Pumps with Disc Chamber

Abstract

A pump is disclosed having a substantially cylindrical shape and defining a cavity formed by side walls closed at both ends by end walls, wherein the cavity contains a fluid. The pump further includes an actuator operatively associated with at least one of the end walls to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end wall to generate displacement oscillations of the driven end wall within the cavity. The pump further includes a spacer operatively associated with the perimeter portion of the drive end wall to reduce damping of displacement oscillations. The pump further includes a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve. The valve has first and second plates with offset holes, and a sidewall disposed between the plates around a perimeter of the plates to form a cavity in fluid communication with the holes. The valve further includes a foil disposed between the first plate and the second plate and movable between the first plate and the second plate, the foil having a A hole that is substantially offset and substantially aligned with a hole in another plate. The sheet is urged between the two plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of the fluid across the valve.

Description

technical field [0001] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to pumps for fluids, and more particularly, to pumps having a substantially disk-shaped cavity with substantially circular end and side walls, and to pumps for controlling flow through the Valve for the flow of the pump fluid. Background technique [0002] The generation of high-amplitude pressure oscillations in closed cavities has received sufficient attention in the field of thermoacoustic and pump-type compressors. Recent developments in nonlinear acoustics have allowed the generation of pressure waves with higher amplitudes than previously thought possible. [0003] It is known to use resonance to achieve fluid pumping from a defined inlet to an outlet. This can be achieved using a cylindrical cavity with an acoustic driver at one end that drives an acoustic standing wave. In such a cylindrical cavity, the acoustic pressure wave has a finite amplitude. Variable cross-section cavit...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, many portable electronic devices, including medical devices, require pumps that deliver positive pressure or provide vacuum that are relatively small in size and that are advantageously silent in operation to provide discrete operation

To achieve these goals, such pumps must operate at very high frequencies, which requires valves capable of operating at frequencies greater than 20kHz and beyond, which are generally not available.

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