Micropump

• US 5,611,676 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Takahiro, Tsuchimoto, Katsuya, Naruse, Yoshihiro, Ooumi, Takeharu, Ando, Mitsuhiro, Tsukahara, Kinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Gluck, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US08/507,836
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 417/322, 417/413.2, 417/413.3
• US Class Current: 417/322
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/046 with piezoelectric drive

Abstract

A micropump is disclosed including an input port, an output port, a fluid channel space located therebetween, a first oscillating member for opening or closing between the fluid channel space and the input port, a second oscillating member for opening or closing between the fluid channel space and the output port, and at least one third oscillating member for reducing/enlarging the volume of the fluid channel space. The micropump is provided with pressure correcting means which applies a pressure, substantially equal to a fluid pressure at the input port, to a space located outside the fluid channel space and in which the first oscillating member oscillates.

Claims

1. A micropump including an input port, an output port, a fluid channel space located between the input and the output port, a first oscillating member for opening or closing a communication between the fluid channel space and the input port, a second oscillating member for opening or closing a communication between the fluid channel space and the output port, and at least one third oscillating member for reducing/enlarging the fluid channel space;

characterized by pressure correcting means located outside the fluid channel space for applying a pressure, which is substantially equal to a fluid pressure at the input port, to a space in which the first oscillating member oscillates.

2. A micropump according to claim 1 in which the first oscillating member comprises a sheet which isolates between the space in which the first oscillating member oscillates and a space which communicates with the input port, and an oscillator disposed within the space in which the first oscillating member oscillates and to which the sheet is secured.

3. A micropump according to claim 2 in which a suction opening located between the space communicating with the input port and the fluid channel space and which is opened and closed by the sheet has an area of opening which faces the sheet less than the area of the sheet which faces the space in which the first oscillating member oscillates.

4. A micropump according to claim 1, further including stop means for restricting a movement of the third oscillating member in a direction to enlarge the volume of the fluid channel space.

5. A micropump according to claim 2, further including stop means for restricting a movement of the third oscillating member in a direction to enlarge the volume of the fluid channel space.

6. A micropump according to claim 3, further including stop means for restricting a movement of the third oscillating member in a direction to enlarge the volume of the fluid channel space.

7. A micropump comprising:

an intermediate plate including an input port and an output port which are spaced apart from each other and which extend through the plate in the direction of the thickness thereof, a suction opening located adjacent to the input port and extending through the plate in the direction of the thickness thereof and a suction valve seat which surrounds the opening, and a discharge opening located adjacent to the output port and extending through the plate in the direction of the thickness thereof and a discharge valve seat which surrounds the discharge opening;

a first oscillating member disposed in a space located on the side of the intermediate plate into which the suction valve seat projects, and including a thin sheet disposed opposite to the input port and the suction valve seat, and an oscillator to which the sheet is secured;

a second oscillating member disposed in a space located on the side of the intermediate plate into which the discharge valve seat projects, and including a thin sheet disposed opposite to the output port and the discharge valve seat, and an oscillator to which the sheet is secured;

a third oscillating member which faces the intermediate plate on the opposite side from the first oscillating member, and including a thin sheet which defines a fluid channel space communicating with the suction opening and the discharge opening together with the intermediate plate, and an oscillator to which the thin sheet is secured;

a cover member for forming a space in which the first oscillating member oscillates on the opposite side of the thin sheet of the first oscillating member from the intermediate plate;

and pressure correcting means for applying a pressure, which is substantially equal to a fluid pressure at the input port, to the space in which the first oscillating member oscillates.

8. A micropump according to claim 7 in which the suction opening has an area of opening which faces the thin sheet of the first oscillating member less than the area over which the thin sheet faces the space in which the first oscillating member oscillates.

9. A micropump according to claim 7, further including stop means for restricting a movement of the third oscillating member in a direction to enlarge the volume of the fluid channel space.

10. A micropump according to claim 8, further including stop means for restricting a movement of the third oscillating member in a direction to enlarge the volume of the fluid channel space.