Patent US2834845A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4808084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for transferring small amount of fluid
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1987-03-23
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for transferring a small amount of fluid has at least three vibration pump units which are connected in series. Each vibration pump unit has a fluid transfer pipe, a vibrator mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the fluid transfer pipe and adapted to cause the transfer pipe to vibrate in a respiring manner, an inner peripheral electrode on the inner peripheral surface of the vibrator, an outer peripheral electrode on the outer peripheral surface of the vibrator, a high-frequency voltage applying device for applying a high-frequency voltage between the inner peripheral electrode and the outer peripheral electrode thereby causing the vibrator to vibrate in respiring manner, and a fluid diode exhibiting resistance to reversing of the fluid and connected to the fluid outlet of the fluid transfer pipe in such a manner as to permit the fluid to be discharged from the fluid pipe. The adjacent vibration pumps operate with a predetermined phase difference therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Kuniyoshi Tsubouchi
- 👤 Shohei Yoshida
- 👤 Kiyoshi Namura
- 👤 Akira Arai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:36
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/02; F04B43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for transferring a small amount of fluid comprising: at least three vibration pump units which are connected in series along an axis, each of said vibration pump units having a fluid transfer pipe, a peripheral vibrator mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the fluid transfer pipe and adapted to cause said transfer pipe to vibrate in a respiring manner, an inner peripheral electrode on the inner peripheral surface of said peripheral vibrator and having a major dimension extending parallel to said axis, an outer peripheral electrode on the outer peripheral surface on said vibrator and covering the inner peripheral electrode, said peripheral vibrator being positioned between said inner and outer electrodes, a high-frequency voltage applying device for applying a high-frequency voltage between said inner peripheral electrode and said outer peripheral electrode thereby causing the peripheral vibrator to vibrate in respiring manner, a fluid diode exhibiting resistance to reversing of the fluid and connected to the fluid outlet of each fluid transfer pipe in such a manner as to permit the fluid to be discharged from each fluid transfer pipe, said high-frequency voltage applying devices of the adjacent vibration pump units being operated with a predetermined phase difference therebetween.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for transferring a small amount of fluid comprising: at least three vibration pump units which are connected in series along an axis, each of said vibration pump units having a fluid transfer pipe, a peripheral vibrator mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the fluid transfer pipe and adapted to cause said transfer pipe to vibrate in a respiring manner, an inner peripheral electrode on the inner peripheral surface of said peripheral vibrator and having a major dimension extending parallel to said axis, an outer peripheral electrode on the outer peripheral surface on said vibrator and covering the inner peripheral electrode, said peripheral vibrator being positioned between said inner and outer electrodes, a high-frequency voltage applying device for applying a high-frequency voltage between said inner peripheral electrode and said outer peripheral electrode thereby causing the peripheral vibrator to vibrate in respiring manner, a fluid diode exhibiting resistance to reversing of the fluid and connected to the fluid outlet of each fluid transfer pipe in such a manner as to permit the fluid to be discharged from each fluid transfer pipe, said high-frequency voltage applying devices of the adjacent vibration pump units being operated with a predetermined phase difference therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said phase difference between said high-frequency voltage application devices of the adjacent vibration pump units is determined to meet the following condition: α=2π/N where, α represents the phase difference, while N represents the number of the pump units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid diode connected to the fluid inlet side of said apparatus in such a manner as to prevent any reversing of the fluid from said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid diode is a flow nozzle type diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid diode is a vortex-flow type fluid diode which includes a flow-nozzle type flow passage and a vortex flow chamber connected to a small-diameter portion of said flow-nozzle type flow passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral vibrator includes a piezoelectric element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrator includes an electrostrictive element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrator includes a magnetostrictive element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrator comprises a cylindrically shaped layer of vibratory material having a wall thickness that is essentially uniform, said cylindrical wall being positioned between said inner and outer peripheral electrode, the length of said vibratory material layer as measured along said pump axis being greater than the distance between opposite side walls as measured in a plane perpendicular to said pump unit axis.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
302 words
An apparatus for transferring a small amount of fluid comprising: at least three vibration pump units which are connected in series along an axis, each of said vibration pump units having a fluid transfer pipe, a peripheral vibrator mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the fluid transfer pipe and adapted to cause said transfer pipe to vibrate in a respiring manner, an inner peripheral electrode on the inner peripheral surface of said peripheral vibrator and having a major dimension extending parallel to said axis, an outer peripheral electrode on the outer peripheral surface on said peripheral vibrator and covering the inner peripheral electrode, said peripheral vibrator being positioned between said inner and outer electrodes, a high-frequency voltage applying device for applying a high-frequency voltage between said inner peripheral electrode and said outer peripheral electrode thereby causing the peripheral vibrator to vibrate in respiring manner, a fluid diode exhibiting resistance to reversing of the fluid and connected to the fluid outlet of said fluid transfer pipe in such a manner as to permit the fluid to be discharged from said fluid pipe, said high-frequency voltage applying devices of the adjacent vibration pump units being operated with a predetermined phase difference therebetween, and a vibration fluid diode connected to a final fluid outlet of said at least three vibration pump units, said vibration fluid diode being a vortex-flow type fluid diode having a vortex chamber therein including an outer wall vibrator provided on the outer wall of the vortex chamber, an outer electrode on the outer surface of said outer wall vibrator, an inner electrode on the inner surface of said outer wall vibrator and a high-frequency voltage application device for applying a high-frequency voltage between said outer electrode and said inner electrode so as to cause said outer wall vibrator to vibrate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
302 words
An apparatus for transferring a small amount of fluid comprising: at least three vibration pump units which are connected in series along an axis, each of said vibration pump units having a fluid transfer pipe, a peripheral vibrator mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the fluid transfer pipe and adapted to cause said transfer pipe to vibrate in a respiring manner, an inner peripheral electrode on the inner peripheral surface of said peripheral vibrator and having a major dimension extending parallel to said axis, an outer peripheral electrode on the outer peripheral surface on said peripheral vibrator and covering the inner peripheral electrode, said peripheral vibrator being positioned between said inner and outer electrodes, a high-frequency voltage applying device for applying a high-frequency voltage between said inner peripheral electrode and said outer peripheral electrode thereby causing the peripheral vibrator to vibrate in respiring manner, a fluid diode exhibiting resistance to reversing of the fluid and connected to the fluid outlet of said fluid transfer pipe in such a manner as to permit the fluid to be discharged from said fluid pipe, said high-frequency voltage applying devices of the adjacent vibration pump units being operated with a predetermined phase difference therebetween, and a vibration fluid diode connected to a final fluid outlet of said at least three vibration pump units, said vibration fluid diode being a vortex-flow type fluid diode having a vortex chamber therein including an outer wall vibrator provided on the outer wall of the vortex chamber, an outer electrode on the outer surface of said outer wall vibrator, an inner electrode on the inner surface of said outer wall vibrator and a high-frequency voltage application device for applying a high-frequency voltage between said outer electrode and said inner electrode so as to cause said outer wall vibrator to vibrate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |