Diaphragm Type Patents (Class 92/96)
  • Patent number: 11952994
    Abstract: A pump includes a pump housing, a vibrating plate, a driving element, and a power-feeding plate including a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion electrically insulated from the first conductive portion. The driving element has a first surface and a second surface. The first conductive portion includes a first outer terminal part, a first connecting terminal part electrically connected to the second surface of the driving element, and a first coupling part coupling the first outer terminal part and the first connecting terminal part to each other. The second conductive portion includes a second outer terminal part and a second connecting terminal part electrically connected to the second outer terminal part and to the first surface of the driving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaaki Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 11883847
    Abstract: An acoustic matching structure is used to increase the power radiated from a transducing element with a higher impedance into a surrounding acoustic medium with a lower acoustic impedance. The acoustic matching structure consists of a thin, substantially planar cavity bounded by a two end walls and a side wall. The end walls of the cavity are formed by a blocking plate wall and a transducing element wall separated by a short distance (less than one quarter of the wavelength of acoustic waves in the surrounding medium at the operating frequency). The end walls and side wall bound a cavity with diameter approximately equal to half of the wavelength of acoustic waves in the surrounding medium. In operation, a transducing element generates acoustic oscillations in the fluid in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ULTRALEAP LIMITED
    Inventors: Justin Rorke Buckland, Adam John Robert Jackson, Amaru Daniel Araya-Williams, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Brian Kappus
  • Patent number: 11774309
    Abstract: An implantable pressure sensor is disclosed that has a small diameter and eliminates any dead zone in the flow of the pressure transmission medium, and is thus particularly adapted for implantation. In one embodiment the pressure sensor comprises a body including a cavity for receiving a liquid, and a planar mounting surface extending in an axial direction of the body. A diaphragm is attached to the pressure sensor body for transmitting an external medium pressure to the liquid in the cavity. A pressure detection chip is mounted on the mounting surface of the pressure sensor body for detecting a pressure of the liquid within the cavity, and a circuit hoard is mounted on the planar mounting surface of the body and is electrically connected to the pressure detection chip resulting in a device of smaller diameter particularly suited for implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaxiang Zhang, Tinghui Felix Fu, Xu Liang
  • Patent number: 11529650
    Abstract: An acoustic matching structure is used to increase the power radiated from a transducing element with a higher impedance into a surrounding acoustic medium with a lower acoustic impedance. The acoustic matching structure consists of a thin, substantially planar cavity bounded by a two end walls and a side wall. The end walls of the cavity are formed by a blocking plate wall and a transducing element wall separated by a short distance (less than one quarter of the wavelength of acoustic waves in the surrounding medium at the operating frequency). The end walls and side wall bound a cavity with diameter approximately equal to half of the wavelength of acoustic waves in the surrounding medium. In operation, a transducing element generates acoustic oscillations in the fluid in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD
    Inventors: Justin Rorke Buckland, Adam John Robert Jackson, Amaru Daniel Araya-Williams, Benjamin John Oliver Long, Brian Kappus
  • Patent number: 10724653
    Abstract: A fluid control valve includes: a valve housing including a flow path formed therein and having inflow and outflow ports for a fluid; a valve seat formed in the flow path; a driving device mounted in the valve housing; a valve shaft configured to be moved by being driven by the driving device; a valve body mounted on the valve shaft so as to open or close the flow path by being separated from or brought into contact with the valve seat; and a diaphragm formed in a form of an annular thin film and including outer and inner circumferential portions, and configured to move together with the valve shaft in a state where one side thereof faces a fluid chamber including the flow path and the valve seat so as to allow the fluid to flow therethrough, and the other side thereof faces an atmosphere chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Kajio
  • Patent number: 9885425
    Abstract: A valve system has a main body including a valve element that controls flow of fluid between a plurality of ports and an operation unit capable of being detachably attached to the main body. The main body includes: a driving element that is operated from the outside by a magnetic force and directly or indirectly drives the valve element; and a first housing that houses the valve element and the driving element and is watertight in a state where pipes are connected to the plurality of ports. The operation unit includes: an operation element that generates a magnetic field that operates the driving element; and a second housing that houses the operation element, when attached to the first housing, the operation element and the driving element being in a facing state via part of a wall of the first housing and part of a wall of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: T&D CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Morozumi, Manabu Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20150075367
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: an inflow channel to which liquid is supplied; an outflow channel communicated with a nozzle; a liquid chamber formed with a spiral flow channel having a substantially constant cross-sectional area between the inflow channel and the outflow channel and having a given volume; a volume changing portion configured to deform the liquid chamber so as to change the volume of the liquid chamber to a volume smaller than the given volume; and an ejection control unit configured to cause the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle in a pulsed manner by driving the volume changing portion in a state in which the liquid chamber is filled with the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi SETO, Hirokazu SEKINO, Kazuaki UCHIDA, Kazuo KAWASUMI
  • Patent number: 8979511
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, a pair of electrodes, a porous dielectric material, an electrokinetic fluid, and a flexible member including a gel between two diaphragms. The pair of electrodes is between the first chamber and the second chamber. The porous dielectric material is between the electrodes. The electrokinetic fluid is configured to flow through the porous dielectric material between the first and second chambers when a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes. The flexible member fluidically separates the second chamber from the third chamber and is configured to deform into the third chamber when the electrokinetic fluid flows form the first chamber into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Eksigent Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Deon S. Anex, Kenneth Kei-ho Nip
  • Patent number: 8967036
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump (10) having a pump body (11) providing opposing pump chambers (12, 13). Mounted in the body is a piston assembly (14) having pistons (15) joined by a piston rod (16). Each piston (15) is sealingly connected to the body (11) by a diaphragm (22) so that each of the chambers (12, 13) is divided into a first and a second sub-chamber, with the flow of fluid being pumped is governed by a pair of valves (30). Each valve (30) includes a base (31) to which there is movably attached a movable valve member (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Joe Santa & Associates Pty Limited
    Inventor: David Luiz Santa
  • Patent number: 8932032
    Abstract: A process fluid pump can include a pump chamber, an inlet valve, and an outlet valve. Diaphragm regions can define at least a portion of each of the pump chamber, the inlet valve, and the outlet valve. The diaphragm regions can each have an actuation region with a surface that is convexly shaped when the formed actuation region is in a natural unstressed first state, and each formed actuation region can be actuated by a motive fluid to transition to a second state in which the surface is non-convexly shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy J. Orr
  • Patent number: 8887620
    Abstract: An air-driven dual diaphragm pump comprises a pump body with a first air passage leading to a first air cavity with a first diaphragm, a second air passage leading to a second air cavity with a second diaphragm, and a reciprocating shaft which connects the first and second diaphragms. A diaphragm installation tool for the dual diaphragm pump comprises a plate which fits atop the pump body. A groove in a surface of the plate opposite from and nonadjacent to the pump body extends from the location of the first air passage to the location of the second air passage. A hole located within the groove at the location of either the first air passage or the second air passage extends through the plate. Pressurized air entering the pump body is redirected by the groove and the hole to always enter the first air passage, rather than the second, thereby slowly filling the first air cavity and positioning the second diaphragm for installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. MacDonald, Adam K. Collins
  • Publication number: 20140320292
    Abstract: A pneumatic pressure detector comprises a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal and a deformable diaphragm configured to deform between first, second and third positions. When the diaphragm is in its first position, the first and second terminals are open. When the diaphragm is in its second position, the first terminal is open and the second terminal is closed. When the diaphragm is in its third position, the first and second terminals are both closed. The pneumatic pressure detector may be connected to a sensor tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Rennie, Paul D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140311336
    Abstract: A microhydraulic system includes a first hydraulically acting element as a master element with a master diaphragm, and a second hydraulically acting element as an actuator element with an actuator diaphragm. The master diaphragm is coupled fluidically to the actuator diaphragm such that deflection of the master diaphragm causes deflection of the actuator diaphragm and actuation of the master diaphragm, both via a compressive force and via a tensile force being provided. The master diaphragm, as a function of deflection of the master diaphragm, thus exerts a compressive or tensile force upon the actuator diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Berning
  • Patent number: 8807014
    Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer diaphragm which is for use in fluid devices and has excellent maintainability in addition to both operability and pressure resistance. This multi-layer diaphragm is provided with a first and second plate and with an elastic adhesive layer which binds together the first and second metal plates. The elastic adhesive layer has an elastic layer that is elastic in a direction which offsets the first and second metal plates from one another in the in-plane direction. The multi-layer diaphragm is provided with a metal mounting plate which, provided in a position allowing protrusion beyond the first and second metal plates in the outer edge direction, has a mounting unit for mounting to the fluid device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nitta, Hiroshi Itafuji
  • Patent number: 8801403
    Abstract: A compressing diaphragm pump having abnormal pressure preventing features for spray use has a hollow tubular air discharge assembly having a plunger body and compressed spring as well as an air passage pierced at the wall of the water exit port and an air discharge orifice pierced of the central top surface of the air discharge assembly for connecting with the plunger body. When air is mixed within the pressurized water, the resilient force of the compressed spring is bigger than the water pressure of the pressurized water. This allows the air mixed in the pressurized water to get into the air passage and pass the plunger opening of the plunger body via through pore, and is dispelled out of the upper hood via the air discharge orifice of the air discharge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: Ying Lin Cai, Chao Fou Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140096678
    Abstract: A brake chamber includes a rod member that makes reciprocating motion within a cylinder through a pressure of compressed air or an urging force of a spring, thereby causing a pushrod for activating a brake device of a vehicle to proceed into the brake device. The brake chamber further includes a diaphragm that deforms in response to supply of the compressed air to push the rod member, and a housing that forms an accommodation space for the diaphragm. The housing is connected to the cylinder with a first end of the cylinder being inserted in the housing. The brake chamber further includes a boot member connected to the cylinder and the rod member. The boot member includes a sealing portion to prevent entry of foreign matter into a connection portion between the housing and the cylinder by contacting an inner circumferential surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: NABTESCO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Shimomura, Akinori Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140056744
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump (10) having a pump body (11) providing opposing pump chambers (12, 13). Mounted in the body is a piston assembly (14) having pistons (15) joined by a piston rod (16). Each piston (15) is sealingly connected to the body (11) by a diaphragm (22) so that each of the chambers (12, 13) is divided into a first and a second sub-chamber, with the flow of fluid being pumped is governed by a pair of valves (30). Each valve (30) includes a base (31) to which there is movably attached a movable valve member (35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: David Luiz Santa
  • Publication number: 20140007764
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating device with at least one textile airbag that has at least two textile fabric layers that lie one over the other, said airbag comprising a first fillable chamber of a first size, wherein the chamber can be brought from a non-filled or only slightly filled inoperative state into a filled actuated state by filling with a fluid. The airbag has anchoring points on which said airbag can be connected to objects to be actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBAL SAFETY TEXTILES GMBH
    Inventor: Jörg Ruschulte
  • Publication number: 20130327209
    Abstract: A rotationally adjustable brake actuator includes a pressure housing with a circumferential rim, a non-pressure housing having a second circumferential rim, and a diaphragm disposed therebetween, where a retaining ring holds the respective housings against each other such that the first rim abuts the second rim, but where the respective housings are able to be rotated with respect to the other. Further, the retaining ring includes a radially-oriented hole and a stop pin that is inserted into the hole and engages the pressure housing to prevent further rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Carl Gaufin
  • Patent number: 8596998
    Abstract: A piezoelectric micro-blower includes an inner case to which a peripheral portion of a vibrating plate including a piezoelectric element is fixed such that a blower chamber is defined between the inner case and the vibrating plate and an outer case arranged to cover an outer periphery of the inner case with a gap therebetween. The inner case is elastically retained in the outer case by a plurality of connecting portions. A first opening is provided in a top plate portion of the inner case that faces a central portion of the vibrating plate, and a second opening is provided in a top plate portion of the outer case that faces the first opening. A central space is provided between the top plate portions, and fluid introduced from the outside is guided to the central space through the gap between the inner and outer cases. The vibrating plate is driven in a bending mode so that air is sucked into the central space and is discharged through the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Fujisaki, Kiyoshi Kurihara, Daisuke Kondo
  • Publication number: 20130192456
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake servo for motor vehicles having a servo housing, the interior of which is divided into at least one working chamber and at least one vacuum chamber by at least one axially movable wall which can be loaded with a pneumatic differential pressure, having a control valve which controls the differential pressure and is arranged in a control housing for connecting the working chamber to the vacuum chamber or to atmosphere. The movable wall includes a diaphragm plate and a rolling diaphragm, and the working chamber is sealed by a sealing ring which bears against the control housing and which is clamped in the radial direction in relation to a longitudinal axis of the brake servo. An actively loaded area of the movable wall is reduced by division of the working chamber into a prechamber and a main chamber to avoid stick/slip effects and reduce disruptive noises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & CO OHG
    Inventors: Ralf Jakobi, Albin Loew, Sven Mainz, Stephan Becker, Thomas Rössler, Horst Krämer, Uwe Kley, Wilfried Wagner
  • Patent number: 8454324
    Abstract: A pump that has a cavity (13) in which is located a non-elastomeric membrane (14). An inlet (24) opens into the cavity (13) and is associated with a valve (27). A valve (28) is likewise provided in an outlet (25). Also opening into cavity (13) is a port (22) to which a negative or positive pressures can be applied whereby the membrane (14) can be moved between its two stable states corresponding to completion of inlet and exhaust of a pumping cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Precision Dispensing Systems Limited
    Inventor: Robert Donald Grapes
  • Patent number: 8393878
    Abstract: Water leakage and damage to the electric motor of a diaphragm type pressurized pump are avoided by providing the diaphragm with integral hollow cylinders which are inserted through ladder holes of piston head pushing chunks and deformed into sealing engagement with the pushing chunks and their corresponding wobble plates by screws extending through the cylinders and threadedly engaged within corresponding threaded holes of the wobble plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Ying Lin Cai, Chao Fou Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130055889
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bending transducer having a drive element and a membrane includes providing the membrane and the drive element and applying a production signal to the drive element during a bonding of the drive element to the membrane such that the drive element is pre-stressed after the bonding, wherein the production signal is of a same kind as an operation signal to operate the bending transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Markus Herz, Martin Richter, Martin Wackerle
  • Patent number: 8388321
    Abstract: A positive displacement pump apparatus includes a pump chamber in a pipe system for receiving a pumping fluid, the pipe system having an inlet and an outlet which can be shut by a valve. The chamber is connected via an intermediate fluid chamber with a displacement element including a piston head and a piston rod, which is arranged to alternately carry out a suction stroke and a displacement stroke during its movement to displace fluid in the intermediate fluid chamber, thereby increasing or reducing the volume of the pump chamber. A flexible separating element including a diaphragm is provided at the pump chamber to separate the fluid in the intermediate fluid chamber from the pumping fluid. A force member is provided for applying force to the piston head during the displacement stroke to counteract force exerted on the piston head by the fluid in the intermediate fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Arnoldus Gertrudis Hendrikus Wilmsen
  • Publication number: 20130042753
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump (1) which has in at least one pump head (2) a working or pump diaphragm (3) which, by means of a clamping zone (4) arranged at its outer circumference, is clamped between two housing parts (5, 6) of a pump housing and which, between itself and a pump head part (6), borders a working or delivery chamber (8) and which, in a central zone (10), surrounds a diaphragm armature (11) which, on a side facing away from the working or delivery chamber (8) of the at least one pump head (2), is connected to a reciprocating drive (12) which is provided for generating an oscillating stroke movement of the working or pump diaphragm (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: KNF NEUBERGER GMBH
    Inventors: Erich Becker, Erwin Hauser
  • Publication number: 20130014639
    Abstract: Disclosed is a diaphragm having a flexible film portion and an outer peripheral flange portion integrally provided on the peripheral edge of the film portion, said outer peripheral flange portion being provided between and held by a first housing and a second housing, wherein the film portion is prevented from rising upward when the diaphragm is attached to the housings. The outer peripheral flange portion has a first pressed surface which is one surface of the diaphragm in the thickness direction and which is in close contact with the first housing, and a three-dimensional shape composed of a projected portion or a recessed portion, on the first pressed surface. When the outer peripheral flange portion is attached to the first housing and the second housing while being compressed and deformed therebetween, the three-dimensional shape defines voids in the thickness direction between the outer peripheral flange portion and the first housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicants: ADVICS CO., LTD., NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji Takeshita, Kazuma Shigeta, Koji Aoba
  • Publication number: 20120227416
    Abstract: A pressure wave generator (40) for driving one or more cryogenic refrigerator systems. The pressure wave generator (40) comprises a housing with one or more inlet/outlet ports (57,58) through which generated pressure waves of gas may pass through to drive a cryogenic refrigerator system or systems connected to the inlet/outlet ports (57,58). The pressure waves are generated by at least one pair of opposed diaphragms (41,42) located in the housing that are moveable in a reciprocating motion within the housing to create pressure waves in gas spaces (55,56) associated with each diaphragm (41,42). The gas spaces (55,56) each having associated inlet/outlet ports (57,58) through which the pressure waves may pass. An operable drive system is also provided to move the pair of diaphragms (41,42) in a reciprocating motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Alan Caughley, David Haywood
  • Patent number: 8197231
    Abstract: In some arrangements, a pump for moving a fluid has one or more pump chambers and one or more flow control valves with diaphragm actuation regions. Motive fluid can activate the diaphragm actuation regions, and a pattern of fluid flow can be controlled by varying the pressure levels of the motive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Purity Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Troy J. Orr
  • Patent number: 8187227
    Abstract: A barrier of a vacuum pump prevents contamination from entering a vacuum pump air line. The barrier separates parts of the pump and is moveable between an initial state and a distended state. The barrier is assembled within the pump with a pre-load. When the vacuum source is applied to the barrier, the barrier achieves a distended state and when the vacuum source is released, the barrier incrementally self returns to an initial state. The geometry and material construction of the barrier, along with the pre-load, assists in returning the barrier on its own to the initial state from the distended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Medela Holding AG
    Inventors: Mark A. Luzbetak, Thomas A. Sutrina, Erich Pfenniger, Patrik Bosshard
  • Publication number: 20120111184
    Abstract: A brake system includes a vacuum booster, a valve positioned within the vacuum booster, the valve including a valve member connected to a rod, the rod configured to move in a linear direction, an air filter positioned within the vacuum booster, and a return spring positioned within the vacuum booster. The return spring includes a first end and a second end with a plurality of coils extending between the first end and the second end. The first end includes a first coil and a second coil positioned radially outward from the first coil, and the first coil is configured to contact the rod and the second coil is configured to support the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC
    Inventor: William P. Grace
  • Publication number: 20120107150
    Abstract: A pump includes a housing, an output member supported for eccentric rotation on a drive shaft of the housing, and a plurality of pumping assemblies supported on the housing about the drive shaft. Each pumping assembly includes a linear sliding pump shaft, a diaphragm oriented transversely to the shaft in sealing engagement with the housing to define a wall portion of a respective pumping chamber, an inlet check valve, and an outlet check valve. A linkage assembly connects the output member to the pump shafts of the pumping assemblies such that the pump shafts are arranged to be reciprocated along radially oriented axes about the drive shaft in response to rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Bogdan Pawlak, Zbigniew Salek, Andrzej Falacinski
  • Patent number: 8123502
    Abstract: A fluid pump comprising one or more actuators, two end walls, a side wall; a cavity which, in use, contains fluid, the cavity having a substantially cylindrical shape bounded by the end walls and the side walls, at least two apertures through the cavity walls, at least one of which is a valved aperture, wherein the cavity radius, a, and height, h, satisfy the following inequalities: a/h is greater than 1.2; and h2/a is greater than 4×10?10 m; and wherein, in use, the actuator causes oscillatory motion of one or both end walls in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the end walls; whereby, in use, the axial oscillations of the end walls drive radial oscillations of fluid pressure in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Technology Partnership plc
    Inventors: David Mark Blakey, John Matthew Somerville, James Edward McCrone, Justin Rorke Buckland
  • Patent number: 8117841
    Abstract: A self-regulating wastegate valve actuator for dynamically regulating a wastegate valve in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The wastegate valve actuator regulates and maintains a desired pressure differential across a throttle valve with minimal controlling elements by controlling a wastegate valve in response to the pressure differential generated across the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eckart Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron Eckart
  • Publication number: 20120031172
    Abstract: A device for applying a force to a planar surface includes a tub, a cavity, a membrane, and an opening. The tub includes a bottom wall, at least one sidewall, and a cavity defined between the bottom and sidewalls. The membrane is disposed within the cavity and a perimeter edge of the membrane is fixed to the tub. The opening is formed in the tub and adapted to receive a pressurized fluid to fill a portion of the cavity below the membrane to displace at least a portion of the membrane away from the bottom wall to apply a force to the planar surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Marijo Cosic, Stefan Scheller, Thomas Malysa
  • Patent number: 8100389
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator for use in a vibration damping device comprising: a base housing; an elastic wall member being fastened fluid-tightly to the base housing to form a working air chamber therebetween; and an urging member positioned within the working air chamber for exerting urging force on an output portion provided to the elastic wall member, such that the output portion is actuated to undergo displacement in opposition to the urging member through change in an air pressure in the working air chamber from an outside. At least one of opposing faces of the base housing and the elastic wall member on the working air chamber side thereof has a plurality of rib portions which extend from an inner circumferential side thereof towards an outer circumferential side thereof. A vibration damping device equipped with the pneumatic actuator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Tetsuya Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8092326
    Abstract: In a motor generator pulley 122, a mechanical clutch 105 and a switching unit 132 are provided such that the mechanical clutch 105 is interposed between a first power transmission unit 104A and a second power transmission unit 104B and can transmit power even when an engine 102 serves as a drive element and a motor generator 103 serves as a drive element and when the motor generator 103 serves as the drive element and the engine 102 serves as the driven element, and that the switching unit 132 can switch, when at least one of the engine 102 and the motor generator 103 serves as a drive element, the mechanical clutch 105 so as to inhibit the engine 102 and the motor generator 103 from being connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Amanuma, Yasuaki Hotozuka
  • Patent number: 8087906
    Abstract: A pump having a disposable fluid contacting portion which defines a fluid inlet and outlet and a fluid path there between. The pump includes a drive portion configured to engage the disposable portion to cause fluid to be moved from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The disposable portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the drive portion. The disposable portion includes a driven membrane which forms a portion of the fluid path, and the drive portion includes a drive membrane. The two membranes are vacuum coupled to each other, whereby movement of the drive membrane causes the driven membrane to move, causing fluid to be pumped through the disposable portion. The pump has particular utility in the medical field for moving fluid from a source to a patient. The pump may include features such as an air-trap, bubble detection, fluid flow controls, and pressure detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 7922955
    Abstract: A method for producing a rubber diaphragm, comprising: (a) preparing materials; (b) primary forming: putting a first rubber film into a lower mold cavity of a diaphragm mold, covering the film with a canvas, positioning the canvas via a mold ring, switching on a primary upper mold on a vulcanizer, pushing the mold into a center of a hot plate of the vulcanizer, and performing primary forming for 30-40 seconds under a setting temperature of 152-157° C. and holding pressure of 16-18 MPa; and (c) secondary forming and curing: taking the mold out, removing the upper mold, putting the second rubber film into a mold cavity and switching on a secondary upper mold, pushing the mold into a center of the hot plate, and performing secondary forming and curing for 5-5.5 minutes under a setting temperature of 152-157° C. and holding pressure of 16-18 MPa. A rubber diaphragm produced by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Xianqiao Zhu, Qichao Tang, Binghong Qin, Zhenxin Yang
  • Publication number: 20110061526
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump includes a pump chamber having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A passive silicon check valve is provided at the inlet opening, and a passive silicon check valve is provided at the outlet opening. The diaphragm pump further includes a metallic pump diaphragm that adjoins the pump chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Martin Wackerle, Martin Richter
  • Patent number: 7905172
    Abstract: A laminate membrane having an elastomer body and a contact layer applied to the elastomer body. The contact layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). A barrier layer configured as a permeation barrier is additionally provided, which is disposed between the contact layer and the elastomer body, or applied to the side of the contact layer that faces away from the elastomer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: ULMAN Dichtungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Öhrle, Leon Radom
  • Publication number: 20110030551
    Abstract: A pump including a flexible membrane and a body defining a fluid pump chamber therebetween may be fitted with an overlying, removable, rigid cap to protect inadvertent actuation of the membrane pumping mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Victor Ribera Turro, Santiago Julian Pidevall
  • Publication number: 20100294126
    Abstract: In a hydraulic fluid pump, in particular for a vehicle brake system, having a housing and a piston that is mounted in an axially movable manner in the housing in a piston chamber. A drive moves the piston and a sealing element seals off the piston chamber in the direction of the drive. The sealing element is designed as a diaphragm that extends through the piston chamber transversely with respect to the movement direction of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Reiner Fellmeth
  • Patent number: 7789013
    Abstract: Variable focus optical devices, in particular lenses, can include a cavity at least partially defined by a flexible member (2), which may be retained between engaging portions of a frame member (8) and a ring member (12), such that a peripheral region of the membrane is caused to change direction, more than twice. The engaging portions of the ring and frame may be high-friction surfaces. In addition, methods of filling a cavity of a lens with transparent fluid, methods of adjusting the pressure of fluid in the cavity, and methods of sealing such a cavity are described, as well the use of such lenses in adjustable spectacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Joshua David Silver
  • Patent number: 7743948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid or viscous substance, preferably foodstuff. At least one pump means (4) is provided to perform pump motions for sucking said substance (2) into the dispensing device (1) and dispense or discharge it therefrom. The pump means (4) is provided to divide inner parts of the dispensing device (1) into at least one suction chamber (30) and at least one dispensing or discharge chamber (31) which are interconnected through at least one transfer chamber (32). The pump means (4) is during a first pump motion in one direction (A) provided to suck substance (2) into the suction chamber (30) and simultaneously dispense or discharge substance (2) from the discharge chamber (31). The pump means (4) is during a second pump motion in the opposite direction (D) relative to the first pump motion provided to feed substance (2) from the suction chamber (30) and through the transfer chamber (32) into the discharge chamber (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Sten Drennow
  • Patent number: 7736132
    Abstract: A compressor suitable for use in a portable oxygen concentrator. In one exemplary embodiment, the compressor includes a crankshaft rotatable about a central axis and a plurality of diaphragm assemblies spaced apart around the central axis generally within a plane. The diaphragm assemblies include diaphragms movably mounted to respective housings to at least partially define chambers. A plurality of rods extend between respective diaphragms and the crankshaft. The rods are coupled to the crankshaft such that the rods are offset axially from one another along the central axis and are coupled to the diaphragms for cyclically increasing and decreasing pressure within the chambers as the crankshaft rotates about the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Respironics Oxytec, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Bliss, Charles R. Atlas, Scott C. Halperin
  • Publication number: 20100071776
    Abstract: A diaphragm-type control valve having a diaphragm and a valve body is provided preferably for use in the separation of and fluid control between a fluid source and a pressurized gas volume. The diaphragm element and a port in the body together form an intermediate chamber that eliminates the need for a check-valve downstream of the valve. In one preferred embodiment, an inner surface of the valve body defines a chamber having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber, and an elongated seat member defining a groove in communication with the port. A diaphragm member having upper and lower surfaces is disposed within the chamber. The lower surface preferably includes a pair of spaced apart elongated members defining a channel therebetween. The diaphragm member engages the seat member placing the channel in communication with the groove to define an air seat in communication with the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Yoram Ringer, Roger S. Wilkins, Boris Frenkel
  • Publication number: 20090241767
    Abstract: A diaphragm cylinder device may include a cylinder chamber, a piston disposed in an inside of the cylinder chamber, and a diaphragm for forming a chamber in the cylinder chamber where fluid is flown into and flown out. A fixed body includes an outer peripheral side deformation restricting part for restricting deformation of an outer peripheral side ring portion of the diaphragm when the piston is displaced, and the piston includes an inner peripheral side deformation restricting part for restricting deformation of the inner peripheral side ring portion of the diaphragm when the piston is displaced. Displacement of the piston in a direction toward a top dead point for decreasing an internal volume of the chamber and in a direction toward a bottom dead point for increasing the internal volume of the chamber is interlocked with flowing-out and flowing-in of the fluid in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji MURAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20090158923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chamber, in particular a pump chamber, comprising a plate-shaped first half (10) and a plate-shaped second half (12). The first and second halves are connected to one another by a closed connecting seam (20) in a surface-to-surface relation, and at least one half has at least one aperture (14) lying within the connecting seam. Furthermore, at least the second half is thermally deformed within the closed connecting seam in such a manner that it is formed to bulge relative to the connecting surface with the first half such that a hollow space (30) is formed between the first and second halves. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a pump having a configuration as described above. In a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing a chamber as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: PARItec GmbH
    Inventor: Joseph Lass
  • Publication number: 20090050081
    Abstract: An EGR coolant control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a coolant exhaust pipe connected with the coolant supply pipe, an EGR coolant supply pipe connected with the coolant supply pipe and the coolant exhaust pipe, a coolant control plate that is disposed in a junction portion of the coolant supply pipe, the coolant exhaust pipe, and the EGR coolant supply pipe, and that controls supply of a coolant, and an actuator controlling the coolant control plate according to in engine rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Sung Il Yoon