×

Electromechanical polymer pumps

  • US 10,125,758 B2
  • Filed: 08/28/2014
  • Issued: 11/13/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A pump, comprising:

  • a housing having an inlet provided to allow fluid flow into the housing and an outlet provided to allow fluid flow out of the housing;

    an elastic diaphragm positioned in the housing such that motion in the elastic diaphragm drives the fluid flows at the inlet and the outlet of the housing, forming a first space and a second space joined by a fluid conduit substantially external to the housing; and

    one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators each being provided on a portion of a surface of the elastic diaphragm, wherein the mechanical responses to electrical stimuli applied on the one or more EMP actuators cause the motion in the diaphragm, such that (i) when the one or more EMP actuators are moved to a position at the inlet, fluid flow into the first space is blocked and fluid flows from the first space into the second space via the fluid conduit, and (ii) when the elastic diaphragm is driven to an extended state, the elastic diaphragm drives fluid flow from the second space through the outlet out of the housing.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×