Integrated pump and wash pump

• US 7,217,105 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idex Health & Science LLC (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Sapphire Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Angove, Garret
• Primary Examiner(s): Koczo, Jr.; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/887,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 921/62.R, 921/65.R, 921/66, 921/701, 137/625.21, 137/625.31, 417/199.1, 417/505, 417/519, 417/539, 417/559
• US Class Current: 417/199.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/0007 and having a rotating movement

Abstract

A pump apparatus is provided which comprises a first displacement pump and a ceramic valve construction formed of a ceramic rotor, a ceramic stator having flat surfaces which are positioned in sealing relationship and a second displacement pump having check valves. The first displacement pump comprises a reciprocating first piston within a housing having an interior wall spaced apart from the piston. The position of the first piston and the position of the rotor are controlled to effect desired fluid flow through the stator. The first piston and a second piston of the second displacement pump are reciprocated by a common motor.

Claims

1. A pump apparatus which comprises:

a first displacement pump having a first reciprocatable piston positioned within a first housing having an interior wall spaced apart from said first piston,

an interior volume of said first housing being in fluid communication with a fluid inlet to a ceramic stator and a fluid outlet from said ceramic stator,

a ceramic rotor and said ceramic stator being positioned in a second housing,

said ceramic stator having a first flat surface in sealing relationship with a second flat surface a of a ceramic rotor positioned in contact with said first flat surface of said ceramic stator,

said ceramic rotor having a fluid passageway that controls a direction of fluid flow through said ceramic stator,

a position of said first piston and a position of said ceramic rotor being synchronized to effect desired fluid flow through said ceramic stator.

a reciprocatable second piston positioned within a third housing

a second displacement pump for pumping a fluid having a reciprocatable second piston positioned within a third housing having an interior wall spaced apart from a second piston,

an interior volume of said third housing being in fluid communication with a fluid inlet to a first check valve and a fluid outlet from a second check valve,

said first check valve being in fluid communication with a point of use for said fluid,

said second check valve being in fluid communication with a source of said fluid,

said first check valve being open and said second check valve being closed when said piston moves toward said first check valve,

said first check valve being closed and said second check valve being open when said piston moves away from said first check valve,

each of said first piston and said second piston being movable by a common power source,

and wherein a fluid pumped from said second displacement pump is directed to a seal of said first displacement pump, said seal positioned to prevent fluid in said first housing from bypassing said first reciprocatable piston.

2. The pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first housing and said second housing are formed of a single element.

3. The pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ceramic stator and said ceramic rotor are formed of aluminum oxide.

4. The pump apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ceramic stator and said ceramic rotor are formed of aluminum oxide.

5. The pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first housing is formed of a transparent material.

6. The pump apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first housing is formed of a transparent material.

7. The pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein said piston is formed of sapphire.

8. The pump apparatus of claim 2 wherein said piston is formed of sapphire.

9. The pump apparatus of claim 3 wherein said piston is formed of sapphire.

10. The pump apparatus of claim 4 wherein said piston is formed of sapphire.

11. The pump apparatus of claim 5 wherein said piston is formed of sapphire.

12. The pump apparatus of claim 6 wherein said piston is formed of sapphire.

13. The pump apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ceramic rotor is connected to a motor for effecting rotor rotation through a self-aligning coupling which effects complete flat contact between said first flat surface and said second surface when said rotor is rotated and when said rotor is at rest.

14. The pump apparatus of claim 1 including means for periodically washing the interior volume of said first housing.

15. The pump apparatus of claim 13 including means for periodically washing the interior volume of said first housing.

16. The pump apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2, 13, 14 or 15 wherein said rotor is rotated with a rotary solenoid.

17. A pump apparatus which comprises a first displacement pump having a first reciprocatable piston positioned within a first housing having an interior wall spaced apart from said first piston, fluid flow through said first housing being controlled by a stator and rotor in contact with each other and having fluid conduits,

a second displacement pump for pumping a fluid having a reciprocatable second piston positioned within a second housing having an interior wall spaced apart from said second piston,

fluid flow within said second housing being controlled by check valves,

said first piston and said second piston being movable by a common power sources,

and wherein a fluid pumped from said second displacement pump is directed to a seal of said first displacement pump, said seal positioned to prevent fluid in said first housing from bypassing said first reciprocatable piston.