Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A valveless, positive displacement metering pump comprising: a housing; a cylindrical working chamber positioned within said housing; a first passage in fluid communication with said working chamber and extending through said housing; a second passage in fluid communication with said working chamber and extending through said housing; a third passage in fluid communication with said working chamber and extending through said housing; said first, second and third passages adjoining said working chamber at first, second and third radial positions, respectively, with respect to the longitudinal axis of said working chamber; a piston positioned within said working chamber, said piston including a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a relieved portion defined by said outer surface; means for reciprocating said piston back and forth within said working chamber and means for rotating said piston as it is reciprocated such that said relieved portion communicates sequentially with said second and third passage while said piston is moving in a first axial direction and communicates with said first passage while said piston is moving in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A valveless, positive displacement metering pump comprising: a housing; a cylindrical working chamber positioned within said housing; a first passage in fluid communication with said working chamber and extending through said housing; a second passage in fluid communication with said working chamber and extending through said housing; a third passage in fluid communication with said working chamber and extending through said housing; said first, second and third passages adjoining said working chamber at first, second and third radial positions, respectively, with respect to the longitudinal axis of said working chamber; a piston positioned within said working chamber, said piston including a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a relieved portion defined by said outer surface; means for reciprocating said piston back and forth within said working chamber and means for rotating said piston as it is reciprocated such that said relieved portion communicates sequentially with said second and third passage while said piston is moving in a first axial direction and communicates with said first passage while said piston is moving in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said relieved portion is a channel defined by said outer surface of said piston, said channel including a pair of opposing side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pump as defined in claim 2 wherein said first, second and third passages adjoin said working chamber in substantially the same plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third passages adjoin said working chamber in substantially the same plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third passages are substantially coplanar throughout their length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 including means for adjusting the stroke of said piston.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said relieved portion and each of said first, second and third passages adjoin said working chamber such that said relieved portion is in fluid communication with at least one of said passages at substantially all rotational positions of said piston.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said first passage communicates with said relieved portion over a larger range of rotation of said piston than either of said second or third passages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pump as defined in claim 8 wherein said first passage communicates with said relieved portion over about one hundred eighty degrees of rotation of said piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pump as defined in claim 9 wherein said second and third passages are in sequential fluid communication with said relieved portion over about one hundred eighty degrees of rotation of said piston.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third passages are all substantially cylindrical where they adjoin said working chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pump as defined in claim 8 wherein said relieved portion is a channel defined within said outer surface of said piston, said channel including a pair of opposing side walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pump as defined in claim 12 wherein said channel and each of said first, second and third passages are constructed and positioned such that said channel is in fluid communication with at least one of said passages at substantially all rotational positions of said piston.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
176 words
A valveless, positive displacement metering pump comprising: a housing: a cylindrical working chamber positioned within said housing; at least three passages extending through said housing and communicating with said working chamber; a substantially cylindrical piston positioned within said working chamber, said piston including an outer surface and a relieved portion defined by said outer surface of said piston; means for reciprocating said piston within said working chamber; means for rotating said piston as it is reciprocated such that said relieved portion communicates sequentially with at least two of said passages while moving in a first axial direction during a single stroke of said piston; said piston and said passage being positioned such that said duct is in sequential fluid communication with said respective passages as said piston is reciprocated and rotated within said working chamber, said relieved portion being in fluid communication with only one of said respective passages in substantially all rotational positions of said piston, and said piston closing all but one of said respective passages in substantially all rotational positions of said piston.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
176 words
A valveless, positive displacement metering pump comprising: a housing: a cylindrical working chamber positioned within said housing; at least three passages extending through said housing and communicating with said working chamber; a substantially cylindrical piston positioned within said working chamber, said piston including an outer surface and a relieved portion defined by said outer surface of said piston; means for reciprocating said piston within said working chamber; means for rotating said piston as it is reciprocated such that said relieved portion communicates sequentially with at least two of said passages while moving in a first axial direction during a single stroke of said piston; said piston and said passage being positioned such that said duct is in sequential fluid communication with said respective passages as said piston is reciprocated and rotated within said working chamber, said relieved portion being in fluid communication with only one of said respective passages in substantially all rotational positions of said piston, and said piston closing all but one of said respective passages in substantially all rotational positions of said piston.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pump as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said passages communicates with said relieved portion over a larger range of rotation of said piston than at least one other of said passages.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pump as defined in claim 14 wherein said relieved portion is an elongated channel defined by said outer surface of said piston, said channel including a pair of opposing side walls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pump as described in claim 1 wherein said passages and said relieved portion are arranged such that said relieved portion communicates with only one of said passages at any one time.