Metering pump with annular elements

An apparatus for pumping fluids, comprising:

• a pump block having a wall surface defining an elongated passageway with inlet and outlet open ends, said passageway having a substantially constant cross-sectional perimeter from said inlet to said outlet end;
• a port spaced from one end of said passageway for providing fluid flow communication with said passageway;
• a plurality of spaced-apart annular elements movable in said passageway, each of said annular elements having a generally conical wall, at least a portion of which sealingly engages said wall surface to isolate fluid sections between successive elements moving in said passageway, and having a hollow portion enclosed radially by said conical wall and open at a rearward end of each of said elements;
• a continuous member for interconnecting said spaced-apart annular elements and for moving said annular elements through said passageaway;
• means for changing the pressure within said passageway adjacent said part when said continuous member and annular elements are moving in said passageway with fluid sections isolated between successive elements so that a pumping action is effected through said port;
• and
• first and second sheaves for supporting said continuous member and attached annular elements for continuous movement through said passageway of said pump block, one of said sheaves being driven by a drive means inducing rotation of said sheave to impart a force causing movement of said annular elements and continuous member through said passageway, each of said sheaves having spaced apart recessed portions for supporting said annular elements on said sheave so that said continuous member leads onto and pays off of said sheaves at a substantially constant radius to move said annular elements through said passageway at a substantially constant linear velocity.

In an apparatus for pumping fluid which includes wall means defining an elongate passageway, a plurality of interconnected, spaced-apart annular elements longitudinally movable in the passageway to effect pumping, and means for moving the elements longitudinally in the passageway, the improvement which comprises:

• said passageway having a substantially circular configuration to define a substantially circular path of movement of said elements and having sections of different radii and at least one section of changing radii intermediate said sections of different radii;
• a port in said wall means adjacent said at least one section of changing radii;
• and
• said annular elements being substantially nondeformable and having peripheral surfaces sealingly engaging the wall means defining said passageway to isolate fluid sections between adjacent elements in said passageway, whereby moving said elements in said passageway through said at least one section of changing radii changes the tangential velocity of said elements to change the pressure in fluid sections adjacent said section of changing radii and effect a pumping action through said port.

An apparatus for pumping fluids, comprising:

• a pump block having a wall surface defining an elongated passageway, said wall surface further defining in said passageway a portion of smaller cross-sectional area having a noncircular configuration in cross section, a portion of larger cross-sectional area, and a transitionary area therebetween;
• a port in said block for providing fluid flow communication with said passageway adjacent said transitionary area;
• a plurality of spaced apart annular elements movable in said passageway;
• means for interconnecting said spaced apart annular elements and for moving said elements in said passageway;
• and
• each of said spaced apart annular elements having a deformable peripheral skirt which is dimensioned to sealingly engage said wall surface defining said passageway so that a section of fluid can be isolated in the space between successive elements when said elements move through said passageway, whereby movement of said elements through said transitionary area of said passageway deforms the peripheral skirt of said elements to the shape of said wall surface, causing the pressure of a fluid section positioned adjacent said transitionary area to change effecting a pump action through said port.