Pumps

Abstract

A rotary pump comprising a housing having a first and second fluid port and an interior surface defining a cavity in which a rotor is located, wherein the rotor comprises a surface recess forming a fluid-conveying chamber with the interior surface of the housing, the pump further comprising a resiliently deformable diaphragm providing part of the interior surface of the housing and being urged into contact with the surface of the rotor by the action of pressurising means acting on the rear surface of the resiliently deformable diaphragm, the pump further comprising one or a pair of flow channels associated with the resiliently deformable diaphragm extending longitudinally from an end of the rotor. In embodiments where the pump comprises one flow channel, the flow channel is in fluid communication with the first fluid port and an aperture opens from the interior surface of the housing to place the second fluid port in direct fluid flow communication with the fluid-conveying chamber. In embodiments where the pump comprises a pair of flow channels, the pair of flow channels comprise a first flow channel in fluid communication with the first fluid port and closed to the second fluid port and a second flow channel closed to the first fluid port and in fluid communication with the second fluid port, with each flow channel being located at opposite sides of the diaphragm. Embodiments of the invention exhibit continuous fluid flow when in use.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A pump comprising:
 a housing defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a fluid path between the first chamber and the second chamber, the housing comprising:
 an inlet port positioned to direct fluid into the first chamber, and 
 an outlet port positioned to receive fluid from the second chamber; 
   a rotor disposed within the first chamber and configured to, upon rotation, convey fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber; and   a resiliently deformable diaphragm forming an internal barrier within the housing that separates the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein a first surface of the resiliently deformable diaphragm engages with the rotor within the first chamber and a second surface of the resiliently deformable diaphragm is exposed to an interior of the second chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the resiliently deformable diaphragm is configured such that, in operation, fluid pressure within the second chamber from a discharge of the rotor urges the first surface of the resiliently deformable diaphragm against the rotor. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel fluidly coupled to the inlet port, the second flow channel fluidly coupled to the second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of housing engaging surfaces and a plurality of recesses, each recess of the plurality of recesses forming a respective fluid-conveying chamber with interior surfaces of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein rotation of the rotor fluidly couples the respective fluid-conveying chamber with the first flow channel, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the first flow channel into the respective fluid-conveying chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein continued rotation of the rotor moves the fluid away from the first flow channel, through the respective fluid-conveying chamber, and into the second flow channel. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein resiliently deformable diaphragm forms a portion of the first flow channel and the second flow channel. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second flow channels extend longitudinally from opposite sides of the resiliently deformable diaphragm and partially overlap, fluid moved from the first flow channel to the second flow channel responsive to operation of the rotor. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second chambers are arranged such that, in operation, fluid flows through the housing in an opposite direction than fluid flowing through the first chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are axially aligned to a longitudinal axis of rotation of the rotor. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are positioned on a same end of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the resiliently deformable diaphragm forms a unitary arrangement between sidewalls of the housing, the resiliently deformable diaphragm comprising a thinner section of the housing than surrounding sections of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . A pump comprising:
 a rotor;   a housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port;   a resiliently deformable diaphragm disposed within the housing and forming a barrier separating a first chamber from a second chamber within an interior of the housing;   a rotor disposed within the first chamber and configured, upon rotation, to convey fluid through the first chamber from the inlet port to the outlet port;   a one-way valve disposed between the outlet port and the second chamber and arranged to permit fluid flow into the second chamber; and   an outlet connector extending from the outlet port, the outlet connector configured to direct fluid from the outlet port out of the housing.   
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 14 , wherein, in operation, the one-way valve is configured to allow for sustained pressure on the resiliently deformable diaphragm when flow of the pump is reversed. 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 14 , wherein, in operation, the one-way valve is configured to prevent fluid exiting the second chamber and to maintain pressure on a rear surface of the resiliently deformable diaphragm. 
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 14 , wherein, in operation, the one-way valve is configured to direct a portion of fluid from the outlet port to a diaphragm chamber surrounding a rear portion of the resiliently deformable diaphragm when a pressure in the diaphragm chamber is less than a low pressure threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 17 , wherein the inlet port is configured to direct fluid into an inlet end of the first chamber, the pump further comprising a pressure release valve disposed between the second chamber and the inlet end of the first chamber, and arranged to permit fluid flow from the second chamber into the inlet end of the first chamber when pressure in the second chamber exceeds a high pressure threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 17 , wherein the one-way valve is configured to, when pressure exceeds ahigh pressure threshold, recirculate fluid in the diaphragm chamber back to the inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The pump of  claim 14 , wherein the resiliently deformable diaphragm comprises two resiliently deformable diaphragms. 
     
     
         21 . The pump of  claim 20 , wherein the housing and the resiliently deformable diaphragm each form a portion of a first flow channel and a second flow channel between the first chamber and the second chamber.