Apparatus for generating and conducting a fluid flow, and method of monitoring said apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for generating a fluid flow, said apparatus comprising:
- a displacement pump with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, with a pressure sensor sensing a static pressure in the fluid and providing a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions, and with evaluation electronics for the sensor signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus comprises a displacement pump with at least one flow vessel, with a pump drive, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, wherein said displacement motions are picked up by a pressure sensor diposed at the flow vessel or by a strain sensor disposed at the support means. The measuring arrangement serves to sense an actual displacement motion of the flow vessel robustly and reliably, and to deliver a measurement signal representative of this motion. The signal is particularly suited for generating a flow rate estimate representative of the instantaneous volume flow rate and/or for generating a status signal signaling a current operational status. Further, a method is disclosed which supplies information serving to monitor such an apparatus. The apparatus is suitable for using in a sampler.
18 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a fluid flow, said apparatus comprising:
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a displacement pump with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, with a pressure sensor sensing a static pressure in the fluid and providing a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions, and with evaluation electronics for the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A sampler for taking samples of a fluid, said sampler comprising an apparatus for generating a fluid flow, said apparatus comprising:
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a displacement pump with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, with a pressure sensor sensing a static pressure in the fluid and providing a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions, and with evaluation electronics for the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of monitoring an apparatus serving to generate a fluid flow, the apparatus comprising:
- a displacement pump, with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, with drive motor for the pump drive, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions of the flow vessel and comprising a pressure sensor for sensing a static pressure in the fluid, said method comprising the steps of;causing displacement motions of the flow vessel for taking a fluid;
sensing the pressure and generating a sensor signal representative of said displacement motions; and
deriving from the sensor signal a status signal signaling a current operational status of the apparatus.
- a displacement pump, with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, with drive motor for the pump drive, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
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22. A method of monitoring a sampler with an apparatus serving to generate a fluid flow, the apparatus comprising:
- a displacement pump, with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, with a drive motor for the pump drive, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions of the flow vessel and comprising a pressure sensor sensing a static pressure in the fluid, said method comprising the steps of;causing displacement motions of the flow vessel for taking the fluid;
sensing the pressure and generating a sensor signal representative of said displacement motions; and
deriving from the sensor signal a status signal signaling a current operational status of said sampler to be monitored.
- a displacement pump, with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, with a drive motor for the pump drive, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
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23. An apparatus for generating a fluid flow, said apparatus comprising:
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a displacement pump with at least one flow vessel of deformable lumen, which serves to conduct a fluid, with a pump drive for producing displacement motions of the flow vessel which deform the lumen and cause the fluid flow, and with a support means for holding the flow vessel; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, with a pressure sensor sensing an instantaneous pressure in the fluid and providing a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions, and with evaluation electronics for the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification