A pump system (120) has a central pump unit (110), with which at least one hook-up unit (130). The at least one hook-up unit (130) is from a group of a plurality of hook-up units (130) that can be combined in modular form for setting an operating point of a pump (10) that forms the pump unit (110). A method uses such a hook-up unit (130) in a pump system (120) for setting an operating point of the pump unit (110) thereof. A medical device is provided with such a pump unit (110) or with such a pump unit (110) and at least one hook-up unit (130) combined with the pump unit (110).

A pump unit and a pump capable of detecting characteristics of a conveyance article and a method for detecting the characteristics of the conveyance article. A pump unit includes an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder disposed on an inner circumference side of the outer cylinder; and a pressure supply chamber provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the pump unit being configured to convey a conveyance article in the inner cylinder by supplying a pressurizing medium into the pressure supply chamber and thereby causing the inner cylinder to expand inwardly in a radial direction, in which the pump unit further includes a conveyance article information acquiring device configured to acquire information on the conveyance article in the inner cylinder at a time when the inner cylinder is expanded.

A pump unit and a pump capable of detecting characteristics of a conveyance article and a method for detecting the characteristics of the conveyance article. A pump unit includes an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder disposed on an inner circumference side of the outer cylinder; and a pressure supply chamber provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the pump unit being configured to convey a conveyance article in the inner cylinder by supplying a pressurizing medium into the pressure supply chamber and thereby causing the inner cylinder to expand inwardly in a radial direction, in which the pump unit further includes a conveyance article information acquiring device configured to acquire information on the conveyance article in the inner cylinder at a time when the inner cylinder is expanded.

A bellows pump device includes a control unit which, before operation of the bellows pump device is started, performs initial control in which solenoid valves are switched and pressurized air is supplied to suction-side air chambers in advance, thereby determining operation air pressures which are air pressures of the pressurized air to be supplied to the suction-side air chambers during the operation. As the initial control, the control unit outputs control commands to electropneumatic regulators so as to gradually increase the air pressures of the pressurized air to be supplied to the suction-side air chambers in advance, and when detection signals resulting from detection of expansion positions of the bellows are inputted from the proximity sensors to the control unit, the control unit determines the air pressures of the pressurized air supplied to the suction-side air chambers at that time as the operation air pressures.

A bellows pump device includes a control unit which, before operation of the bellows pump device is started, performs initial control in which solenoid valves are switched and pressurized air is supplied to suction-side air chambers in advance, thereby determining operation air pressures which are air pressures of the pressurized air to be supplied to the suction-side air chambers during the operation. As the initial control, the control unit outputs control commands to electropneumatic regulators so as to gradually increase the air pressures of the pressurized air to be supplied to the suction-side air chambers in advance, and when detection signals resulting from detection of expansion positions of the bellows are inputted from the proximity sensors to the control unit, the control unit determines the air pressures of the pressurized air supplied to the suction-side air chambers at that time as the operation air pressures.

A pump system (120) has a central pump unit (110), with which at least one hook-up unit (130). The least one hook-up unit (130) is from a group of a plurality of hook-up units (130) that can be combined in modular form for setting an operating point of a pump (10) that forms the pump unit (110). A method uses such a hook-up unit (130) in a pump system (120) for setting an operating point of the pump unit (110) thereof. A medical device is provided with such a pump unit (110) or with such a pump unit (110) and at least one hook-up unit (130) combined with the pump unit (110).

The bellows pump device supplies pressurized air to one air chamber of two hermetic air chambers thereby to cause a bellows to perform expansion operation to suck a transport fluid, and supplies pressurized air to the other air chamber thereby to cause the bellows to perform contraction operation to discharge the transport fluid. The bellows pump device includes: an electropneumatic regulator configured to adjust a first air pressure of the pressurized air to be supplied to the one air chamber, and a second air pressure of the pressurized air to be supplied to the other air chamber; and a control unit configured to control the electropneumatic regulator such that, at least at a time point of end of expansion during expansion operation of the bellows, the first air pressure is lower than the second air pressure.

Thermal energy recovery systems include a piston assembly including a primary cylinder adapted to receive vapor; first and second secondary cylinders extending from opposite ends of the primary cylinder; a primary piston disposed for displacement in the primary cylinder; first and second secondary pistons disposed for displacement in the first and second secondary cylinders, respectively; and a piston connecting member connecting the first and second secondary pistons to the primary piston.

Thermal energy recovery systems include a piston assembly including a primary cylinder adapted to receive vapor; first and second secondary cylinders extending from opposite ends of the primary cylinder; a primary piston disposed for displacement in the primary cylinder; first and second secondary pistons disposed for displacement in the first and second secondary cylinders, respectively; and a piston connecting member connecting the first and second secondary pistons to the primary piston.

A pneumatic micropump is provided. The pneumatic micropump includes a fluidic channel layer, an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an upper membrane and a lower membrane. The fluidic channel includes a fluid inlet a reservoir, and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid passes through the fluid inlet, the reservoir and the fluid outlet, successively. The upper substrate includes an upper pneumatic chamber facing the reservoir. The lower substrate includes a lower pneumatic chamber facing the reservoir. The upper membrane is disposed between the upper pneumatic chamber and the reservoir, and the lower membrane is disposed between the lower pneumatic chamber and the reservoir.