An array of flow units for controlling a flow of a fluid is disclosed. The flow units are arranged to have a lateral extension in a common lateral plane. A downstream side of a first flow unit is in fluid communication with an upstream side of a second flow unit to allow a flow of fluid to pass through the flow units. The flow units comprise first and second electrodes which are connectable to a voltage source. At least a portion of the first electrode has a maximum height in a direction parallel to the direction of the flow and a maximum gauge in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the flow, wherein the maximum height is larger than the maximum gauge to improve the pumping efficiency of the device. A method for controlling a fluid flow using the array is also disclosed.

An array of flow units for controlling a flow of a fluid is disclosed. The flow units are arranged to have a lateral extension in a common lateral plane. A downstream side of a first flow unit is in fluid communication with an upstream side of a second flow unit to allow a flow of fluid to pass through the flow units. The flow units comprise first and second electrodes which are connectable to a voltage source. At least a portion of the first electrode has a maximum height in a direction parallel to the direction of the flow and a maximum gauge in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the flow, wherein the maximum height is larger than the maximum gauge to improve the pumping efficiency of the device. A method for controlling a fluid flow using the array is also disclosed.

An apparatus for converting rotation to fluid flow, comprising a fluid conduit coiled around a rotational axis, the fluid conduit having a first inlet for receiving first fluid having a first density and a second inlet for receiving second fluid having a second density, and a first outlet for output of first fluid and a second outlet for output of second fluid; a motor coupled to the fluid conduit to rotate the fluid conduit around the rotational axis in a first angular direction such that first fluid portions of first fluid and second fluid portions of second fluid are transported along the fluid conduit towards the first outlet, while being pressurized; and a fluid returning arrangement, fluid flow connecting the second outlet and the second inlet for selectively allowing pressurized second fluid to return from the second outlet to the second inlet, while depressurizing the pressurized second fluid.

A foam dispenser includes a housing, a drive motor, and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a pump housing, and a molded multi-chamber diaphragm. The molded multi-chamber diaphragm includes a liquid pump diaphragm having a liquid pump stem and two or more air pump chambers each having an air pump stem. The length of the liquid pump stem is longer than the air pump stem. The foam pump further includes one or more outlet valves, a mixing chamber, an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge; and an actuator for sequentially actuating the liquid pump chamber and the two or more air pump chambers, wherein there is lost motion between the actuator and the liquid pump diaphragm.

A foam dispenser includes a housing, a drive motor, and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a pump housing, and a molded multi-chamber diaphragm. The molded multi-chamber diaphragm includes a liquid pump diaphragm having a liquid pump stem and two or more air pump chambers each having an air pump stem. The length of the liquid pump stem is longer than the air pump stem. The foam pump further includes one or more outlet valves, a mixing chamber, an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge; and an actuator for sequentially actuating the liquid pump chamber and the two or more air pump chambers, wherein there is lost motion between the actuator and the liquid pump diaphragm.

An apparatus for converting rotation to fluid flow, comprising a fluid conduit coiled around a rotational axis, the fluid conduit having a first inlet for receiving first fluid having a first density and a second inlet for receiving second fluid having a second density, and a first outlet for output of first fluid and a second outlet for output of second fluid; a motor coupled to the fluid conduit to rotate the fluid conduit around the rotational axis in a first angular direction such that first fluid portions of first fluid and second fluid portions of second fluid are transported along the fluid conduit towards the first outlet, while being pressurized; and a fluid returning arrangement, fluid flow connecting the second outlet and the second inlet for selectively allowing pressurized second fluid to return from the second outlet to the second inlet, while depressurizing the pressurized second fluid.

An air inlet device of a spherical puffing pump for an ice cream machine is provided. The air inlet device includes an air inlet pipe and an anti-spray seat. The air inlet pipe is communicated with a liquid feeding hole of the spherical puffing pump through the anti-spray seat. The anti-spray seat has an upper straight hole, a lower straight hole and a connecting hole. The upper straight hole is communicated with the lower straight hole through the connecting hole. The lower straight hole is communicated with a liquid feeding channel of the liquid feeding hole. The upper straight hole is communicated with the air inlet pipe. A lower end of the connecting hole is provided on an inner wall of a middle of the lower straight hole, and an upper end of the connecting hole is provided on a wall of a lower end of the upper straight hole.

The present relates to a Metal hydride compressor control method for generating a variable output pressure P.sub._desired_outPut, comprising a first step of inflowing gaseous hydrogen into a metal hydride compartment at a constant temperature and then stopping the gaseous hydrogen inflow, a second step of heating the metal hydride to a predetermined temperature which corresponds to a temperature which passes through the + phase at the desired output pressure P.sub._desired_output, a third step of opening the output connection of the compressor and keeping it at a constant pressure by regulating the temperature to keep a constant output pressure P.sub._desired_outPut until the system completely leaves the + phase.

A liquid foam delivery device includes a pump proper, a linear transmission mechanism, a unidirectional input/output gas mechanism and a unidirectional input/output liquid mechanism. The pump proper has a rotating shaft. The linear transmission mechanism converts rotational motion output by the rotating shaft into linear reciprocating motion perpendicular to the rotating shaft. The unidirectional input/output gas mechanism admits gas into a gas inlet and discharge gas from a gas outlet in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft through the linear reciprocating motion of the linear transmission mechanism. The unidirectional input/output liquid mechanism delivers liquid admitted through a liquid inlet to a liquid outlet through the rotational motion output by the rotating shaft. The liquid foam delivery device delivers gas and liquid with only one pump proper and one rotating shaft to therefore minimize the required number of constituent components, achieve miniaturization, render assembly easy and cut cost.

A pump monitoring and notification system for a hydraulic pump includes an accelerometer and a controller. The accelerometer is associated with the hydraulic pump and is disposed relative to the hydraulic pump to generate acceleration data indicative of acceleration of the hydraulic pump. The controller is configured to access a fault threshold, access a time threshold, and determine an acceleration of the accelerometer based upon the acceleration data from the accelerometer. The controller is further configured to determine an RMS average of the acceleration of the accelerometer based upon the acceleration of the hydraulic pump, compare the RMS average of the acceleration of the accelerometer to the fault threshold, and generate an alert signal when the RMS average of the acceleration of the accelerometer exceeds the fault threshold for a time period exceeding the time threshold.