Miniature pressure-driven pumps

US11603254B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• University of South Florida · US

Inventors

• Farzad Forouzandeh · Rochester, US
• David A. Borkholder · Rochester, US
• Robert Dana Frisina · Tampa, US
• Joseph Paul Walton · Tampa, US
• Xiaoxia Zhu · Xuzhou, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 2020
• Grant date: Mar 14, 2023
• Expiry date: May 19, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F04B43/0063
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A miniature pump including a first chamber, a second chamber, a deformable membrane provided within the second chamber that divides the second chamber into first and second sub-chambers, the second sub-chamber defining a reservoir configured to contain liquid to be dispensed, a passage that connects the first chamber to the first sub-chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein pressurized fluid within the first internal chamber flows through the passage and into the first sub-chamber to compress the deformable membrane and cause liquid contained within the reservoir to flow out from the reservoir through the outlet and wherein the deformable membrane does not generate significant restoring forces when it is deformed and, therefore, will not return to its initial undeformed shape unless the reservoir is refilled.