US 6,059,546 AGranted

Contractile actuated bellows pump

AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology

InventorsColin J. H. Brenan, Serge R. Lafontaine, Ian W. Hunter

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Abstract

A pump for impelling a fluid includes a first variable volume, the first variable volume having a first inlet for allowing the influx of the fluid into the first variable volume and a first outlet for allowing the efflux of the fluid out of the first variable volume and a first membrane defining at least a portion of the first variable volume. The pump also includes a first contractile actuator, for displacing the first membrane from a first position to a second position in such a manner as to vary the first variable volume and a second contractile actuator, for restoring the first membrane from the second position to the first position in such a manner as to vary the first variable volume. A first check valve is coupled to the first inlet for regulating the influx of fluid into the first variable volume through the first inlet and a second check valve is coupled to the first outlet for regulating the efflux of the fluid out of the first variable volume through the first outlet. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first and second contractile actuators is a linear actuator.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A pump for impelling a fluid, the pump comprising:

a first variable volume, the first variable volume having a first inlet for allowing the influx of the fluid into the first variable volume and a first outlet for allowing the efflux of fluid out of the first variable volume;
a first membrane defining at least a portion of the first variable volume;
a first contractile actuator, for displacing the first membrane from a first position to a second position to vary the first variable volume;
a second contractile actuator, for restoring the first membrane from the second position to the first position to vary the first variable volume;
a voltage source coupled to the first contractile actuator and the second contractile actuator, the voltage source for causing the alternating contraction of the first and second contractile actuators;
a first check valve coupled to the first inlet for regulating the influx of the fluid into the first variable volume through the first inlet;
and
a second check valve coupled to the first outlet for regulating the efflux of the fluid out of the first variable volume through the first outlet;
wherein at least one of the first and second contractile actuators is a linear actuator selected from the group consisting of a shape memory alloy actuator and a conducting polymer actuator.

6 more elements

A pump for impelling a fluid, the pump comprising:

a housing having an interior wall;
a first piston disposed within the housing such that the first piston substantially fills the cross-section of the housing;
a first variable volume formed between the housing and the first piston, the first variable volume having a first inlet for allowing the influx of the fluid into the first variable volume and a first outlet for allowing the efflux of the fluid out of the first variable volume;
a first contractile actuator, for displacing the first piston from a first position to a second position to vary the first variable volume;
a second contractile actuator, for restoring the first piston from the second position to the first position to vary the first variable volume;
a voltage source coupled to the first contractile actuator and the second contractile actuator, the voltage source for causing the alternating contraction of the first and second contractile actuators;
a first check valve coupled to the first inlet for regulating the influx of fluid into the first variable volume through the first inlet;
and
a second check valve coupled to the first outlet for regulating the efflux of the fluid out of the first variable volume through the first outlet;
wherein at least one of the first and second contractile actuators is a linear actuator selected from the group consisting of a shape memory alloy actuator and a conducting polymer actuator.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.