Fluid pump apparatus

A fluid pump apparatus comprising:

• a tube defining an elongated chamber presenting opposed axial ends and including an outlet at each end and a single inlet intermediate the ends;
• a pair of pistons, each movable within the chamber between the inlet and one of the outlets, the pistons being formed of para-magnetic material and including passageways for providing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlets;
• a drive means for oscillating the pistons back and forth within the chamber, the drive means including two pairs of electrically conductive windings, each pair surrounding the chamber at a position between the inlet and one of the outlets, and a switching means for simultaneously energizing one of the windings of each pair and for then simultaneously energizing the other winding of each pair, so that the pistons are oscillated in unison with one another;
• a securing means for securing each pair of windings on the tube, each securing means including an annular inner flange fixed to the tube adjacent the inlet, an annular outer flange removable from the tube, and a threaded connector extending between the flanges and securing them together to hold the corresponding pair of windings in place on the tube;
• a first valve means for permitting fluid flow through the passageways in a direction from the inlet toward the outlets, and for preventing fluid flow through the passageways in a direction from the outlets toward the inlet;
• and
• a second valve means for permitting fluid flow from the chamber through the outlets, and for preventing fluid flow into the chamber through the outlets.