Reaction Drive Energy Transfer Device

A fluid energy transfer device, comprising:

• a chamber for receiving a fluid, at least a portion of the chamber comprising a movable portion relative to another portion of the chamber, the movable portion being adapted to change the volume of the chamber from a first volume to a second volume;
• and
• a bender actuator attached to the movable portion, wherein the bender actuator is at least one of (i) connected directly to the movable portion and (ii) linked to the movable portion, to form a bender-movable portion assembly;
• wherein the bender actuator is adapted to bend at a frequency such that the bender-diaphragm assembly will move between the first position and the second position substantially due to bending of the actuator;
• and
• wherein the distance between the first position and the second position is at least one of greater than and less than the distance of peak-to-peak bending of the actuator.

A method of moving a fluid, comprising:

• providing a pump for pumping a fluid, the pump comprising;
• a chamber for receiving a fluid, at least a portion of the chamber comprising a movable portion relative to another portion of the chamber, the movable portion being adapted to change the volume of the chamber from a first volume to a second volume by movement of the movable portion;
• and
• a bender actuator attached to the movable portion;
• oscillating the bender at a drive frequency so that forces are transmitted, in reaction to the oscillations of the bender, to the movable portion, causing the movable portion to be displaced in a manner such that a displacement distance of the movable portion is at least one of greater than or less than a peak-to-peak bending displacement of the bender encountered during oscillation of the bender, and
• drawing fluid into the chamber by moving the movable component to increase the volume of the chamber.

A fluid energy transfer device, comprising:

• a chamber for receiving a fluid, at least a portion of the chamber comprising a movable portion relative to another portion of the chamber, the movable portion being adapted to change the volume of the chamber from a first volume to a second volume by movement of the movable portion;
• and
• a bender actuator attached to the movable portion;
• wherein the bender actuator is at least one of (i) connected directly to the movable portion and (ii) linked to the movable portion, to form a bender-movable portion assembly;
• wherein the bender is at least one of (a) not rigidly connected and (b) not rigidly linked to any other component of the device other than the movable portion;
• and
• wherein the bender-movable portion assembly is adapted to move substantially only due to oscillation of the bender at a drive frequency.