Multicellular Pump with Elastic Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery devices require high power consumption, which is a limitation for portable and low-power applications such as drug delivery and fuel cells.
Innovation Solution
A multicellular pump with deformable membranes and elastic energy storage means, where the energy for fluid conveyance is stored in the elastic energy storage means, allowing for low power operation by releasing energy through electrically releasable mechanisms, such as electrically activatable valves or thermally removable blocking bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional fluid delivery devices are used, then fluid delivery function is achieved, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-charges elastic energy storage elements (springs or elastomeric membranes) before fluid delivery is needed. This preliminary action stores mechanical energy in advance, allowing the pump to operate with minimal power consumption during actual fluid delivery. The energy is loaded into the storage elements during a charging phase, then released during the pumping phase without requiring continuous power input.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is divided into multiple independent pumping chambers, each with its own energy storage element. This segmentation allows the system to deliver fluid in discrete, controlled amounts while maintaining low overall power consumption. Each chamber can be independently activated by releasing its stored energy, enabling precise fluid metering and reliable delivery through distributed energy storage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If elastic energy storage means are used, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible elastomeric membranes as both structural components and energy storage elements. These thin, flexible films serve dual functions: they form the walls of the pumping chambers and simultaneously store elastic energy when deformed. This approach reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate spring mechanisms or complex mechanical energy storage components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into unified components. The elastic energy storage elements are integrated directly into the pump chamber structure, and the membranes serve both as chamber boundaries and as the actuating mechanism. This merging of functions reduces the number of discrete parts and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining low power consumption capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If multiple pumping chambers are used, then fluid delivery precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs all pumping chambers to share a common structural template and actuation mechanism. Each chamber is identical in structure, containing a membrane that serves as both the chamber wall and the energy storage element. This universality allows precise fluid delivery through multiple chambers while minimizing device complexity, as the same component design is replicated rather than creating unique components for each chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump chambers are designed with homogeneous structures, where each chamber contains an elastomeric membrane with identical material properties and geometric characteristics. This homogeneity ensures consistent fluid delivery precision across all chambers while simplifying manufacturing and device assembly, as uniform components can be produced using the same processes and integrated in a standardized manner.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pump operates efficiently with low electric energy consumption, making it suitable for low power applications by utilizing stored elastic energy and pressure drops to convey fluids, while maintaining a compact design suitable for microfabrication.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic energy storage means, each of which is held by an electrically releasable retaining mechanism in an elastically deformed state and is releasable, by an electric signal fed to the retaining mechanism, to relax at least partially from the deformed state to a relaxed state
Implementation Method 2
Designs suitable for microfabrication have e.g. been proposed in WO 00/28215 and use electrostatic forces for conveying the fluid
Implementation Method 3
the heating means, the valve can be activated. This simple design is particularly suited for pumps that are used only once
Data Source
AI summary
The pump is provided with a plurality of pumping chambers and electrically activatable valves. An elastic membrane is arranged in each pumping chamber and divides the same into a first and a second chamber section. Each valve is connected to the second chamber section of a pumping chamber. When a pressure drop is applied over the valve and the valve is activated (i.e. opened), the pressure in the second chamber section changes, which causes the membrane to move, which in turn leads to a change of the volumes of both chamber sections. This e.g. allows to pump well-defined amounts of fluid from the chamber sections to a drug dispensing device.