Low power electromagnetic pump having internal compliant element

Abstract

An electromagnetic pump having a pump body having a fluid containing interior and an inlet and outlet. An accumulator positioned in the fluid containing interior and in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet of the pump. The pump also comprising an armature comprising a pole portion joined to a plunger portion, wherein the plunger portion comprises a one-piece structure including shaft portions of increasing diameters and a head portion comprising a diameter greater than the shaft portions, the plunger portion and a pole portion located internal to the pump housing for magnetic attraction by an electromagnet means. A retainer element is joined with the plunger portion and a main spring urges on the retainer element to move the plunger thus allowing for a return stoke of the plunger as the pump cycles.

1 . A low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element comprising: 
 a) a pump body defining an interior fluid containing region comprising a inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with one another;    b) check valve means operatively associated with the fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from the inlet port through the outlet port and blocking fluid flow in a direction from the outlet port through the inlet port;    c) an accumulator located inside the pump body in the interior fluid containing region in fluid communication with the inlet port and outlet port;    d) electromagnet means carried by the pump body and located external to the interior fluid containing region defined in the pump body;    e) an armature positioned in the interior fluid containing region of the pump body, the armature comprising a pole portion for attraction to the electromagnet means;    f) the armature being movably supported in the pump body for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when the pole portion is attracted by the electromagnet to force fluid out the outlet port and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to the rest position; and    g) means defining a magnetic circuit including the electromagnet means and the armature and a gap between the pole portion of the armature and the electromagnet means for moving the armature toward the electromagnet means to close the gap in response to electrical energization of the electromagnet means.    
   
   
       2 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 1  wherein the accumulator comprises a bellows-shape  
   
   
       3 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 1  wherein the interior fluid containing region comprises a pole button chamber and an outlet tube located internal to the pump body and extending from the pole button chamber to the accumulator such that the accumulator is positioned between the outlet tube and the outlet port.  
   
   
       4 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 3  wherein the outlet tube is about 0.1 inches in length.  
   
   
       5 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 3  wherein the outlet tube comprises an orifice having a diameter in the range of 0.004 inches to 0.04 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 1  wherein the accumulator comprises a diaphragm-type accumulator.  
   
   
       7 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 6  wherein the interior fluid containing region comprises a pole button chamber and an outlet tube located internal to the pump body and extending from the pole button chamber to the diaphragm-type accumulator such that the diaphragm-type accumulator is positioned between the outlet tube and the outlet port.  
   
   
       8 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 7  wherein the outlet tube is about 0.1 inches in length.  
   
   
       9 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 7  wherein the outlet tube comprises an orifice and the orifice diameter is in the range of 0.004 inches to 0.04 inches in diameter.  
   
   
       10 . A low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element comprising: 
 a) a pump body defining an interior fluid containing region comprising a inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with one another;    b) check valve means operatively associated with the interior fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from the inlet port through the outlet port and blocking fluid flow in a direction from the outlet port through the inlet port;    c) an accumulator located inside the pump body in the interior fluid containing region in fluid communication with the inlet port and outlet port;    d) a filter supported in the pump body, the filter being in fluid communication with the inlet port and the interior fluid containing region;    e) electromagnet means carried by the pump body and located external to the interior fluid containing region defined in the pump body;    f) an armature positioned in the interior fluid containing region of the pump body, the armature comprising a pole portion for attraction to the electromagnet means;    g) the armature being movably supported in the pump body for movement from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when the pole portion is attracted by the electromagnet to force fluid out the outlet port and for movement in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to the rest position; and    h) means defining a magnetic circuit including the electromagnet means and the armature and a gap between the pole portion of the armature and the electromagnet means for moving the armature toward the electromagnet means to close the gap in response to electrical energization of the electromagnet means.    
   
   
       11 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 10  further comprising a ferrule mounted to the pump body and a means for support and wherein the means for support is for supporting the filter in the ferrule.  
   
   
       12 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 10  further comprising O-rings positioned in the ferrule for supporting the filter.  
   
   
       13 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 10  wherein the accumulator is a diaphragm type accumulator.  
   
   
       14 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 10  wherein the accumulator is a bellows type accumulator.  
   
   
       15 . The low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element according to  claim 10  wherein the interior fluid containing region comprises a pole button chamber and an outlet tube located internal to the pump body and extending from the pole button chamber to the accumulator such that the accumulator is positioned between the outlet tube and the outlet port.  
   
   
       16 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 15  wherein the outlet tube is about 0.1 inches in length.  
   
   
       17 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 15  wherein the outlet tube comprises an orifice and the orifice is in the range of 0.004 inches to 0.04 inches in diameter.  
   
   
       18 . A low power electromagnetic pump comprising: 
 a) a pump body comprising an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with one another;    b) the pump body defining an interior fluid container region comprising an armature shaft chamber which is in fluid communication with the inlet port, and further comprising a pole button chamber that is in fluid communication with the armature shaft chamber;    c) an armature comprising a pole portion and a plunger portion positioned in the armature shaft chamber;    d) an accumulator positioned in the interior fluid containing region and located between the inlet port and the outlet port; and    e) an electromagnet for energizing and generating an electromagnetic field to attract and move the pole button of the armature from a rest position through the forward pumping stroke, and for de-energizing allowing the armature to return the rest position.    
   
   
       19 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 18  further comprising an outlet tube and an accumulator recess in the pump body for receiving the accumulator and wherein the outlet tube leads from the pole button recess to the accumulator recess and wherein the accumulator recess leads to the outlet port.  
   
   
       20 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 18  wherein the accumulator is one of the following: a diaphragm type accumulator, a bellows type accumulator, or a bellows type accumulator wherein the bellows are separated by dimples.  
   
   
       21 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 18  further comprising a filter supported in the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet port and the interior fluid containing region.  
   
   
       22 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 21  further comprising a ferrule mounted to the pump body and a means for support positioned in the ferrule and wherein the means for support is for supporting the filter in the ferrule.  
   
   
       23 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 22  wherein the means for support comprise O-rings.  
   
   
       24 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 19  wherein the outlet tube is about 0.1 inches in length.  
   
   
       25 . The low power electromagnetic pump according to  claim 19  wherein the outlet tube comprises an orifice having a diameter in the range of 0.004 inches to 0.04 inches.  
   
   
       26 . A method of pumping with a low power electromagnetic pump having an internal compliant element comprising: 
 a) providing a pump body defining an interior fluid containing region in the pump body, and providing the pump body with an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with one another;    b) providing check valve means operatively associated with the fluid containing region for allowing fluid flow in a direction from the inlet port through the outlet port and blocking fluid flow in a direction from the outlet port through the inlet port;    c) placing an accumulator inside the pump body fluid and providing fluid communication between the interior fluid containing region, the accumulator, the inlet port, and the outlet port;    d) providing electromagnet means associated with the pump body and locating it external to the interior fluid containing region defined in the pump body;    e) locating an armature in the interior fluid containing region of the pump body, the armature comprising a pole portion for attraction to the electromagnet means;    f) supporting the armature in the pump body and moving it from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when the pole portion is attracted by the electromagnet to force fluid out the outlet port and moving the armature in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to the rest position;    g) providing means defining a magnetic circuit including the electromagnet means and the armature and a gap between the pole portion of the armature and the electromagnet means for moving the armature toward the electromagnet means to close the gap in response to electrical energization of the electromagnet means; and    h) utilizing the accumulator to allow rapid pumping operation of the pump and subsequent slow delivery of fluid to the outlet port.    
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , further includes providing a filter in fluid communication with the inlet port and interior fluid containing region.