Digital fluid pump
AssigneeSturman Industries, Inc.
InventorRichard J. Dunn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Digital fluid pumps having first and second electromagnetic actuators formed in part by a piston to alternately drive the piston in opposite directions for pumping purposes. The piston motion is intentionally limited so that the electromagnetic actuators may operate with a high flux density to provide an output pressure higher than that obtained with conventional solenoid actuated pumps. The electromagnetic actuator coils are electrically pulsed for each pumping cycle as required to maintain the desired fluid flow and output pressure, with the piston being magnetically latchable at one or both extreme positions between pulses. Alternate embodiments and control methods and systems are disclosed.
Claims28
A fluid pumping system comprising:
- a dual electromagnetic coil, magnetically latchable fluid pump having a piston operative to move between first and second positions, respectively, in response to actuating current pulses in opposed first and second electromagnetic actuator coils, respectively, to backfill a pump cavity and to pump fluid, respectively;
- a pressure sensor sensing the pressure of the fluid adjacent an outlet of the fluid pump;
- and,
- a controller operative to alternately pulse the first and second actuator coils responsive to an output of the pressure sensor, the controller is configured to provide an electrical pulse to the first electromagnetic actuator coil wherein said pulse has a time width independent of the pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the fluid pump,
- wherein a fluid flow rate pumped by the fluid pumping system varies with the pulse rate of the controller.
A fluid pumping system comprising:
- a dual electromagnetic coil, magnetically latchable fluid pump having a piston operative to move between first and second positions, respectively, in response to actuating current pulses in opposed first and second electromagnetic actuator coils, respectively, to backfill a pump cavity and to pump fluid, respectively;
- a pressure sensor sensing the pressure of the fluid adjacent an outlet of the fluid pump;
- and,
- a controller operative to alternately pulse the first and second actuator coils responsive to an output of the pressure sensor, the controller being configured to provide an electrical pulse to the first actuator coil wherein said pulse has a time width independent of the fluid flow rate pumped by the fluid pumping system;
- wherein a fluid flow rate pumped by the fluid pumping system varies with the pulse rate of the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.