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Diaphragm

  • US 4,434,203 A
  • Filed: 10/27/1980
  • Issued: 02/28/1984
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:

  • a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern also being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member and any axis lying in the plane of said diaphragm intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.

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