Pumping apparatus comprising two collapsible chambers

Claim 2

Pumping apparatus comprising: a valvelessly operable pump having only two pumping sections, an inlet section for receiving fluid to be pumped and an outlet section for discharging fluid from the pump, a collapsible chamber disposed within each section, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet end, the outlet end of the chamber in the inlet section being operatively directly connected in series to the inlet end of the chamber in the outlet section so that fluid in the chamber in the inlet section discharges into the chamber in the outlet section, and a pump drive mechanism coupled to the pump for sequentially opening and closing the pump chambers in a manner so as to produce pumping action.

Claim 3

Pumping apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein the collapsible chamber in each section is comprised of elastomeric material.

Claim 4

Pumping apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the collapsible chamber in each section is an elongated tubular member.

Claim 5

Pumping apparatus according to claim 3 and wherein each section includes an elongated cylindrical member of rigid material and wherein said chambers are positioned within the respective members.

Claim 6

Pumping apparatus according to claim 4 and wherein the pump drive mechanism includes means for alternately applying and releasing external pressure to each chamber so as to produce a sequential opening and closing of the chambers.

Claim 7

The pumping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pump drive mechanism includes means for fluid pressurizing each section to collapse the chamber therein and for reducing the fluid pressure in each section to permit the chamber to open, and means for causing each chamber to open when the fluid pressure is reduced.

Claim 8

The pumping apparatus of claim 6 wherein each chamber comprises elastomeric material and is open in an unstressed state so that upon reducing pressure in respective sections the chamber therein is caused to open.

Claim 9

Pumping apparatus comprising: a pump having only two pumping sections, an inlet section for receiving fluid to be pumped and an outlet section for discharging fluid from the pump, a collapsible chamber disposed within each section, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet end, the outlet end of the chamber in the inlet section being operatively directly connected in series to the inlet end of the chamber in the outlet section so that fluid in the chamber in the inlet section discharges into the chamber in the outlet section, and a pump drive mechanism coupled to the pump for sequentially opening and closing the pump chambers in a manner so as to produce pumping action, wherein the pump drive mechanism includes means to produce the following sequence of actions: Step (1) opening the chamber in the inlet section to receive fluid to be pumped from an external source connected directly to it while maintaining the chamber in the outlet section closed, Step (2) closing the chamber in the inlet section and simultaneously opening the chamber in the outlet section thereby causing fluid contained in the inlet section to flow out of the chamber therein and to be received in the chamber in the outlet section, Step (3) closing the chamber in the outlet section while maintaining the chamber in the inlet section closed to cause fluid contained in the chamber in the outlet section to be discharged from the pumping apparatus.

Claim 10

Pumping apparatus comprising: a pump having only two pumping sections, an inlet section for receiving fluid to be pumped and an outlet section for discharging fluid from the pump, a collapsible chamber disposed within each section, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet end, the outlet end of the chamber in the inlet section being operatively directly connected in series to the inlet end of the chamber in the outlet section so that fluid in the chamber in the inlet section discharges into the chamber in the outlet section, and a pump drive mechanism coupled to the pump for sequentially opening and closing the pump chambers in a manner so as to produce pumping action, wherein the pump drive mechanism includes means to produce the following sequence of actions: Step (1) opening the chamber in the inlet section to receive fluid to be pumped from an external source connected directly to it while maintaining the chamber in the outlet section closed, Step (2) closing the chamber in the inlet section and simultaneously opening the chamber in the outlet section thereby causing fluid contained in the inlet section to flow out of the chamber therein and to be received in the chamber in the outlet section, Step (3) closing the chamber in the outlet section while maintaining the chamber in the inlet section closed to cause fluid contained in the chamber in the outlet section to be discharged from the pumping apparatus.

Claim 11

A three step pumping process for employment with a pumping apparatus limited to two pumping sections, an inlet section and an outlet section, each section having relatively rigid walls and each section having a flexible walled collapsible chamber therein means for opening each chamber and a pump drive mechanism for cycling and control of the pumping apparatus according to a cyclical order comprising: Step 1 opening the chamber in the inlet section to receive fluid to be pumped from an external source connected directly to it while maintaining the chamber in the outlet section closed, Step 2 closing the chamber in the inlet section and simultaneously opening the chamber in the outlet section thereby causing fluid contained in the inlet section to flow out of the chamber therein and to be received in the chamber in the outlet section, Step 3 closing the chamber in the outlet section while maintaining the chamber in the inlet section closed to cause fluid contained in the chamber in the outlet section to be discharged from the pumping apparatus.

Claim 12

A three step pumping process for employment with a pumping apparatus limited to two pumping sections, an inlet section and an outlet section, each section having relatively rigid walls and each section having a flexible walled collapsible chamber therein means for opening each chamber and a pump drive mechanism for cycling and control of the pumping apparatus according to a cyclical order comprising: Step 1 opening the chamber in the inlet section to receive fluid to be pumped from an external source connected directly to it while maintaining the chamber in the outlet section closed, Step 2 closing the chamber in the inlet section and simultaneously opening the chamber in the outlet section thereby causing fluid contained in the inlet section to flow out of the chamber therein and to be received in the chamber in the outlet section, Step 3 closing the chamber in the outlet section while maintaining the chamber in the inlet section closed to cause fluid contained in the chamber in the outlet section to be discharged from the pumping apparatus.

Claim 13

The process of claim 9 further comprising continuously repeating the foregoing steps to achieve continuous pumping action.

Claim 14

The process of claim 9 wherein a fluid pump drive mechanism is employed and the STEPS of the process are achieved by closing the chambers by fluid pressurizing the respective sections, by maintaining the chambers closed by maintaining fluid pressurizing in the respective sections and by opening the chambers by reducing the fluid pressure to a desired level in the respective sections.

Claim 15

The process of claim 11 wherein the process is employed with a pumping apparatus in which the collapsible chambers are made of an elastomeric material and are open in an unstressed state, further comprising opening the chambers by reducing the fluid pressure by opening each section to the ambient environment during the step of releasing applied fluid pressure.

Claim 16

A pumping process for employment with a two section pumping apparatus limited to two pumping sections, an inlet section and an outlet section each section having relatively rigid walls and a collapsible chamber in each section, and a pump drive mechanism for fluid cycling and control of the pumping apparatus by pressurizing each section to collapse the chamber therein, and reducing such pressure to permit expansion of the chamber, and including means for causing the chamber to open, according to a cyclical order comprising: Step 1 releasing applied fluid pressure in the inlet section permitting the collapsible chamber to open and causing said chamber to open to receive fluid to be pumped from an external source connected to it while simultaneously maintaining applied fluid pressure in the outlet section to maintain the collapsible chamber therein collapsed, Step 2 then applying fluid pressure to the inlet section of the pumping apparatus sufficient to collapse the collapsible chamber when containing fluid to be pumped causing fluid to flow out of the chamber and simultaneously releasing applied fluid pressure in the outlet section of the pumping apparatus permitting the collapsible chamber to open and causing said chamber to open to receive fluid flowing from the inlet chamber, Step 3 then applying fluid pressure to the outlet section sufficient to collapse the collapsible chamber and causing fluid contained therein to be discharged from the pumping apparatus, continuously repeating the foregoing steps to achieve pumping action.

Claim 17

A pumping process for employment with a two section pumping apparatus limited to two pumping sections, an inlet section and an outlet section each section having relatively rigid walls and a collapsible chamber in each section, and a pump drive mechanism for fluid cycling and control of the pumping apparatus by pressurizing each section to collapse the chamber therein, and reducing such pressure to permit expansion of the chamber, and including means for causing the chamber to open, according to a cyclical order comprising: Step 1 releasing applied fluid pressure in the inlet section permitting the collapsible chamber to open and causing said chamber to open to receive fluid to be pumped from an external source connected to it while simultaneously maintaining applied fluid pressure in the outlet section to maintain the collapsible chamber therein collapsed, Step 2 then applying fluid pressure to the inlet section of the pumping apparatus sufficient to collapse the collapsible chamber when containing fluid to be pumped causing fluid to flow out of the chamber and simultaneously releasing applied fluid pressure in the outlet section of the pumping apparatus permitting the collapsible chamber to open and causing said chamber to open to receive fluid flowing from the inlet chamber, Step 3 then applying fluid pressure to the outlet section sufficient to collapse the collapsible chamber and causing fluid contained therein to be discharged from the pumping apparatus, continuously repeating the foregoing steps to achieve pumping action.

Claim 18

The process of claim 13 in which the collapsible chambers of the pumping apparatus are made of an elastomeric material and are open, in the unstressed state, wherein the chambers are permitted to open by releasing pressure in the respective sections by opening each section to the ambient environment during the step or releasing applied fluid pressure, thereby causing the chamber to be restored to its open unstressed configuration.