Metering pump wherein tubular pump is responsive to force impulses

Claim 1

A metering pump comprising: a. a pump body having at least one inlet and outlet means; b. a tubular conduit connected between each inlet and outlet means, the wall of said conduit being of resilient material which is flexible in a direction transverse to the length of the conduit; and c. transmitting means for periodically imparting against the conduit force impulses having a magnitude and duration sufficient to move discrete quantities of fluid through said conduit in substantially synchronized relationship to the impingement of said force impulses on said conduit and to impart momentum to the fluid sufficient to sustain movement thereof through said conduit after the force has been removed, said transmitting means including: 1. a striker plate structure including a hammer-like member having a spring biased arm and a head element mounted on the arm, said structure being mounted on said pump body adjacent to and on one side of the conduit for cyclical tapping action movement between a first position spaced from the conduit and a second position in contact therewith to deliver said force impulses thereto, each force impulse causing flexure of the conduit and each force impulse having a relatively short duration with respect to the recovery time of resilient conduit wall, and 2. drive means for actuating said hammer-like member, said drive means including: i. a driven rotor, and ii. at least one lifter element mounted on the rotor for engagement with said arm upon rotation of the rotor to thereby cause movement of said hammer-like member between said first and second positions.