Pneumatically-operated fluid pump with amplified fluid pressure, and related methods

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

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to positive displacement devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to pneumatically-operated fluid pumps and related methods.BACKGROUND[0002]Reciprocating fluid pumps are used in many industries. Reciprocating fluid pumps generally include two at least one fluid chamber in a pump body. A reciprocating piston or shaft is driven back and forth within the pump body. One or more flexible members may be connected to the reciprocating piston or shaft. As the reciprocating piston moves in one direction, the movement of the flexible members results in subject fluid being drawn into a subject fluid chamber. As the reciprocating piston moves in the opposite direction, the movement of the flexible members results in fluid being expelled from the subject fluid chamber. A subject fluid inlet and a subject fluid outlet may be provided in fluid communication with the subject fluid chamber. Ch...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid. The fluid pump may include a pump body, a first cavity within the pump body, a second cavity within the pump body, a piston shaft hole extending from the first cavity to the second cavity, and a flexible member disposed within the second cavity. The flexible member may include a tubular body having a first closed end and a second open end opposite the first closed end, the second open end being proximate the piston shaft hole. The fluid pump may include an incompressible fluid chamber defined within the second cavity on a first side of the flexible member. The incompressible fluid chamber may include an incompressible fluid disposed therein. The fluid pump may further include a subject fluid chamber between a second cavity interior surface of the second cavity and an exterior surface of the flexible member. The flexible member may be configured to increase and decrease a volume of the subject fluid chamber. The fluid pump may further include a piston. The piston may include a piston head having a first side and an opposite second side. The first side of the piston head may have a first surface area. The piston head may be movable within the first cavity. The piston may further include an elongated piston shaft extending from the second side of the piston head and at least partially into the piston shaft hole. The elongated piston shaft may have an end surface opposite the piston head. The end surface may have a second surface area smaller than the first surface area of the first side of the piston head.

[0006]In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a pump body for pumping a subject fluid. The pump body may include a flexible member disposed within the pump body. The flexible member may include a tubular body having a first closed end and a second open end opposite the first closed end. The flexible membe

Problems solved by technology

As the reciprocating piston moves in the opposite direction, the movement of the

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