TW201629348A - Pneumatically-operated fluid pump with amplified fluid pressure and related methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid. The fluid pump including, a pump body, a first cavity within the pump body, a second cavity within the pump body, a flexible member, an incompressible fluid, a subject fluid chamber, and a piston. Piston may include a piston head and an elongated piston shaft. The piston may be configured to amplify a first pressure experienced on a first side of the piston head and exerted by a pressurized drive fluid to a second pressure experienced on an end surface of the elongated piston shaft and exerted on the incompressible fluid within the flexible member. The subject fluid may in turn be pressurized to a third pressure substantially equal to the second pressure.

Description

Pneumatically operated fluid pump with amplified fluid pressure and related methods

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to positive displacement devices. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to pneumatically operated fluid pumps and related methods.

Reciprocating fluid pumps are used in many industries. Reciprocating fluid pumps typically include two at least one fluid chamber in the pump body. The reciprocating piston or shaft member is driven back and forth within the pump body. One or more flexible members may be coupled to the reciprocating piston or shaft member. As the reciprocating piston moves in one direction, movement of the flexible member causes the body fluid to be drawn into the body fluid chamber. As the reciprocating piston moves in the opposite direction, movement of the flexible member causes fluid to escape from the main fluid chamber. The body fluid inlet and the body fluid outlet may be disposed in fluid communication with the body fluid chamber. A check valve may be provided at the body fluid inlet and outlet of the body fluid chamber to ensure that fluid may flow into the body fluid chamber only through the body fluid inlet, and the fluid may flow out of the body fluid chamber only through the body fluid outlet.

Conventional reciprocating fluid pumps operate by moving a reciprocating piston back and forth within the pump body. Moving the reciprocating piston from one direction to the other can be accomplished by using a shuttle valve that provides a drive fluid (eg, pressurized air) to the first drive fluid chamber and moves back and forth in the first direction Piston, and then providing drive fluid to the second drive fluid chamber and at The reciprocating piston is moved in the second opposite direction.

Examples of a reciprocating fluid pump and its components are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,558,506, issued to Simmons et al., issued Sep. 24, 1996, to Simmons et al. US Patent No. 5,893,707; U.S. Patent No. 6,106,246 issued to St., et al., issued on Aug. 2, 2000; U.S. Patent No. 6, 458, 443 to Simmons, et al., and U.S. Patent No. 7, 458, 309, issued to Simmons et al. The entire disclosures of each of these patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

In some embodiments, the invention includes a fluid pump for pumping a body fluid. The fluid pump may include: a pump body; a first cavity in the pump body; a second cavity in the pump body; a piston shaft hole extending from the first cavity to the a second cavity; and a flexible member disposed within the second cavity. The flexible member can include a tubular body having a first closed end and a second open end opposite the first closed end, the second open end being immediately adjacent the piston shaft bore. The fluid pump can include an incompressible fluid chamber defined within the second cavity on a first side of the flexible member. The incompressible fluid chamber can include one of the incompressible fluids disposed therein. The fluid pump can further include a body fluid chamber between the inner surface of the second cavity of one of the second cavities and an outer surface of the flexible member. The flexible member can be constructed to increase and decrease the volume of one of the body fluid chambers. The fluid pump can further include a piston. The piston can include a first side and a second side One of the piston heads. The first side of the piston head can have a first surface area. The piston head is moveable within the first cavity. The piston can further include an elongated piston shaft member extending from the second side of the piston head and extending at least partially into the piston shaft bore. The elongated piston shaft member can have an end surface opposite the piston head. The end surface can have a second surface area that is less than the first surface area of the first side of the piston head.

In an additional embodiment, the invention includes a pump body for pumping a body fluid. The pump body can include a flexible member disposed within the pump body. The flexible member can include a tubular body having a first closed end and a second open end opposite the first closed end. The flexible member can further comprise an at least substantially incompressible fluid. The pump body can further include a piston. The piston can include a piston head having a first side and an opposite second side, and an elongated piston shaft member extending from the second side of the piston head. The elongated piston shaft member can have an end surface on a distal end of one of the elongated piston shaft members opposite the piston head. The piston can be constructed such that a ratio of a first pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head to a second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston shaft member is at least greater than one.

Still other specific examples of the invention include methods of pressurizing and pumping a host fluid. In some embodiments, a method of the present invention can include inputting a pressurized drive fluid into a first drive fluid chamber of one of the first cavities of a pump body. The pressurized drive fluid can be input to a first side of one of the piston heads of a piston. The pressurized drive fluid can apply a first pressure to the first side of the piston head. The method can further include moving the piston along an axial length of one of the first cavities of the pump body and applying a second pressure to an incompressible fluid within the interior of one of the flexible members. Applying the second pressure to the incompressible flow with an end surface of one of the elongated piston shaft members extending from a second side of the piston head of the piston Physically. The method can include pressurizing the incompressible fluid to a third pressure above the first pressure using the elongated piston shaft member of the piston. The third pressure can be substantially equal to the second pressure. The method can also include pressurizing the body fluid that is at least partially surrounding a body fluid chamber of the flexible member to a pressure above the first pressure and at least substantially equal to one of the second pressures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a pneumatically operated fluid pump in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid pump of FIG. 1 showing a vector representing forces applied to various components of the fluid pump.

3 is a simplified flow diagram showing a method of pressurizing a bulk fluid while pumping a body fluid.

4 is a cross-sectional side view of a pump system including a plurality of pneumatically operated fluid pumps as shown in FIG. 1 operatively coupled in parallel.

The illustrations presented herein are not intended to be an actual view of any particular fluid pump 100 or its components, but merely an idealized representation to describe a particular embodiment of the invention.

As used herein, the term "substantially" with respect to a given parameter, attribute, or condition is intended to include and include the degree to which one skilled in the art will understand that a given parameter, attribute, or condition is a minor variation. In case (such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances) is met. For example, a parameter that is substantially satisfied can be at least about 90% satisfied, at least about 95% satisfied, or even at least about 99% satisfied.

A specific example of the invention includes a fluid pump including at least one drive fluid chamber a chamber, at least one body fluid chamber, an incompressible fluid, a piston, and a flexible member for pressurizing the body fluid to a higher pressure than the pressurized pressurized fluid when the body fluid is pumped pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a pneumatically operated fluid pump in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The fluid pump 100 is constructed to draw a body fluid, such as, for example, a liquid (eg, water, oil, acid, etc.) or a gas, using a pressurized drive fluid such as, for example, a compressed gas (eg, air). Thus, in some embodiments, fluid pump 100 can include a pneumatically operated liquid pump. Moreover, as described in further detail below, fluid pump 100 can include a reciprocating pump in which the piston and flexible member circulate back and forth in a reciprocating manner during operation of fluid pump 100.

Fluid pump 100 can include a pump body 102. The pump body 102 can include two or more components that are assembled together to form the pump body 102. Pump body 102 can comprise one or more of metals (including alloys), ceramics, polymers (eg, PEEK, TEFLON, etc.) and composite materials. The pump body 102 can include a first cavity 104, a second cavity 106, a piston 118, and a flexible member 142 therein. The first cavity 104 can have a first cavity inner surface 108 that can at least partially define the first drive fluid chamber 110 and the second drive fluid chamber 112. The second cavity 106 can have a second cavity inner surface 114 that can at least partially define the body fluid chamber 116. The piston 118 can be positioned with the pump body 102. The piston 118 can have a piston head 120 and an elongated piston shaft member 122 extending from the piston head 120. The piston head 120 and the elongated piston shaft member 122 can have a generally cylindrical shape. The outer diameter of the piston head 120 can be greater than the outer diameter of the elongated piston shaft member 122. The piston 118 is slidable within the pump body 102 for back and forth (in the left and right direction according to the perspective view of FIG. 1) and may extend between the first cavity 104 and the second cavity 106. The piston head 120 of the piston 118 can be disposed in the first cavity 104 is between the first drive fluid chamber 110 and the second drive fluid chamber 112.

The piston head 120 can have a first side 124, an opposite second side 126, and a cylindrical peripheral surface 128 that extends from the first side 124 to the second side 126. The first side 124 of the piston head 120 can at least partially define the first drive fluid chamber 110. The second side 126 can at least partially define the second drive fluid chamber 112. The piston head 120 can include at least one annular sealing cavity 130 formed along a circumference of the cylindrical peripheral surface 128 and between the first side 124 and the second side 126. The at least one annular sealing cavity 130 can have at least one annular seal 132 (eg, an O-ring seal) disposed therein. The elongated piston shaft member 122 of the piston 118 can include a distal end 133 opposite the piston head 120 (the term "distal" means distal to the piston head 120). The distal tip 133 can have an end surface 134. The first side 124 of the piston head 120 can have a first surface area SA1 (Fig. 2). The end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft member 122 can have a second surface area SA2 (Fig. 2). The pump body 102 can include a piston shaft bore 136 that extends between the first cavity 104 and the second cavity 106. The piston shaft bore 136 can include an inner surface 138 disposed along the piston shaft bore 136 to interface the first cavity 104 and the second cavity 106 along the interface between the piston shaft bore 136 and the elongated piston shaft member 122. A plurality of annular shaft seals 140 are provided to seal the fluid seal.

The flexible member 142 can be at least partially disposed within the second cavity 106. The flexible member 142 can comprise one or more of a bellows plunger, a diaphragm, or any other known flexible member that can be extended and contracted. The flexible member 142 can divide the second cavity 106 into a body fluid chamber 116 and an incompressible fluid chamber 156. The incompressible fluid chamber 156 can be at least partially disposed within the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. For example, the flexible member 142 can have an outer surface 146 and an inner surface 148. The outer surface 146 of the flexible member 142 can at least partially define the body fluid chamber 116, while the inner surface 148 of the flexible member 142 can at least partially define the incompressible portion Fluid chamber 156. Substantially incompressible fluid 176 can be disposed within incompressible fluid chamber 156. In some embodiments, the incompressible fluid 176 can also be disposed within the piston shaft bore 136.

The flexible member 142 can include a tubular body 150 having a first closed end 152 and a second open end 154. The first closed end 152 can include a plunger head 158 that is integrally formed with or otherwise coupled to the tubular body 150. In other words, in some embodiments, the plunger head 158 can be integrally formed with the tubular body 150, and in other embodiments, the plunger head 158 can be formed separately from the tubular body 150 and attached to the tubular body 150 A closed end 152. For example, the plunger head 158 can be attached to the tubular body 150 using an adhesive, fasteners (eg, bolts and screws), heat sealing (eg, fusion bonding), or using some other known means, and combinations thereof. The plunger head 158 can include a recess 160 on the inside of the plunger head 158. At least one flexible member seal 162 can be disposed between the pump body 102 and the flexible member 142. For example, the peripheral edge of the flexible member 142 at its second open end 154 can be attached to the pump body 102, and the seal that encloses the fluid can be disposed between the pump body 102 and the flexible member 142. In some embodiments, the elongated piston shaft member 122 of the piston 118 can extend from the piston head 120, extend through the piston shaft bore 136, extend through the second open end 154 of the flexible member 142, and extend to the incompressible fluid chamber The interior 144 of the flexible member 142 within the chamber 156. In other embodiments, the elongated piston shaft member 122 of the piston 118 can extend from the piston head 120 and partially into the piston shaft bore 136. In other words, the elongated piston shaft member 122 may not extend into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. Moreover, the distal end 133 of the elongated piston shaft member 122 may not enter the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 during operation of the fluid pump 100; rather, the elongated piston shaft member 122 may push at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 The flexible member 142 is inserted and pushed in and pulled out. For example, the elongated piston shaft member can pull liquid out of the flexible member 142 when the flexible member 142 is contracted. The interior 144 is pulled into the piston shaft bore 136 and can push liquid out of the piston shaft bore 136 and into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 as the flexible member 142 is extended. For the purposes of the present application, in some embodiments, the elongated piston shaft member 122 will be described as entering into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 and from the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 during operation of the fluid pump 100. Retracted. However, it should be understood that the elongated piston shaft member 122 may not enter the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 during operation of the fluid pump 100.

An incompressible fluid 176 (eg, an oil or water based liquid) can be disposed within the incompressible fluid chamber 156 within the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. The flexible member 142 can be formed from a flexible polymer material (eg, an elastomer, a thermoplastic, or a fluoropolymer) and comprises a flexible polymer material (eg, an elastomer, a thermoplastic, or a fluoropolymer). The flexible member 142 can include one or more extension features 164 that enable the tubular body 150 of the bellows plunger to extend and compress longitudinally as the fluid pump 100 circulates. For example, the extension feature 164 can include an expansion joint bend or fold that enables the tubular body 150 of the flexible member 142 to be in a longitudinal direction during operation of the fluid pump 100 (ie, according to the perspective view of FIG. 1 Extends and contracts back and forth in the horizontal direction.

The body fluid inlet 166 can be disposed in the pump body 102 that is introduced into the body fluid chamber 116 by the pump body 102. The body fluid inlet check valve 168 can be disposed adjacent to the body fluid inlet 166 to ensure that the body fluid can flow into the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid inlet 166, but cannot flow out of the body fluid chamber through the body fluid inlet 166. 116. The body fluid outlet 170 can be disposed in the pump body 102 that draws the body fluid chamber 116 through the pump body 102. The body fluid outlet check valve 174 can be disposed adjacent to the body fluid outlet 170 to ensure that the body fluid can flow out of the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170, but not through the body The fluid outlet 170 flows into the body fluid chamber 116.

The first drive fluid inlet 171 may be disposed in the pump body 102 and introduced into the first drive fluid chamber 110 through the pump body 102; and the second drive fluid inlet 172 may be disposed in the pump body 102, which introduces the second drive fluid Chamber 112. The first drive fluid inlet 171 and the second drive fluid inlet 172 can have threaded portions for receiving a drive fluid hose or tubing (as depicted in Figure 4). At least one vent may be disposed in the pump body that introduces the first drive fluid chamber 110 and the second drive fluid chamber 112.

To facilitate a complete understanding of the operation of fluid pump 100, a complete pumping cycle of fluid pump 100 (in accordance with the perspective view shown in FIG. 1, including the left and right strokes of piston 118) is described below.

The rightward stroke of the cycle of the pump body 102 begins by inputting the pressurized drive fluid into the second drive fluid chamber 112 through the second drive fluid inlet 172, which is to the right (according to the perspective view of Figure 1) The piston head 120 of the piston 118 is pushed. A shuttle valve configuration can be used to input the pressurized drive fluid. For example, a shuttle valve configuration as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,012,377 issued to Hung, et al. The disclosures of each of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. As the piston head 120 moves to the right, the elongated piston shaft member 122 can be pulled to the right. Furthermore, by moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to the right, the volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112 can be increased and the volume of the first drive fluid chamber 110 can be reduced. As the volume of the first drive fluid chamber 110 decreases, the drive fluid present in the first drive fluid chamber 110 can be discharged from the pump body 102 through the first drive fluid inlet 171 and/or at least one valve.

During a right stroke, in some embodiments, the distal tip can be placed at The elongated piston shaft 122 within the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 can be at least partially retracted from the incompressible fluid chamber 156. As discussed above, in other embodiments, the distal end 133 of the elongated piston shaft member 122 can be disposed within the interior of the flexible member 142 and at least some of the incompressible fluid can be pulled out of the flexible member 142. The interior 144 is pulled into the piston shaft bore 136. Retraction of at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 from the incompressible fluid chamber 156 causes the flexible member 142 to contract and move to the right (in accordance with the perspective view of FIG. 1) during the right stroke of the piston 118. As the flexible member 142 contracts, the plunger head 158 of the flexible member 142 moves to the right (in accordance with the perspective view of FIG. 1). The contraction of the flexible member 142 and the rightward movement of the plunger head 158 increases the volume of the body fluid chamber 116, which causes the body fluid to be drawn through the body fluid inlet 166 and drawn into the body fluid chamber 116. Additionally, increasing the volume of the body fluid chamber 116 may cause the body fluid inlet check valve 168 to open, which may allow body fluid to flow into the body fluid chamber 116; and increasing the volume of the body fluid chamber 116 may cause the body fluid outlet check valve The 174 is closed, which prevents any body fluid that may have been dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116 from being drawn back into the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170.

In some embodiments, the piston 118 can be moved to the right until the flexible member 142 is fully retracted. By fully contracting the flexible member 142, the maximum volume of the body fluid chamber 116 can be achieved, which can help maximize the amount of body fluid that is drawn through the pump body 102 during a single cycle. In other embodiments, the flexible member 142 may not completely contract during the cycle, but may only partially extend. The amount of contraction of the flexible member 142 during cycling of the fluid pump 100 can be adjusted as needed.

After completing the right stroke of the piston 118, the left stroke is initiated by inputting the pressurized drive fluid into the first drive fluid chamber 110, which is to the left (according to the perspective view of Figure 1) The piston head 120 of the piston 118 is pushed. As discussed above, a shuttle valve configuration can be used to input the pressurized drive fluid. As the piston head 120 moves to the left, the elongated piston shaft member 122 can be pushed to the left. By moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to the left, the volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112 can be reduced and the volume of the first drive fluid chamber 110 can be increased. As the volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112 decreases, drive fluid present in the second drive fluid chamber 112 can be expelled from the pump body 102 through the second drive fluid inlet 172 and/or at least one vent.

During a leftward stroke, in some embodiments, the distal end of the elongated piston shaft member 122 is inserted into or deep into the incompressible fluid chamber 156. As discussed above, in other embodiments, the elongated piston shaft member 122 may not be inserted into the incompressible fluid chamber 156 and at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 may be pushed from the piston shaft bore 136 into the incompressible fluid chamber 156. As the elongated piston shaft member 122 moves into the incompressible fluid chamber 156, or at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 is pushed into the incompressible fluid chamber 156, the elongated piston shaft member 122 is displaced into the incompressible fluid chamber 156. At least some of the compressed fluid 176, wherein pressure is generated as the incompressible fluid 176 pushes the inner surface 148 of the flexible member 142. Pressurization of the incompressible fluid 176 within the incompressible fluid chamber 156 causes the flexible member 142 to extend. As the flexible member 142 extends, the plunger head 158 of the flexible member 142 moves to the left (in accordance with the perspective view of FIG. 1) within the second cavity 106.

The extension of the flexible member 142 causes the body fluid to be dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170 in response to a decrease in the volume of the body fluid chamber 116. Moreover, dispensing body fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170 may cause the body fluid inlet check valve 168 to close, which may prevent any body fluid from being dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid inlet 166; And from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170 Applying the body fluid can cause the body fluid outlet check valve 174 to open, which can allow the body fluid to be dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170. In some embodiments, the flexible member 142 can extend until the flexible member 142 substantially fills the second cavity 106 and dispenses substantially all of the subject fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170. In other embodiments, the flexible member 142 can only partially extend and can dispense only a portion of the subject fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170.

By fully extending the flexible member 142, the maximum amount of body fluid can be drawn from the pump body 102 during a single cycle. The amount of extension of the flexible member 142 during cycling of the fluid pump 100 can be adjusted as needed. The piston 118 can be moved to the left until the piston 118 is at the beginning of the right stroke, thereby completing a complete cycle of the fluid pump 100, at which point a new cycle begins. This reciprocating action can continue, which can cause at least substantially continuous flow of the body fluid through the fluid pump 100.

Therefore, in order to drive the pumping action of the fluid pump 100, the first drive fluid chamber 110 and the second drive fluid chamber 112 may be pressurized in an alternating manner to cause the piston 118, the elongated piston shaft member 122, and the flexible member 142 to be in the pump The body 102 reciprocates back and forth as discussed above. For example, fluid pump 100 can be configured with a shuttle valve to facilitate pressurizing first drive fluid chamber 110 and second drive fluid chamber 112 in an alternating manner. The cycle discussed above is not intended to indicate the operational sequence of fluid pump 100. It will be appreciated that the pumping action of the fluid pump 100 can be initiated with the piston 118 in any position.

2 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid pump 100 of FIG. 1 showing a vector of forces applied to various components of the fluid pump 100 during a pumping cycle of the fluid pump 100. The fluid pump 100 can pressurize the body fluid to a pressure that is higher than the pressure at which the pressurized drive fluid is pressurized. For example, in some embodiments, the pressurized drive fluid can be pressurized to a first pressure in the first drive fluid chamber 110 during a left stroke. As is depicted a first pressure of the driving fluid is pressurized vector P ₁ in FIG. 2 may be applied to the piston head 120. The first side 124 of the first surface area SA1. During the stroke of the left, the elongated member of the piston end surface 122 of shaft 134 may be as depicted in Figure 2 is applied to the second pressure P ₂ of the vector within the flexible member 142 is not within the incompressible fluid chamber 156 Compressed fluid 176. In some embodiments, the force applied to the first surface area SA1 of the first side 124 of the piston head 120 can be substantially equal to the force applied by the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft member 122 to the incompressible fluid 176. Moreover, because the pressure is equal to the force/area (P=F/A) and because the second surface area SA2 of the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft member 122 can be less than the first surface area SA1 of the first side 124 of the piston 118, the second pressure P ₂ may be greater than the first pressure P ₁ . Accordingly, incompressible fluid 176 may be subjected to a pressure and a second pressure P _2, which may be higher than the first pressurized driving fluid pressure P _1. In other words, the piston 118 can be configured to amplify the first pressure P ₁ experienced on the first side 124 of the piston head 120 to a second pressure P ₂ experienced by the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft member 122. The incompressible fluid 176 may be pressurized to a second pressure to cause the vector is depicted as the third pressure P ₃ of FIG. 2 is applied to the inner surface 142 of the flexible member 148.

In some instances, it is applied by the incompressible fluid 176 in the pressure on the third surface 148 of the flexible inner member 142 is substantially equal to P ₃ is applied to the body of the body fluid within the fluid chamber 116 by the outer surface 146, such as vector is depicted as the fourth pressure P ₄ in the FIG. 2. Moreover, the third surface area of the inner surface 148 of the flexible member 142 and the fourth surface area of the outer surface 146 of the flexible member 142 can be substantially equal. Thus, the pressure applied to the third surface 148 on the third surface area within the flexible member 142. P ₃ may be substantially equal to the outside surface 146 of the flexible member 142 may be applied to body fluids on the fourth pressure P _4. Thus, body fluid may be subjected to substantially equal pressure and incompressible fluid 176 of a second pressure P ₂ in the fourth pressure P _4. Thus, body fluid may be pressurized to a fourth pressure P _4, which may be higher than the first pressurized driving fluid pressure P _1. In some examples, the body fluid may be subjected to a first pressure by the pressurized fluid undergoes the driving of the fourth pressure P ₁ at least twice P _4. In other examples, the body fluid may be subjected to a first pressure by the fourth pressure pressurized driving fluid undergoes at least four times the sum of P ₁ P _4. In yet another specific example, the body fluid may be subjected to a first pressure by the fourth pressure the pressurized fluid undergoes the driver is at least six times the P ₁ P _4.

The ratio of the first surface area SA1 of the first side 124 of the piston head 120 to the second surface area SA2 of the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft member 122 can be adjusted to achieve different pressure increases. A subject fluid having an increased pressure can be used in performing a task, such as a spray that produces a bulk liquid.

3 is a simplified flow diagram showing a method 300 of pressurizing a body fluid while pumping a body fluid. One specific embodiment of the invention includes a method 300 of pressurizing body fluid while using the fluid pump 100 of FIG. 1 to draw body fluid. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, method 300 can include an act 301 of inputting a pressurized drive fluid into first drive fluid chamber 110. The pressurized drive fluid may be pressurized to a first pressure and may be input into the first drive fluid chamber 110 through the first drive fluid inlet 171. The pressurized drive fluid can comprise a compressed gas (eg, air). The method 300 can also include the act of moving the piston 118 along the axial length of the first cavity 104 in a first direction using a pressurized drive fluid. In some embodiments, the first direction can be to the left along the axial length of the first cavity 104 (according to the perspective view of FIG. 1). Moving the piston 118 to the left may also include moving the elongated piston shaft member 122 of the piston 118 to the left. The method 300 can also include an act 304 of increasing the volume of the first drive fluid chamber 110 when reducing the volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112. The first drive fluid chamber can be increased by moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to the left (in accordance with the perspective view of FIG. 1) The volume of 110.

The method 300 can further include an act 306 of pressurizing the incompressible fluid 176 to a second pressure, the second pressure being higher than a first pressure at which the pressurized pressurized fluid is pressurized. The incompressible fluid 176 can be pressurized to a second pressure by pushing the elongated piston shaft member 122 into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 using the piston head 120 of the piston 118. The first surface area SA1 of the first side 124 of the piston head 120 can be greater than the second surface area SA2 of the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft member 122, which can cause the incompressible fluid 176 to withstand higher than the pressurized pressurized drive fluid The second pressure of the first pressure.

The method 300 can include an act 308 of extending the flexible member 142 to at least partially fill the second cavity 106. In some embodiments, the elongated piston shaft member 122 can be at least partially inserted into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 and displaced into the incompressible fluid 176 disposed in the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. The flexible member 142 is extended at least in some. In other embodiments, the flexible member 142 can be extended by pushing at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 from the piston shaft bore 136 and pushing the incompressible fluid chamber 156 using the elongated piston shaft member 122. In other words, by inserting the elongated piston shaft member 122 into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142, or by pushing at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142, the interior of the flexible member 142 The volume increases, which can cause the flexible member 142 to extend to accommodate a larger internal volume. In some embodiments, the amount by which the flexible member 142 extends during cycling of the fluid pump 100 can be adjusted by adjusting the distance traveled by the piston 118 during the leftward stroke within the pump body 102. The distance traveled by the piston 118 during the left stroke can be adjusted by inputting more or less pressurized drive fluid into the first drive fluid chamber 110.

Method 300 can also include pressurizing the subject fluid to be substantially equal to pressurization. The second pressure of the compressed fluid 176 is higher than the action 310 of pressurizing the fourth pressure of the first pressure reached by the pressurized drive fluid. The body fluid can be pressurized by the incompressible fluid 176. As discussed above, the third surface area of the inner surface 148 of the flexible member 142 can be substantially equal to the fourth surface area of the outer surface 146 of the flexible member 142. Moreover, the third pressure applied by the incompressible fluid 176 to the inner surface 148 of the flexible member 142 can be transferred to the body fluid by the outer surface 146 at a ratio of about 1:1. Moreover, because the third surface area is substantially equal to the fourth surface area, the fourth pressure experienced by the bulk fluid can be substantially equal to the third pressure applied by the incompressible fluid 176. Thus, the body fluid can be pressurized to a fourth pressure that is substantially equal to the second pressure at which the incompressible fluid 176 is pressurized. Moreover, as discussed above with respect to act 306, because the second pressure of the incompressible fluid 176 is higher than the first pressure of the pressurized drive fluid, the fourth pressure of the body fluid can be higher than the first pressure of the pressurized drive fluid . In some embodiments, method 300 includes pressurizing the body fluid to a fourth pressure that is at least two times higher than a first pressure of the pressurized drive fluid. In other embodiments, method 300 includes pressurizing the body fluid to a fourth pressure that is at least four times higher than the first pressure of the pressurized drive fluid. In still other embodiments, the method 300 includes pressurizing the body fluid to a fourth pressure that is at least six times higher than the first pressure of the pressurized drive fluid.

The method 300 can include an act 312 of dispensing at least some of the subject fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170. Extending the flexible member 142 and at least partially filling the second cavity 106 with the flexible member 142 can dispense body fluid from the body fluid chamber 116. Moreover, extending the flexible member 142 can reduce the volume of the body fluid chamber 116 and can dispense some body fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170. Moreover, dispensing body fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170 may cause the body fluid inlet check valve 168 to close, which may prevent dispensing from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid inlet 166. Any subject fluid. The dispensing of the body fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170 may also cause the body fluid outlet check valve 174 to open, which may allow the body fluid to be pushed out of the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170. In some embodiments, substantially all of the bulk fluid can be dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116. In other embodiments, only a portion of the body fluid can be dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116.

The method 300 can further include an act 314 of inputting a pressurized drive fluid into the second drive fluid chamber 112 to initiate a right stroke. As discussed above, a shuttle valve configuration can be used to input the pressurized drive fluid. The pressurized drive fluid can be input through the second drive fluid inlet 172. The method 300 can include an act 316 for moving the piston 118 along the axial length of the first cavity 104 in a second direction via the pressurized drive fluid. In some embodiments, the second direction can be to the right along the axial length of the first cavity (according to the perspective view of FIG. 1). Moving the piston 118 to the right may also include moving the elongated piston shaft member 122 to the right. The method 300 can also include an act 318 of increasing the volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112 while reducing the volume of the first drive fluid chamber 110. The volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112 can be increased by moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to the right (according to the perspective view of FIG. 1) within the first cavity 104.

The method 300 can include an act 320 of contracting the flexible member 142. In some embodiments, the flexible member 142 can be shrunk by at least partially retracting the elongated piston shaft member 122 from the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. In other embodiments, the flexible member 142 can be contracted by pulling at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 out of the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 using an elongated piston shaft member. In other words, the interior of the flexible member 142 is retracted by retracting the elongated piston shaft member 122 from the interior 144 of the flexible member 142, or by pulling at least some of the incompressible fluid 176 out of the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. The volume increase is reduced, thereby causing the flexible member 142 to contract Accommodates a small internal volume. Shrinking the flexible member 142 can increase the volume of the body fluid chamber 116, which can initiate an action 322 of drawing the body fluid into the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid inlet 166. By drawing the body fluid into the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid inlet 166, the body fluid inlet check valve 168 can be opened, which can allow the body fluid to be drawn into the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid inlet 166. Moreover, dispensing body fluid from the body fluid chamber 116 through the body fluid outlet 170 can cause the body fluid outlet check valve 174 to close, which prevents body fluid that has been dispensed from the body fluid chamber 116 from passing through the body fluid outlet 170. The extraction is returned to the body fluid chamber 116.

The above described method 300 of repressurizing the body fluid and pumping the body fluid to perform a reciprocating action. This reciprocating action can continue, which can cause at least substantially continuous flow of the body fluid through the fluid pump 100.

4 is a cross-sectional side view of a pump system including a plurality of pneumatically operated fluid pumps as shown in FIG. 1 operatively coupled in parallel. In some embodiments, a plurality of fluid pumps can be coupled in parallel with the first body fluid tube 480, the first body fluid tube 480 connecting the body fluid outlet 470 of the first fluid pump 400 with the body fluid of the second fluid pump 401 Exit 472. Additionally, the first body fluid tube 480 can connect the body fluid outlet 470 of the first fluid pump 400 and the body fluid outlet 472 of the second fluid pump 401 to the first common source 473. A plurality of pumps may be further coupled in parallel with a second body fluid tube 481 that connects the body fluid inlet 475 of the first fluid pump 400 with the body fluid inlet 471 of the second fluid pump 401. The second body fluid tube 481 can also connect the body fluid inlet 475 of the first fluid pump 400 and the body fluid inlet 471 to the second common source 474. Placing a plurality of fluid pumps in parallel allows for maintaining a stable pressure in the body fluid while pumping the body fluid.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, since these exemplary embodiments are merely examples of embodiments of the invention, the scope of the invention is The scope and scope of the legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention. In fact, various modifications of the present invention, such as alternative and useful combinations of the described elements, in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and implementations are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

A fluid pump for pumping a body fluid, the fluid pump comprising: a pump body; a first cavity in the pump body; a second cavity in the pump body; a piston shaft hole Extending from the first cavity to the second cavity; a flexible member disposed in the second cavity, the flexible member comprising a first closed end and the first closure a tubular body having a distal end opposite the second open end, the second open end abutting the piston shaft bore, the flexible member being configured to extend within the second cavity during operation of the fluid pump And contraction; an incompressible fluid chamber defined in the second cavity on a first side of the flexible member; an incompressible fluid disposed within the incompressible fluid chamber; a body fluid a chamber defined in the second cavity on a second side of the flexible member, the flexible member being configured to increase and decrease a volume of the body fluid chamber; and a piston The utility model comprises: a piston head having a first side and an opposite second side, the living The first side of the head has a first surface area, the piston head is movable within the first cavity; and an elongated piston shaft member extends from the second side of the piston head and extends at least partially To the piston shaft bore, wherein the elongated piston shaft member has an end surface opposite the piston head, the end surface having a second surface area that is less than the first surface area of the first side of the piston head. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to amplify a first pressure experienced on the first surface of the first side of the piston head to the end surface of the elongated piston shaft member The second surface is subjected to a second pressure. A fluid pump according to claim 2, wherein the elongated piston shaft member of the piston is configured to pressurize the incompressible fluid to be substantially equal to the second surface area experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston shaft member. a third pressure of the second pressure. The fluid pump of claim 3, wherein the flexible member is configured to pressurize the body fluid disposed within the body fluid chamber to a third pressure substantially equal to the third pressure of the incompressible fluid Four pressures. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first pressure experienced on the first surface of the first side of the piston head to the fourth pressure of the bulk fluid is at least greater than one. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first pressure experienced on the first surface of the first side of the piston head to the fourth pressure of the bulk fluid is at least 3. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first pressure experienced on the first surface of the first side of the piston head to the fourth pressure of the bulk fluid is at least 6. The fluid pump of claim 1, further comprising: a first driving fluid chamber located on the first side of the piston head of the piston and the first cavity inner surface of the first cavity And a second driving fluid chamber located on the second side of the piston head of the piston and the first air Between the inner surfaces of the first cavity of the cavity. The fluid pump of claim 8 further comprising: a first drive fluid inlet extending through the pump body to the first drive fluid chamber; and a second drive fluid inlet passing through the pump body And extending to the second drive fluid chamber; a body fluid inlet extending through the pump body to the body fluid chamber; and a body fluid outlet extending through the pump body to the body fluid chamber. A pump body for pumping a body fluid, the pump body comprising: a flexible member disposed in the pump body, the flexible member comprising a first closed end and opposite the first closed end a tubular body having a second open end, the flexible member comprising an incompressible fluid; and a piston comprising: a piston head having a first side and an opposite second side; and an elongated piston a shaft member extending from the second side of the piston head, the elongated piston shaft member having an end surface on a distal end of one of the elongated piston shaft members opposite the piston head, and wherein the piston is constructed such that A ratio of one of the first pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head to a second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston shaft member is at least greater than one. A pump body according to claim 10, wherein a first surface area of one of the first sides of the piston head is greater than a second surface area of the one end surface of the elongated piston shaft member. The pump body of claim 10, wherein the ratio of the first pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head to the second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston shaft member is at least 3 . The pump body of claim 10, wherein the first side of the piston head experiences The ratio of the first pressure to the second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston shaft member is at least 6. The pump body of claim 10, wherein a fourth pressure experienced by the body fluid is at least substantially equal to a third pressure experienced by the incompressible fluid, and wherein the third pressure is at least substantially equal to the elongated The end surface of the piston shaft member experiences the second pressure. A method of pressurizing and pumping a body fluid, the method comprising: inputting a pressurized drive fluid into a first drive fluid chamber of a first cavity of a pump body, wherein the pressurized drive is driven Fluid is input to a first side of one of the piston heads, the pressurized drive fluid applies a first pressure to the first side of the piston head; along the first cavity of the pump body One axial length moves the piston; a second pressure is applied to an incompressible fluid within the interior of one of the flexible members, wherein the end surface of one of the elongated piston shaft members is from the piston head of the piston Applying the second pressure to the incompressible fluid if one of the second sides extends; the elongated piston shaft member of the piston pressurizes the incompressible fluid to be higher than the first pressure and substantially equal to the first a third pressure of the second pressure; pressurizing the body fluid at least partially around the body fluid chamber of the flexible member to be higher than the first pressure and at least substantially equal to one of the third pressures and a fourth pressure . The method of claim 15, further comprising: extending the flexible member; reducing a volume of the body fluid chamber in the pump body; and passing a body fluid outlet in the pump body from the body Dispensing the body fluid in the fluid chamber At least some of them. The method of claim 16, further comprising: inputting the pressurized drive fluid into a second drive fluid chamber of the first cavity of the pump body, wherein the pressurized drive fluid Input to the second side of the piston head of the piston; the elongated piston shaft member of the piston pulls at least some of the incompressible fluid out of the interior of the flexible member; shrinking the flexible member Increasing the volume of the body fluid chamber; and drawing at least some of the body fluid into the body fluid chamber through a body fluid inlet in the pump body. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressurizing the body fluid to a fourth pressure comprises pressurizing the body fluid to at least twice the first pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head. The fourth pressure. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressurizing the body fluid to a fourth pressure comprises pressurizing the body fluid to at least 4 times the first pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head. The fourth pressure. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressurizing the body fluid to a fourth pressure comprises pressurizing the body fluid to at least 6 times the first pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head. The fourth pressure.