Fluid circulation pump

Abstract

A fluid flow pump comprising a suction inlet, a discharge outlet, and a movable part inside the chamber. The pump includes circular first upstream and downstream lips such that: over a first portion of the movement of said movable part in the chamber, the circular first upstream lip then allowing free passage for fluid between the first space and the suction inlet; and that over a second portion of said movement, the circular first upstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing to the suction inlet, the circular first downstream lip allowing fluid to pass from the first space to said discharge outlet and preventing fluid from passing to said first space.

1 . A fluid flow pump comprising a suction inlet, a discharge outlet, a chamber in fluid flow connection with the suction inlet and with the discharge outlet, a movable part arranged inside the chamber, and at least one motor mechanically connected to the movable part to move it inside the chamber, the pump being wherein it includes a first upstream lip placed closer to the suction inlet than to the discharge outlet and a first downstream lip placed closer to the discharge outlet than to the suction inlet, these first upstream and downstream lips being placed between one of the sides of said movable part and a first wall of the chamber to define a first space between the first upstream and downstream lips, these first upstream and downstream lips being such that:
 over a first portion of said movement of said movable part relative to the chamber, the first downstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing from said discharge outlet to said first space, the first upstream lip being always spaced apart from the first wall then allowing free passage for fluid between said first space and said suction inlet; and that   over a second portion of said reciprocating motion of said movable part relative to the chamber, different from the first portion of the movement, the first upstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing from said first space to said suction inlet, the first downstream lip being arranged so that throughout said movement of said movable part relative to the chamber:   it allows fluid to pass from the first space to said discharge outlet; and   it prevents fluid from passing from said discharge outlet to said first space.   
     
     
         2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said lips is carried by a support, at least one fluid passage being formed between this at least one given lip and its support, the at least one fluid passage being such that when said at least one given lip bears against its support, fluid can flow via said at least one fluid passage between the at least one given lip and its support. 
     
     
         3 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one fluid passage formed between said at least one given lip and its support is formed along a projection carried by the support. 
     
     
         4 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one fluid passage formed between said at least one given lip and its support is formed along a projection carried by said at least one given lip. 
     
     
         5 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one fluid passage formed between said at least one given lip and its support is a channel carried by the support. 
     
     
         6 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one fluid passage formed between said at least one given lip and its support is a channel carried by said at least one given lip. 
     
     
         7 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one fluid passage formed between said at least one given lip and its support extends radially relative to a central axis of symmetry of said at least one given lip. 
     
     
         8 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein when observed in a section plane containing a central axis of symmetry that is common to said lips, each of said lips has a specific section extending over a major portion of the length of the given lip, this specific section of the lip being of constant thickness in the section plane. 
     
     
         9 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first upstream lip is a circular lip that presents a conical inside surface facing towards a central axis of symmetry of the first upstream lip, the conical inside surface extending between a circular base of the first upstream lip and a circular end of the first upstream lip. 
     
     
         10 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said conical inside surface of said first upstream lip presents a cone angle that is less than or equal to 40° relative to a plane in which the circular base of the first upstream lip extends. 
     
     
         11 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said lips is made of a material that presents a Young's modulus lying in the range 1 MPa to 220 MPa. 
     
     
         12 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first upstream and downstream lips are carried by a base that is common to those lips, which base is releasably assembled on the first wall of the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first upstream and downstream lips are carried by said movable part. 
     
     
         14 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor being connected to the movable part via a coupling mechanism in such a manner that actuating the motor gives rise to reciprocating motion of the movable part relative to the chamber in order to move a fluid from the suction inlet to the discharge outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The pump according to  claim 14 , wherein the reciprocating motion of the movable part is axial motion along a central axis of symmetry of the movable part, which is in the shape of a body of revolution. 
     
     
         16 . The pump according to  claim 14 , wherein the reciprocating motion of the movable part is radial motion about a central axis of symmetry of the movable part, which is tubular in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said motor is an electric motor located outside the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said motor is an electric motor located inside the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor is connected to a control unit, the control unit being arranged to regulate the operation of the motor as a function of at least one value previously estimated by the control unit. 
     
     
         20 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump includes a second wall of the chamber, the part being movable between the first and second walls of the chamber under the effect of said at least one motor, the pump also including a second upstream lip placed closer to the suction inlet than to the discharge outlet and a second downstream placed closer to the discharge outlet than to the suction inlet, the second upstream and downstream lips being placed between one of the sides of said movable part and said second wall of the chamber so as to define a second space between the second upstream and downstream lips, the second upstream and downstream lips being such that:
 over a third portion of said movement of said movable part relative to the chamber, the second downstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing from said discharge outlet to said first space, the second upstream lip then allowing a free passage for fluid between said second space and said suction inlet; and that   over a fourth portion of said reciprocating motion of said movable part relative to the chamber, different from the third portion of the movement, the second upstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing from said second space to said suction inlet, the second downstream lip being arranged so that throughout said movement of said movable part relative to the chamber:   it allows fluid to pass from the second space to said discharge outlet; and   it prevents fluid from passing from said discharge outlet to said second space.   
     
     
         21 . The pump according to  claim 1 , said pump being self-priming when dry. 
     
     
         22 . The pump according to  claim 1  wherein each of said lips is a circular lip.