Pump having freely movable member
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of making a pump, comprising:
- molding at least a portion of a main chamber, an inlet valve chamber, and an outlet valve chamber on an opposite end of the main chamber from the inlet valve chamber, wherein the main chamber and respective valve chambers extend in generally same plane;
placing a member to be freely movable within each respective valve chamber, wherein the member is movable in an unrestrained manner within a respective boundary of the respective inlet valve and outlet valve;
arranging at least one wall of the main chamber as an at least partially elastic membrane; and
coupling, relative to the at least partially elastic membrane, a force applicator for causing cyclical deflections of the membrane in opposite directions for unidirectional fluid flow through the pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump includes a main chamber and a pair of valves on opposite ends of the main chamber. At least a portion of the respective valves and of the main chamber is formed from a single, unitary piece. The respective valves each contain a freely movable member to permit selective opening and closing of each respective valve. A force applicator alternately induces a suction action and an expulsion action in the main chamber.
36 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of making a pump, comprising:
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molding at least a portion of a main chamber, an inlet valve chamber, and an outlet valve chamber on an opposite end of the main chamber from the inlet valve chamber, wherein the main chamber and respective valve chambers extend in generally same plane; placing a member to be freely movable within each respective valve chamber, wherein the member is movable in an unrestrained manner within a respective boundary of the respective inlet valve and outlet valve; arranging at least one wall of the main chamber as an at least partially elastic membrane; and coupling, relative to the at least partially elastic membrane, a force applicator for causing cyclical deflections of the membrane in opposite directions for unidirectional fluid flow through the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A unidirectional pump comprising:
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a main chamber; a pair of valves on opposite ends of the main chamber comprising; an inlet valve positioned within a first end of the main chamber; and an outlet valve external to the main chamber, wherein the at least a portion of the inlet valve, outlet valve, and the main chamber are formed from a single, unitary piece, and wherein the respective inlet valve and outlet valve each contains a freely movable member to selectively open and close each respective valve, wherein the freely movable member is moveable in an unrestrained manner within a respective boundary of the respective inlet valve and outlet valve, and an at least partially elastic membrane defining at least a portion of at least one wall of the main chamber; and a force applicator coupled relative to, and to cause deflections of, the at least partially elastic membrane to alternately induce a suction action and an expulsion action in the main chamber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pump comprising:
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a main chamber; a pair of valves on opposite ends of the main chamber comprising; an inlet valve positioned within a first end of the main chamber; and an outlet valve external to the main chamber, wherein the respective inlet valve and outlet valve each contain a freely movable member to selectively open and close each respective valve, wherein the freely movable member is moveable in an unrestrained manner within a respective boundary of the respective inlet valve and outlet valve, and wherein the inlet valve, the outlet valve, and the main chamber extend in generally the same plane to guide fluid flow through the pump and movement of the freely movable member in the same plane, and wherein at least a portion of the main chamber, the inlet valve, and the outlet valve are molded together as an integral structure; and an at least partially elastic membrane defining at least one wall of the main chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification