Pressure monitored piston pump

Abstract

A system and method of use for handling fluids comprising a manifold comprising ducts comprising fluids to be handled; a pump comprising a chamber which is filled with a medium; a bendable membrane arranged between the ducts of the manifold and the chamber of the pump for transferring pressure changes in the chamber filled with a medium to the ducts of the manifold; and a sensor which is attached to the chamber filled with a medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for handling fluids comprising:
 a manifold comprising ducts comprising fluids to be handled;   a pump comprising a chamber which is filled with a medium; and   a bendable membrane arranged between the ducts of the manifold and the chamber of the pump for transferring pressure changes in the chamber filled with a medium to the ducts of the manifold;   wherein a separate housing comprising a sensor is attached to the chamber filled with a medium, wherein the sensor is not in contact with the medium in the pump's chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a piston which is arranged in the chamber filled with a medium for moving the medium by increasing or minimising the volume in the chamber filled with a medium by a movement of the piston inwards or outwards of the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the piston of the pump is surrounded by bellows. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the bellows are made of stainless-steel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a stepper motor for moving the piston of the pump. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the piston of the pump has at least partially a D-shaped circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a valve is arranged between a duct of the manifold which is arranged adjacent to the bendable membrane and further ducts which are connected to a supply and a disposal for the fluid to be handled. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the valve is a 3/2-way valve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is fluidly connected through a hole to the chamber filled with a medium. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the medium in the chamber is an oil. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the sensor and the interface to the chamber is filled with a medium. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is connected electrically to the circuit board. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the circuit board comprises a data processing unit for processing data received from the sensor. 
     
     
         15 . A method for monitoring a system according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 Measuring parameters in the chamber filled with a medium with the sensor;   Providing the measured parameter to the data processing unit on the circuit board; and   Determining whether the measured data have expected values.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising the step of preparing measurement data in analysis runs with known fluids to obtain a set of data with values to be expected.