PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a propulsion method of a propulsion mechanism which can be effectively applied to a propulsion mechanism for traveling in a tube channel that has a high viscosity and elasticity, and which surely prevents a wall face from impeding propulsion of a propulsion mechanism caused by its high viscosity and elasticity, such as being caught or rolled in its sticky wall surface, and a fluid feeding device suitably applicable to the method.SOLUTION: This propulsion method is applied to a propulsion mechanism that travels in a tube channel in one direction while bringing a part of its propelling body in close contact with the inner surface of the tube channel and the other part into no contact with the same, and repeating the contact and non-contact states, while the mechanism sprays a jet of fluid at the inner wall surface in the advancing direction side or the opposite advancing direction side from a part of the propelling body in close contact.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】粘性や弾性に富んだ管路内を推進する推進機構に好適に採用可能であって、高い粘性及び弾性に起因する管路の内壁面の纏わり付きや巻き込み等、壁面が推進機構の推進を妨げることを確実に防止可能な推進機構の推進方法、及び該方法に好適な流体供給装置を提供する。【解決手段】駆動体の一部を管路の内壁面と密着状態とし、他部を非密着状態とし、両状態を繰り返して管路内を一方向に進行する推進機構の推進方法であって、密着状態にある駆動体の一部よりも進行方向側又は進行方向逆側の内壁面に向けて流体を噴射する態様とした。【選択図】図1
