Cryogen pump

Abstract

A cryogen pump, including: a pump section that includes: a bellow with an inlet opening at a first end and an exit opening, the inlet opening in direct fluid communication with a volume of a cryogen, the exit opening at least in fluid communication with a second end of the bellow opposing the first end, a pair of plugs configured to sealingly close the opposing ends of the bellow, the pair of plugs cooperating so that when one plug sealingly closes one of the ends, the other end of the bellow is open; and a drive section configured to drive the pump section in a reciprocating manner so as to move the plugs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cryogen pump, comprising:
 a pump section that includes:
 a bellow with an inlet opening at a first end and an exit opening, the inlet opening in direct fluid communication with a volume of a cryogen, the exit opening at least in fluid communication with a second end of the bellow opposing the first end, 
 a pair of plugs configured to sealingly close the opposing ends of the bellow, the pair of plugs cooperating so that when one plug sealingly closes one of the ends, the other end of the bellow is open; and 
   a drive section configured to drive the pump section in a reciprocating manner so as to move the plugs.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a container configured to retain the volume of a cryogen, wherein the bellow is submerged in the cryogen when the volume of cryogen is retained such that the inlet opening is disposed in the cryogen, and wherein, when the inlet opening is in an open condition, cryogen flows into the bellow. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the drive section translates rotational motion into reciprocating, linear motion that is communicated to the plugs.