Infinitely variable pneumatic pulsatile pump
First Claim
1. A variable pneumatic pulsatile pump comprising:
- a pump means including at least two pneumatically independent compression chambers independently and fluidly communicating with a supply of pressurized operating fluid;
a pneumatic control circuit in fluid communication with said pump means for controllably communicating said pump means with said pressurized operating fluid so as to variably and selectively supply and deprive said compression chambers with said pressurized operating fluid; and
at least one supply of working fluid to be selectively admitted to and ejected from said pump means in response to said pneumatic control circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pulsatile pump the output of which is infinitely variable between a slow pulsatile flow and increased up to a sharply pulsed flow rate until the pulses run together and a smooth flow results, and which may be varied between wide output pressure and frequency limits. The pump is comprised of a pneumatic control circuit, at least two pneumatically isolated compression chambers, and a novel inlet/outlet pump cartridge and condition-responsive locking means. Operation of the pump is controlled by the use of novel tactile pneumatic response switches. Each compression chamber is communicated with a supply of working fluid through the cartridge. Means are provided for varying the operation of the pneumatic circuit and hence the pump. A flow of pressurized fluid, such as air or nitrogen, is used as the operating media of the pneumatic circuit, although other fluids may be used. Means for monitoring and adjusting pump system parameters are also provided. The pump operates entirely through the use of pneumatic energy, avoiding the use of electricity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable pneumatic pulsatile pump comprising:
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a pump means including at least two pneumatically independent compression chambers independently and fluidly communicating with a supply of pressurized operating fluid; a pneumatic control circuit in fluid communication with said pump means for controllably communicating said pump means with said pressurized operating fluid so as to variably and selectively supply and deprive said compression chambers with said pressurized operating fluid; and at least one supply of working fluid to be selectively admitted to and ejected from said pump means in response to said pneumatic control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pneumatic pump element, comprising:
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at least two pneumatically independent compression chambers; a plurality of compressible bladders, one associated with each compression chamber adapted to receive and eject a quantity of working fluid; a pump cartridge communicating each bladder with at least one supply of working fluid; and means for selectively supplying compressed operating fluid to each compression chamber to selectively compress any one of said bladders to cause working fluid to be ejected through a discharge of said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An infinitely variable pneumatic pulsatile pump, comprising:
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a housing; a pneumatic control circuit associated with said housing; means for controlling the function of said circuit associated with said housing; a pump inlet/outlet cartridge; at least two pneumatically independent compression cylinders, each defining its own compression chamber, each said compression chamber being fluidly communicated with said pneumatic circuit; a plurality of compressible bladders, one associated with each of said compression chambers, each said bladder defining a working fluid receiving interior volume fluidly communicated with said cartridge; each said cylinder being pivotally connected to said housing between a first, use, position, and a second, cartridge/bladder removal, position; means for locking said cartridge and cylinders into the use position reciprocally movable with respect to said housing between a first, cartridge/bladder locking, position, and a second, cartridge/bladder release, position; said pneumatic circuit being fluidly communicated with a supply of pressurized operating fluid; and said pneumatic circuit selectively, but controllably communicating said pressurized operating fluid with said compression chambers to at least partially collapse said bladders and thereby eject working fluid from said cartridge as desired. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification