Reciprocating pump apparatus and method using same

Abstract

A reciprocating pump apparatus is disclosed. The reciprocating pump comprises a tubular member, a first electromagnet disposed around the tubular member, and a second electromagnet disposed around the tubular member. The reciprocating pump further comprises a first magnetic hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member and a second magnetic hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority from a U.S. Provisional Application having Ser. No. 60/662,023 filed Mar. 15, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a reciprocating pump comprising one or more magnetic pistons slidingly disposed therein, and a method using same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most common pumps have one aspect that unify them, they are mechanically complex. This complexity creates drawbacks, first in the construction of the pump and second, in its maintenance. Pumps are normally divided into two sections, the mechanical motion source and actual pump that moves the fluid. The motion source may comprise one or more motors, alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC), or a variety of similar engines. Such pumps are costly to manufacture, and have a limited life span. The pump portion is also mechanically complex with numerous parts that eventually wear out, thereby making access to the pump and frequent maintenance essential. As the number of moving parts increases, so does the maintenance burden.

Referring now to FIG. 1, single piston reciprocating pump 100 includes piston 110 interconnected with a first end of connecting rod 120. The second end of connecting rod 120 is pivotally attached to moveable cam 130 at connection point 140. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, cam 130 is attached to a rotating shaft portion of a motor or similar engine. As those skilled in the art will further appreciate, piston 110, connecting rod 120, cam 130, and motor must be precisely manufactured to reduce vibration.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, pumping is accomplished from the reciprocating motion of the piston and two valves, including intake valve 150 and output valve 160. As cam 130 rotates from a first position shown in FIG. 1 to a second position shown in FIG. 2, i.e. during the filling stroke, piston 110 moves within tubular member 105 in a first direction toward cam 130 and fluid 170 is drawn into tubular member 105 through intake valve 150. As cam 130 moves rotates through the second position of FIG. 2, intake valve 150 closes and output valve 160 opens. As cam 130 continues to rotate, piston 110 moves in a second direction away from cam 130 thereby pushing fluid 170 out of tubular member 105 and out of output valve 160 into output conduit 210.

What is needed is a reciprocating pump wherein the motion source is eliminated, or combined with the fluid handling portion, such that the mechanical complexity is be reduced, with a subsequent reduction in manufacturing costs and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant's invention includes a reciprocating pump apparatus. The reciprocating pump comprises a tubular member comprising a midpoint, a first end, and a second end. The reciprocating pump further comprises a first electromagnet disposed around a first portion of the tubular member disposed between the midpoint and said first end, and a second electromagnet disposed around a second portion of the tubular member disposed between the midpoint and the second end of said tubular member. The reciprocating pump further comprises a first permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet

The reciprocating pump further comprises a first hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member, wherein that first hollow piston comprises a first end comprising a first magnetic polarity, a one way value opening outwardly disposed on the first end, and a second end comprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein the first end of the first hollow piston faces the first end of the tubular member, and a second hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member, wherein that second hollow piston comprises a first end comprising the second magnetic polarity, a one way value opening outwardly disposed on the first end, and a second end comprising the first magnetic polarity, wherein the second end of the second hollow piston faces the second end of said tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a prior art reciprocating pump;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the prior art pump of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electric schematic showing circuitry used to supply current to one or more electromagnets disposed in certain embodiments of Applicant's reciprocating pump assembly;

FIG. 4A shows a cross-section of one embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 shows circuitry disposed in a controller used to operate certain embodiments of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of Applicant's hollow magnetic piston assembly;

FIG. 7A illustrates one step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 7B illustrates a second step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 7C illustrates a third step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 7D illustrates a fourth step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 8A illustrates one step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 8B illustrates a second step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 8C illustrates a third step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 8D illustrates a fourth step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 9A illustrates one step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 9B illustrates a second step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 9C illustrates a third step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus; and

FIG. 9D illustrates a fourth step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid using a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

In certain embodiments of Applicant's invention, Applicant's pump assembly comprises a motion source in combination with external fluid handling devices. In other embodiments of Applicant's invention, Applicant's pump assembly incorporates fluid handling devices within Applicant's motion source.

In certain embodiments, Applicant's invention comprises a single, reciprocating, magnetic piston. In other embodiments, Applicant's invention comprises two reciprocating magnetic pistons. In certain embodiments, Applicant's invention comprises two reciprocating magnetic, hollow, pistons.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, embodiment 400 of Applicant's apparatus comprises a tubular member 410 having a first end 412 a second end 414, a midpoint 405, a first electromagnet 420 disposed around tubular member 410, a second electromagnet 430 disposed around tubular member 410, a pair of permanent magnets 480 and 485 disposed at midpoint 405 and between the two electromagnets 420 and 430, permanent magnet 460 disposed on or around tubular member 410 between electromagnet 420 and end 412, and permanent magnet 465 disposed on or around tubular member 410 between electromagnet 430 and end 414. Hollow magnetic pistons 440 and 450 are slidably disposed within tubular member 410.

In certain embodiments, first electromagnet 420 comprises a coil would around tubular member 410. In certain embodiments, second electromagnet 430 comprises a coil wound around tubular member 410.

Referring now to FIGS. 4B, 6, and 7A, hollow magnetic piston 440 comprises a tubular member 441 having an inner surface 443 which defines lumen 447 which extends through piston 440 from first end 442 to second end 444. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, one way valve assembly 446 is hingedly connected to member 441 by hinge assembly 445. In other embodiments, Applicants' hollow magnetic pistons 440 and 450 may comprise other one way valve designs.

First end 442 comprises a first magnetic polarity, and second end 444 comprises the second, i.e. opposing, magnetic polarity. For the sake of illustration, FIGS. 6 and 7A show the first magnetic polarity as “+”, and the second magnetic polarity as “−”. Such designations should not be taken as limiting.

Hollow magnetic piston 450 is similarly constructed, such that one way valve 456 is hingedly connected to first end 454, and such that first end 454 comprises the second magnetic polarity, and such that second end 452 comprises the first magnetic polarity.

FIGS. 7A through 7D illustrate the operation of apparatus 400. FIG. 7A shows piston 440 disposed adjacent end 412 of tubular member 410, and piston 450 disposed adjacent end 414 of tubular member 410. End 442 of magnetic piston 440 comprises a first magnetic polarity shown in FIG. 7A as “+” polarity 710, and end 444 comprises a second magnetic polarity shown in FIG. 7A as “−” polarity 720. The designators “+” and “−” are used for illustration only.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7A, end 462 of permanent magnet 460 comprises the second magnetic polarity. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, because end 442 of piston 440 and end 462 of magnet 460 each comprise the same magnetic polarity, a magnetic repulsion exists between end 442 and end 462 thereby limiting the travel of piston 440 toward end 412 of tubular member 410 to the position shown in FIG. 7A.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7A, end 467 of permanent magnet 465 comprises the second magnetic polarity. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, because end 452 of piston 450 and end 467 of magnet 465 each comprise the same magnetic polarity, a magnetic repulsion exists between end 452 and end 467 thereby limiting the travel of piston 450 toward end 414 of tubular member 410 to the position shown in FIG. 7A.

When electromagnet 430 is energized to have the magnetic polarities shown in FIG. 7A, end 454 of piston 450 is magnetically attracted to end 434 of electromagnet 430 thereby propelling piston inwardly within tubular member 410. As piston 450 moves inwardly, one-way valve 456 remains closed, and piston 450 pushes fluid 730 through piston 440 and out of tubular member 410.

When electromagnet 420 is energized to have the magnetic polarities shown in FIG. 7A, end 444 of piston 440 is magnetically attracted to end 422 of electromagnet 420 thereby propelling piston 440 inwardly within tubular member 410. One-way valve 446 remains open as piston 440 moves inwardly.

Referring now to FIG. 7B, end 444 of piston 440 comprises the same magnetic polarity as does side 482 of magnet 480 and side 487 of magnet 485. When piston 440 approached the midpoint 405 (FIG. 4B), end 442 of piston 440 is magnetically repelled by side 482 of magnet 480 and by side 487 of magnet 485. This magnetic repulsion causes piston 440 to stop moving inwardly within tubular member 410.

Similarly, end 454 of piston 450 comprises the same magnetic polarity as does side 482 of magnet 480, and side 487 of magnet 485. When piston 450 approaches the midpoint, end 454 of piston 450 is magnetically repelled by side 482 of magnet 480 and by side 487 of magnet 485. This magnetic repulsion causes piston 450 to stop moving inwardly within tubular member 410.

Referring now to FIG. 7C, the current direction through electromagnets 420 and 430 is reversed, end 422 of electromagnet 420 and end 434 of electromagnet 430 comprise the same magnetic polarity. Piston end 442 is now repelled by end 422 of electromagnet 420 causing piston 440 to move outwardly within tubular member 410. As piston 440 moves toward end 412 of tubular member 410, one-way valve 446 remains closed causing piston 440 to push fluid out of tubular member through end 412.

Similarly in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7C, piston end 454 is now repelled by end 434 of electromagnet 430 causing piston 450 to move outwardly within tubular member 410. As piston 450 moves toward end 414 of tubular member 410, one-way valve 456 opens allowing fluid 730 to fill the portion of tubular member 410 between pistons 440 and 450.

Referring to FIG. 7D, pistons 440 and 450 move outwardly within tubular member 410 until magnetic repulsion between magnet 460 and piston end 444 causes piston 440 to stop moving, and until magnetic repulsion between magnet 465 and end 452 of piston 450 causes piston 450 to stop moving. The direction of current through electromagnets 420 and 430 is then again reversed, as shown in FIG. 7A, and the process repeats.

In summary, FIGS. 7A through 7D illustrate the reciprocating movements of magnetic pistons 440 and 450 within tubular member 410 caused by reversing the polarities of electromagnets 420 and 430. Applicants' invention includes instructions, such as the source code recited in Appendix A hereto, where those instructions are executed by a controller, such as controller 500 (FIG. 5), to operate Applicant's reciprocating pump 400 as shown in FIGS. 7A through 7D, and as described herein.

Applicant's apparatus comprises an embodiment using magnetic pistons which are not hollow. Referring now to FIG. 8A, apparatus 800 comprises tubular member 410, electromagnets 420 and 430, and permanent magnets 460 and 465 as described herein above, and optionally sensing coils 470 and 475. Apparatus 800 further includes magnetic piston 840 and 850, wherein those pistons are not hollow. Pistons 840 and 850 operate in the reciprocating fashion described herein above as the magnetic polarities of electromagnets 420 and 430 are reversed.

Apparatus 800 further comprises fluid conduit 810 comprising an inverted “W” configuration such that conduit 810 interconnects with tubular member 410 at conduit portions 822, 824, and 826. Conduit 810 includes one-way valves 820 and 830. As pistons 840 and 850 move inwardly from the positions shown in FIG. 8A to the positions shown in FIG. 8B, i.e. during the output stroke, fluid 730 is forced through open valve 820 and out of end 804 of apparatus 800. As pistons 840 and 850 moves outwardly from the position shown in FIG. 8C to the positions shown in FIG. 8D, i.e. during the input stroke, fluid 730 is drawn into tubular member 410 through valve 830.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, apparatus 900 utilizes a single solid permanent magnet piston 940 slidably disposed within tubular member 910. Electromagnet 420 is wound around tubular member 910. Tubular member 910 communicates with fluid conduit 920 on one end, and with fluid conduit 930 on the opposing end. Permanent magnet 950 is disposed on the exterior surface of conduit 920 adjacent the intersection of tubular member 910 and conduit 920. Permanent magnet 960 is disposed on the exterior surface of conduit 930 adjacent the intersection of tubular member 910 and conduit 930.

Magnets 950 and 960 each present a repulsion force on magnetic piston 940. These repulsive forces create a centering tendency to piston 940.

As the direction of the current through electromagnet 420 is alternated, the magnetic polarities of ends 422 and 424 are switched between a first magnetic polarity and a second magnetic polarity. The changing magnetic polarities of the ends of electromagnet 420 causes piston 940 to move in a reciprocating fashion within tubular member 910.

FIGS. 9A through 9D illustrated the movement of piston 940 as the polarities of ends 422 and 424 of electromagnet 420 are switched. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, piston 940 moves toward magnet 950 forcing fluid 730 disposed in the portion of tubular member 910 between piston 940 and conduit 920 out of tubular member 910, through open one-way valve 924, and out of conduit 920 through end 928. At the same time, fluid 730 is drawn into tubular member 910 from conduit 930 through open one-way valve 932.

In FIGS. 9C and 9D, piston 940 moves toward magnet 960 forcing fluid 730 disposed in the portion of tubular member 910 between piston 940 and conduit 930 out of tubular member 910, through open one-way valve 934, and out of conduit 930 through end 938. At the same time, fluid 730 is drawn into tubular member 910 from conduit 920 through open one-way valve 922.

Referring again to FIGS. 9A through 9D, in certain embodiments end 928 of conduit 920 and end 938 of conduit 930 are interconnected to form one output, and/or end 926 of conduit 920 and end 936 of conduit 930 are interconnected to form one input. The double interconnected embodiment allows for continual output flow in both piston stroke directions. In another embodiment, one output is interconnected to the opposite input creating only one input and output for the pump, making for output flow in only one piston stroke direction.

In certain embodiments, the same fluid is pumped from conduits 920 and 930. In other embodiments, a first fluid is pumped from conduit 920 and a second fluid is pumped from conduit 930. The conduit setup will depend on the application.

Apparatus 900 does not require the use of sensing coils or other sensing devices. Moreover, in certain embodiments apparatus 900 does not include any control electronics of any kind. In certain embodiments, apparatus 900 will operate directly off a sixty-hertz, 110-volt alternating current utility power. In other embodiments, apparatus 900 operates using higher or lower alternating current frequencies, and/or other voltage ranges.

Apparatus 900 is not limited to using alternating current. In certain embodiments, apparatus 900 further comprises the control electronics described hereinbelow, and/or comprises the piston sensors described hereinbelow. When operated without sensors and control electronics, apparatus 900 requires no power conditioning. In these embodiments, electromagnet 420 is designed to limit the current and provide enough heat dissipation to operate continuously.

Applicants' invention includes instructions, where those instructions are executed by a controller, such as controller 500 (FIG. 5), to operate Applicant's reciprocating pump 900 as shown in FIGS. 9A through 9D, and as described herein.

In order to reverse the polarities of electromagnet 420 and in certain embodiments electromagnet 430 to cause pistons 440/450, 840/850, or piston 940, to move in a reciprocating fashion within tubular member 410/910, Applicant's apparatus 400, 800, and 900, comprises a controllable alternating current (AC) source. In certain embodiments, Applicant's AC source comprises utility power without further control circuit and/or power conditioning. In other embodiments, Applicant's AC source comprises power conditioning and/or control circuitry known to those skilled in the art.

The following Example is presented to further illustrate to persons skilled in the art how to make the invention, and to identify one preferred embodiment thereof. This example is not intended as limitations, however, upon the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE

This Example utilizes reciprocating pump 400 (FIGS. 4A, 4B). Referring to FIG. 3, circuitry 300 controls the direction of current through electromagnets, such as electromagnets 420 (FIG. 4) and 430 (FIG. 4). Circuitry 300, comprises dual H-bridge circuits. The H-bridge circuit gets its name from the H shape the circuit makes. This design implements four transistors for each H-bridge. The collectors on the top two transistors are connected together and to the power supply that is going to be reversed. These transistor emitters are then connected to the collectors on the transistors directly below. Also connected are the gates of the upper transistors to the gates of the opposite lower transistors. The two emitters on the lower transistors are then connected to ground.

The transistors chosen were Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) model number MGP15N40CL. These transistors offered large current and voltage handling capabilities of fifteen amps and four hundred and ten volts, which was needed because of the abuse they would receive while testing. This particular model of IGBTs was ideal as their original intended use was as coil drivers for car ignitions. Being ignition transistors, they have internal protection diodes that allow the large voltage draw that is created when the current is stopped in the coils, to dissipate through the transistors. The TO-220 package in which these transistors came was easily attached to a heat sink.

The eight IGBT transistors were attached on the underside of a printed circuit board and then bent so all the metal plates on the one side of the transistors faced down. This allowed all the transistors to be attached to a single large heat sink. Attaching them this way made it necessary to insulate the metal plates on the transistors from the heat sink because these plates also act as a collector point for the transistors. If they were attached directly to the heat sink, a short would occur between the collectors on the bottom of the H and also from the top to the bottom. Also attached to this heat sink was the five-volt DC regulator for the digital electronics that comes in a TO-220 package. All these TO-220 cases were insulated from the heat sink using silicone caulk which helped to hold them in place. Holding them at the correct height are screws with standoffs between the heat sink and printed circuit board (PCB). Because the heat sink doubles as the base for the PCB these screws also support the PCB.

An AC source that moves the pistons back and forth cannot pump anything, there must be feedback from the pistons so the AC source can reverse the current with the correct timing. Two methods were utilized to receive this feedback. The first was introducing a five-volt DC signal voltage into the pump power supply and then reading the voltage drop across the coil. This voltage drop was interpreted by a ten-bit analog to digital converter within the Basic X 24 Microcontroller by Net Media. This microcontroller is a small computer with 32k of onboard EEPROM (static hard drive), 400 bytes of RAM, multitasking capabilities and program execution speed of sixty microseconds per sixteen-bit integer addition or subtraction. Reading the analog signal this way presents one major problem, the power provided to the gates on the IGBTs must be different than the sample voltage and therefore different than the power provided to the microcontroller.

Two separate nine-volt DC power supplies were used. They were separated and regulated using optical isolators. Four separate channels of optical isolation were needed, one for each direction in both H-bridges. MCT9001 two channel low current Optocouplers were selected because two packages fit into a standard sixteen-pin socket and gave me the four channels I needed (Fairchild Semiconductors, 2003). An optical isolator has a physical space between the two power supplies that needs to be isolated. Isolation was accomplished by having a light emitting diode (LED) on one side and a phototransistor on the other in a single package. When a current flows through the LED, it allows the second current to flow through the phototransistor. This second current then supplies the gates on the IGBTs to turn them off or on. Now that the power supply for the microcontroller is isolated from the power going to the transistors, contamination from the gate current in the five volt signal is no longer a problem. Knowing that a change in magnetic field within an active solenoid changes the resistance of the solenoid and therefore the voltage drop across the solenoid, the sample voltage drop can be read and related to the main voltage through the coil and the piston position within it.

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 7A through 7D, and 8A through 8D, in certain embodiments Applicant's apparatus comprises sensing coils 470 and 475 wrapped around the tubular member distal to the electromagnets. When a change in magnetic field occurs within a coil there is a voltage induced within the coil. Faraday's law of induction states the instantaneous electrical magnetic flux is
E=−NΔΦB/Δt
where N is the number of turns in the coil and ΔΦB is the change in magnetic field.

The induced voltage was then measured using the analog to digital converter on the microcontroller. An increase in this voltage indicates that the piston had entered the coil and the microcontroller would reverse the current through the primary coil to return the piston to center. Either of these sensing methods could be selected to monitor the piston locations and both were incorporated into controller 500 (FIG. 5.)

Four thermistors are incorporated into this circuit located on each H-bridge and primary coil. When operating at higher voltages the thermistors located on the primary coils will allow the microcontroller to turn the pump off if the temperature rises too high, which could occur if water is no longer present within the pump. The thermistors located on the H-bridges also turn the pump off in case of overheating caused by a short. Temperatures and control information is displayed on a user interface.

User Interface

In certain embodiments, Applicant's microcontroller was interconnected with a computing device. In other embodiments, Applicant's microcontroller was interconnected with Applicant's user interface. In certain embodiments, Applicant's user interface comprises a four by twenty liquid crystal display (LCD) with microcontroller serial interface and four contact switches to change variables within the microcontroller. Applicant constructed these parts in an ABS plastic box that was connected to the control circuit and microcontroller through a fourteen-wire cable. This box also acted as a connection point for the serial interface cable that was needed to change the code on the microcontroller. The code for the microcontroller is written in a form of basic designed for the microcontroller and interfaces with surrounding electronics.

The interface code consumed the most RAM within the microcontroller because of the continual refresh rate of the LCD. The code within the microcontroller continually monitors the temperatures of all four thermistors and displays them on the LCD along with the maximum temperatures at which the pump is turned off. These maximums can be set using the four contact switches. Turning the pump on and off and centering the pistons is also controlled in this way. Currently I have provided a manual control of the piston's in and out delays for testing. The complete code is recited in Appendix A.

Pump Construction

Apparatus 400 comprises four separate parts that needed to be designed: the pistons, the tubular member (pump body), and the coils, both primary and secondary. Neodymium ring magnets, (12.70 mm external diameter, 1.10 mm internal diameter and 3.20 mm height), were selected as pistons because of their shape and strength. They could be stacked to make pistons of any length, with two constraints. The pistons needed to be long enough so they did not turn within the tubular member, but if they were made too long, excess energy would be lost in moving heavy pistons. The final length of the pistons was 35.60 mm. These pistons were encased in a brass sleeve to protect the thin nickel coating that keeps moisture off of the iron inside of the magnets. These sleeves also provide a tab that holds the flap valve on one end of the pistons.

The tubular member was a copper pipe with an internal diameter that matched the external diameter of the pistons. Attached to either end of this pipe were male threaded ends that hose connectors were then attached to. Also attached to the tubular member were three Neodymium disk magnets, the same size as the rings, on either end of the tubular member. These magnets all faced towards or away from the tubular member so when the pistons approached from inside of the tubular member, they would be repelled back keeping them within the coil's magnetic field. There was no need to have magnets in the center to keep the pistons inside the coils because the pistons were placed in opposition of each other within the tubular member.

In order to create a coil with maximum internal magnetic field strength, the length of the coil, internal and external diameters of the coil, and wire size all had to be considered. The coil measurements that deliver the maximum field strength were found using the following equations:
α=Ro/Ri
β=L/2Ri
Ho=(NI F(α, β))/2βRi(α−1)
F(α, β)=[arcsinh(α/β)−arcsinh(1/β)]
where Ro is the radius of the coil, Ri is the radius of the tubular member, L is the length of the coil, Ho is the magnetic field strength in the center of the coil, N is the number of wraps in the coil and I is the current through the coil. By using the resistance equation
Rc=(4p(Roˆ2−Riˆ2)L)/Dˆ4
where D is the diameter of the wire used and p is the coefficient of resistivity for the material, the current was calculated knowing that the magnetic field strength is directly proportional to voltage. The number of wraps was calculated using the wire length equation where ƒ is a filling factor due to wire overlap.
Lw=(4ƒ(Roˆ2−Riˆ2)L)/Dˆ2
Twenty-two gauge copper magnet wire was used with a known internal diameter of 15.87 mm. A 60.0 mm coil length was selected because it is roughly twice the length of the pistons. This length was chosen because coil length is inversely proportional to center field strength making longer coils more polar. Knowing these dimensions, a coil with a calculated radius of 18.4 mm produced the maximum field strength.

These coils were wrapped without a form around the copper tubular member that was wrapped with wax paper. Wax paper was used so the coils could be moved on the tubular member after the wax paper was removed. This created a small space between the epoxy-encapsulated coil and the tubular member. The secondary coils were wound to six layers high and twenty-seven wraps long. The exact size was not that important as long the piston will induce a voltage within the coil.

The finished pump was then tested by varying the center and out piston delays while measuring the flow rate of water at thirty centimeters of rise. Current draw was also recorded while pumping at these different frequencies. The voltage variation of the coils was recorded along with the current draw of the digital electronic.

Results

The pump operated the most efficient at 5.8 hertz with a center delay of 0.077 seconds and an out delay of 0.095 seconds. Running at this speed, the pump delivered four liters per minute flow at a thirty-centimeter rise. The current draw while pumping did not exceed three amps at twelve volts. The pump control consumed 0.106 amps while running with the back light on the LCD using 0.186 amps at nine volts DC. The optical isolators and IGBT gates consumed at most, while running, 0.00210 amps at nine volts DC.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A reciprocating pump apparatus, comprising:

a tubular member comprising a first length, a first end, and a second end;

a magnetic piston slidingly disposed within said tubular member, wherein said piston comprises a second length, a first end comprising a first magnetic polarity, and a second end comprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein said first length is greater than said second length;

an electromagnet comprising a comprising a first end and a second end, said electromagnet comprising a coil disposed around said tubular member, wherein passing an electric current through said coil in a first direction induces a first magnetic polarity in said first end of said electromagnet and a second magnetic polarity in said second end of said electromagnet, and wherein passing an electric current through said coil in a second direction induces a second magnetic polarity in said first end of said electromagnet and a first magnetic polarity in said second end of said electromagnet;

a first fluid conduit interconnected with said first end of said tubular member, wherein said first fluid conduit comprises a first portion extending outwardly from said first end of said tubular member in a first direction, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first end of said tubular member in a second direction.

2. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controllable alternating current (AC) source interconnected with said electromagnet.

3. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first one way valve disposed in said first portion of said first fluid conduit;

a second one-way valve disposed in said second portion of said first fluid conduit;

4. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a permanent magnet disposed in said first fluid conduit opposite the interconnection with said first end of said tubular member;

5. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second fluid conduit interconnected with said second end of said tubular member, wherein said second fluid conduit comprises a first portion extending outwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a first direction, and a second portion extending outwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a second direction.

6. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a third one way valve disposed in said first portion of said second fluid conduit; and

a fourth one way valve disposed in said second portion of said second fluid conduit.

7. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a permanent magnet disposed in said second fluid conduit opposite the interconnection with said second end of said tubular member.

8. A method to pump a fluid in one or more fluid conduits, comprising the steps of:

supplying a reciprocating pump apparatus comprising a tubular member comprising a first length, a first end, and a second end; a magnetic piston slidingly disposed within said tubular member, wherein said piston comprises a second length, a first end comprising a first magnetic polarity, and a second end comprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein said first length is greater than said second length; an electromagnet comprising a comprising a first end and a second end, said electromagnet comprising a coil disposed around said tubular member, wherein passing an electric current through said coil in a first direction induces a first magnetic polarity in said first end of said electromagnet and a second magnetic polarity in said second end of said electromagnet, and wherein passing an electric current through said coil in a second direction induces a second magnetic polarity in said first end of said electromagnet and a first magnetic polarity in said second end of said electromagnet; a first fluid conduit interconnected with said first end of said tubular member, wherein said first fluid conduit comprises a first portion extending outwardly from said first end of said tubular member in a first direction and a first one way valve disposed in said first portion of said first fluid conduit wherein said first one way valve opens inwardly toward said tubular member, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first end of said tubular member in a second direction and a second one-way valve disposed in said second portion of said first fluid conduit wherein said second one way valve opens outwardly away from said tubular member; a second fluid conduit interconnected with said second end of said tubular member, wherein said second fluid conduit comprises a first portion extending outwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a first direction and a third one way valve disposed in said first portion of said second fluid conduit wherein said third one way valve opens inwardly toward said tubular member, and a second portion extending outwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a second direction, and a fourth one way valve disposed in said second portion of said second fluid conduit wherein said fourth one way valve opens outwardly away from said tubular member;

introducing a first fluid into said first portion of said first fluid conduit;

passing a first electric current through said coil to polarize said electromagnet to attract said moveable piston to said second end of said tubular member;

filling said first end of said tubular member with said first fluid;

passing a second electric current through said coil to polarize said electromagnet to attract said moveable piston to said first end of said tubular member;

pushing said first fluid from said first end of said tubular member into and through said second portion of said first fluid conduit.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of alternatingly passing said first current and said second current through said coil.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said supplying a reciprocating pump apparatus step further comprises supplying a reciprocating pump apparatus comprising a controllable alternating current source interconnected with said electromagnet

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

introducing a second fluid into said first portion of said second fluid conduit;

passing said second electric current through said coil to polarize said electromagnet to attract said moveable piston to said first end of said tubular member;

filling said second end of said tubular member with said second fluid;

passing said first electric current through said coil polarize said electromagnet to attract said moveable piston to said second end of said tubular member;

pushing said second fluid from said second end of said tubular member into and through said second portion of said second fluid conduit.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of alternatingly passing said first current and said second current through said coil.

13. A reciprocating pump apparatus, comprising:

a tubular member comprising a midpoint, a first end, and a second end;

a first electromagnet disposed around a first portion of said tubular member, wherein said first portion is disposed between said midpoint and said first end;

a second electromagnet disposed around a second portion of said tubular member, wherein said second portion is disposed between said midpoint and said second end of said tubular member;

a first permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between said first electromagnet and said second electromagnet;

a first magnetic piston slidably disposed between within said tubular member, wherein said first magnetic piston comprises a first end comprising a first magnetic polarity, and a second end comprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein said first end of said first hollow piston faces said first end of said tubular member;

a second magnetic piston slidably disposed within said tubular member, wherein said second magnetic piston comprises a first end comprising said second magnetic polarity, and a second end comprising said first magnetic polarity, wherein said second end of said second hollow piston faces said second end of said tubular member.

14. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a second permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between said first electromagnet and said second electromagnet.

15. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a third permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between said first electromagnet and said first end 412;

a fourth permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between said second electromagnet and said second end.

16. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 13, wherein

said first magnetic piston further comprises a first hollow magnetic piston comprising a first one way value opening outwardly disposed on said first end of said first hollow magnetic piston,

said second magnetic piston further comprises a second hollow magnetic piston comprising a second one way value opening outwardly disposed on said first end of said second hollow magnetic piston.

17. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a controllable alternating current source interconnected with said first electromagnet and with said second electromagnet.

18. A method to pump a fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a reciprocating pump apparatus, comprising a tubular member comprising a midpoint, a first end, and a second end; a first electromagnet disposed around a first portion of said tubular member disposed between said midpoint and said first end, wherein said first electromagnet comprises a first end facing said first end and a second end facing said midpoint; a second electromagnet disposed around a second portion of said tubular member disposed between said midpoint and said second end of said tubular member, wherein said second electromagnet comprises a first end facing said midpoint and a second end facing said second end; a first permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between said first electromagnet and said second electromagnet; a first hollow piston slidably disposed between within said tubular member, wherein said first hollow piston comprises a first end comprising a first magnetic polarity, a first one way value opening outwardly disposed on said first end, and a second end comprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein said first end of said first hollow piston faces said first end of said tubular member; a second hollow piston slidably disposed within said tubular member, wherein said second hollow piston comprises a first end comprising said second magnetic polarity, a first one way value opening outwardly disposed on said first end, and a second end comprising said first magnetic polarity, wherein said second end of said second hollow piston faces said second end of said tubular member;

supplying a fluid to said second end of said tubular member;

filling said tubular member with said fluid;

passing a first electric current through said first electromagnet to induce said first magnetic polarity in the second end of said first electromagnet;

passing a second electric current through said second electromagnet to induce said first magnetic polarity in said first end of said second electromagnet;

moving said first hollow piston within said tubular member such that said second end of said first electromagnet is disposed at said midpoint;

moving said second hollow piston within said tubular member such that said first end of said second electromagnet is disposed at said midpoint;

passing a third electric current through said first electromagnet to induce said first magnetic polarity in the first end of said first electromagnet;

passing a fourth electric current through said second electromagnet to induce said first magnetic polarity in said second end of said second electromagnet;

moving said first hollow piston within said tubular member such that said first end of said first electromagnet is disposed at said first end of said tubular member;

moving said second hollow piston within said tubular member such that said second end of said second electromagnet is disposed at said second end of said tubular member;

pushing said fluid outwardly from said tubular member through said first end.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

alternatingly passing said first current and said third current through said first electromagnet; and

alternatingly passing said second current and said fourth current through said second electromagnet.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said supplying a reciprocating pump apparatus step further comprises supplying a reciprocating pump apparatus comprising a controllable alternating current source interconnected with said first electromagnet and with said second electromagnet, wherein said controllable alternating current source performs the steps of claim 19.