Method and apparatus for scavenging energy during pump operation
First Claim
1. A pump comprising:
- a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber;
a diaphragm configured to undergo displacement in conjunction with pumping of a fluid through the pumping chamber;
a piezoelectric element configured to respond to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate an electric current; and
a pedestal configured to mount the piezoelectric element to the diaphragm and to carry the piezoelectric element in spaced apart relation to the diaphragm.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pump comprises a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber (28); a pump member which undergoes displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber; and a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement of the pump member to generate an electric current. The electric current generated by the piezoelectric element is preferably applied to a charge storage device which is coupled to the piezoelectric element. The storage device can take various forms, including but not limited to a battery (50, 150, 250), a capacitor (52, 152, 252), and a power supply for the pump (54). In one example embodiment, the pump member is a diaphragm (26) which undergoes the displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber. In this example embodiment, the piezoelectric element responds to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate the electric current. In another example embodiment, the pump member is a valve (130, 230, 132, 232) which undergoes the displacement to allow the fluid to communicate with the pumping chamber. The valve can be an inlet valve (130, 230) for admitting the fluid into the pumping chamber, or an outlet valve (132, 232)) for discharging the fluid from the pumping chamber. The piezoelectric element responds to the displacement of the valve to generate the electric current. The piezoelectric element can be adhered to an exterior surface of the valve. Alternatively, the piezoelectric element can constitute a working portion of the valve.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A pump comprising:
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a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber; a diaphragm configured to undergo displacement in conjunction with pumping of a fluid through the pumping chamber; a piezoelectric element configured to respond to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate an electric current; and a pedestal configured to mount the piezoelectric element to the diaphragm and to carry the piezoelectric element in spaced apart relation to the diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A pump comprising:
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a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber; a driven diaphragm configured to undergo displacement in conjunction with pumping of a fluid through the pumping chamber but which does not substantially directly act upon fluid in the pumping chamber; a piezoelectric element configured to respond to the displacement of the diaphragm whereby the piezoelectric element acts upon the fluid in the pumping chamber and also generates an electric current; a pedestal configured to mount the diaphragm to the piezoelectric element and to carry the diaphragm in spaced apart relation to the piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A pump comprising:
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a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber; a diaphragm configured to undergo displacement in conjunction with pumping of a fluid through the pumping chamber, the diaphragm comprising a piezoelectric layer configured to cause the displacement of the diaphragm when an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric layer; a piezoelectric element configured to respond to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate an electric current; and a charge storage device coupled to receive the electric current generated by the piezoelectric element and to augment a power supply that applies the electric field to the piezoelectric layer of the diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A pump comprising:
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a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber; a pump member which undergoes displacement in conjunction with pumping of a fluid through the pumping chamber; a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement of the pump member to generate an electric current; an actuator which acts upon a fluid in the pumping chamber; wherein the pump member is a valve configured to undergo the displacement to allow the fluid to communicate with the pumping chamber; and wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to respond to the displacement to generate the electric current. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of operating a diaphragm pump comprising:
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causing displacement of a diaphragm in conjunction with pumping of a fluid through a pumping chamber; using a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate an electric current; wherein the diaphragm includes a piezoelectric layer which causes the displacement of the diaphragm when an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric layer; and
wherein the method comprisesusing the electric current generated by the piezoelectric element to augment a power supply that applies the electric field to the piezoelectric layer of the diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of operating a diaphragm pump comprising:
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causing displacement of a valve through which fluid communicates with a pumping chamber; using a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement to generate an electric current. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification