# US 2013/0280102 A1 · Fluid pumps, methods of manufacturing fluid pumps, and methods of pumping fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0280102 A1 - Document ID: US20130280102A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/452,077 - Filed: 2012-04-20 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-20 - Assignees: Simmons Development, LLC - Inventors: Tom M. Simmons; John M. Simmons; David M. Simmons; Bruce Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130280102A1 ## CPC - F04B 45/043: {two or more plate-like pumping flexible members in parallel} - F04B 43/0736: {with two or more pumping chambers in parallel} - F04B 43/113: the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve - F04B 43/1136: {with two or more pumping chambers in parallel} - F04B 45/0536: {the actuating fluid being controlled by one or more valves} - F04B 49/22: by means of valves (F04B49/03 takes precedence) - F04B 53/22: Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly - Y10T 29/49236: Fluid pump or compressor making - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fluid pump includes a pump body enclosing a first cavity and a second cavity, a first flexible member disposed within the first cavity, a second flexible member disposed within the second cavity, and a drive shaft extending between and attached to each of the first flexible member and the second flexible member. The drive shaft is configured to slide back and forth within the pump body. The pump also includes a first shift valve and a second shift valve disposed between the first flexible member and the second flexible member, operatively coupled to deliver a drive fluid to drive fluid chambers in alternating sequence. Some fluid pumps include a housing defining a modular-receiving cavity and a modular insert secured within the modular-receiving cavity by an interference fit. Methods of manufacturing and using fluid pumps are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid pump, comprising: a pump body enclosing a first cavity and a second cavity; a first flexible member disposed within the first cavity and defining a first subject fluid chamber and a first drive fluid chamber within the first cavity; a second flexible member disposed within the second cavity and defining a second subject fluid chamber and a second drive fluid chamber within the second cavity; a drive shaft extending between and attached to each of the first flexible member and the second flexible member, the drive shaft configured to slide back and forth within the pump body; a first shift valve disposed between the first flexible member and the second flexible member, the first shift valve configured to move in response to movement of the first flexible member; and a second shift valve disposed between the first flexible member and the second flexible member, the second shift valve configured to move in response to movement of the second flexible member; wherein the first shift valve and the second shift valve are operatively coupled to deliver a drive fluid to the first drive fluid chamber and the second drive fluid chamber in alternating sequence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein: the first shift valve is moved from a first position to a second position thereof by a mechanical force when the drive shaft reaches an end of a stroke in a first direction, movement of the first shift valve from the first position to the second position thereof causing a pressure of the drive fluid to move the second shift valve from a second position to a first position thereof and switching delivery of the drive fluid from the second drive fluid chamber to the first drive fluid chamber; and the second shift valve is moved from the first position to the second position thereof by a mechanical force when the drive shaft reaches an end of a stroke in a second direction, movement of the second shift valve from the first position to the second position thereof causing the pressure of the drive fluid to move the first shift valve from the second position to the first position thereof and switching delivery of the drive fluid from the first drive fluid chamber to the second drive fluid chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fluid pump of claim 2, wherein each of a longitudinal axis of the first shift valve and a longitudinal axis of the second shift valve is oriented at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein each of the first shift valve and the second shift valve is disposed beside the drive shaft and within the pump body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flexible member and the second flexible member comprises a diaphragm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the pump body comprises: a housing having at least one surface defining a modular-receiving cavity in the housing; and a modular insert disposed within the modular-receiving cavity; wherein the drive shaft, the first shift valve, and the second shift valve are disposed within the modular insert. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid pump of claim 6, wherein the modular insert is secured within the modular-receiving cavity by an interference fit with the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The fluid pump of claim 6, wherein the housing and the modular insert together define at least a portion of a plurality of drive fluid passageways surrounding the modular insert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fluid pump of claim 8, wherein the at least one surface defining the modular-receiving cavity in the housing has a plurality of recesses formed therein, and an outer surface of the modular insert has a plurality of protrusions therein, the plurality of protrusions extending partially into the plurality of recesses, the plurality of drive fluid passageways defined between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of recesses. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The fluid pump of claim 6, wherein: the modular insert has inner surfaces defining a first cavity, a second cavity, and a third cavity within the modular insert; a first sleeve is disposed in the first cavity within the modular insert; a second sleeve is disposed in the second cavity within the modular insert; and the drive shaft is disposed in the third cavity within the modular insert. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fluid pump of claim 10, wherein: the first shift valve is disposed within the first sleeve; and the second shift valve is disposed within the second sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fluid pump of claim 10, wherein each of the first sleeve and the second sleeve is secured within the modular insert by an interference fit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pump body, the first flexible member, and the second flexible member comprises a fluoropolymer. ### Claim 14 A fluid pump, comprising: a pump body having a modular-receiving cavity therein; and a modular insert secured within the modular-receiving cavity by an interference fit, the pump body and the modular insert together defining at least a portion of at least one fluid passageway extending around the modular insert at an interface between the modular insert and the pump body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fluid pump of claim 14, further comprising: a first fluid cavity and a second fluid cavity within the pump body; a first flexible member disposed within the first fluid cavity and defining a first subject fluid chamber and a first drive fluid chamber within the first fluid cavity; a second flexible member disposed within the second fluid cavity and defining a second subject fluid chamber and a second drive fluid chamber within the second fluid cavity; a drive shaft attached to each of the first flexible member and the second flexible member and extending through the modular insert, the drive shaft configured to slide back and forth through the modular insert. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fluid pump of claim 15, further comprising at least one shift valve disposed within the modular insert and configured to move in response to movement of at least one of the first flexible member and the second flexible member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fluid pump of claim 16, wherein the at least one shift valve comprises a first shift valve and a second shift valve operatively coupled to deliver a drive fluid to the first drive fluid chamber and the second drive fluid chamber in alternating sequence. ### Claim 18 A method of manufacturing a fluid pump, comprising: dividing a first cavity in a pump body with a first flexible member to define a first subject fluid chamber and a first drive fluid chamber within the first cavity; dividing a second cavity in the pump body with a second flexible member to define a second subject fluid chamber and a second drive fluid chamber within the second cavity; connecting the first flexible member and the second flexible member with a drive shaft extending at least partially through the pump body; positioning a first shift valve within the pump body between the first flexible member and the second flexible member beside the drive shaft; positioning a second shift valve within the pump body between the first flexible member and the second flexible member beside the drive shaft and the first shift valve; configuring the first shift valve to move from a first position to a second position thereof responsive to a mechanical force when the drive shaft reaches an end of a stroke in a first direction, movement of the first shift valve from the first position to the second position thereof causing a pressure of the drive fluid to move the second shift valve from a second position to a first position thereof and switching delivery of the drive fluid from the second drive fluid chamber to the first drive fluid chamber; and configuring the second shift valve to move from the first position to the second position thereof responsive to a mechanical force when the drive shaft reaches an end of a stroke in a second direction, movement of the second shift valve from the first position to the second position thereof causing the pressure of the drive fluid to move the first shift valve from the second position thereof to the first position and switching delivery of the drive fluid from the first drive fluid chamber to the second drive fluid chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising orienting each of the first shift valve and the second shift valve such that a longitudinal axis of the first shift valve and a longitudinal axis of the second shift valve are oriented at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: configuring at least one of the first flexible member and a first attachment member for attaching the first flexible member to the drive shaft to abut against and apply a mechanical force to the first shift valve to move the first shift valve from the first position to the second position thereof; and configuring at least one of the second flexible member and a second attachment member for attaching the second flexible member to the drive shaft to abut against and apply a mechanical force to the second shift valve to move the second shift valve from the first position to the second position thereof. ### Claim 21 A method of manufacturing a fluid pump, comprising: forming a modular-receiving cavity within a housing; forming a plurality of recesses within the housing; disposing an insert within the modular-receiving cavity; and disposing a drive shaft within the insert. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein disposing an insert within the modular-receiving cavity comprises securing the insert within the modular-receiving cavity by an interference fit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising forming a plurality of fluid passageways between the insert and the modular-receiving cavities. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising connecting a first flexible member and a second flexible member with the drive shaft. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising: positioning a first shift valve within the insert between the first flexible member and the second flexible member beside the drive shaft; and positioning a second shift valve within the insert between the first flexible member and the second flexible member beside the drive shaft. ### Claim 26 A method of pumping fluid, comprising: moving a drive shaft, a first flexible member attached to a first end of the drive shaft, and a second flexible member attached to an opposite, second end of the drive shaft in a first direction in a pump body to expel fluid from a first subject fluid chamber adjacent the first flexible member and draw fluid into a second subject fluid chamber adjacent the second flexible member; moving a first shift valve located within the pump body between the first flexible member and the second flexible member beside the drive shaft in response to movement of the second flexible member; moving the drive shaft, the first flexible member, and the second flexible member in a second direction opposite the first direction to expel fluid from the second subject fluid chamber and draw fluid into the first subject fluid chamber; and moving a second shift valve located within the pump body between the first flexible member and the second flexible member beside the drive shaft in response to movement of the first flexible member. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein: moving the second shift valve comprises abutting at least one of the first flexible member and a first sealing attachment member against the second shift valve; and moving the first shift valve comprises abutting at least one of the second flexible member and a second sealing attachment member against the first shift valve.