A system and a method for starting a rotor of an implantable blood pump are described. For example, a blood pump system includes a rotary motor having a stator and a rotor. The rotor has permanent magnetic poles for magnetic levitation of the rotor, and the stator has a plurality of pole pieces arranged circumferentially at intervals. The blood pump system includes a controller configured to control a start phase of the rotor, wherein the start phase is prior to the rotor being positioned in a predefined geometric volume for pumping blood and wherein the start phase includes performing a rotation of the rotor by an angle larger than an angle corresponding to a quarter of an angular distance between two neighboring magnetic poles of the rotor.

A system and a method for starting a rotor of an implantable blood pump are described. For example, a blood pump system includes a rotary motor having a stator and a rotor. The rotor has permanent magnetic poles for magnetic levitation of the rotor, and the stator has a plurality of pole pieces arranged circumferentially at intervals. The blood pump system includes a controller configured to control a start phase of the rotor, wherein the start phase is prior to the rotor being positioned in a predefined geometric volume for pumping blood and wherein the start phase includes performing a rotation of the rotor by an angle larger than an angle corresponding to a quarter of an angular distance between two neighboring magnetic poles of the rotor.

A ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of low-energy high-rate maneuvers for both vertical roll control and horizontal pitch control. The UAV includes ducted fans which are with respective piezoelectric-actuated thrust vectoring flaps. Thrust vector control is achieved by controlling the angular positions of a plurality of thrust vector flaps pivotably coupled at respective outlets of a plurality of ducts having fan rotors at the inlets. Each thrust vectoring flap has only one degree of freedom in the frame of reference of the UAV, namely, rotation about a single axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the duct. The angular position of the flap is controlled by sending electrical signals to a piezoelectric actuator (e.g., a piezoelectric bimorph actuator) having a voltage sufficient to cause the piezoelectric actuator to bend.

A ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of low-energy high-rate maneuvers for both vertical roll control and horizontal pitch control. The UAV includes ducted fans which are with respective piezoelectric-actuated thrust vectoring flaps. Thrust vector control is achieved by controlling the angular positions of a plurality of thrust vector flaps pivotably coupled at respective outlets of a plurality of ducts having fan rotors at the inlets. Each thrust vectoring flap has only one degree of freedom in the frame of reference of the UAV, namely, rotation about a single axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the duct. The angular position of the flap is controlled by sending electrical signals to a piezoelectric actuator (e.g., a piezoelectric bimorph actuator) having a voltage sufficient to cause the piezoelectric actuator to bend.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, a user interface associated with the pump designed to receive input instructions from a user, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller determines a power parameter associated with the motor and compares the power parameter to a predetermined threshold value. The controller triggers a safety vacuum release system based on the comparison of the power parameter and the threshold value.

In a pump housing having an interior for accommodating a pump rotor, which may be transferred from a radially compressed state into a radially expanded state, and comprises a housing skin revolving in circumferential direction, as well as at least one reinforcement element, a stretch-resistant element revolving in circumferential direction is provided, which is stretched less than 5% in the expanded state as opposed to the force-free state in circumferential direction, and which limits any further expansion of the pump housing in radial direction.

Systems and methods for preventing diffusers in pumps such as electric submersible pumps from bursting or collapsing in over-pressure and/or under-pressure conditions, where one or more diffusers in the pump includes check valves in the exterior diffuser wall. The check valves remain closed when a pressure differential between the diffuser interior and exterior is within a predetermined range, but open when the pressure differential between the diffuser interior and the interstitial space is outside the predetermined range to relieve overpressure and underpressure conditions. When the pressure differential returns to an acceptable range, the check valves close, preventing recirculation of fluid between the diffusers of the different stages. O-rings or other types of seals may be installed between each stage and the pump housing to provide some isolation of the external pressure on the diffuser of each stage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve apparatus capable of keeping a holding state of a valve body. The valve apparatus 14 is adapted to supply cleaning fluid by switching between a first flow channel 54 and a second flow channel 55, the valve apparatus 14 being provided with: a first fluid pipe 44 having a first flow channel 54; a second fluid pipe 45 coaxially aligned with the first fluid pipe 44, the second fluid pipe 45 having a second flow channel 55; a housing 86 provided with a first valve chamber 37 and a second valve chamber 38; a partition wall 49 disposed between the first flow channel 44 and the second flow channel 55 in the housing 86; and a rib 46 provided to the housing 86 to support the partition wall 49, wherein the partition wall 49 has: a film-like valve body 50 which is elastically deformed by pressure of the first valve chamber 37 and the second valve chamber 38 so as to open one of the first flow channel 44 and the second flow channel 55 and close the other of the first flow channel 54 and the second flow channel 55; and a frame 51 attached along an outer circumference of the valve body 50 and supported by the rib 56, wherein the frame 51 is higher in stiffness than the valve body 50.

Disclosed is an end cap for a motor housing containing an electric motor, including a tubular structure defining an interior space, including an open first end connectable to the motor casing; a second end, including a first planar surface; a second planar surface offset from the first planar surface and substantially parallel to the first planar surface; and at least one air grate surface substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface and the second planar surface, positioned between and attached to the first planar surface and the second planar surface, and wherein the at least one air grate surface includes at least one air grate configured to permit air flow into and/or out of the interior space.

A centrifugal pump with a barrel casing and a ventilation arrangement is provided. A plug-in unit is arranged in the barrel casing. The plug-in unit has a shaft, and at least one impeller is arranged on the shaft. The impeller is enclosed by a stage casing. The stage casing separates an inner pressure space from an outer pressure space. At least one venting device is arranged in the stage casing.