Rechargeable AC/DC pump
A pump uses a power source to deliver power to a second power source while driving a fluid displacement device. The pump includes a fluid displacement device and a circuit coupled to a first power source and a second power source. The first power source may draw a first current from the second power source. The second power source supplies power to the fluid displacement device
1. Technical Field
This application relates to pumps, and more particularly to a portable pump that may be controlled by multiple power sources.
2. Related Art
Portable pumps may be used to inflate objects. Some pumps may be powered by rechargeable batteries. After the batteries discharge, the pump may be connected to an external power source to recharge the batteries. The charging period may last for an extended period of time, during which the pump is inoperable.
Some pumps resolve this problem by providing a connection to an external power source that recharges the batteries in a shorter time period. While these pumps reduce charging time, the pump remains inoperable during the recharging period.
Therefore, there is a need for a portable pump that operates during a recharging process.
SUMMARYA pump uses a power source to deliver power to a second power source while driving a fluid displacement device. The pump includes a fluid displacement device and a circuit coupled to a first power source and a second power source. The first power source may draw a first current from the second power source. The second power source supplies power to the fluid displacement device.
An alternate pump includes a fluid displacement device and a circuit coupled to a first or a second power source while coupled to a third power source. The first or second power source provides a charging current to the third power source while delivering current to the fluid displacement device.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
A pump may fill inflatable objects with air or gas. The pump, which may include one or more electromechanical pumps, may interface circuits that route a portion of a current to a power source while delivering another portion of the current to a fluid displacement device. By sharing current with the fluid displacement device, the pump may compress or transfer fluids during a recharging process.
An exemplary pump 200 may comprise a motor that has a metal frame, an armature, a commutator, and brushes. A magnetic device may be mounted on an interior surface of the frame that generates a natural or induced attraction. The armature may comprise one or more ferromagnetic cores wrapped in a coil that produces a magnetic field when current passes through it. Armature coils may be electrically coupled to a power source and mechanically coupled to a shaft. A commutator may be coupled to the shaft. The commutator may vary the poles of the armature as the armature rotates. As a current passes through the armature coils, the attraction of opposite poles and repulsion of like poles between the armature and the magnetic device (such as one or more field magnets) may create a torque that rotates the armature.
Impeller 308 may comprise a generally circular shaped base with raised arc shaped fins that may draw in and/or propel the fluid drawn in through inlet port 304. The raised arc shaped fins may have proximate and distal ends. The proximate ends of adjacent fins may be separated by a varying distance or varying gauge. The separation may increase from the proximal to distal ends. In some pumps, the separation between the distal ends of the fins is greater than the separation between the proximate ends.
A first generally star shaped bracket 305 may include a hole or opening passing through a raised cylindrical area having beveled edges through which the shaft of motor 306 may be received. The first bracket 305 may be positioned between impeller 308 and motor 306 and act to maintain motor 306 (cylindrical in shape) concentrically within upper portion 300. The first bracket 305 may be configured to permit fluid propelled by impeller 308 to flow along the periphery that separate the arms of the first bracket 305 and through an annular shaped cavity. Guides or flanges extending up from the arms may support the impeller 308, while the guides or flanges extending down may help support the motor 306.
An internal power source 310 may be configured in a semi-circular shape to fit within the annular shaped area formed around the concentricity of motor 306 within upper portion 300. An inner and outer peripheral area around the internal power source 310 permits fluid to flow around the internal power source (e.g., two channels). In some pumps, an inner annulus bounded by the motor 306 and internal power source 310 is substantially wider than an outer annulus bounded by the inner surface of the upper portion 300 and the internal power source 310. Additionally, a circuit device 312 that burns out or breaks when current passing through it exceeds a certain level may be coupled to and located proximate the internal power source 310. In other pumps, a circuit breaker may perform the same function as the circuit device 312.
Upper portion 300 may be configured to partially receive a second generally star shaped bracket 307. The second bracket 307 may have a first and a second side. The first side may comprise a plurality of guides or flanges that hold motor 306 and internal power source 310 in place. The second bracket 307 may be configured to permit fluid to flow along the periphery that separate the arms of the second bracket 307 after being positioned in the pump. The second bracket 307 may also comprise a rectangular shaped opening configured to receive a control device, such as a switch 316. The switch 316 may protrude away from the second side of the second bracket 307 into the lower portion 302.
Lower portion 302 may have a general disk shape (e.g., its height is substantially less that the height of upper portion 300) with a diameter about the same as upper portion 300. Lower portion 302 has a first and a second side. A plurality of rigid protrusions may extend from the first side of lower portion 302. These protrusions may abut the second side of the second bracket 307 when lower portion 302 is positioned on upper portion 300 and receives the lip of upper portion 300. Additionally, lower portion 302 may include a flange extending from the second side of lower portion 302. This flange may be circular shaped and may have a diameter about the same size as inlet port 304. Two inclined protrusions following the curvature of the flange may extend in a radial direction on opposite sides of the flange. A stop may extend downward in a vertical direction on one end of one of the inclined protrusions. A similar stop may be position on the opposite end of the other inclined protrusion. Together, the inclined protrusions and stops may be used to attach pump 200 to an inflatable object. In some pumps 200, the flange may form a substantially airtight seal with a receiving inlet. Alternatively, the flange may be configured to attach to the inflatable object through clips, stitching, adhesive, or mechanical structures.
In
The first power source 204 and the fluid displacement device 208, shown in
When the second power source 206 is coupled to the pump 200 a portion of its current may be supplied to the first power source 204 and a portion may be supplied to the fluid displacement device 208. The portion of current supplied to the first power source 204 may be delivered at a continuous rate such that each cell is brought to a re-charged level. Once the cells of the first power source 204 are at a substantially re-charged level, some or all of the current previously supplied to the first power source 204 may be re-routed to the fluid displacement device 208. While the second power source 206 is supplying current to the first power source 204, the second power source 206 may also supply current to the fluid displacement device 208. The second power source 206 may be an alternating current (“AC”) source or a direct current (“DC”) source. A cable may couple pump 200 to second power source 206. When second power source 206 is an AC source, the cable may comprise a transformer and rectifier that transforms an AC input into a DC output. The transforming device may transfer a constant or variable electric energy from one current to another.
Alternatively, when the second power source 206 comprises a DC source, a DC input may be coupled to a DC source such as a vehicle battery. A current regulator may couple the vehicle battery to the second power source. In some devices the current regulator comprises a fuse or a circuit breaker.
The first power source 204 may drive the fluid displacement device 208 or may receive a portion of the current from the second power source 206. The second power source 206 may be coupled to the pump 200 through receptacle 314. When the second power source 206 is coupled to the pump 200, node “a” may be coupled to node “c” through a plug that completes the circuit.
Two terminal semiconductor devices that restrict current flow chiefly in one direction couple the first power source 204. The semiconductor devices may comprise diodes. The plurality of diodes 400, shown in
A controller or switch 316 may be coupled to the fluid displacement device 208. The switch 316 may be a solid state, electromechanical, or mechanical device or an automated device. The switch 316 may be located within the flange that couples the pump 200 to the inflatable object 100, and may be operated automatically when the pump 200 is coupled to the inflatable object 100. Alternatively, the switch 316 may be located in other paths of the current and may be manually operated. When the second power source 206 is coupled to the pump 200, and switch 316 is open, some or all of the current from the second power source 206 may be routed to the first power source 204. Alternatively, when switch 316 is closed, some or all of the current from the second power source 206 may be routed to the first power source 204, while some or all of the current from the second power source 206 may be routed to the fluid displacement device 208 at a substantially synchronous rate.
The pump 200 may couple either the first power source 500 or the second power source 502 through a cable. The first power source 500 may comprise an AC power source, and the second power source 502 may comprise a DC power source, such as a battery. When the first 500 or second 502 power source is coupled to pump 200 the receptacle 314 may couple node “a” to node “c” through a plug to complete the circuit.
If the second power source is present, and the control switch is open, at act 606, the second power source may route some current to the first power source at act 608. The current provided to the first power source may be provided to the first power source at a continuous rate. The first power source may include a plurality of rechargeable cells that may be joined in parallel and/or series. The current provided to the rechargeable cells may bring the cells to a substantially re-charged level. After the cells have reached a substantially re-charged level, some of the current from the second power source may continue to be supplied to the cells to keep them charged.
When the control switch is closed, at act 606, some of the current from the second power source may be routed to the first power source at act 610. Additionally, some of the current from the second power source may be routed, at act 612, to the fluid displacement device. The amount of current routed to the first power source and to the fluid displacement device need not be equal. If the pump is still operating when the first power source has been substantially re-charged, some of the current routed to the first power source may be re-routed to the fluid displacement device. In some cases, current may be routed to the first power source to keep the cells re-charged.
Alternatively, if the control switch is opened (e.g., the pump is uncoupled from the inflatable device) and the first power source have not yet reached a charged level, some of the current previously routed to the fluid displacement device may be re-routed to the first power source. Current may continue to flow until the first power source reaches a charged level. After reaching a charged level, some of the current from the second power source may continue to be supplied to the first power source to minimize parasitic loss.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A pump, comprising:
- a fluid displacement device; and
- a circuit coupled to the fluid displacement device that drives the fluid displacement device;
- where the circuit routes a first current to a first power source, while a second current from the second power source is routed to drive the fluid displacement device.
2. The pump of claim 1, where the fluid displacement device is driven at a substantially synchronous rate.
3. The pump of claim 2, where the first current comprises a portion of current from the second power source.
4. The pump of claim 3, where the circuit is configured to be coupled to an alternating current and a direct current source.
5. The pump of claim 4, further comprising a converter that transforms the alternating current source into a direct current.
6. The pump of claim 5, where the second power source comprises an alternating current source.
7. The pump of claim 5, where the second power source comprises a direct current source.
8. The pump of claim 5, where the first power source and the second power source comprise a direct current source.
9. The pump of claim 5, further comprising a controller to break a current path.
10. The pump of claim 9, further comprising a device coupled to the first power source that substantially restricts a third current flow in one direction.
11. The pump of claim 10, where the pump inflates an inflatable object.
12. A pump, comprising:
- a fluid displacement device; and
- a circuit coupled to the fluid displacement device that drives the fluid displacement device;
- where the circuit is configured to receive a first power source or a second power source to route a first current to a third power source, while routing a second current to drive the fluid displacement device.
13. The pump of claim 12, where the third power source comprises a direct current source.
14. The pump of claim 13, where the first power source comprises an alternating current source.
15. The pump of claim 14, where the first current comprise a portion of current from the first power source.
16. The pump of claim 15, where the second power source comprises a direct current source.
17. The pump of claim 16, where the first current comprises a portion of current from the second power source.
18. A method of driving a pump, comprising
- providing a fluid displacement device;
- providing a circuit coupled to the fluid displacement device, the circuit comprising a first power source;
- coupling a second power source to the circuit;
- routing a first current to the first power source while routing a second current to the fluid displacement device.
19. The method of claim 18, where the first current comprises a portion of current from the second power source.
20. The method of claim 19, where second power source comprises an alternating current source.
21. The method of claim 19, where the second power source comprises a direct current source.
22. The method of claim 19, where the first power source and the second power source comprise a direct current source.
23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of coupling a controller to the pump to break a current path.
24. A pump, comprising:
- means for displacing a fluid; and
- means for routing a first current to a first power source while routing a second current from a second power source to the fluid displacement means.
25. A pump, comprising:
- means for displacing a fluid; and
- means for routing a first current to a third power source while routing a second current from a first or second power source to the fluid displacement means.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 30, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 5, 2007
Inventors: Timothy Austen (Glencoe, IL), Wen Sen (Taipei City)
Application Number: 11/239,998
International Classification: F04B 35/04 (20060101);