US 4,569,641 A · Low power electromagnetic pump · patentgrep

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Abstract

An electromagnetic pump comprising a housing having fluid receiving and pumping chambers in communication with an inlet and an outlet, respectively, an electromagnet carried by the housing external to the fluid chambers, and a barrier in the form of a thin diaphragm of fluid impermeable material which hermetically isolates the electromagnet from the fluid chamber. An armature in the housing is movable within a body of magnetically permeable material and has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet and has a plunger portion in the pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of the chamber through the outlet. The armature is moved from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by the electromagnet to force fluid out of the pumping chamber through the outlet, and the armature is moved by biasing spring in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to the rest position. The pump is made electrically and magnetically efficient by minimizing the total gap within the magnetic circuit, by having the pole face area relatively large on the armature pole portion, and by having the electromagnet include a coil or a core of relatively small diameter. A pump check valve closes the pump inlet when the armature is in the rest position and opens the inlet after the armature begins the forward pumping stroke.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet.
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing for movement along said housing longitudinal axis and having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet, said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(e) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
(f) said armature pole portion having a pole face disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said armature, said pole face being located to define said gap with said electromagnet means, said pole face being of relatively large area;
and
(g) said fluid containing region of said housing and said electromagnet being in axially spaced relation along said housing longitudinal axis and being separated by barrier means of fluid impervious material disposed substantially perpendicular to said housing longitudinal axis and having axially opposite side, said fluid containing region, inlet, outlet and armature all being located axially on one side of said barrier means and said electromagnet means being located axially on the opposite side of said barrier means.

5 more elements

In an electromagnetic pump including a housing having a longitudinal axis and having an interior fluid containing region, an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with said region, electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid-containing region, and an armature positioned in said housing for movement along said housing longitudinal axis from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said fluid containing region through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position, said fluid containing region of said housing and said electromagnet means being in axially spaced relation along said housing longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising:

(a) check valve means operatively carried by said armature and located in said fluid containing region of said housing adjacent said inlet for closing said inlet when said armature is in said rest position and for opening said inlet after said armature begins movement associated with said forward pumping stroke, said check valve means allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
and
(b) barrier means of fluid-impervious material separating said electromagnet and said fluid containing region of said housing, said barrier means having axially opposite sides and said fluid containing region, inlet, outlet and armature all being located axially on one side of said barrier means and said electromagnet means being located axially on the opposite side of said barrier means.

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) a housing having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) said fluid-containing region of said housing and said electromagnet being separated by barrier means of fluid impervious material;
(e) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet;
said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(f) barrier means of fluid-impervious material separating said electromagnet and said fluid containing region of said housing, said barrier means having axially opposite sides and said fluid containing region, inlet, outlet and armature all being located axially on one side of said barrier means and said electromagnet means being located axially on the opposite side of said barrier means;
(g) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
and
(h) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region between said fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pumping chamber, said body defining a portion of said magnetic circuit, said body having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in a movable, close-fitting relation whereby said armature moves in said body during said forward and return strokes and said magnetic circuit is through said body and said armature pole portion.

7 more elements

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing for movement along said housing longitudinal axis and having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet, said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(e) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
(f) said armature pole portion having a pole face disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said armature, said pole face being located to define said gap with said electromagnet means, said pole face being of relatively large area;
(g) said fluid containing region of said housing and said electromagnet means being in axially spaced relation along said housing longitudinal axis and being separated by barrier means of fluid impervious material;
(h) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region between said fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pumping chamber, said body defining a portion of said magnetic circuit, said body having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in a movable, close-fitting relation whereby said armature moves in said body during said forward and return strokes and said magnetic circuit is through said body and said armature pole portion;
and
(i) said passage in said body having a cross-sectional size and said armature pole portion having a cross-sectional dimension, said size and said dimension being so related to define a leakage path for fluid from said pumping chamber to said receiving chamber during movement of said armature through said return stroke.

7 more elements

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing for movement along said housing longitudinal axis and having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet, said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(e) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
(f) said armature pole portion having a pole face disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said armature, said pole face being located to define said gap with said electromagnet means, said pole face being of relatively large area;
(g) said fluid containing region of said housing and said electromagnet being in axially spaced relation along said housing longitudinal axis;
(h) barrier means of fluid-impervious material separating said electromagnet and said fluid-containing region of said housing, said barrier means comprising a thin plate of metal compatible with the fluid, fixed between and providing hermetic seal between said electromagnet and said fluid containing region of said housing;
and
(i) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region between said fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pumping chamber, said body having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in a movable, close-fitting relation whereby said armature moves in said body during said forward and return strokes, said armature pole portion co-operating with said passage to define a leakage path for fluid from said pumping chamber to said receiving chamber during movement of said armature through said return stroke;
(j) whereby said magnetic circuit includes said body, said armature pole portion and the portions of said barrier plate associated with said electromagnet.

8 more elements

In an electromagnetic pump including a housing having an interior fluid containing region, and inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with said region, electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region of said housing, and an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means causing movement of said armature to force fluid out of said region through said outlet, the improvement comprising:

(a) barrier means of fluid-impervious material separating said electromagnet and said fluid containing region of said housing;
(b) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region and having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in a movable, close-fitting relation;
(c) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means, said body, the included portions of said barrier means between said electromagnet and said body, said armature pole portion and a gap in said fluid containing region of said housing between said armature pole portion and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
and
(d) said barrier means comprising a thin metal plate fixed between and providing an hermetic seal between said electromagnet and said fluid containing region of said housing, said electromagnet means including a housing of magnetically permeable material having an end face contacting one surface of said barrier plate, said body having an end face contacting the other surface of said plate, and the areas of contact of said end faces of said electromagnet housing and said body with said surface of said plate being of sufficient size to to minimize the effective air gap introduced by said plate in said magnetic circuit.

2 more elements

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) a housing having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) said fluid-containing region of said housing and said electromagnet being separated by barrier means of fluid impervious material;
(e) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet;
said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(f) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
(g) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region between said fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pumping chamber, said body defining a portion of said magnetic circuit, said body having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in a movable, close-fitting relation whereby said armature moves in said body during said forward and return strokes and said magnetic circuit is through said body and said armature pole portion;
and
(h) said passage in said body having a cross-sectional size and said armature pole portion having a cross-sectional dimension, said size and said dimension being so related to define a leakage path for fluid from said pumping chamber to said receiving chamber during movement of said armature through said return stroke.

7 more elements

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) a housing having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) said fluid-containing region of said housing and said electromagnet being separated by barrier means of fluid impervious material;
(e) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet;
said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(f) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
(g) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region between said fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pumping chamber, said body defining a portion of said magnetic circuit, said body having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in a movable, close-fitting relation whereby said armature moves in said body during said forward and return strokes and said magnetic circuit is through said body and said armature pole portion;
and
(h) said barrier means comprising a thin plate of metal compatible with the fluid, said electromagnet means including a housing of magnetically permeable material having an end face contacting one surface of said plate, and said body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region has an end face contacting the opposite surface of said plate.

7 more elements

An electromagnetic pump comprising:

(a) a housing having an interior fluid containing region including a fluid receiving chamber and a fluid pumping chamber in fluid communication therewith, an inlet in fluid communication with said receiving chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with said pumping chamber;
(b) check valve means operatively associated with said fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from said inlet through said outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from said outlet through said inlet;
(c) electromagnet means carried by said housing and located external to said fluid containing region;
(d) said fluid-containing region of said housing and said electromagnet being in side-by-side relation and separated by barrier means of fluid impervious material;
(e) an armature positioned in said fluid containing region of said housing having a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by said electromagnet means and having a plunger portion in said pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of said chamber through said outlet;
said armature being movably supported in said housing for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by said electromagnet means to force fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to said rest position;
(f) means for defining a magnetic circuit including said electromagnet means and said armature and a gap between said pole portion of said armature and said electromagnet means for moving said armature toward said electromagnet means to close said gap in response to electrical energization of said electromagnet means;
(g) a body of magnetically permeable material in said housing fluid containing region between said fluid receiving chamber and said fluid pumping chamber, said body defining a portion of said magnetic circuit, said body having a passage therethrough for receiving said armature pole portion in movable relation whereby said armature moves in said body during said forward and return strokes and said magnetic circuit is through said body and said armature pole portion;
and
(h) said barrier means having opposite sides, said fluid containing region, inlet, outlet and armature all being located axially on one side of said barrier means and said electromagnet means being located on the opposite side of said barrier means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.