Apparatus for generating and conducting a fluid flow, and method of monitoring said apparatus
First Claim
1. 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 for 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.
10 Citations
36 Claims
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1. 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 for 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)
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9. A sampler with 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 for 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 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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, the flow vessel being compressed by the pump drive in operation temporarily and in sections and forced against the support means such that the support means is elastically strained; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, with a strain sensor for sensing a strain of the support means and providing a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, and with evaluation electronics for the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A sampler with 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, the flow vessel being compressed by the pump drive in operation temporarily and in sections and forced against the support means such that the support means is elastically strained; and
a measuring arrangement responsive to the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, with a strain sensor for sensing a strain of the support means and providing a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions performed by the flow vessel, and with evaluation electronics for the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. Method of monitoring an apparatus serving to generate a fluid flow and 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, 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 for sensing a static pressure in the fluid, said method comprising the steps of;
causing drive motions of the drive motor for producing the displacement motions of the flow vessel;
sensing the pressure with the pressure sensor for generating a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions; and
deriving from the sensor signal a status signal signaling a current operational status of the apparatus.
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36. Method of monitoring a sampler with an apparatus serving to generate 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, 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 for sensing a static pressure in the fluid, said method comprising the steps of;
causing drive motions of the drive motor for producing the displacement motions of the flow vessel;
sensing the pressure with the pressure sensor for generating a sensor signal representative of the displacement motions; and
deriving from the sensor signal a status signal signaling a current operational status of the apparatus.
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Specification