Graphene-drum pump and engine systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to pump systems and engine systems having graphene drums. In embodiments of the invention, the graphene drum can be utilized in the main chambers and/or valves of the pumps and engines.

1 . A pump comprising:
 (i) a cavity having a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is operable to change the volume capacity of the cavity;   (ii) an upstream valve connected to the cavity, wherein
 (a) the upstream valve is operable to be in an open position, wherein fluid can flow through the upstream valve into the cavity, and 
 (b) the upstream valve is operable to be in a closed position, wherein fluid cannot flow through the upstream valve into the cavity; and 
   (iii) a downstream valve connected to the cavity, wherein
 (a) the downstream valve is operable to be in an open position, wherein fluid can flow from the cavity through the downstream valve, and 
 (b) the downstream valve is operable to be in a closed position, wherein fluid cannot flow from the cavity through the downstream valve, wherein 
   at least one of the cavity, upstream valve, or downstream valve comprises an electrically conductive drum, wherein the electrically conductive drum is atomically thin.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive drum is a graphene drum. 
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cavity, upstream valve, or downstream valve comprises a multi electrically-conductive-drum stack of at least two electrically conductive drums. 
     
     
         10 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises a first electrically conductive drum, the upstream valve comprises a second electrically conductive drum, and the downstream valve comprises a third electrically conductive drum. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 14 , wherein (a) the first electrically conductive drum is a first graphene drum, (b) the second electrically conductive drum is a second graphene drum, and (c) the third electrically conductive drum is a third graphene drum. 
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a electrically conductive gate, wherein the electrically conductive drum is operable to be pulled toward the electrically conductive gate due to a voltage between the electrically conductive drum and the electrically conductive. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is the electrically conductive drum. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The pump of  claim 19  further comprising
 (i) a second cavity, wherein
 (a) the diaphragm is operable to change the volume capacity of the second cavity, 
 (b) as the volume capacity of the cavity increases the volume capacity of the second cavity decreases, and 
 (c) as the volume capacity of the cavity decreases the volume capacity of the second cavity increases. 
 
 (ii) a metallic gate located within the second cavity, wherein the electrically conductive drum is operable to be pulled toward the electrically conductive gate due to a voltage between the electrically conductive drum and the electrically conductive gate. 
 
     
     
         23 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A valve comprising:
 (i) a cavity having
 (a) an electrically conductive membrane, and 
 (b) an opening for flowing fluid though the cavity; 
   (ii) a gate operable to move the electrically conductive membrane between a first position and second position due to a change in voltage applied to the gate, wherein
 (a) when the electrically conductive membrane is in the first position, the electrically conductive membrane is located away from the opening such that fluid can flow freely through the opening, and 
 (b) when the electrically conductive membrane is in the second position, the electrically conductive membrane is located at a predetermined distance from the opening such that fluid flow though the opening is restricted. 
   
     
     
         48 . The valve of  claim 47 , further comprising an electrical conductor located near the opening, wherein when the electrically conductive membrane is located at or near the second position, the electrical conductor and electrically conductive membrane are operatively connected to allow a current to flow therebetween that is indicative of the location of the electrically conductive membrane. 
     
     
         49 . The valve of  claim 48 , further comprising a controller operable to control the voltage applied to the gate by utilizing the current to adjust the gate voltage so that the electrically conductive membrane is located at the second position. 
     
     
         50 . The valve of  claim 48 , wherein the current is a tunneling current. 
     
     
         51 . The valve of  claim 48  further comprising a resistor and a voltage source operatively connected to the electrically conductive membrane and the gate, wherein when the electrically conductive membrane is located near the second position, a current can operatively flow through the resistor that passively lowers the voltage between the electrically conductive membrane and the gate. 
     
     
         52 . The valve of  claim 47  further comprising a capacitor sensor operatively connected to the electrically conductive membrane and the gate such that it may detect a change of capacitance between the electrically conductive membrane and the gate that is indicative of the location of the electrically conductive membrane. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The valve of  claim 47 , wherein the valve is operable to prevent the electrically conductive member from coming in contact with the gate. 
     
     
         55 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The valve of  claim 47 , wherein the electrically conductive membrane is a graphene membrane. 
     
     
         59 . The valve of  claim 47 , wherein the predetermined distance is about 1 nm. 
     
     
         60 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A device that comprises a pump, wherein the pump comprises:
 (i) a cavity having a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is operable to change the volume capacity of the cavity;   (ii) a first valve connected to the cavity, wherein
 (a) the first valve is operable to be in an open position, wherein fluid can flow (I) through the first valve into the cavity and (II) from the cavity through the first valve, depending upon the pressure differential across the first valve, and 
 (b) the first valve is operable to be in a closed position, wherein fluid cannot flow (I) through the first valve into the cavity and (II) from the cavity through the first valve, regardless of the pressure differential across the first valve; and 
   (iii) a second valve connected to the cavity, wherein
 (a) the second valve is operable to be in an open position, wherein fluid can flow (I) through the second valve into the cavity and (II) from the cavity through the second valve, depending upon the pressure differential across the second valve, and 
 (b) the second valve is operable to be in a closed position, wherein fluid cannot flow (I) through the second valve into the cavity and (II) from the cavity through the second valve, regardless of the pressure differential across the second valve; wherein 
   at least one of the cavity, first valve, or second valve comprises an electrically conductive drum, wherein the electrically conductive drum is atomically thin.   
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the device is operable as a speaker. 
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 71 , wherein the device is operable as a compact audio speaker. 
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the electrically conductive drum is a graphene drum. 
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein the graphene drum is operable for producing an audio signal having a frequency in the audio frequency range. 
     
     
         75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . The device of  claim 74 , wherein the graphene drum is operable for producing an audio signal having a frequency in the audio frequency range by alternating the flow of air through the pump in a first direction and a second direction, wherein
 (a) the first direction of the air flow is flowing the air through the first valve, into and through the cavity, and through the second valve,   (b) the second direction of the air flow is flowing air through the second valve, into and through the cavity, and through the first valve, and   (c) the rate of alternating the flow of air is the frequency of the audio signal.   
     
     
         77 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the device is operable for medical applications. 
     
     
         78 - 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the device is operable for electronic applications. 
     
     
         81 - 84 . (canceled)