Fluid-moving device with an internal passageway and a clearance seal

Abstract

A fluid-moving device is disclosed. The fluid-moving device comprises a housing defining a suction chamber; at least one internal passageway formed inside the housing; a moving member movably disposed within the chamber; and a sealing member circumferentially disposed between the housing and the moving member. The internal passageway has a first end opening to the suction chamber and a second end connecting to an outside surface of the housing. The sealing member has a fluid-tight relationship with the housing. The sealing member and the moving member define a continuous and uniform gap, having a size that allows the fluid to fill the gap but prevents the fluid from flowing through the gap from the first side to the second side of the opening under an operating pressure differential between the first and the second side.

1 . A fluid-moving device, comprising: 
 a housing defining a suction chamber and at least one internal passageway formed inside the housing, the internal passageway having a first end opening to the suction chamber and a second end opening to an outside surface of the housing;    a moving member movably disposed within the chamber; and    a sealing member circumferentially disposed between the housing and the moving member, the sealing member having a fluid-tight relationship with the housing, and the sealing member and the moving member defining a continuous and uniform gap, wherein the gap has a size that allows the fluid to fill the gap but prevents the fluid from flowing through the gap from the suction chamber to an outside of the chamber under an operating fluid pressure.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a bearing disposed inside the suction chamber, the bearing having an aperture, wherein the moving member disposed coaxially and slidably inside the aperture, whereby a reciprocal movement of the moving member generates a pressure inside the suction chamber.    
   
   
       3 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal passageway is formed by intersecting bores, each bore having an outer portion opening to the outside surface of the housing, wherein the outer portion of each bore is plugged.  
   
   
       4 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve mounted on the housing, the valve having at least one fluid communication port connected to the second end of the internal passageway.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 4 , further comprising a valve chamber formed in the housing, wherein the valve is at least partially situated inside the valve chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 5 , wherein the valve comprises a plurality of the fluid communication ports, each port connected to the internal passageway.  
   
   
       7 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one fluid communication port is a fluid inlet and at least one communication port is a fluid outlet.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of valve passageways formed inside the housing, wherein each passageway intersects the internal passageway and has a first end connected to the inlet or the outlet of the valve, whereby connecting the inlet and the outlet to the internal passageway, and a second end opened to the outside.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 8 , further comprising a manifold attached to the housing, wherein the manifold comprises: 
 at least one input port for connecting to a fluid supply;    at least one output port for connecting to a fluid sink; and    a plurality of manifold passageways formed in the casing and connecting the second ends of the valve passageways to the input or the output ports of the manifold.    
   
   
       10 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 9 , further comprising an elastomeric seal positioned between the valve and the manifold passageways.  
   
   
       11 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 4 , wherein a type of the valve is selected from the group consisting of face shear valves, diaphragm valves, and cup-type shear valves.  
   
   
       12 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the fluid-moving device is made of two mating parts, each part having a suction cavity and an internal groove formed between the suction cavity and an outside surface of the housing, wherein the cavity and the groove on one mating part cooperate with the matching cavity and groove on the second mating part to form the suction chamber and the internal passageway.  
   
   
       13 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of a rigid material.  
   
   
       14 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid material is selected from the group consisting of metals and plastics.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member and the moving member are made of ceramic materials.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the gap is defined by an internal wall of the sealing member and an outer wall of the moving member, and cross-sections of the internal and the outer walls have substantially circular shapes.  
   
   
       17 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is integrally formed with the housing.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is a separate element from the housing, the fluid-moving device further comprising a static seal disposed between the housing and the sealing member to maintain the fluid-tight relationship therebetween.  
   
   
       19 . The fluid-moving device of  claim 18 , wherein the static seal is an annular elastomeric seal removably mounted on the sealing member.  
   
   
       20 . A pump, comprising: 
 a housing having an internal wall defining a suction chamber for containing a fluid;    a valve attached to the housing;    a piston movably disposed within the chamber;    an internal passageway formed inside the housing, the internal passageway having a first end opening to the suction chamber and a second end connecting to the valve; and    a sealing member circumferentially disposed between the housing and the piston, the sealing member having a fluid-tight relationship with the housing, and the sealing member and the piston defining a continuous and uniform gap, wherein the gap has a size that allows the fluid to fill the gap but prevents the fluid from flowing through the gap from the suction chamber to an outside of the chamber under an operating fluid pressure.    
   
   
       21 . The pump of  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member and the piston are made of ceramic materials.  
   
   
       22 . The pump of  claim 20 , wherein the housing comprises a bearing disposed inside the suction chamber, the bearing having an aperture, wherein the moving member disposed coaxially and slidably inside the aperture.  
   
   
       23 . The pump of  claim 20 , further comprising a static seal disposed between the housing and the sealing member to maintain the fluid-tight relationship therebetween.  
   
   
       24 . The pump of  claim 23 , wherein the static seal is an annular elastomeric seal removably mounted on the sealing member.  
   
   
       25 . The pump of  claim 20 , wherein the valve has at least one fluid communication port connected to the second end of the internal passageway.  
   
   
       26 . The pump of  claim 20 , wherein the valve is a face shear valve.  
   
   
       27 . A method of making a fluid-moving device, comprising: 
 (a) providing a housing having a suction chamber;    (b) movably disposing a moving member within the chamber;    (c) forming an internal passageway, wherein a first end of the internal passageway opens to the suction chamber and a second end of the internal passageway opens to an outside surface of the housing; and    (d) placing a sealing member between the housing and the moving member to result in a fluid-tight relationship between the sealing member and the housing, whereby the sealing member and the moving member define a continuous and uniform gap, wherein the gap has a size that allows the fluid to fill the gap but prevents the fluid from flowing through the gap from the suction chamber to an outside of the chamber under an operating fluid pressure.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of forming an internal passageway inside the housing, further comprises: 
 making intersecting bores in the housing, each bore having an outer portion opening to the outside surface of the housing; and    plugging the outer portion of each bore.