F04B43/0054

Vacuum driven suction and irrigation system
11471660 · 2022-10-18 · ·

A vacuum assisted suction and irrigation system includes a suction and irrigation wand, an irrigation fluid supply, a vacuum source, and a fluid pump. The vacuum source is connected to a suction valve of the suction and irrigation wand to provide suction within the suction and irrigation wand. The irrigation fluid supply is connected to the suction and irrigation wand via the fluid pump to supply pressurized irrigation fluid to the suction and irrigation wand. The vacuum source is connected to the fluid pump to pressurize the irrigation fluid being delivered to the suction and irrigation wand.

Electroactive polymer actuator for multi-stage pump

A two-stage pump system is provided using electrostatic actuators. The system includes a pair of hydraulically-amplified, self-healing, electrostatic (HASEL) actuators in fluid communication with one another. Each actuator includes a deformable shell defining a working fluid compartment storing a dielectric fluid. Two electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the deformable shell. A pair of fluid transfer bladders are disposed adjacent the respective pair of HASEL actuators, each including a fluid-impermeable membrane defining a transfer fluid chamber, and a biasing member disposed in the transfer fluid chamber. When individually actuated in an alternating two-stage pattern, the two electrodes of each respective HASEL actuator move from a neutral position to an attracted position, displacing dielectric fluid through the first transfer conduit and between working fluid compartments, thereby pumping the transfer fluid from an inlet to an outlet.

FLUID PUMP HAVING A POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE MEMBRANE

A fluid pump includes a housing defining a fluid chamber and a piezoelectric membrane located within the chamber and attached to the housing. The piezoelectric membrane may divide the fluid chamber into a first fluid cavity and a second fluid cavity such that the application of an electric field to the piezoelectric membrane and its resulting displacement may provide a force that drives fluid through the pump, e.g., from an inlet of the fluid chamber into the first fluid cavity and from the second fluid cavity to an outlet of the fluid chamber.

WATER FLOSSER PUMP BODY STRUCTURE AND WATER FLOSSER
20230160378 · 2023-05-25 · ·

The present invention pertains to a water flosser pump body structure and a water flosser, the water flosser pump body structure comprises a housing, a water pump assembly, a transmission assembly and a driving assembly, the water pump assembly comprises a pump body, an inlet valve member, an outlet valve member and an elastic diaphragm, the pump body has a water flow cavity therein, the inlet valve sheet and the water flow cavity form an inlet channel, and the outlet valve sheet and the water flow cavity form an outlet channel; and the transmission assembly rotates to drive the elastic diaphragm to repeatedly deform so as to cause a change in pressure in the water flow cavity, thereby realizing a pumping and jetting process of the water flosser for flossing teeth.

Miniature pressure-driven pumps

A miniature pump including a first chamber, a second chamber, a deformable membrane provided within the second chamber that divides the second chamber into first and second sub-chambers, the second sub-chamber defining a reservoir configured to contain liquid to be dispensed, a passage that connects the first chamber to the first sub-chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein pressurized fluid within the first internal chamber flows through the passage and into the first sub-chamber to compress the deformable membrane and cause liquid contained within the reservoir to flow out from the reservoir through the outlet and wherein the deformable membrane does not generate significant restoring forces when it is deformed and, therefore, will not return to its initial undeformed shape unless the reservoir is refilled.

Agricultural Sampling System and Related Methods
20230151810 · 2023-05-18 ·

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples. A soil collection system is disclosed which captures and directs samples to the sampling system for processing.

MULTIPLEXED PNEUMATIC CONTROL AIR SYSTEM FOR SLURRY FILTRATION

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples. A soil collection system is disclosed which captures and directs samples to the sampling system for processing.

Method and apparatus for mounting a diaphragm of a pump
11655811 · 2023-05-23 · ·

A double diaphragm pump includes multiple diaphragms that are mounted for reciprocation. The diaphragms are connected for simultaneous movement to form a diaphragm assembly. A first one of the diaphragms is clamped between a housing cover and a center section. A pumping chamber is formed between the first diaphragm and the cover. Pressure in the first pumping chamber is decreased to draw the diaphragm assembly towards the first fluid cover, thereby drawing the second diaphragm into a mounting position relative to the center section. A second cover is then mounted to the center section to clamp the second diaphragm between the second cover and the center section.

Fluid device
11649814 · 2023-05-16 · ·

A fluid device including a fluid chamber which is designed for receiving a fluid and which is commonly delimited by a device housing and a bending-elastic membrane element. The membrane element with a peripheral edge section is fixed to the device housing in a fluid-tight manner and has a membrane working section which is framed by the peripheral edge section and which for the change of the volume of the fluid chamber can be elastically deflected by a piezoactuator. The membrane element consists of a rubber-elastic material, wherein the piezoactuator comprises a drive section which extends along the membrane working section, is embedded into the membrane element and is enveloped by the rubber-elastic material of the membrane element.

DISPOSABLE PUMP CHAMBER FOR AN INFUSION PUMP
20230204024 · 2023-06-29 ·

An apparatus, including a pump body having an internal shaft, and a piston disposed within the shaft and having a piston head that includes a first ferromagnetic element. The apparatus also includes a motor coupled to drive a reciprocal longitudinal motion of the piston within the shaft, and a pump chamber configured to be removably attached to the pump body and having a rigid wall defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an aperture. The apparatus additionally includes a flexible diaphragm fixed across the aperture and having a second ferromagnetic element, which engages the first ferromagnetic element when the pump chamber is attached to the pump body so that the reciprocal longitudinal motion of the piston causes alternating stretching and contraction of the flexible diaphragm, thereby modifying a volume of the pump chamber.