Piezoelectrically actuated peristaltic pump

• US 6,074,178 A
• Filed: 04/15/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Inventors: Bishop, Richard P., Face, Bradbury R., Rose, Norvell S., Clark, Stephen E., Face, Samuel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FASTOVSKY, LEONID M
• Application Number:
  US09/060,991
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 417/322, 417/413.2, 417/488, 417/63, 417/474, 417/410, 417/53, 417/475, 310/330, 310/328, 310/331
• US Class Current: 417/322
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/003 driven by piezoelectric means F04B43/046 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/046 with piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/088 with two or more tubular flexible members in series F04B43/1133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/095 Piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/14 having plate-like flexible members

Abstract

A peristaltic piezoelectrically actuated fluid pump including two or more pairs of piezoelectric deformable members that are self-actuated, a flexible hose member, a pump chamber, inlet and outlet ports for communicating the pump chamber with the exterior of the flexible hose member, valves for opening and closing the ports, and a power supply is provided. The diaphragm members may include a prestressed piezoelectric element which is durable, inexpensive and lightweight as compared with diaphragm members of prior diaphragm pumps of comparable discharge capacity, and is actuated via electrical signals from an outside power source. Each pair of piezoelectric diaphragm members is actuated out of phase with the other(s) so as to allow fluid to be pumped through the flexible hose member peristaltically.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pump, comprising:

a first deformable member having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said first deformable member comprises a first piezoelectric layer having opposing first and second major faces;

a second deformable member having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said second deformable member comprises a second piezoelectric layer having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said first major face of said first deformable member and said first major face of said second deformable member partially surround a pump interior first portion;

a flexible hose member;

wherein a first portion of said flexible hose member is disposed in said pump interior first portion;

and wherein said flexible hose member partially surrounds a variable volume pump chamber;

and wherein said first major face of said first deformable member and said first major face of said second deformable member are in mechanical communication with said first portion of said flexible hose member;

and energizing means in electrical communication with said first piezoelectric layer and said second piezoelectric layer for electrically energizing said first piezoelectric layer and said second piezoelectric layer;

wherein said energizing means comprises means for applying a first alternating voltage difference between said first major face of said first piezoelectric layer and said second major face of said first piezoelectric layer;

and wherein said energizing means further comprises means for applying said first alternating voltage difference between said first major face of said second piezoelectric layer and said second major face of said second piezoelectric layer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1;

further comprising a first port in said first flexible hose member communicating said variable volume pump chamber with the exterior of said first flexible hose member;

a second port in said first flexible hose member communicating said variable volume pump chamber with the exterior of said first flexible hose member;

and valving means in communication with said first port for temporarily opening and closing said first port.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2;

further comprising a third deformable member having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said third deformable member comprises a third piezoelectric layer having opposing first and second major faces;

and a fourth deformable member having opposing first and second major faces;

and wherein said fourth deformable member comprises a fourth piezoelectric layer having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said first major face of said third deformable member and said first major face of said fourth deformable member partially surround a pump interior second portion;

wherein a second portion of said flexible hose member is disposed in said pump interior second portion;

wherein said first major face of said third deformable member and said first major face of said fourth deformable member are in mechanical communication with said second portion of said flexible hose member;

and wherein said energizing means is in electrical communication with said third piezoelectric layer and said fourth piezoelectric layer for electrically energizing said third piezoelectric layer and said fourth piezoelectric layer;

wherein said energizing means comprises means for applying a second alternating voltage difference between said first major face of said third piezoelectric layer and said second major face of said third piezoelectric layer;

wherein said energizing means further comprises means for applying said second alternating voltage difference between said first major face of said fourth piezoelectric layer and said second major face of said fourth piezoelectric layer;

and wherein said first alternating voltage is out of phase with said second alternating voltage.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3;

wherein said first alternating voltage and said second alternating voltage are at the same frequency.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4;

wherein said first deformable member, said second deformable member, said third deformable member and said fourth deformable member are curvilinear in shape.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5;

wherein said first major face of said first deformable member is concave and said second major face of said first deformable member is convex;

wherein said first major face of said second deformable member is concave and said second major face of said second deformable member is convex;

wherein said first major face of said third deformable member is concave and said second major face of said third deformable member is convex;

and wherein said first major face of said fourth deformable member is concave and said second major face of said fourth deformable member is convex.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5;

wherein said first major face of said first deformable member is convex and said second major face of said first deformable member is concave;

wherein said first major face of said second deformable member is convex and said second major face of said second deformable member is concave;

wherein said first major face of said third deformable member is convex and said second major face of said third deformable member is concave;

and wherein said first major face of said fourth deformable member is convex and said second major face of said fourth deformable member is concave.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6;

wherein said first deformable member further comprises a first pre-stress layer, said first pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said first piezoelectric layer;

wherein said first pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said first piezoelectric layer;

and wherein said second deformable member further comprises a second pre-stress layer, said second pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said second piezoelectric layer;

wherein said second pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said second piezoelectric layer;

wherein said third deformable member further comprises a third pre-stress layer, said third pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said third piezoelectric layer;

wherein said third pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said third piezoelectric layer;

and wherein said fourth deformable member further comprises a fourth pre-stress layer, said fourth pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said fourth piezoelectric layer;

wherein said fourth pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said fourth piezoelectric layer.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7;

wherein said first deformable member further comprises a first pre-stress layer, said first pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said first piezoelectric layer;

wherein said first pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said first piezoelectric layer;

wherein said second deformable member further comprises a second pre-stress layer, said second pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said second piezoelectric layer;

wherein said second pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said second piezoelectric layer;

wherein said third deformable member further comprises a third pre-stress layer, said third pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said third piezoelectric layer;

wherein said third pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said third piezoelectric layer;

and wherein said fourth deformable member further comprises a fourth pre-stress layer, said fourth pre-stress layer being bonded to a major face of said fourth piezoelectric layer;

wherein said fourth pre-stress layer normally applies a compressive force to said fourth piezoelectric layer.

10. A peristaltic pump, comprising:

a first deformable member having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said first deformable member comprises a first piezoelectric layer having opposing first and second major faces;

a rigid support member;

wherein said first major face of said first deformable member and said first portion of said rigid support member partially surround a pump interior first portion;

a flexible hose member;

wherein a first portion of said flexible hose member is disposed in said pump interior first portion;

and wherein said flexible hose member partially surrounds a variable volume pump chamber;

and wherein said first major face of said first deformable member and said first portion of said rigid support member are in mechanical communication with said first portion of said flexible hose member;

and energizing means in electrical communication with said first piezoelectric layer for electrically energizing said first piezoelectric layer;

wherein said energizing means comprises means for applying a first alternating voltage difference between said first major face of said first piezoelectric layer and said second major face of said first piezoelectric layer.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10;

further comprising a first port in said first flexible hose member communicating said variable volume pump chamber with the exterior of said first flexible hose member;

a second port in said first flexible hose member communicating said variable volume pump chamber with the exterior of said first flexible hose member;

and valving means in communication with said first port for temporarily opening and closing said first port.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11;

further comprising a second deformable member having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said second deformable member comprises a second piezoelectric layer having opposing first and second major faces;

wherein said first major face of said second deformable member and said second portion of said rigid support member partially surround a pump interior second portion;

wherein a second portion of said flexible hose member is disposed in said pump interior second portion;

wherein said first major face of said second deformable member and said second portion of said rigid support member are in mechanical communication with said second portion of said flexible hose member;

and wherein said energizing means is in electrical communication with said second piezoelectric layer for electrically energizing said second piezoelectric layer;

wherein said energizing means comprises means for applying a second alternating voltage difference between said first major face of said second piezoelectric layer and said second major face of said second piezoelectric layer;

and wherein said first alternating voltage is out of phase with said second alternating voltage.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12;

wherein said first alternating voltage and said second alternating voltage are at the same frequency.