Piezo pump and pressurized circuit provided therewith

Abstract

A piezo pump for use in a pressurized circuit includes a pump chamber with an inlet provided with a one way inlet valve, for connection to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and an outlet provided with a one way outlet valve, for connection to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber. A pressure chamber, which can function as a second pump chamber if desired, is defined at the side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber, wherein said pressure chamber is connected to a pressure source, which may be the feeding line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A piezo pump assembly for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising:
 a piezo pump having a pump chamber with a pump chamber inlet provided with a one way inlet valve connected to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a pump chamber outlet provided with a one way outlet valve connected to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber, wherein a pressure chamber is defined on a side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber; and   a pressure source fluidly connected to the pump chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The piezo pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure source is defined by being fluidly connected to the feeding line with a pressure line. 
     
     
         3 . The piezo pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure source is a pressurized vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The piezo pump assembly comprising at least two piezo pumps according to  claim 1  connected to each other in series defining at least a first piezo pump and a last piezo pump, wherein the outlet of the piezo pump is connected to an inlet of a following piezo pump. 
     
     
         5 . The piezo pump assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the pressure source of at least the first piezo pump is fluidly connected to the feeding line and wherein a pressure source of at least the last piezo pump is defined by being fluidly connected to the discharge line with an additional pressure line. 
     
     
         6 . The piezo pump assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein only the pressure chamber of the last piezo pump is fluidly connected to the discharge line. 
     
     
         7 . The piezo pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a one way inlet valve is operably coupled to the pressure chamber to allow flow into the pressure chamber through an inlet and inhibit flow out of the pressure chamber through the inlet, and wherein a one way outlet valve is operably coupled to the pressure chamber to allow flow out of the pressure chamber through an outlet and inhibit flow into the pressure chamber through the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The piezo pump assembly comprising at least two piezo pumps according to  claim 7  connected to each other in series, wherein the outlet of the pump chamber of the piezo pump is connected to an inlet of a pump chamber of a following piezo pump, and wherein the outlet of the pressure chamber of the piezo pump is connected to an inlet of a pressure chamber of a following piezo pump. 
     
     
         9 . The piezo pump assembly comprising a number of piezo pumps according to  claim 1  connected to each other in parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The piezo pump assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein each piezo pump has a planar configuration and wherein the number of piezo pumps are stacked in a planar fashion to define a pillar like structure. 
     
     
         11 . A piezo pump assembly for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising:
 a pump housing having a pump chamber with a pump chamber inlet provided with a one way inlet valve connected to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a pump chamber outlet provided with a one way outlet valve connected to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber, wherein a pressure chamber is defined in the pump housing on a side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber.   
     
     
         12 . A piezo pump assembly for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising:
 a pump housing having a first pump chamber with a first pump chamber inlet provided with a first one way inlet valve connected to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a first pump chamber outlet provided with a first one way outlet valve connected to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber, the pump housing having further a second pump chamber on a side of the piezo pump diaphragm opposite the first pump diaphragm, the second pump chamber having a second pump chamber inlet provided with a second one way inlet valve connected to the feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a second pump chamber outlet provided with a second one way outlet valve connected to the discharge line of the pressurized circuit.