Compressible fluid micropump system and process

Abstract

A micropump system (100) for a compressible fluid (102) includes a plurality of micropumps (110), rigid flow duct elements (120), a control unit (130), and one or two printed circuit boards (140). The micropumps have an intake opening (112) and an outlet opening (114). The rigid flow duct elements are connected to a respective micropump via a respective, elastically sealed port (122) and with the micropumps form a flow path (104) for the fluid. The one or two printed circuit boards are arranged and configured to electrically connect the control unit to the plurality of micropumps. Each micropump is rigidly fastened to the one or two printed circuit boards via a respective fastening device. A pressure build-up of the fluid flowing through the plurality of micropumps during the use, which is cascaded due to the plurality of micropumps, is provided at a system outlet (106) of the micropump system.

Claims

1. A micropump system for transporting a compressible fluid, the micropump system comprising: a plurality of micropumps, each of the plurality of micropumps comprising an electrically controlled inertia swing unit and having an intake opening and an outlet opening for the fluid and each of the plurality of micropumps being configured, with operation of the electrically controlled inertia swing unit, to draw in the fluid through the intake opening and discharge the fluid through the outlet opening, whereby fluid flows through the micropump system during use thereof; a number of rigid flow duct elements, each of the number of rigid flow duct elements being connected via an elastically sealed port to the intake opening and to the outlet opening of each one of the plurality of micropumps, the number of rigid flow duct elements comprising a plurality of blocking elements, wherein each of the plurality of blocking elements is arranged in an area of a corresponding micropump of the plurality of micropumps such that the fluid is carried through the corresponding micropump, wherein the number of rigid flow duct elements together with the plurality of blocking elements and the plurality of micropumps form a flow path for the fluid; a control unit configured to control operation of the plurality of micropumps; one or two printed circuit boards arranged and configured to electrically connect the control unit to the plurality of micropumps; and fastening devices, wherein each of the plurality of micropumps is rigidly fastened to the one or two printed circuit boards via one of the fastening devices, and wherein during use of the micropump system a pressure build-up of the fluid flowing through the plurality of micropumps is cascaded, due to the plurality of micropumps, and provided at a system outlet of the micropump system.

2. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the rigid flow duct elements rigidly connects a respective outlet opening of one of the micropumps, which is arranged upstream in relation to a direction of flow of the fluid flowing through the micropump system, to a respective intake opening of one of the micropumps, which is arranged downstream in relation to the direction of flow.

3. The micropump system in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of micropumps is connected to another of the plurality of micropumps by the rigid flow duct elements with the outlet opening of a respective upstream micropump connected to an intake opening of a respective downstream micropump.

4. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the number of the rigid flow duct elements are configured and arranged to form a feed line and a discharge line; the feed line is rigidly connected to all intake openings of the plurality of micropumps; and the discharge line is rigidly connected to all outlet openings of the plurality of micropumps.

5. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the respective, elastically sealed port is elastically sealed via an O-ring.

6. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each fastening device is formed by a soldering pad, a soldering pin or a plug connection.

7. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a nonreturn valve arranged at the system outlet of the micropump system for ensuring a minimum pressure provided by the micropump system.

8. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the one or two printed circuit boards comprises a flat printed circuit board on which the plurality of micropumps are fastened with a respective rigid fastening device such that each of the plurality of micropumps is arranged in a common fastening plane on the flat printed circuit board; and the fastening plane is parallel to a plane formed by the flat printed circuit board.

9. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the number of the rigid flow duct elements are connected to the micropumps such that the rigid flow duct elements form a common connection plane.

10. The micropump system in accordance with claim 9, wherein: the one or two printed circuit boards comprises a flat printed circuit board on which the plurality of micropumps are fastened with one of the fastening devices such that each of the plurality of micropumps is arranged in a common fastening plane on the flat printed circuit board; the common fastening plane is parallel to a plane formed by the flat printed circuit board; and the connection plane is, furthermore, parallel to the plane formed by the printed circuit board.

11. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein an electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the respective micropump is formed by a soldered joint, an electrical cable and/or a plug connection.

12. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the one or two printed circuit boards comprises two printed circuit boards aligned parallel to one another with two opposite sides; and each of the plurality of micropumps is fastened to one of the two opposite sides between the two printed circuit boards.

13. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrically controlled inertia swing unit comprises a diaphragm and a piezoelectric element in contact with the diaphragm.

14. The micropump system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the diaphragm comprises a chamber having a guide opening.

15. The micropump system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the diaphragm is configured to move based on actuation of the piezoelectric element such that the fluid in a respective one of the micropumps is pressed through the outlet opening.

16. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of rigid flow duct elements extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the one or two printed circuit boards, each of the blocking elements being arranged between the intake opening and the outlet opening of a respective one of the micropumps.

17. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the rigid flow duct elements is located at a position above at least one of the micropumps, at least one of the blocking elements being arranged between the intake opening and the outlet opening of the at least one of the micropumps.

18. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the micropumps is located between at least one of the rigid flow duct elements and one of the one or more two printed circuit boards.

19. The micropump system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the micropumps is mechanically and electrically fixed to one of the one or more two printed circuit boards via a soldered connection.

20. A process for transporting a compressible fluid, the process comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of micropumps, which each have an intake opening and an outlet opening for the fluid and which are each configured to draw in the fluid through the intake opening, which fluid flows through a correspondingly formed micropump system during the use thereof, due to an electrically controlled inertia swing unit of the respective micropump and to discharge same through the outlet opening; forming a flow path for the fluid due to a connection of a number of rigid flow duct elements to a respective micropump via a respective, elastically sealed port, the number of rigid flow duct elements comprising a plurality of blocking elements, wherein each of the plurality of blocking elements is arranged in an area of a corresponding micropump of the plurality of micropumps such that the fluid is carried through the corresponding micropump; and providing an electrical connection of one or two printed circuit boards to the plurality of micropumps and rigidly fastening each of the plurality of micropumps, via a respective fastening device, to the one or two printed circuit boards, wherein a pressure build-up of the fluid flowing through the plurality of micropumps during the use, which pressure build-up is cascaded due to plurality of micropumps, is provided at a system outlet of the micropump system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of a micropump system according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps are connected in series;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a micropump system according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps are connected in parallel;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a second exemplary embodiment of a micropump system according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps are connected in parallel;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of a micropump system according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps connected in series are connected parallel to one another;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a micropump system according to the present invention, in which micropumps are arranged on two printed circuit boards;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a micropump for use in a micropump system according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a micropump system according to the present invention, in which a nonreturn valve is arranged in the area of a system outlet; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a process according to another aspect of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of a micropump system 100 according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps 100 are connected in series.

(11) The micropump system 100 shown for the transport of a compressible fluid 102, especially of a gas, has a plurality of micropumps 110, a number of rigid flow duct elements 120, a control unit 130 and a printed circuit board 140.

(12) The micropumps 110 comprising the plurality of micropumps 110 have each an intake opening 112 and an outlet opening 114 for the fluid 102 and are each configured to draw in the fluid 102 through the intake opening 112, which fluid flows through the micropump system 100 during the use thereof, due to an electrically controlled inertia swing unit 115 (described in FIG. 6) of the respective micropump 110 and to discharge same through the outlet opening 114. In this connection, the architecture of the respective micropump 110 ensures that a flow direction with a corresponding flow path 104 is predefined. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, a nonreturn valve within the respective micropump ensures that the flow direction of the fluid flowing through the micropump is predefined.

(13) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the number of micropumps 110 comprise precisely four micropumps 110, which all have a configuration of identical design.

(14) The number of rigid flow duct elements 120 have each two ports 122, which are configured such that they are connected to a respective micropump 110 in an elastically sealed manner. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a respective, elastically sealed port 122 is provided via a respective O-ring. In an example, not shown, a material for sealing is applied to the edge of a respective port. Together with the plurality of micropumps 110, the rigid flow duct elements 120 form the flow path 104 for the fluid 102. The number of flow duct elements 120 are formed in the exemplary embodiment shown by a single flow duct element, which is attached to all pumps, and have a respective blocking element 124 in the area of a respective micropump 110 such that the fluid is carried through the corresponding micropump 110. Further, in the exemplary embodiment shown, three of the four micropumps 110 are aligned equidistantly to one another and only one micropump 110 in the area of a system outlet 106 of the micropump system 100 is configured as arranged at a spaced location from the other micropumps 110.

(15) The control unit 130 is arranged on the side of the printed circuit board 140 located opposite to the micropump 110 and is configured to control the operation of the plurality of micropumps.

(16) The printed circuit board 140 is arranged and configured to electrically connect the control unit 130 to the plurality of micropumps 110. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the electrical connection is carried out by a respective soldered joint 142, especially a soldering pin and/or a soldering pad, via which each of the micropumps 110 is rigidly connected to the printed circuit board 140. The printed circuit board 140 is a printed circuit board in the exemplary embodiment shown.

(17) The shown structure of the micropumps 110 on the printed circuit board 140 with the correspondingly provided flow path 104 leads to a cascaded pressure build-up of the fluid 102 flowing through the plurality of micropumps 110 during the use at the system outlet 106 of the micropump system 100. In view of the flow path 104, the four micropumps 110 are connected in series to one another, so that an overall pump pressure, which corresponds to the fourfold pump pressure of a single micropump 110, is provided at the system outlet 106.

(18) The system outlet 106 is arranged in relation to a system inlet 108 on the printed circuit board 140 on an opposite side of the micropump system 100.

(19) The micropump system 100 shown is suitable for applications, in which a higher pump pressure is necessary than it could be provided by a single micropump. In particular, the micropump system 100 shown is intended for a medical application, preferably a medical application within a ventilator.

(20) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment of a micropump system 200 according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps 110 are connected in parallel, in a side view (FIG. 2) and in a top view (FIG. 3).

(21) Compared to the micropump system 100 shown in FIG. 1, both the intake openings 212 of the four micropumps 210 of identical design shown are arranged slightly offset and the rigid flow duct element 220 has a different configuration from the flow duct element 120.

(22) The flow duct element 220 has a feed line 226, which is rigidly connected to all intake openings 212 of the micropumps 210. Furthermore, the flow duct element 220 has a discharge line 228, which is connected to all outlet openings 214 of the plurality of micropumps 210. The feed line 226 and the discharge line 228 are parts of a single common flow duct element 220.

(23) Due to the arrangement shown, the system outlet 206 is formed in the area of a system inlet 208.

(24) The flow path 204 is divided into paths parallel to one another due to the arrangement shown. The fluid flowing through the flow path 204 is carried by a single micropump between the system inlet 208 and the system outlet 206. As a result, the arrangement shown therefore leads to a fourfold overall flow of the fluid flowing through at the system outlet 206 compared to a single micropump, with an overall pump pressure that corresponds to the pump pressure of a single micropump.

(25) As already in the micropump system 100, the flow duct elements are also formed in the micropump system 200 such that a common connection plane is predefined by these flow duct elements. This connection plane is parallel to the printed circuit board 140.

(26) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of a micropump system 400 according to the present invention, in which individual micropumps 110 connected in series are connected parallel to one another.

(27) As already in the two previous exemplary embodiments, the number of rigid flow duct elements are formed by a single flow duct element 420.

(28) The micropump system 400 has two system inlets 408, 480′, for two flow paths 404, 404′ running parallel to one another, which are each formed from two micropumps 110 connected in series to one another. The two flow paths 404, 404′ end at the common system outlet 406.

(29) Consequently, an overall pump pressure, which is twice as high as the pump pressure of a single micropump 110, is applied to the system outlet 406. At the same time, the overall flow of the micropump system 400 shown is twice as great as the flow of the fluid 102 provided by a single micropump 110 due to the parallel transport of via the two flow paths 404, 404′.

(30) The control unit 130 is arranged at a spaced location from the printed circuit board 140 and is connected to this printed circuit board via a cable 432. The control unit 130 activates the micropumps 110 via the cable 432 and the printed circuit board 140.

(31) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a micropump system 500 according to the present invention, in which micropumps 110 are arranged on two printed circuit boards 140, 140′.

(32) The two flat printed circuit boards 140, 140′ are aligned parallel to one another. The micropumps 110 that are arranged on the second printed circuit board 140′ are located opposite the micropumps 110 that are arranged on the first printed circuit board 140, so that a connection can be provided via a rigid flow duct element 520. In the exemplary embodiment shown, both printed circuit boards are connected in a cable-based manner to the control unit 130.

(33) The micropump system 500 comprises three micropumps 110, two of which are arranged on the first printed circuit board 140 and one of which is arranged on the second printed circuit board 140′. These three micropumps 110 are connected in series to one another, so that the threefold pump pressure of a single micropump is provided as the overall pump pressure at the system outlet 506.

(34) The two printed circuit boards are preferably held in a predefined position in relation to one another via at least one spacer element (not shown).

(35) FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a micropump 110 for use in a micropump system according to the present invention.

(36) The micropump 110 has an outer housing 111 which forms a single intake opening 112 and a single outlet opening 114. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, the micropump has a plurality of intake openings.

(37) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two openings 112, 114 are arranged on a top side of the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, one or both openings is/are arranged on a side of the housing different from the top side. A flow guide, which carries the drawn-in fluid 102 in a central area of the micropump 110, is located within the housing. A piezoelectric element 116 is arranged in a diaphragm 118 in order to make possible an electrical actuation of a vibration of the diaphragm 118 via a bending of the piezoelectric element 116. The diaphragm 118 and the piezoelectric element 116 form the inertia swing unit 115. The inertia swing unit 115 is arranged at a corresponding suspension 119. The electrical actuation of the inertia swing unit 115 is embodied by an electrical connection (not shown) of the piezoelectric element 116 to the printed circuit board.

(38) Due to the architecture shown, the fluid 102 flowing through is pressed through the outlet opening. In this case, especially a guide opening 113 of a chamber 117 defined by the diaphragm 118 leads to a directed transport of the fluid 102 from the intake opening 112 to the outlet opening 114 because of the movement of the diaphragm 118.

(39) Other possible architectures of micropumps are known to the person skilled in the art. In particular, the micropump system according to the present invention is not limited to a concrete configuration of the micropump and/or of the inertia swing unit. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, the direction of the flow path is predefined by a nonreturn valve within the micropump system and/or the micropump.

(40) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a micropump system 700 according to the present invention, in which a nonreturn valve 750 is arranged in the area of the system outlet 706.

(41) The nonreturn valve 750 ensures that a minimum pressure is provided as the overall pump pressure by the micropump system 700. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, such a minimum pressure is ensured by a pressure sensor within the micropump system, especially in the area of the system outlet.

(42) Unlike in the previous exemplary embodiments, the two micropumps 110 in the micropump system 700 shown are fastened to the printed circuit board 140 via a plug-type connection 760. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, the micropump is fastened to the printed circuit board by a soldering pad.

(43) Furthermore, the number of flow duct elements 720 in the exemplary embodiment shown comprise three different flow duct elements 720, which each make possible a rigid connection to the micropumps connected thereto.

(44) The respective electrical connection between the printed circuit board 140 and the micropump 110 is embodied via a separate electrical supply cable 770 in the exemplary embodiment shown. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, the electrical connection is carried out via a plug-type connection between the micropump and the printed circuit board.

(45) The control unit 130 can be configured at different positions on the printed circuit board or at a spaced location from the printed circuit board.

(46) In all exemplary embodiments shown, each of the micropumps 110 comprising the plurality of micropumps is fastened to the flat printed circuit board 140 with the respective rigid fastening device such that all micropumps are arranged in a common fastening plane on the printed circuit board. Two such fastening planes are present only in the exemplary embodiment with two printed circuit boards shown in FIG. 5. The fastening plane is in this case preferably parallel to the plane formed by the printed circuit board 140.

(47) The exemplary embodiments with a single printed circuit board represent especially preferred exemplary embodiments, since an especially simple and compact structure of the micropump system is possible due to a single printed circuit board.

(48) In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, the micropumps within the micropump system are arranged in at least two different fastening planes, which are preferably both arranged parallel to a common printed circuit board for controlling these micropumps.

(49) FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a process 800 according to another aspect of the present invention.

(50) The process 800 according to the present invention for transport of a compressible fluid has in this case the steps described below.

(51) A first step 810 comprises the provision of a plurality of micropumps, which have each an intake opening and an outlet opening for the fluid and which are each configured to draw in the fluid through the intake opening, which fluid flows through the correspondingly formed micropump system during the use thereof, due to an electrically controlled inertia swing unit of the respective micropump and to discharge same through the outlet opening.

(52) A further step 820 comprises the formation of a flow path for the fluid due to a connection of a number of rigid flow duct elements to a respective micropump via a respective, elastically sealed port.

(53) A next step 830 comprises the electrical connection of one or two printed circuit boards to the plurality of micropumps and the rigid fastening of each micropump from the plurality of micropumps via a respective fastening device to the one or two printed circuit boards. In this case, a pressure build-up of the fluid flowing through the plurality of micropumps during the use, which pressure build-up is cascaded due to plurality of micropumps, is provided at a system outlet of the micropump system.

(54) The three steps 810, 820, 830 of this process are all carried out once during the manufacture of the micropump system. The operation of the micropump system includes the operation of the respective micropump, the alternating drawing in and discharge of which are already known.

(55) The cascaded pressure build-up made possible by the process 800 due to the plurality of micropumps allows both a setting of an outputted overall pump pressure via a number of micropumps connected in series and a setting of an outputted overall flow of the fluid via a number of micropumps connected in parallel.

(56) The process preferably comprises, furthermore, the formation of a common fastening plane on the printed circuit board, in which all micropumps are fastened via the rigid fastening device. This fastening plane is advantageously arranged parallel to the flat printed circuit board.

(57) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(58) 100, 200, 400, 500, 700 Micropump system 102 Fluid 104 Flow path 106, 206, 406, 506, 706 System outlet 108, 208, 408, 408′ System inlet 110 Micropump 111 Housing 112, 212 Intake opening 113 Guide opening 114, 214 Outlet opening 115 Inertia swing unit 116 Piezoelectric element 117 Chamber 118 Diaphragm 119 Suspension 120, 220, 420, 520, 720 Flow duct element 122 Port 124 Blocking element 130 Control unit 140, 140′ Printed circuit board 142 Soldered joint 226 Feed line 228 Discharge line 432 Cable 750 Nonreturn valve 760 Plug-type connection 770 Supply cable 800 Process 810, 820, 830 Process steps