Electromagnetic Vibration Pump for Thin High-Pressure Air Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pumps used in devices like sphygmomanometers face challenges in achieving both high discharge pressure and large flow rate while maintaining a thin thickness, with rotary motors facing magnetic efficiency deterioration and piezoelectric elements having limited pressure and flow characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A pump design utilizing a vibration actuator with a movable body that performs reciprocating rotation, driven by magnetic springs and electromagnetic forces, allowing for high discharge pressure and large flow rate while reducing thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the thickness of the rotary motor is reduced, then the pump thickness is reduced, but the magnetic efficiency deteriorates and motor characteristics significantly worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump thicknessVSAvoidmotor magnetic efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional rotary motor with a vibration actuator that converts electromagnetic force directly into reciprocating motion of the movable body. This substitution eliminates the need for a thick rotary motor structure while maintaining driving capability, as the vibration actuator generates motion through electromagnetic attraction and repulsion between the coil and magnet, directly driving the pump mechanism without requiring complex rotational-to-reciprocating conversion mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Length of moving object

If the pump thickness is reduced, then the device becomes more compact, but the discharge pressure and flow rate cannot be sufficiently increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump thicknessVSAvoiddischarge pressure and flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes mechanical vibration by employing a vibration actuator that generates reciprocating motion at specific frequencies. The movable body vibrates back and forth, creating periodic changes in pump chamber volume that enable both suction and discharge phases. This vibratory mechanism allows the thin pump structure to achieve sufficient discharge pressure and flow rate through high-frequency reciprocating action rather than relying on large mechanical displacements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The pump operates through periodic action where the vibration actuator alternately attracts and repels the movable body in regular cycles. Each cycle consists of an attraction phase (compressing and discharging fluid) and a repulsion phase (creating suction). This periodic electromagnetic actuation enables the thin pump structure to maintain high power output by efficiently repeating the pump cycle at optimized frequencies, achieving both compactness and high performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Volume of moving object

If a piezoelectric element is used to reduce pump size, then the pump becomes more compact, but the vibration displacement amount is small and pressure and flow characteristics are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump sizeVSAvoidpressure and flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the piezoelectric element with an electromagnetic vibration actuator consisting of a coil and magnet. This substitution provides significantly larger vibration displacement amplitude compared to piezoelectric materials, as electromagnetic forces can generate stronger actuation forces. The coil-magnet system produces sufficient reciprocating motion to achieve high discharge pressure and large flow rate while maintaining a compact pump structure, overcoming the displacement limitations of piezoelectric actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 achieves high discharge pressure and large flow rate while being compact, with reduced thickness and cost, and stable operation due to balanced magnetic forces.

Implementation Method 1

driven by magnetic springs and electromagnetic forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

driven by magnetic springs and electromagnetic forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic spring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4112935B1Pump and air supply device
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 MINEBEAMITSUMI INC
  • EP4112935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4112935B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4112935B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pump 1 contains a pump unit 80 for suctioning and discharging fluid due to electromagnetic drive of a vibration actuator 10. The vibration actuator 10 includes a fixed body 20 on which the pump unit 80 is provided and containing one of a coil core portion 62 having a core portion 60 around which a coil 50 is wound and a magnet 70 disposed so as to face an end portion of the core portion 60, a movable body 30 elastically held by magnetic attraction force of the magnet 70 and containing another one of the coil core portion 62 and the magnet 70, and a shaft portion 40 for supporting the movable body 30 so that the movable body can perform reciprocating rotation. The pump unit 80 includes a movable wall 822 which can be moved by rotational movement of the movable body 30, and a sealed chamber 82 whose volume can be changed by displacement of the movable wall 822. The movable body 30 has a pressing portion 35 which can be moved in an arc track around the shaft portion 40 and abut against the movable wall 822 to press the movable wall 822 when the movable body 30 performs the reciprocating rotation to discharge air in the sealed chamber 82 through a discharge portion 86.