The present invention relates to a pump and, more particularly, to a miniature pump that is particularly suitable for battery or fuel cell applications and medical applications and other applications where the volume of the fluid being delivered is relatively small.
The present invention provides a miniature pump that can be used in a wide variety of applications, including medical applications, battery or fuel cell applications, such as a fuel cell for a computer.
In one form of the invention, a pump includes a housing with a pumping chamber, first and second check valves, and an inlet and an outlet in selective fluid communication with each other through the pumping chamber. The second check valve includes a lip seal. In addition, the housing includes a linear actuator that includes a pumping element that is positioned in the pumping chamber and which is moved between the two checks valves between two positions—one position in which the pumping element applies pressure in the pumping chamber, which opens the second check valve to allow the fluid in the pumping chamber to be pumped through the outlet and further apply pressure against the first check valve, which is located at the inlet side of the pumping chamber, to thereby close off fluid communication between the inlet and the pumping chamber, and a second position where the pumping element is moved away from the first check valve to create a vacuum in the pumping chamber and to allow the first check valve to open and therefore allow fluid to enter the pumping chamber from the inlet.
In one aspect, the linear actuator comprises an electrically operated solenoid. For example, the solenoid includes a stem and an armature mounted to the stem and an electromagnetic field generator, such as a coil, which extends around the armature. The pumping element is mounted or otherwise formed on the stem. When the electromagnetic field generator is energized and generates an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field urges the armature to move axially through the electromagnetic field generator and move the stem such that the pumping element is moved toward the first check valve and to increase pressure in the pumping chamber to close the first check valve.
In yet another aspect, each check valve is formed from a lip seal. For example, the lip seals may be formed from an elastomeric seal member with a pair of lips or may be formed from two elastomeric bodies, each with a lip seal. The first lip seal forms an inner annular lip, which forms the first check valve, which opens and closes communication between the inlet and the pumping chamber. The second lip seal forms the check valve between the pumping chamber and the outlet.
In another aspect, the solenoid includes a biasing member, such as a spring, which is mounted about the stem, to apply a biasing force to urge the pumping element to its second position away and spaced from the first check valve. As noted above, when the pumping element is moved away from the first check valve, the vacuum is generated in the pumping chamber which is then followed by the opening of the first check valve, which allows the fluid from the inlet to flow into the pumping chamber. When the electromagnetic field generator is powered and generates an electromagnetic field, a force is generated which is sufficient to overcome the biasing force and to urge the pumping element to move toward the first check valve, which increases the pressure in the pumping chamber to close the first check valve but open the second check to allow the fluid to flow to the outlet from the pumping chamber. When the electromagnetic field generator is de-energized, the biasing member then returns the pumping element to its second position which starts another pump cycle.
It can be appreciated from the foregoing that a pump is provided that can be configured as a miniature pump that has a wide variety of applications where relatively low flows are desired.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring to
As best seen in
Positioned in housing 14 is a linear actuator 24. In the illustrated embodiment, linear actuator 24 comprises a solenoid. However, it should be understood that other types of linear actuators may be used including a linear motor, a voice coil, or even a manual actuator. However, for ease of reference, the linear actuator will be described in reference to a solenoid application.
As best seen in
Armature 30 is mounted to the end of stem 26 by a threaded connection, with center post 33 spaced from armature 30 by an air gap when the coil is de-energized. In order to increase the air gap when the coil is energized/actuated, the end of armature 30 includes a recessed portion 30b, which includes a removable plastic or other non-magnetic washer. The washer provides a stop or seat in the activated position. As would be understood, if the washer is removed the air gap is decreased.
In the illustrated embodiment, electromagnetic field generator 32 comprises a coil 32a, which is mounted about the armature 30 on a spool 34. Solenoid 24 operates in a conventional manner in that when a current is applied to coil 32a, coil 32a generates an electromagnetic field or a magnetic flux, which urges armature 30, and hence stem 26, to move axially through coil 32a and through passage 33a to close the air gap between the armature and the center post 33. Further, when stem 26 moves, pumping element 28, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by an enlarged end of stem 26, moves through pumping chamber 18 to pump fluid from inlet 12a through pumping chamber 18 to outlet 12b, more fully described below.
Spool 34 preferably comprises a non-magnetic bobbin, such as a glass filled plastic bobbin, and includes a sleeve portion 34a and upper and lower flanges 34b and 34c. Extending around sleeve portion 34a and captured between flanges 34b and 34c is a wire, which forms coil 32a. Spool 34 is supported in housing 12 by a frame 36, which is preferably a magnetic frame, such as a low carbon steel frame, and includes a pair of outwardly projecting conductive leads 36a and 36b (
As noted, armature 30 comprises a magnetic material, such as nickel plated steel, and is piloted to frame 36 on one end by non-magnetic bushing 30a and mounted to stem 26 for limited axial movement in the passage formed in housing 12. Stem 26 extends through a central passage 33a of center post 33 to extend into pumping chamber 18 of pump housing 16 so that pump element 28 moves between a first position in which pump element 28 increases the pressure in pumping chamber 18, which applies pressure against check valve 20 to close fluid communication between inlet 12a and the pumping chamber, and a second position in which pump element 28 is moved away from first check valve 20 against housing 16 at stop 35b. When pumping element 28 is moved away from check valve 20, a vacuum pressure is generated in pumping chamber 18, which opens check valve 20 to allow fluid to flow into pumping chamber 18 from inlet 12a. When pump element 28 is then pushed back into pumping chamber 18, the pressure in the pumping chamber increases further and check valve 22 then opens to allow fluid to flow from pumping chamber 18 to outlet 12b.
In operation, therefore, when coil 32a is energized and current flows through coil 32a, coil 32a generates an electromagnetic field around armature 30 which urges armature 30 to the right as viewed in
When coil 32a is de-energized, however, stem 26 and armature 30 are returned by a biasing member 40, such as a spring, so that pump element 28 moves away from valve 20 until it contacts stop 35b which then generates the vacuum in the chamber to open fluid communication between the inlet and pumping chamber 18. In addition to providing a guide for stem 26, center post 33 also provides the bearing surface for spring 40, which extends into the open end of center post 33, and which is compressed when stem 26 is moved by the electromagnetic field to the right (as viewed in
Referring again to
In the illustrated embodiment, seal member 50 includes an annular portion 52 with a pair of inwardly projecting flanges that form lip seals 52a and 52b, with lip seal 52a forming check valve 20 and lip seal 52b forming check valve 22. Seal member 50 is mounted in housing 16 on a cover 54, which includes inlet 12a and to which the inlet fixture is mounted. Further, cover 54 includes an inwardly projecting, stationary shaft or pin 54a about which seal member 50 is mounted, with lip seal 52a sealing against shaft 54a. Though lip seal 52a is shown sealing on a stationary shaft, it could also be mounted on a part of the stem as will be more fully described below in reference to
Referring again to
To seal stem 26 in pump housing 16 an optional second sealing member 56 is provided on stem 26 adjacent stop 35b. Sealing member 56 is located in the passage 16a of pump housing 16 and provides a seal about stem 26 as well as a seal between center post 33 and housing 16.
Referring again to
Referring to
As noted above, the sealing member may be mounted on the stem of the actuator. Referring to
As noted above, the housing for the pump may be formed from separate housing components, such as the solenoid housing and the pump housing described above, or may be formed from a unitary housing. In addition, the housing may be configured as a cartridge so that it may be simply plugged into a manifold. For example, the housing may include external annular seals as is commonly used in valve cartridges.
Accordingly, the pump of the present invention can be assembled as a miniature pump to consume less space than a conventional pump and further to consume less energy.
While several forms of the invention has been shown and described, modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a portion of the housing may be formed from a magnetic material to form the frame and center post. In this case the unitary frame and center post may include a slot to accommodate the wire termination for the coil. Further as noted, housings 14 and 16 may be formed as a unitary housing. Additionally, the pumping element and the lip seals may be varied to adjust the compression ratio of the pump. The embodiments described herein are only exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is, instead, defined by the claims that follow.
This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/855,528, filed Oct. 31, 2006, entitled PUMP WITH LINEAR ACTUATOR, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60855528 | Oct 2006 | US |