Inline fluid dispense pump assembly
AssigneeFluid Metering, Inc.
InventorsNicolas Mercier, Thomas Breitenstein, Kevin Mazurkiewicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inline pump assembly for dispensing fluids, the pump assembly including a pump head, having a piston wherein movement of the piston causes the pump head to dispense a fluid. A linear actuator has a lead screw wherein actuation of the linear actuator causes the lead screw to move along a linear path. A first anti-backlash device is disposed between the linear actuator and the pump head. The anti-backlash device includes a rail having a sliding block thereon. The slide block and rail are engaged to prevent movement of the slide block about a longitudinal axis of the rail. A coupler is fixedly secured to the linear slide and having a first end connected to the lead screw and a second end connected to the piston rod.
Claims15
An inline pump assembly for dispensing fluids, the pump assembly comprising:
- a pump head, having a piston wherein movement of the piston causes the pump head to dispense a fluid;
- a linear actuator having a lead screw wherein actuation of the linear actuator causes the lead screw to move along a linear path;
- a first anti-backlash device disposed between the linear actuator and the pump head, the anti-backlash device including a rail having a slide block thereon, the slide block and rail cooperating to prevent movement of the slide block about a longitudinal axis of the rail;
- and
- a coupler fixedly secured to the slide block and having a first end connected to the lead screw and a second end connected to the piston, the coupler further including a flag extending therefrom that is adapted to trigger a proximity sensor to permit the location of the coupler to be ascertained.
An inline pump assembly for dispensing fluids, the pump assembly comprising:
- a pump head, having a piston rod wherein movement of the piston rod causes the pump head to dispense a fluid;
- a linear actuator having a lead screw and a drive armature, wherein actuation of the linear actuator causes the drive armature to move the lead screw along a linear path, and wherein a biasing device is disposed between the drive armature and the lead screw to maintain threaded engagement therebetween;
- and
- a linear slide disposed between the linear actuator and the pump head, the linear slide including a rail having a slide block thereon, the slide block and rail are engaged to prevent rotation of the slide about a longitudinal axis of the rail, the lead screw being operably nonrotatably connected to the linear slide, and the piston being operably connected to the linear slide.
A method of dispensing fluids comprising:
- providing an inline pump assembly comprising:
- a pump head, having a piston wherein movement of the piston causes the pump head to dispense a fluid;
- a linear actuator having a lead screw and a drive armature, wherein actuation of the linear actuator causes the drive armature to move the lead screw along a linear path;
- a first anti-backlash device disposed between the linear actuator and the pump head, the anti-backlash device including a rail having a slide block thereon, the slide block and rail cooperating to prevent movement of the slide block about a longitudinal axis of the rail;
- a second anti-backlash device includes a biasing device disposed between the drive armature and the lead screw to maintain threaded engagement therebetween;
- and
- a coupler fixedly secured to the slide block and having a first end connected to the lead screw and a second end connected to the piston rod;
- generating a signal from a controller;
- responsive to the signal, operating the linear actuator to translate the coupler a predetermined amount, the coupler advancing the piston to dispense the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.