Pump Assembly

Abstract

The technology described herein generally relates to a pump assembly. The pump assembly may include a housing, a pump, a suction flow path, a pressure flow path, and a relief valve. The pump may include a suction port and a pressure port. The suction flow path may fluidly connect a suction output of the pump assembly to the suction port. The pressure flow path may fluidly connect a pressure output of the pump assembly to the pressure port. The pressure flow path may include a reservoir, a first conduit fluidly connecting the pressure port to an internal volume through a first opening of the reservoir, a filter, and a second conduit fluidly connecting the internal volume to the pressure output through a second opening of the reservoir. The relief valve may be configured to vent gas and moisture from the internal volume through a third opening of the reservoir.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 376,240, filed September 19, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] (Technical field) The present disclosure relates to a pump assembly for generating pressure and vacuum, and more particularly to a diaphragm pump assembly that can reduce moisture accumulation. [Background technology]

[0003] Current pump assemblies used in high-humidity environments experience moisture or water buildup that can damage electronic components within the assembly. Pump assemblies, such as diaphragm pumps, progressive cavity pumps, peristaltic pumps, gear pumps, and other similar pumps, are frequently used in systems that also include sensitive electronic components. Electronic components are susceptible to damage when exposed to liquids, such as water. Current pump assemblies can cause undesirable levels of condensation, potentially damaging to electronic components, when used in moderate to high humidity environments. Current pump assemblies are typically not configured to remove or reduce condensation and / or water levels to prevent damage. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a pump assembly includes a housing, a pressure output, a suction output, a pump disposed at least partially within the housing and including a pressure port in fluid communication with the pressure output and a suction port in fluid communication with the suction output, a reservoir, and a manifold disposed at least partially within the housing between the pump and the reservoir. The manifold includes a reservoir coupling point configured to couple the reservoir to a reservoir-facing side of the manifold, the reservoir coupling point including a first through-hole, wherein an interior of the reservoir is in fluid communication with the pressure port of the pump via the first through-hole, a second through-hole connecting a relief valve to the interior of the reservoir, the relief valve being positioned on the pump-facing side of the manifold, and a pressure outlet extending through the manifold, the pressure outlet fluidly connecting the interior of the reservoir to the pressure output via a moisture regulating tube that is permeable to water vapor.

[0005] In some embodiments, the pump assembly further comprises a shatter screen positioned between the relief valve and the pump, hi some embodiments, the shatter screen is bent at an angle.

[0006] In some embodiments, the moisture regulating tube is secured away from the pump to prevent the moisture regulating tube from contacting the pump.

[0007] In some embodiments, the pump assembly can be positioned in a vertical or horizontal configuration. In some embodiments, the relief valve is located lower in the reservoir than the pressure outlet in both the vertical and horizontal configurations. In some embodiments, the manifold is positioned parallel to the direction of gravity in the horizontal configuration, and the manifold is positioned perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the vertical configuration.

[0008] In some embodiments, the pump assembly further comprises a filter positioned within the reservoir, the filter configured to remove moisture from air passing through the filter. In some embodiments, the filter is positioned adjacent to the first through-hole such that fluid entering the reservoir through the first through-hole passes through the filter. In some embodiments, the filter is positioned at or near the center of the reservoir attachment point.

[0009] In some embodiments, the reservoir attachment point comprises an internal thread configured to engage with an external thread of the reservoir to attach the reservoir to the manifold.

[0010] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a pump assembly includes a housing; a pump including a suction port and a pressure port; a suction flow path fluidly connecting a suction output of the pump assembly to the suction port; and a pressure flow path fluidly connecting a pressure output of the pump assembly to the pressure port. The pressure flow path includes a reservoir surrounding an internal volume; a first conduit fluidly connecting the pressure port to the internal volume through a first opening in the reservoir; a filter configured to remove gas from entering the internal volume from the first conduit; and a second conduit fluidly connecting the internal volume to a pressure output through a second opening in the reservoir. The pump assembly further includes a relief valve configured to vent gas and moisture from the internal volume through a third opening in the reservoir, the third opening being at least lower than the second opening when the pump assembly is installed in a horizontal configuration and when the pump assembly is installed in a vertical configuration.

[0011] In some embodiments, the second conduit comprises a moisture regulation tube that is permeable to water vapor.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pump assembly further comprises a manifold mechanically fixed to the pump, and the reservoir is coupled to the manifold. In some embodiments, the first, second, and third openings of the reservoir comprise through-holes extending through the manifold. In some embodiments, a thickness of the manifold at the second opening is greater than a thickness of the manifold at the third opening. In some embodiments, the manifold is oriented parallel to the direction of gravity in a horizontal configuration, and the manifold is oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity in a vertical configuration.

[0013] In some embodiments, the pump assembly further comprises a shatter screen positioned between the relief valve and the pump, hi some embodiments, the shatter screen is bent at an angle.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first and second conduits are secured away from the pump to prevent the conduits from contacting the pump.

[0015] The above-described aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as other features, aspects, and advantages, will now be described in connection with various implementations with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated implementations are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. Throughout the drawings, like symbols generally refer to like components unless the context dictates otherwise. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary pump assembly according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a top view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a top view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1 with the pump hidden to show the manifold components of the pump assembly. [Figure 7] 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1 taken about the central axis L of FIG. 2A. [Figure 8] 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1 taken about the central axis L of FIG. 2A. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a rear cutaway view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1 showing the flow paths. [Figure 10] 2 shows the pump assembly of FIG. 1 installed in a horizontal configuration within a system. [Figure 11] 2 shows the pump assembly of FIG. 1 installed in a vertical configuration within a system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Pumps can be used in various types of systems, one non-limiting example being liquid dispensing systems. For example, liquid dispensing systems are frequently implemented in automated sample preparation systems and sample testing systems. Pumps can generate both pressure and vacuum. Depending on the intended application of the system, pumps can be configured to provide positive and / or negative pressure. In the context of this disclosure, pressure can refer to positive pressure, and vacuum can refer to negative pressure. Furthermore, as used in this disclosure, the term "vacuum" does not necessarily mean or require the creation of a true vacuum. Rather, "vacuum" in the context of this disclosure can correspond to, for example, the creation of a suction force or a pressure below ambient pressure.

[0018] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a pump assembly that generates pressure and vacuum. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a pump assembly that can reduce moisture buildup in the pump assembly and surrounding components. The assembly can include a single pump that can be used to generate both pressure and vacuum. The use of a single pump can allow additional space for additional components needed to help reduce or remove moisture from the pump assembly (e.g., when implemented in a pump assembly of a given outer size or dimensions).

[0019] Removal of all or substantially all moisture may not be necessary to avoid condensation or moisture-related equipment damage. In many cases, reducing a portion of the overall percentage of moisture or humidity is sufficient. For example, the pump assembly of the present disclosure can be configured to reduce humidity to a level where moisture will not damage electronic equipment, with significantly less complexity and cost than would be required to remove substantially all moisture from the air. For example, relative humidity can be reduced to values ​​of approximately 45% or less in some cases, although the actual value may depend on local environmental conditions.

[0020] Furthermore, in many cases, removing all or substantially all of the moisture from the volume of air can be problematic in practice, as it can cause other problems within the system using the pressure and / or vacuum generated by the pump assembly. For example, while the air supplied in the pressure lines will be substantially moisture-free, removing all or substantially all of the moisture from the pressurized air can cause drainage problems when attempting to remove liquid from the system. This can result in damage to other sensitive components or electronics used in the system, or may require the installation of additional liquid management components (e.g., drain lines, etc.), which can add further time and cost, and may even be impossible to implement due to space or access constraints when installing a moisture removal pump assembly within a given space within existing equipment.

[0021] By removing an intermediate amount of moisture or liquid from the air within the pump assembly, condensation within the system can be avoided while also avoiding the need to properly drain excess liquid that would accumulate if all or substantially all of the liquid were removed. Thus, embodiments of the disclosed pump assemblies are configured to remove enough moisture from the air that is exhausted as pressurized air to prevent damage to downstream electronic components, yet remove a small enough amount of moisture that it can be internally handled (e.g., contained, dispersed, and / or evaporated) within the pump assembly housing without the need for additional liquid management components such as drain lines.

[0022] 1-4 illustrate an exemplary pump assembly 100 according to the present disclosure. The pump assembly 100 may include a pump 102, a manifold 104, and a reservoir 106. The pump 102 may be at least partially disposed within a housing 108. The manifold 104 may be at least partially disposed within the housing 108 between the pump 102 and the reservoir 106. The pump 102, the manifold 104, and the reservoir 106 may be aligned along a central axis L. In alternative embodiments, the pump 102, the manifold 104, and / or the reservoir 106 may not be aligned with the central axis L.

[0023] The manifold 104 may be mechanically secured to the housing 108. The housing 108 may have one or more brackets 111 that attach the manifold 104 to the housing 108. The one or more brackets 111 may be attached to a side of the manifold 104 that faces the reservoir. Alternatively, the one or more brackets 111 may be attached to a side of the manifold 104 that faces the pump, or the manifold 104 may be attached to the housing 108 by some other suitable mechanical connection. The one or more brackets 111 extend perpendicular to the walls of the housing 108. The walls of the housing 108 may extend parallel to the central axis L. The manifold is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 5-6.

[0024] The pump 102 may be a diaphragm pump or other suitable type of pump and may be configured to generate both pressure and vacuum. The pump 102 may have a pressure port 110 and a suction port 112. The pressure port 110 may be in fluid communication with a pressure output 114. The pressure port 110 may be coupled to the pump 102 via a conduit 115. The suction port 112 may be in fluid communication with a suction output 116. The suction port 112 may be coupled to the pump 102 via a conduit or tubing 117. The pump may operate by transferring a fluid, such as air, from the suction port 112 to the pressure port 110, such that a positive pressure is generated at the pressure port 110 and a negative pressure is generated at the suction port 112.

[0025] In some embodiments, the pump 102 can have a second pressure port 110a and a second suction port 112a. Each of the second pressure port 110a and the second suction port 112a can be coupled to the manifold 104 and a respective muffler 113 via a respective conduit 115a, 117a. The muffler 113 can be positioned on the reservoir-facing side of the manifold 104 and can extend in a direction parallel to the central axis L. The muffler 113 can reduce noise in the system by damping vibrations generated by operation of the pump 102. Additionally, the muffler 113 can function as a filter to prevent at least some particulate matter and / or debris from entering the pump 102.

[0026] In some embodiments, the conduits 115, 115a, 117, 117a may be coupled or secured to the housing 108 to prevent the conduits 115, 115a, 117, 117a from contacting the pump 102. This may prevent wear on the conduits 115, 115a, 117, 117a. For example, if the conduits 115, 115a, 117, 117a could contact the pump 102, wear could be caused by vibration of the pump, friction between the pump 102 and the conduits 115, 115a, 117, 117a, and / or heat generated by the pump 102.

[0027] The housing 108 may have one or more coupling features, such as slots 109, that facilitate installation of the pump assembly 100. The one or more slots 109 may be configured to couple the pump assembly 100 to a device, for example, by inserting a mechanical fastener (e.g., a bolt, a screw, etc.) through the one or more slots 109. The one or more slots 109 may be positioned around the bottom of the housing 108. For example, the pump assembly 100 may have four slots 109 positioned at each corner of the base of the housing 108. However, the slots 109 may be positioned anywhere on the housing 108, and any number of slots 109 may be used. In some embodiments, the slots 109 may have an elongated shape to allow flexibility in positioning the pump assembly 100.

[0028] The reservoir 106 can enclose or enclose an interior volume. The interior of the reservoir 106 can be in fluid communication with the pressure port 110 of the pump 102 via a first through-hole 122. A conduit 115 can fluidly connect the pressure port 110 to the interior volume of the reservoir 106 via the first through-hole or opening 122.

[0029] The pump assembly 100 may further include a filter 118. The filter 118 may be positioned within the reservoir 106. The filter 118 may be aligned with the first through-hole 122 and the pressure port 110. The filter 118 may be configured to remove at least some moisture from air passing through the filter as the air travels from the pump 102 to the reservoir 106.

[0030] Figure 5 is a front view of the manifold 104. Figure 6 is a rear view of the pump assembly 100, with the pump hidden to show the pump-facing features of the manifold 104. The manifold 104 may include a reservoir attachment point 120. The reservoir attachment point 120 may be located in the center of the manifold 104 or may be positioned off-center. The reservoir attachment point 120 may be circular or some other suitable shape that corresponds to the shape of the attachment of a reservoir used with the manifold 104. The reservoir attachment point 120 may be configured to attach the reservoir 106 to the reservoir-facing side of the manifold 104. In some embodiments, the exterior of the reservoir 106 coupling (see, e.g., FIG. 9 ) can be threaded and the interior of the reservoir coupling point 120 can be threaded such that the reservoir 106 can be coupled to the manifold 104 by rotationally engaging the respective threads of the reservoir 106 and the reservoir coupling point 120. The reservoir coupling point 120 can include a first through-hole 122 extending from a reservoir-facing side of the manifold 104 to a pump-facing side of the manifold 104.

[0031] The manifold 104 may include a second through-hole 124 connecting a relief valve 126 to the interior of the reservoir 106 and a pressure outlet 128. The relief valve 126 may be positioned on the side of the manifold 104 facing the pump and may vent gas and / or liquid to the interior of the pump assembly 100. In some embodiments, a configuration including the relief valve 126 may desirably allow the pump assembly 100 to operate continuously when installed in equipment that only uses pressurized air sporadically, rather than having to turn the pump assembly 100 on and off each time pressurized air is required. In this case, excess air and / or moisture that may accumulate in the reservoir 106 while the pump assembly 100 is operating and the equipment is not using pressurized air may be vented through the pressure relief valve. The pressure outlet 128 may be directly or indirectly connected to the pressure output 114, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

[0032] Advantageously, the manifold 104 can be configured such that the second through-hole 124 leading to the relief valve 126 is positioned lower within the reservoir 106 than the pressure outlet 128 when the pump assembly 100 is installed in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. As shown in FIG. 10 , in the horizontal configuration, the second through-hole 124 and the relief valve 126 are positioned below the pressure outlet 128. For example, using the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 10 , the second through-hole 124 and the relief valve 126 are positioned below the pressure outlet 128 on the Z axis. As shown in FIG. 11 , in the vertical configuration, the second through-hole 124 and the relief valve 126 are still positioned below the pressure outlet 128. For example, in a vertical configuration, the second through-hole 124 and the relief valve 126 can be at a lower position because the manifold 104 is thinner where the second through-hole 124 and the relief valve 126 are located compared to the thickness of the portion where the pressure outlet 128 is located. In a vertical configuration, any pooling or accumulation of liquid can exit through the relief valve 126 before reaching the level of the pressure outlet 128. Pump assembly 100, which can operate identically for moisture management in either a vertical or horizontal configuration, can eliminate multiple pump assembly designs for different systems.

[0033] The pressure outlet 128 can extend through the manifold 104 from the side facing the reservoir to the side facing the pump. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , the pressure outlet 128 can fluidly connect the interior of the reservoir 106 with the pressure output 114 via a tube 130. In some embodiments, the tube 130 can be formed via two segments and can be joined together to form a loop. In some embodiments, the tube 130 can be a single, unitary piece of tube.

[0034] The tube 130 may be a moisture-regulating tube. The moisture-regulating tube may be configured to balance the humidity inside the tube with the humidity outside the tube and / or allow moisture to flow from the high-pressure side of the tube to the low-pressure side. The tube 130 may be permeable to water vapor. For example, if the humidity inside the tube 130 differs from the humidity outside the tube 130, the tube 130 may allow water vapor from the high-humidity side to pass through the tube 130 to the low-humidity side. Furthermore, because the air inside the tube 130 may be under pressure, moisture may migrate from the high-pressure interior of the tube 130 to the low-pressure exterior of the tube 130, reducing the relative humidity in the pressurized air inside the tube 130 to a level lower than the ambient relative humidity. Thus, moisture in the air may be removed as it passes through the tube 130. The tube 130 may be coupled or secured to the housing 108 to prevent contact with the pump 102. This can prevent wear on the tubing 130 due to, for example, vibration of the pump 102 .

[0035] 7 and 8 are cross-sectional side views of the pump assembly 100 taken along the central axis L shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pump assembly 100 can include a shatter screen 132. The shatter screen 132 can be configured to prevent moisture exiting the relief valve 126 from contacting the pump 102 or any electronics within the pump assembly. In some embodiments, the shatter screen 132 can be bent or otherwise positioned at an angle to deflect moisture exiting the relief valve 126. The shatter screen 132 can be bent at an angle of approximately 40 degrees, approximately 50 degrees, approximately 60 degrees, approximately 70 degrees, or any value therebetween. The moisture exiting the relief valve 126 can then exit the pump assembly 100 by evaporating into the surrounding environment. The use of the relief valve 126 can prevent moisture buildup in the reservoir 106, which can eliminate the need to periodically empty the reservoir 106.

[0036] 7 and 8, the pressure outlet 128 can be positioned higher on the vertical axis A1 relative to the first through-hole 122 and the second through-hole 124. The pressure outlet 128 can be positioned off-center relative to the central axis A2 extending through the reservoir 106. The pressure outlet 128 can be positioned in a plane extending vertically through the central axis A2 of the reservoir 106. The pressure outlet 128 can extend partially through the width of the manifold 104. A portion of the pressure outlet 128 can span a portion of the length of the manifold 104 and a pressure outlet path 128a, as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0037] The first through-hole 122 can be positioned along the vertical axis A1 between the pressure outlet 128 and the second through-hole 124. The first through-hole 122 can be positioned on the central axis A2 of the reservoir 106. The first through-hole 122 can be positioned at the intersection of the central axis A2 and the vertical axis A1. The first through-hole 122 can extend through the width of the manifold 104.

[0038] The second through-hole 124 can be positioned lower on the vertical axis A1 relative to the first through-hole 122 and the pressure outlet 128. The second through-hole 124 can extend through the width of the manifold 104. The second through-hole 124 can be positioned off-center relative to a central axis A2 extending through the reservoir 106. The second through-hole 124 can be positioned in a plane extending vertically through the central axis A2 of the reservoir 106.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the pump 102 can be mechanically secured to the base of the housing 108. The pump 102 can be positioned a predetermined distance from the base of the housing 108. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7-8, the pump 102 can be disposed on one or more mounts 121. The height of the mounts 121 can determine the distance the pump 102 is positioned above the base of the housing 108.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the pump assembly 100 illustrating the fluid flow paths of the pump assembly 100 during operation. The arrows in FIG. 9 represent an exemplary flow path from the pump 102 through the manifold and pump assembly 100. Positive pressure air from the pump's pressure output may flow from the pressure port 110 of the pump 102 (not shown in FIG. 9 ) through a first through-hole and through a filter 118 to the reservoir 106. Moisture may collect in the reservoir 106, and excess pressure and / or moisture in the reservoir 106 may exit the reservoir 106 through a relief valve 126. Pressurized air with reduced moisture content may exit the reservoir 106 through a pressure outlet 128. The pressure outlet 128 may extend through the manifold 104 to a tube 130 via a pressure outlet path 128a. Flow may travel through the tube 130 to the pressure output 114. The tubes 130 can be configured to reduce the relative humidity (RH), for example, by about 10% to about 20%.

[0041] 10 and 11 illustrate an exemplary installation configuration of a pump assembly 100 according to the present disclosure within an exemplary equipment environment. However, the pump assembly 100 may similarly be installed within various other systems or equipment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As described above, the pump assembly 100 may be operably positioned in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. In both the vertical and horizontal configurations, the second through-hole 124 and the relief valve 126 are positioned below the pressure outlet 128. Thus, in both configurations, the pump assembly 100 removes moisture and manages flow to prevent damage to nearby sensitive electronics 190 and / or the pump 102 electronics. In many cases, the electronics 190 must be located near the pump assembly 100; therefore, moisture regulation features described herein may prevent damage from occurring, for example, by removing moisture from the pressurized air supplied to the equipment 190 and by enabling the containment and management of evaporation of the removed moisture within the pump assembly 100.

[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates multiple pump assemblies 100 positioned in a horizontal configuration with various electronics 190 positioned nearby. In this non-limiting example, the pump assemblies 100 generate pressure and vacuum within a liquid dispensing system of an automated sample preparation and testing instrument. This is one exemplary system in which the pump assemblies of the present disclosure can be used. The manifold 104 can be positioned parallel to the direction of gravity in the horizontal configuration. When positioned in the horizontal configuration, the pumps 102, manifold 104, and reservoirs 106 can be aligned parallel to a plane formed by the X-axis and Y-axis, as shown in FIG. 10 . When positioned in the horizontal configuration, the pumps 102, manifold 104, and reservoirs 106 can be aligned parallel to the ground. As described herein, when in the horizontal configuration, the pump assemblies 100 can manage moisture accumulation within the pump assemblies to prevent damage to the electronics 190 and pumps 102.

[0043] FIG. 11 illustrates the pump assembly 100 positioned in a vertical configuration with the electronics 190 positioned nearby. This is another exemplary system in which the pump assembly of the present disclosure can be used. The manifold 104 can be positioned perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the vertical configuration. When positioned in the vertical configuration, the pump 102, manifold 104, and reservoir 106 can be positioned in alignment parallel to the Z-axis, as shown in FIG. 11 . When positioned in the vertical configuration, the pump 102, manifold 104, and reservoir 106 can be positioned in vertical alignment with the ground. As described herein, when positioned in the vertical configuration, the pump assembly 100 can manage moisture accumulation within the pump assembly to prevent damage to the electronics 190 and the pump 102. The pump assembly of the present disclosure can be used in any environment but can be particularly useful in medium-moisture or high-moisture environments.

[0044] While the above detailed description illustrates, describes, and points out novel features, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices, systems, and methods can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As can be recognized, certain portions of the description herein may be embodied in a form that does not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, since some features can be used or practiced separately from other features. Accordingly, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but rather to encompass all modifications and alternatives that fall within the true scope and spirit of the disclosure as embodied in the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100 pump assembly 102 Pump 104 Manifold 106 Reservoir 108 Housing 109 Slots 111 Bracket 113 Muffler 114 Pressure output section 116 Suction output section 118 filters 120 reservoir connection points 130 Body

Claims

1. Housing and a pressure output unit; a suction output unit; a pump disposed at least partially within the housing, the pump including a pressure port in fluid communication with the pressure output and a suction port in fluid communication with the suction output; a reservoir; a manifold disposed at least partially within the housing between the pump and the reservoir; 1. A pump assembly comprising: a reservoir connection point configured to connect the reservoir to a reservoir-facing side of the manifold, the reservoir connection point including a first through-hole, the interior of the reservoir being in fluid communication with the pressure port of the pump via the first through-hole; a second through-hole connecting a relief valve to the interior of the reservoir, the relief valve being positioned on a side of the manifold facing the pump; a pressure outlet extending through the manifold, the pressure outlet fluidly connecting the interior of the reservoir with the pressure output via a moisture regulation tube that is permeable to water vapor; A pump assembly comprising:

2. 10. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shatter screen positioned between the relief valve and the pump.

3. 3. The pump assembly of claim 2, wherein said shatter screen is bent at an angle.

4. 2. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the moisture regulating tube is secured away from the pump to prevent the moisture regulating tube from contacting the pump.

5. The pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly is positionable in a vertical or horizontal configuration.

6. 6. The pump assembly of claim 5, wherein the relief valve is located lower within the reservoir than the pressure outlet in both the vertical and horizontal configurations.

7. 6. The pump assembly of claim 5, wherein the manifold is disposed parallel to the direction of gravity in the horizontal configuration, and the manifold is disposed perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the vertical configuration.

8. 10. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a filter positioned within the reservoir, the filter configured to remove moisture from air passing through the filter.

9. 9. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the filter is positioned adjacent the first through-hole such that fluid entering the reservoir through the first through-hole passes through the filter.

10. 9. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the filter is positioned at or near the center of the reservoir connection point.

11. The pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir attachment point comprises internal threads configured to engage external threads of the reservoir to couple the reservoir to the manifold.

12. 1. A pump assembly comprising: Housing and a pump including a suction port and a pressure port; a suction flow path fluidly connecting a suction output of the pump assembly to the suction port; a pressure passage fluidly connecting a pressure output of the pump assembly to the pressure port; Equipped with The pressure flow path includes: a reservoir enclosing an interior volume; a first conduit fluidly connecting the pressure port to the interior volume through a first opening of the reservoir; a filter configured to remove moisture from gas entering the interior volume from the first conduit; a second conduit fluidly connecting the interior volume to the pressure output through a second opening in the reservoir; Equipped with The pump assembly includes: a relief valve configured to vent gas and moisture from the interior volume through a third opening in the reservoir, the third opening being at least lower than the second opening when the pump assembly is installed in a horizontal configuration and when the pump assembly is installed in a vertical configuration.

13. 13. The pump assembly of claim 12, wherein the second conduit includes a moisture regulation tube that is permeable to water vapor.

14. 13. The pump assembly of claim 12, further comprising a manifold mechanically fixed to the pump, the reservoir being coupled to the manifold.

15. 15. The pump assembly of claim 14, wherein the first, second, and third openings of the reservoir comprise through holes extending through the manifold.

16. 16. The pump assembly of claim 15, wherein a thickness of the manifold at the second opening is greater than a thickness of the manifold at the third opening.

17. 15. The pump assembly of claim 14, wherein the manifold is disposed parallel to the direction of gravity in the horizontal configuration, and the manifold is disposed perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the vertical configuration.

18. 13. The pump assembly of claim 12, further comprising a shatter screen positioned between the relief valve and the pump.

19. 20. The pump assembly of claim 18, wherein the shatter screen is bent at an angle.

20. 13. The pump assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second conduits are secured away from the pump to prevent the first and second conduits from contacting the pump.

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