A valve for controlling a flow of a fluid comprises: a sealing plate comprising a plurality of ports for passage of the fluid through the sealing plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sealing plate; and a plurality of valve members, each valve member comprising at least one anchor portion arranged in fixed relationship with the sealing plate and a closure portion which is contiguous with the anchor portion and in movable relationship with the sealing plate under a differential pressure of the fluid across the valve, the closure portion being movable away from the sealing plate under a first differential pressure direction to open at least one of the ports and toward the sealing plate under a second and opposite differential pressure direction to close said at least one of the ports. The anchor portions of the plurality of valve members partition the closure portions from each other such as to define a plurality of valve cells, each valve cell comprising one of the valve members and at least one associated port.
A method for controlling a microfluidic pump having a pump body defining a cavity, and an actuator arranged to generate pressure oscillations of a fluid contained within the cavity in order to cause fluid flow through an inlet and an outlet of the cavity, the method comprising: oscillating the actuator at a first frequency and determining an indication of a peak velocity of the actuator at said first frequency; oscillating the actuator at a second frequency and determining an indication of a peak velocity of the actuator at said second frequency; and adjusting the frequency of oscillation of the actuator to said first or second frequency for which the lowest peak velocity of the actuator was determined.
A valve includes a first plate, a second plate, a spacer disposed between the first plate and the second plate, and a flap movably disposed between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate includes a plurality of first apertures extending through said first plate and the second plate includes a plurality of second apertures extending through said second plate. The second apertures are substantially offset from the first apertures. The spacer forms a cavity between the first plate and the second plate and is in fluid communication with the first apertures and the second apertures. The flap has apertures substantially offset from the first apertures and substantially aligned with the second apertures, and the flap is operable to be motivated between said first and second plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of the fluid across the valve.
A pump for a microfluidic device is disclosed. The pump comprises an actuator and a resilient isolator which is a planar, layered structure. The resilient isolator may comprise a support layer and optionally other layers for strengthening against tensile stress imposed by bending. Alternatively or in addition, the resilient isolator may comprise a plurality of annular regions, layers of the resilient isolator being configured such that at least one of the plurality of annular regions is less resistant than another one of the plurality of annular regions to bending. The actuator may comprise a piezoelectric disc including a surface which comprises electrode regions for electrical connection with respective conductive regions of a conductive layer of the resilient isolator, and an alignment feature for rotational alignment of the piezoelectric disc to ensure the electrical connection between the electrode regions and the respective conductive regions.
A method of making an actuator for a resonant acoustic pump comprises: forming a through-hole in a ceramic material of a piezoelectric layer of the actuator, prior to assembly of the piezoelectric layer with other layers of the actuator; forming a through-hole in a flexible circuit layer of the actuator; forming a through-hole in an end plate layer of the actuator; and disposing each of the piezoelectric layer and the end plate layer on a respective one of opposite sides of the flexible circuit layer, so that the through-holes align to provide a passageway for a fluid to pass through the actuator.
A valve includes a first plate, a second plate, a spacer disposed between the first plate and the second plate, and a flap movably disposed between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate includes a plurality of first holes extending through said first plate and the second plate includes a plurality of second holes extending through said second plate. The second holes are substantially offset from the first holes. The spacer forms a cavity between the first plate and the second plate and is in fluid communication with the first holes and the second holes. The flap has holes substantially offset from the first holes and substantially aligned with the second holes, and the flap is operable to be motivated between said first and second plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of the fluid across the valve.
A voltage driving apparatus for a portable fluid pump comprising a power source arranged to provide a direct current, a DC gain unit electrically connected, in use, to receive a voltage from the power source and output an amplified voltage, and a DC to AC conversion unit arranged, in use, to receive the amplified voltage from the DC gain unit and output a periodic waveform to drive a piezoelectric actuator in the portable fluid pump. The output periodic waveform comprises a first discrete voltage level and a second discrete voltage level. Each period of the waveform comprises the first voltage level for a first length of time and a second voltage level for a second length of time.
A valve for controlling a flow of a fluid comprises: a sealing plate comprising a plurality of ports for passage of the fluid through the sealing plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sealing plate; and a plurality of valve members, each valve member comprising at least one anchor portion arranged in fixed relationship with the sealing plate and a closure portion which is contiguous with the anchor portion and in movable relationship with the sealing plate under a differential pressure of the fluid across the valve, the closure portion being movable away from the sealing plate under a first differential pressure direction to open at least one of the ports and toward the sealing plate under a second and opposite differential pressure direction to close said at least one of the ports. The anchor portions of the plurality of valve members partition the closure portions from each other such as to define a plurality of valve cells, each valve cell comprising one of the valve members and at least one associated port.
F16K 15/14 - Soupapes, clapets ou valves de retenue à corps de soupapes flexibles
F16K 15/16 - Soupapes, clapets ou valves de retenue à corps de soupapes flexibles à lamelles en forme de langue
F16K 11/10 - Soupapes ou clapets à voies multiples, p. ex. clapets mélangeursRaccords de tuyauteries comportant de tels clapets ou soupapesAménagement d'obturateurs et de voies d'écoulement spécialement conçu pour mélanger les fluides dont plusieurs éléments de fermeture ne se déplacent pas comme un tout
F16K 99/00 - Matière non prévue dans les autres groupes de la présente sous-classe
A valve for controlling fluid flow, the valve comprising: a first plate comprising a plurality of first holes extending generally perpendicular through said first plate; a second plate comprising a plurality of second holes extending generally perpendicular through said second plate, the second holes being substantially offset from the first holes of said first plate; a spacer disposed between said first plate and said second plate to form a cavity therebetween in fluid communication with the first holes of said first plate and the second holes of said second plate; a flap disposed and moveable between said first plate and said second plate, said flap having holes substantially offset from the first holes of said first plate and substantially aligned with the second holes of said second plate; wherein said flap is operable to be motivated between said first and second plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of the fluid across the valve; and wherein at least one of said first plate or said second plate has a coating arranged to control the distribution of one or more forces asserted on said flap when said flap impacts or is in contact with said first plate or second plate by controlling the areas of the flap over which said forces are asserted to inhibit wear of said flap at said areas.
A valve for controlling fluid flow, the valve comprising: a first plate comprising a plurality of first apertures extending generally perpendicular through said first plate; a second plate comprising a plurality of second apertures extending generally perpendicular through said second plate, the second apertures being substantially offset from the first apertures of said first plate; a spacer disposed between said first plate and said second plate to form a cavity therebetween in fluid communication with the first apertures of said first plate and the second apertures of said second plate; a flap disposed and moveable between said first plate and said second plate, said flap having apertures substantially offset from the first apertures of said first plate and substantially aligned with the second apertures of said second plate; wherein said flap is operable to be motivated between said first and second plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of the fluid across the valve; and wherein at least one of said first plate or said second plate comprises one or more features arranged to control the distribution of one or more forces asserted on said flap when said flap impacts or is in contact with said first plate or second plate by controlling the areas of the flap over which said forces are asserted to inhibit wear of said flap at said areas.
A voltage driving apparatus for a portable fluid pump (108) comprising a power source (101) arranged to provide a direct current, a DC gain unit (104) electrically connected, in use, to receive a voltage from the power source and output an amplified voltage, and a DC to AC conversion unit (106) arranged, in use, to receive the amplified voltage from the DC gain unit and output a periodic waveform to drive a piezoelectric actuator (108a) in the portable fluid pump. The output periodic waveform comprises a first discrete voltage level and a second discrete voltage level. Each period of the waveform comprises the first voltage level for a first length of time and a second voltage level for a second length of time.
H02M 3/335 - Transformation d'une puissance d'entrée en courant continu en une puissance de sortie en courant continu avec transformation intermédiaire en courant alternatif par convertisseurs statiques utilisant des tubes à décharge avec électrode de commande ou des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs avec électrodes de commande pour produire le courant alternatif intermédiaire utilisant des dispositifs du type triode ou transistor exigeant l'application continue d'un signal de commande utilisant uniquement des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs
F04B 43/04 - Pompes ayant un entraînement électrique
A fluid pump includes a pump body having upper and lower parts, each comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall closed at one end by a substantially circular end wall and partially closed at the opposite end by an actuator disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and between the end walls. A single cavity is thereby formed having upper and lower portions. The cavity encloses the actuator and is bounded by the end walls and side walls of the pump body and the surfaces of the actuator. A substantially open actuator support structure connects the actuator to the pump body and enables free flow of fluid between the upper and lower cavity portions. At least two apertures are provided through the pump body walls, at least one of which is a valved aperture. All of the apertures located substantially at the centres of the end walls are valved apertures. In use, the actuator oscillates in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the end walls causing an acoustic wrapped standing wave to exist in the cavity and thereby causing fluid flow through said apertures.
F04B 43/04 - Pompes ayant un entraînement électrique
F04B 53/16 - Carcasses d'enveloppeCylindresChemises de cylindre ou culassesConnexions des tubulures pour fluide
F04F 7/00 - Pompes déplaçant des fluides en utilisant leur inertie, p. ex. en produisant des vibrations dans le fluide
F04B 49/22 - Commande des "machines", pompes ou installations de pompage ou mesures de sécurité les concernant non prévues dans les groupes ou présentant un intérêt autre que celui visé par ces groupes par clapets
A fluid pump comprising one or two cavities which, in use, contains a fluid to be pumped, the chamber or chambers having a substantially cylindrical shape bounded by first and second end walls and a side wall; an actuator which, in use, causes oscillatory motion of the first end wall(s) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first end wall(s); and whereby, in use, these axial oscillations of the end walls drive radial oscillations of the fluid pressure in the main cavity; and wherein an isolator forms at least a portion of the first end wall between the actuator and the side wall and includes conductive tracks, wherein electrical connection is made to the actuator via the conductive tracks included within the isolator.
F04B 43/04 - Pompes ayant un entraînement électrique
F04B 45/04 - Pompes ou installations de pompage, ayant des organes de travail flexibles, spécialement adaptées pour fluides compressibles ayant des organes flexibles du genre plat, p. ex. des diaphragmes
F04B 19/00 - "Machines" ou pompes ayant des caractéristiques particulières non prévues dans les groupes ou présentant un intérêt autre que celui visé par ces groupes
14.
Fluid pump including a pressure oscillation with at least one nodal diameter
A pump comprising a side wall closed at each end by an end wall forming a cavity for, in use, containing a fluid, one or more actuators each operatively associated with one or more of the end walls to cause an oscillatory motion of the associated end wall(s) whereby, in use, these axial oscillations of the end wall(s) drive substantially radial oscillations of the fluid pressure in the cavity, two or more apertures in the cavity, a valve disposed in at least one of the apertures, wherein the actuator(s) is arranged to be non-axisymmetric in use such that, in use, a pressure oscillation with at least one nodal diameter is generated within the cavity.
F04B 43/04 - Pompes ayant un entraînement électrique
F04B 19/00 - "Machines" ou pompes ayant des caractéristiques particulières non prévues dans les groupes ou présentant un intérêt autre que celui visé par ces groupes
F04F 7/00 - Pompes déplaçant des fluides en utilisant leur inertie, p. ex. en produisant des vibrations dans le fluide
A valve for controlling the flow of fluid having first (16) and second (14) plates with offsetting apertures and a sidewall (12) disposed between the plates around the perimeter of the plates to form a cavity (15) in fluid communication with the apertures is disclosed. The valve further comprises a flap (17) disposed and moveable between the first and second plates and having apertures (22) substantially offset from the apertures (20) of one plate (16) and substantially aligned with the apertures (18) of the other plate (14). The flap is motivated between the two plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of fluid across the valve.
A fluid pump comprising a chamber which, in use, contains a fluid to be pumped, the chamber including a main cavity having a substantially cylindrical shape bounded by first and second end walls and a side wall and a secondary cavity extending radially outwards of the main cavity, one or more actuators which, in use, cause oscillatory motion of the first end wall in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first end wall, and whereby, in use, the axial oscillations of the end walls drive radial oscillations of the fluid pressure in the main cavity, and wherein the secondary cavity spaces the side wall from the first end wall such that the first end wall can move relative to the side wall when the actuator is activated.
F04B 17/03 - Pompes caractérisées par leur combinaison avec des machines motrices ou moteurs particuliers qui les entraînent ou par leur adaptation à ceux-ci entraînées par des moteurs électriques
A pump having a substantially cylindrical shape and defining a cavity formed by a side wall closed at both ends by end walls wherein the cavity contains a fluid is disclosed. The pump further comprises an actuator operatively associated with at least one of the end walls to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end wall to generate displacement oscillations of the driven end wall within the cavity. The pump further comprises an isolator operatively associated with a peripheral portion of the driven end wall to reduce dampening of the displacement oscillations.
F04B 17/00 - Pompes caractérisées par leur combinaison avec des machines motrices ou moteurs particuliers qui les entraînent ou par leur adaptation à ceux-ci
F04B 43/04 - Pompes ayant un entraînement électrique
F04F 7/00 - Pompes déplaçant des fluides en utilisant leur inertie, p. ex. en produisant des vibrations dans le fluide
A pump having a substantially cylindrical shape and defining a cavity formed by a side wall closed at both ends by end walls wherein the cavity contains a fluid is disclosed. The pump further comprises an actuator operatively associated with at least one of the end walls to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end wall to generate displacement oscillations of the driven end wall within the cavity. The pump further comprises an isolator operatively associated with a peripheral portion of the driven end wall to reduce dampening of the displacement oscillations. The pump further comprises a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve. The valve has first and second plates with offsetting apertures and a sidewall disposed between the plates around the perimeter of the plates to form a cavity in fluid communication with the apertures. The valve further comprises a flap disposed and moveable between the first and second plates and having apertures substantially offset from the apertures of one plate and substantially aligned with the apertures of the other plate. The flap is motivated between the two plates in response to a change in direction of the differential pressure of fluid across the valve.
F04B 17/00 - Pompes caractérisées par leur combinaison avec des machines motrices ou moteurs particuliers qui les entraînent ou par leur adaptation à ceux-ci
−10 m; and wherein, in use, the actuator causes oscillatory motion of one or both end walls in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the end walls; whereby, in use, the axial oscillations of the end walls drive radial oscillations of fluid pressure in the cavity.
F04B 45/04 - Pompes ou installations de pompage, ayant des organes de travail flexibles, spécialement adaptées pour fluides compressibles ayant des organes flexibles du genre plat, p. ex. des diaphragmes
brevets
