Abstract: A method and apparatus for pumping fluids, especially viscous and/or abrasive fluids, are disclosed. The method comprises using one working fluid to pump an intermediate working fluid, which may be different from the first working fluid, through a conduit system in a smooth and continuous pulsating manner. The intermediate fluid pumps the process fluid through the actual pumping zone. Heat exchange between the intermediate and process fluids may be effected, e.g. by counterflow. The preferred apparatus comprises a hydraulically operated displacement pump. A tubular diaphragm pump is coupled in-line in a pipe line. The tubular diaphragm pump includes a housing coupled to the pipe line, and a tubular diaphragm coupled to the housing in such a manner that the process fluid flows from the pipe line, through the interior of the tubular diaphragm and back into the pipe line. A check valve insures that the process fluid passes through the tubular diaphragm in a single direction.

Abstract: A low trauma, reversible flow pumping system is disclosed which is useful for transfer of biological fluids containing fragile components such as cells. The pumping system comprises a length of collapsible and flexible tubing in fluid communication at each end with a two-way, gravity actuated check valve means having a self-centering, vertically slidable weight member for directional regulation of fluid flow. Said tubing is sealingly enclosed within a hydraulic fluid containing chamber which is in fluid communication with oscillatory pressure providing means to cause alternate expansion and contraction of said tubing.

Abstract: A small, accurate, reliable and economical pump which is particularly useful in intravenous (IV) feeding includes a disposable pump chamber and a pump housing. The disposable pump chamber has an inlet, an outlet, and first and second flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chambers. First and second cylinders in the pump housing are positioned to eceive the first and second flexible rolling diaphragms of the disposable pump chamber. First and second pistons are movable in the first and second cylinders, respectively. In addition, first and second valves are provided in the pump housing. The first valve controls fluid flow between the inlet and the first flexible rolling diaphragm pump chamber, while the second valve controls fluid flow between the first flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chamber and the second flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chamber. A motor and cam shaft drive the first and second pistons and the first and second valves.

Abstract: High frequency medical breathing apparatus is provided, which delivers efficiently controlled high frequency air pulses to a catheter, and which is of relatively low cost and is energized by pressured air that is commonly available in a hospital environment. The apparatus includes a large flexible bag with entrance and exit openings, walls forming a sealed chamber around the bag, and a source that applies pressure pulses to the chamber to partially compress the bag at each pulse so as to deliver air through the exit end of the bag and a check valve, and into a catheter that leads to a patient's lungs.

Abstract: A small, accurate, reliable and economical pump which is particularly useful in intravenous (IV) feeding includes a disposable pump chamber and a pump housing. The disposable pump chamber has an inlet, an outlet, and first and second flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chambers. First and second cylinders in the pump housing are positioned to receive the first and second flexible rolling diaphragms of the disposable pump chamber. First and second pistons are movable in the first and second cylinders, respectively. In addition, first and second valves are provided in the pump housing. The first valve controls fluid flow between the inlet and the first flexible rolling diaphragm pump chamber, while the second valve controls fluid flow between the first flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chamber and the second flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chamber. A motor and cam shaft drive the first and second pistons and the first and second valves.

Abstract: A pumping system is described for pumping fluids, such as water with entrained mud and small rocks, out of underground cavities such as drilled wells, which can effectively remove fluids down to a level very close to the bottom of the cavity and which can operate solely by compressed air pumped down through the cavity. The system utilizes a subassembly having a pair of parallel conduit sections (44, 46) adapted to be connected onto the bottom of a drill string utilized for drilling the cavity, the drill string also having a pair of coaxially extending conduits. The subassembly includes an upper portion which has means for connection onto the drill string and terminates the first conduit of the drill string in a plenum (55). A compressed air-driven pump (62) is suspended from the upper portion. The pump sucks fluids from the bottom of the cavity and discharges them into the second conduit.

Abstract: A multichannel pump wherein the flow rate through each channel can be independently adjusted. In one embodiment there is a frame composed of upper and lower disc-shaped members which support a shaft in the center and a plurality of tube holders around the periphery. An eccentric cam is carried on the shaft and sequentially contacts resiliently deformable tubes in the respective tube holders. Each tube holder is independently adjustable toward and away from the path of travel of the cam and each can be removed for replacement or repair without affecting operation of the remainder of the apparatus. Also included are structures permitting the use of tubing having a low degree of elasticity, such as Teflon and the like. In another embodiment there is one or more cassette-like pumping units each of which contains two independently adjustable channels. The cassette-like units are so constructed that any reasonable number of the units can be combined to provide a multichannel pump having as many channels as needed.

Abstract: A liquid pump is provided and particularly a downhole pump for use in an oil well bore for pumping oil or in a gas well to remove condensate. The downhole pump includes a plurality of pump and transfer modules, each of which includes an elongate housing with end couplings and with two internal passages extending therethrough. The pump module further has a bladder extending between the end couplings around the internal passages with the couplings having passages connecting one of the internal passages to space on one side of the bladder. When fluid, preferably gas, under pressure is supplied to that passage, the bladder forces liquid therein upwardly into the next module. At the same time, fluid under pressure is exhausted through one of the passages from the space on the opposite side of the bladder of the next pump module, aiding it to receive liquid from the pump module therebelow.

Abstract: A pulsatile blood pump comprising a disposable power bladder of flexible and anticoagulative material which is provided with a suction port with an inlet check valve and a delivery port with an outlet check valve to constitute a blood pump unit and hermetically sealed container for receiving said blood pump unit, said container being connected to a pulsating mechanism and filled with a pressure transmissive fluid which is subjected to a pulsatile pressure generated by the pulsating mechanism to vary the volume of the power bladder for pulsatile blood delivery.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump comprises a body defining a chamber in which a diaphragm is arranged to divide the chamber into a drive chamber and a pump chamber. The pump chamber has an inlet and an outlet for fluid to be pumped, each of the inlet and outlet being provided with a one-way valve. The drive chamber has an inlet for driving fluid and the inlet is provided with a valve which is open under normal operating conditions of the pump. The valve is arranged so that, if a high pressure persists in the pump chamber when the pressure in the drive chamber is relieved causing the diaphragm to expand, the diaphragm will contact the movable valve member of the valve to move it to a position closing the inlet opening so that the drive chamber is isolated from the drive fluid pressure variations while the abnormal pressure subsists in the pump chamber.

Abstract: A portable pumping system for administering fluids intravenously to a patient. The system has a tube connected between the fluid source and the patient with one-way valves at each end of the tube to limit the flow to one direction. A middle portion of the tube is positioned within a first chamber that is connected by a hose to a second chamber. The second chamber has a flexible member that is reciprocally moved by an arrangement that includes a housing and a source of compressed gas. The housing has a valved inlet and outlet and the flexible member forms a portion of the boundary of the housing. The valve for the outlet of the housing is attached to the flexible member which is a metallic disc inherently biased in a concave shape in relation to the housing. In operation, the flexible member inverts to a convex shape as pressure increases within the housing emitting a click.

Abstract: A piezoelectric driven variable volume having a chamber pump with a flexible tube and a non-compressible fluid therein. Solenoid operated valves are associated with the inlet and outlet of the flexible tube. A control circuit sequences the valves and the piezoelectric drive to pump small volumes of liquid through the flexible tube by a diaphragm-type action.

Abstract: A disposable intravenous pump chamber cassette for an intravenous administration set which provides a fast yet fluid tight connection for a diaphragm portion to the pump chamber housing. The pump chamber is specifically constructed to be utilized in conjunction with a peristaltic-type pump having three contact members wherein the outer contact members serve as valves and the central contact member as a pumping member.

Abstract: A medical infusion system is described employing a pump for conducting fluid or semi-solids from an upstream portion to a downstream portion of the system. The pump includes upstream and downstream conduit means and a removable cassette communicating between the two. The cassette has a window therein and a diaphragm spans the window. The cassette has inlet and outlet openings valvelessly communicating with the pumping chamber or cavity of the cassette. Fluid in the conduit is pumped by restricting and opening the conduit means at upstream and downstream locations, and displacing the contents of the cassette pumping chamber appropriately.

Abstract: The invention provides a pump in the form of a length of hose reinforced by at least one extensible multi-filament strand, or parallel multi-filament strands, wound helically about it which during the application of torsion or tension to the hose is wound up, or has its helix angle reduced, so as to constrict the hose. In a torsion pump the reinforcement is unbalanced, meaning that there is no opposite helix, but in a tension pump reinforcement strands are wound about the hose in opposite senses providing a balanced structure.Preferably means is provided whereby relative movement between two members 10 and 11 caused by waves is used to distort and relax the length of hose 16, the resulting changes in its internal volume serving to pump water between inlet and outlet lines controlled by non-return valves 20 and 22. The hose length 16 is subjected to torsion as two rafts 10 and 11 pivot about an axis x, but in an alternative embodiment a hose length transverse to axis x is subject to tension.

Abstract: A down hole pump (10) placed in a well bore for pumping liquid comprises a pump body (12) with a longitudinal axis adapted to be placed in the well bore and submerged in the liquid. A gas pressure conduit (28) is connected between the pump body (12) and the well surface for supplying pressurized gas to the pump body (12). An exhaust conduit (30) is connected to the pump body (12) for conducting the liquid to the well surface. A one-way valve (54) is disposed in the pump body (12) and is connected to the exhaust conduit (30). An elastic diaphragm (40) is located in the pump body (12) and is movable in response to a pressure differential between the diaphragm (40) and the pump body (12) for displacing liquid from the diaphragm (40) when the pressure in the pump body (12) is greater than that in the diaphragm (40) and for expanding with the liquid when the pressure in the pump body (12 ) is lower than that in the diaphragm (40).

Abstract: Blood pump comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a displacement chamber being portions of a common flexible tubing being squeezable between fixed wall means and two spaced, movable valve plungers and a displacement plunger arranged on the portion of the tubing therebetween, wherein the valve plungers in the flow direction of the tubing have a dimension exceeding 5 mm and that in the tubing, with the valve plungers in closed position, a slot is left with a height less than 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A small, accurate, reliable and economical pump which is particularly useful in intravenous (IV) feeding includes a disposable pump chamber and a pump housing. The disposable pump chamber has an inlet, an outlet, and first and second flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chambers. First and second cylinders in the pump housing are positioned to receive the first and second flexible rolling diaphragms of the disposable pump chamber. First and second pistons are movable in the first and second cylinders, respectively. In addition, first and second valves are provided in the pump housing. The first valve controls fluid flow between the inlet and the first flexible rolling diaphragm pump chamber, while the second valve controls fluid flow between the first flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chamber and the second flexible rolling diaphragm pumping chamber. A motor and cam shaft drive the first and second pistons and the first and second valves.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a test electrode in process control and chemical engineering. The apparatus includes a storage container from which a cleaning solution is intermittently drawn in by a pneumatically operating peristaltic pump. The pump supplies the cleaning solution to a nozzle which sprays the solution on the electrode.

Abstract: A trigger operated dispenser includes a plurality of expansible chambers, with one of the chambers comprising a pumping chamber connected to be operated by the trigger, and another chamber connected to receive product from the pumping chamber and operative to expand and accumulate an amount of product for continuous discharge of the product through the nozzle, whereby continuous discharge of the product is obtained during both pressurization and intake modes of operation of the trigger operated pumping chamber.

Abstract: Injecting apparatus comprises means to hold the apparatus against a living body, and a medical liquid in a reservoir of the apparatus is pumped by a pump means which is driven by movement of some portion of the living body, so as to be injected into the living body. The medical liquid may be injected little by little, in which case each cycle of the pump means is effected by a plurality of movements of the living body. The reservoir is made of resilient material, for example, silicone rubber. A modified reservoir comprises an inner bag and an outer bag, with an intermediate space therebetween, which may be filled with a physiological solution of sodium chloride.

Abstract: A series of intermittently operable air pumps taking the form, for example, of transversely collapsible tubes or piston and cylinder assemblies, are located in recesses of a surface along which recurrent traffic moves, e.g., a factory floor subject to foot traffic and vehicular traffic, a highway, a sidewalk, or a surface along which a conveyor travels. Depressible actuating panels or treadles are operated by the traffic to in turn squeeze the tubes or move the pistons through pumping strokes, the tubes or pistons returning to their normal positions at the conclusion of such pumping strokes via yieldable means or otherwise. During such return action, the pumps operate through suction strokes such as to draw in a new supply of fluid, e.g. the ambient air, in readiness for the next operation of the actuating treadle by the traffic.

Abstract: A medical infusion system is described employing a pump for conducting fluid or semi-solids from an upstream portion to a downstream portion of the system. The pump includes conduit means defining, in part, a removable cassette having a window therein and a diaphragm spanning the window. The cassette has inlet and outlet openings valvelessly communicating with the pumping chamber or cavity of the cassette. Fluid in the conduit is pumped by restricting and opening the conduit means at three different locations, one of which is before the cassette and one of which is after the cassette and the third of which is at the diaphragm of the cassette.

Abstract: Explosive fumes in the lower portion of a power boat are detected by providing a manually collapsible elastomeric bulb, forming a one-way pump, adjacent a remote station on the boat, the bulb having its inlet remotely connected by a long inlet tube to a lower portion of the boat hull where such fumes normally collect. The outlet of the bulb is connected to a nose mask having an orifice therein to increase the velocity of air passing into the mask. By placing the mask over a person's nose and successively and quickly collapsing the bulb, high velocity bursts of air are directed into the person's nose so that he may readily detect any fumes.

Abstract: An adjustable mechanical damper for the diaphragm of a fuel pump of a type in which the diaphragm is pulsated by fluctuations in engine crankcase pressure is provided to regulate the amplitude of diaphragm pulsations and the incremental volumetric change produced in the diaphragm-enclosed chamber by the pulsations. Provision of the damper renders the fuel pump self-compensating for changes in fuel head pressure and insures constancy in the output response of the fuel pump to crankcase pressure.

Abstract: A manually operative pump connected to a container having liquid therein to enable the liquid to be discharged as a spray employs a hollow pistol-shaped housing. Liquid is pulled up through an opening in the bottom of the handle and is discharged as a spray via an opening in the free end of the barrel. A hollow flexible member open at both ends extends in the housing from the handle into the barrel and is held in position by curved internal guides. The member has a flexible wall defining a variable volume pump chamber adapted to assume a fully distended position of maximum volume and a collapsed position of lesser volume. A manually operable trigger pivotally secured to the barrel can be pressed into an opening in the barrel and an aligned opening in the guides to engage the wall and change the volume of the chamber. A horizontally elongated poppet is disposed in the end of the member adjacent the free end of the barrel and has an off-center opening connected by a channel to the barrel opening.

Abstract: A left atrial to descending thoracic aorta shunt is encircled by an artificial muscle sheath consisting of a multiplicity of connected rod-like segments formed of an elastomer. Each segment contains a series of embedded electromagnets and surrounding dispersed fragments of magnetically attractable material. The electromagnets are energized across intact skin of a recipient of the device by state of the art induction means to cause contraction of the individual artificial muscle segments with resulting contraction of the muscle sheath to thereby squeeze cyclically a predetermined volume of blood through the flexible shunt which is equipped at opposite ends of the muscle sheath with check valves.

Abstract: A sphygmomanometric system having a pump for pumping air into a sphygmomanometer cuff connected to the cuff via a regulator valve for bleeding the cuff pressure at a constant rate. The pump has a leak to atmosphere so that the regulator valve can bleed the cuff through the pump. An exhaust valve is also provided for dumping the cuff pressure to atmosphere and/or bleeding the cuff, independently of the regulator valve.

Abstract: A compact blood pump includes a flexible bladder mounted within a rigid metal housing. Pneumatic pulses between the bladder and the housing produce pumping action in association with appropriate inlet and outlet valves. The bladder is configured to provide a stiffness characteristic which produces a recurring three lobe collapse pattern during pumping operation. Inlet and outlet passages to the bladder are associated with detachable seal rotatable fluid conduits in fluid-tight relationship to the bladder. The conduits are attachable and rotatable without transmitting torque to the flexible bladder.

Abstract: A housing of a pump for an artificial heart comprises central, polar regions of rigid material where a rotatable connector for control and/or power supply conduits is located. An equatorial, peripheral region is made of flexible material. Connectors for inlet and outlet conduits are tangentially mounted to the equatorial region. A flat, torus shaped bellows of elastic material is positioned between two oppositely driven, spring loaded pressure plates and encloses the pump volume. An electromechanical displacement transducer provides signals proportional to the stroke of the pump. The pump may be operated by a liquid or gaseous pressure medium and its shape and structure are well adapted for implantation into a living organism, especially the human body.

Abstract: A pump comprises a tubular resilient pump element alternately extended and relaxed for longitudinal deformation and reinforced by means of filaments arranged in helices, preferably with different helices of opposite hands present, whose pitch angle is other than arccot .sqroot.2 so longitudinal deformation will result in volumetric changes. Inlet and outlet valves ensure unidirectional flow through the pump element.To smooth out flow a similarly constructed accumulator element, whose reinforcement pitch angle is chosen with a value such that the pump and accumulator pitch angles are on opposite sides of arccot .sqroot.

Abstract: A device for automatically caring for potted plants includes a rotary support carrying a potted plant and supported by a suitable base on which there is a container for liquid to be fed to the potted plant. The rotary support is driven so as to be rotated at a speed according to which the time required for one revolution of the rotary support does not form a multiple or fraction of 24. The container for the liquid is flexible while the rotary support carries at least one cam to compress the container in order to discharge liquid out of the latter, and a feed tube extends from the container to the potted plant to deliver liquid thereto each time the cam compresses the container.

Abstract: Distinct droplets of a slurry are dispersed by a dropping device consisting of a resilient tube connected to a liquid reservoir so that the liquid flows through the tube, and two valves and a plunger which work in a six-movement cycle on the outer surface of the resilient tube to discharge uniform droplets of liquid at equal drop intervals.

Abstract: A flow system for infusing a fluid such as blood from a storage reservoir into the human body includes a hand-operated pump for increasing the flow rate of the fluid through the system when required. The pump includes a duckbill-type valve assembly user-conditionable to an open position wherein fluid can pass freely through the valve and air trapped in the housing of the pump can be purged upline to the reservoir, and to a closed position wherein reverse flow of fluid in the system is prevented during operation of the pump.

Abstract: A volumetric pump comprising a flexible conduit and roller means for collapsing the conduit to pump liquid therethrough. The conduit is formed to provide a projecting rib to anchor the conduit to an underlying support device. The conduit is formed by forming a flat elastomeric sheet into tubular form, the opposite side edges of the sheet having flanges which are disposed into abutting relation to form the anchoring rib. Preferably, the sheet has a reinforcement imbedded centrally therein. The support may include jaws for clamping the two flange members into abutting relation and saddle elements to insure the desired pumping action by the rollers as they are advanced along the tubular member.

Abstract: A metering pump is disclosed wherein discrete, precisely measured quantities of fluid are caused, at predetermined intervals, to flow through a tubular conduit in the pump in response to the impingement of force or energy impulses against the wall of the conduit.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump particularly suited for the extracorporal circulation of blood, having a readily replaceable and disposable pumping member is disclosed. The pump avoids injury to the blood cells and creates a minimum of turbulence during the pumping operation, thus limiting the buildup of fibrin.

Abstract: The Blood Pump Tube Element will prevent the destruction of blood cells during a prolonged pumping of blood. The device comprises a series of interconnected bag-like chambers within a tube. The chambers fully contain fluid (blood) and each is provided with inlet and outlet valve means. The tube is engaged by a plurality of rollers mounted on rotating arms, thereby giving a peristaltic pumping action to the fluid in the bag-like chambers. Additionally, the position of the rollers on the arms may be adjusted.

Abstract: A combination primer and pump for internal combustion engines which utilizes a flexible cylindrical housing having a flexing liner with unidirectional valves at each end. The walls of the cylinder permit manual flexing or squeezing to pump fuel and a pulse connection in the outer housing connects the crankcase pulse of an engine being supplied with fuel to the inner, more flexible, liner to permit pumping action to take place when the engine is running. A pressure pulse passage between the outer and inner liner is positioned to be closed when the device is manually squeezed to achieve the priming function.

Abstract: A combination primer and pump for internal combustion engines which utilizes a flexible cylindrical housing having a flexing liner with unidirectional valves at each end. The walls of the cylinder permit manual flexing or squeezing to pump fuel and also a pulse connection in the outer housing serves as a valve to connect the crankcase pulse of an engine being supplied with fuel to the inner liner to permit pumping action to take place when the engine is running. The pulse connection may also serve as a control for the pulse pressure and thus for the fuel flow and pressure.

Abstract: A system for pumping cement slurry comprising two pumps connected in parallel in a piping system, each pump comprising a flexible tubular bladder connected between two tubular elements and surrounded by a cylindrical housing so as to provide a closed annular space between the bladder and the housing. There is an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve on each of the two pumps. Pressure fluid is provided by a cylinder and power driven piston, which oscillates in the cylinder, from one end to the other. Each end of the cylinder is connected to one of the two annular spaces so that when the annular spaces and the cylinder are filled with pressure fluid, oscillation of the piston will cause sequential compression and expansion of the bladders, and pumping of cement slurry through the inlet check valves and out of the outlet check valves providing a substantially constant flow of slurry.

Abstract: A constant pressure pump in which a tube containing the fluid is squeezed between an anvil and a ram, the two surfaces of which are shaped so as to maintain the same area of contact between the ram and the tube in a plane substantially perpendicular to the motion of the ram during substantially the entire squeezing operation and wherein the collapsed portions of the tube are permitted to escape from the ram area into slots substantially parallel with the motion of the ram.