is carrying the other half. For example, a 2" rigid plate hinged on one side and inflated with lOpsi will experience a 101b force along the sealed lengthwise seam.

In one example embodiment, a bladder diameter of 2 inches has a circumference of 2*pi, about 6.28 inches. The limit for the minimum size of the inflated columns (or finger-bladders) is a "plate" that is half of this or pi wide, 3.14 inches. This means the force between these plates that are now as wide as possible would be 15.7 lb/in. In one embodiment, the inflation may swell the columns (i.e., finger-bladders) diameter and shorten the length a bit while the hinge point move in towards the center as it may be partially supported by the curved ends of the inflated finger-bladders. The result is that the inflated column (i.e. finger-bladder) effect may serve to eliminate almost ½ of the force bearing on the seam.

While the particular methods, devices and systems described herein and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the above-described objects and advantages of the invention, it is to be understood that these are the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and are thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular means "one or more" and not "one and only one", unless otherwise so recited in the claim.

It will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A peristaltic transport device comprising:

a tube member having an inner space to receive material, the tube member includes a series of repeating sections wherein each of the sections includes a plurality of finger-bladders to selectively occlude portions of the inner space according to a defined peristaltic sequence to transport the material through the inner space; and an actuator assembly to control the selective occlusion of the inner space by selectively expanding and contracting ones of the plurality of finger-bladders according to the defined peristaltic sequence, the actuator assembly simultaneously controls corresponding ones of the plurality of finger-bladders across the series of repeating sections, wherein the plurality of finger-bladders are arranged such that opposing ones of the plurality of finger-bladders expand to abut against the other and inflate across an opposite side of the inner space.

2. The peristaltic transport device of claim 1 wherein each side of the tube member is coupled to one or more supply lines, the one or more supply include conduits that allow for air, gas, water to flow to/from the finger-bladders.

3. The peristaltic transport device of claim 2, further comprising supply seams

positioned along each side of the tube member, the supply seams create a seal between the supply lines and the finger-bladders such that air flow may transfer to/from respective ones of the finger-bladders via the conduits.

4. The peristaltic transport device of claim 3, further comprising channel seams

configured to couple the finger-bladders to the tube member and insulate respective ones of the finger-bladders from the other throughout the tube member channel, the channel seams positioned along a length of the tube member channel.

5. The peristaltic transport device of claim 4 wherein respective ones of the finger- bladders are sized to extend across an entire width of the inner space while occluding up to half a depth of the inner space, in response to being inflated.

6. The peristaltic transport device of claim 5 wherein a full depth of the inner space is occluded in response to opposing ones of the plurality of finger-bladders expanding to abut against the other.

7. The peristaltic transport device of claim 6 wherein the finger-bladders are disposed along the inner space of the tube member at a 30 degree angle relative the supply seam.