Fluid pumps and related systems and methods

Abstract

A reciprocating fluid pump includes a pump body, a first subject fluid chamber, a second subject fluid chamber, a first plunger at least partially defining a first drive fluid chamber and including a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, and a second plunger located within the pump body and at least partially defining a second drive fluid chamber and including a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the first plunger is not structurally coupled to the second plunger, such that the first plunger and the second plunger are independently movable during operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reciprocating fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid, comprising:
 a pump body;   a first subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a second subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a first plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a first drive fluid chamber, the first plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a second plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a second drive fluid chamber, the second plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the first plunger is not structurally coupled to the second plunger, such that the first plunger and the second plunger are independently movable during operation;   a first sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the first plunger;   a second sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the second plunger; and   an external controller operably coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly and configured to insert drive fluid into the pump body based on sensed positions of the first plunger and the second plunger.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the first drive fluid chamber;   a second piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the second drive fluid chamber;   a first piston comprising a first piston head and a first shaft extending from the first piston head, wherein the first piston head is disposed within the first piston chamber and wherein the first shaft is coupled to the first plunger and extends between the first drive fluid chamber and the first piston chamber; and   a second piston comprising a second piston head and a second shaft extending from the second piston head, wherein the second piston head is disposed within the second piston chamber and wherein the second shaft is coupled to the second plunger and extends between the second drive fluid chamber and the second piston chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 2 , wherein the first piston comprises a first sensor-receiving cavity extending from the first piston head of the first piston and at least partially through the first shaft of the first piston, and wherein the second piston comprises a second sensor-receiving cavity extending from the second piston head of the second piston and at least partially through the second shaft of the second piston. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 3 , wherein the first sensor assembly comprises:
 a first sensor portion extending at least partially into the first sensor-receiving cavity; and   a first target portion disposed within a base of the first sensor-receiving cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor assembly comprises an inductive proximity sensor and a target portion. 
     
     
         6 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 1 , wherein the external controller comprises a programmable logic controller. 
     
     
         7 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a subject fluid inlet extending from an exterior of the pump body and into the first and second subject fluid chambers; and   a subject fluid outlet extending from the first and second subject fluid chambers and to the exterior of the pump body, wherein the subject fluid outlet is restricted comparative to the subject fluid inlet.   
     
     
         8 . A reciprocating fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid, comprising:
 a pump body;   a first subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a second subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a first plunger located at least partially within the pump body, the first plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a second plunger located at least partially within the pump body, the second plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a first drive fluid chamber at least partially defined within bellows of the first plunger;   a second drive fluid chamber at least partially defined within bellows of the second plunger;   a first piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the first drive fluid chamber;   a second piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the second drive fluid chamber;   a first piston coupled to the first plunger and extending between the first drive fluid chamber and the first piston chamber, the first piston comprising a first plurality of vents extending through the first piston and from the first drive fluid chamber to the first piston chamber; and   a second piston coupled to the second plunger and extending between the second drive fluid chamber and the second piston chamber, the second piston comprising a second plurality of vents extending through the second piston and from the second drive fluid chamber to the second piston chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the first plunger;   a second sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the second plunger; and   an external controller operably coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly and configured to insert drive fluid into the pump body based on sensed positions of the first plunger and the second plunger.   
     
     
         10 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 9 , wherein the first sensor assembly comprises:
 a first sensor portion extending at least partially through a portion of the first piston; and   a first target portion disposed within the first piston.   
     
     
         11 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 10 , wherein the first piston comprises a first piston head and a first shaft extending from the first piston head, wherein the first piston head is disposed within the first piston chamber and wherein the first shaft of the first piston is coupled to the first plunger and extends between the first drive fluid chamber and the first piston chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a subject fluid inlet extending from an exterior of the pump body and into the first and second subject fluid chambers; and   a subject fluid outlet extending from the first and second subject fluid chambers and to the exterior of the pump body, wherein the subject fluid outlet is restricted comparative to the subject fluid inlet.   
     
     
         13 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 8 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are not structurally connected. 
     
     
         14 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 8 , wherein the pump body comprises:
 a center body at least partially housing the first and second subject fluid chambers;   a first end piece attached to the center body on a first side of the center body and housing the first piston chamber; and   a second end piece attached to the center body on a second side of the center body and housing the second piston chamber.   
     
     
         15 . A reciprocating fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid, comprising:
 a pump body;   a first subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a second subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a first plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a first drive fluid chamber, the first plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body;   a second plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a second drive fluid chamber, the second plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body; and   an external controller configured to insert drive fluid into the pump body in order to cause the first plunger and the second plunger to move through expansion and compression strokes, wherein the external controller is configured to cause the first plunger and the second plunger to at least partially overlap in timing of the expansion and compression strokes.   
     
     
         16 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the first drive fluid chamber;   a second piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the second drive fluid chamber;   a first piston comprising a first piston head and a first shaft extending from the first piston head, wherein the first piston head is disposed within the first piston chamber and wherein the first shaft is coupled to the first plunger and extends between the first drive fluid chamber and the first piston chamber;   a second piston comprising a second piston head and a second shaft extending from the second piston head, wherein the second piston head is disposed within the second piston chamber and wherein the second shaft is coupled to the second plunger and extends between the second drive fluid chamber and the second piston chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 16 , wherein the first piston comprises a first plurality of vents extending through the first piston and from the first drive fluid chamber to the first piston chamber, and wherein the second piston comprises a second plurality of vents extending through the second piston and from the second drive fluid chamber to the second piston chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the first plunger; and   a second sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the second plunger,   wherein the external controller operably coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly and configured to insert drive fluid into the pump body and drive the first plunger and the second plunger based on sensed positions of the first plunger and the second plunger.   
     
     
         19 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 15 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are not structurally connected. 
     
     
         20 . The reciprocating fluid pump of  claim 15 ,