Uninterrupted flow pump apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A method for providing a uniform and controlled flow of fluid comprising:
- providing a sealed flexible chamber adapted to contain fluid disposed within an outer chamber, wherein said sealed flexible chamber comprises a fluid path between said sealed flexible chamber and the exterior of said outer chamber and wherein said outer chamber is adapted to provide a space containing a pressure sensitive medium around said sealed flexible chamber;
providing means for continuously increasing or decreasing the pressure in a uniform and controlled manner within said space around said sealed flexible chamber; and
changing the pressure within said space around said sealed flexible chamber such that fluid is displaced into or out of said sealed flexible chamber in a uniform and controlled manner without or within said sealed flexible chamber.
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Abstract
This invention describes a method for pumping or delivering fluids utilizing a flexible vessel subject to controlled pressures within another pressure vessel. The pressure vessel can be sourced with positive and/or negative (e.g., vacuum) pressure.
117 Citations
86 Claims
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1. A method for providing a uniform and controlled flow of fluid comprising:
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providing a sealed flexible chamber adapted to contain fluid disposed within an outer chamber, wherein said sealed flexible chamber comprises a fluid path between said sealed flexible chamber and the exterior of said outer chamber and wherein said outer chamber is adapted to provide a space containing a pressure sensitive medium around said sealed flexible chamber;
providing means for continuously increasing or decreasing the pressure in a uniform and controlled manner within said space around said sealed flexible chamber; and
changing the pressure within said space around said sealed flexible chamber such that fluid is displaced into or out of said sealed flexible chamber in a uniform and controlled manner without or within said sealed flexible chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for providing a uniform and controlled flow of fluid comprising:
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an outer chamber adapted to contain a sealed flexible chamber adapted to contain fluid, said sealed flexible chamber comprising a fluid path between said sealed flexible chamber and the exterior of said outer chamber and wherein said outer chamber is adapted to provide a space containing a pressure sensitive medium around said sealed flexible chamber; and
means for increasing or decreasing the pressure in a uniform and controlled manner within said space around said sealed flexible chamber. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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Specification