Patent ID: 9408991
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: A61M,F04B

Claim Text:
1. A pump unit comprising: a plurality of micropumps arranged in a lattice pattern with rows and columns, the micropumps transferring a fluid in a direction along the columns; an integrated discharge port to which a discharge port of at least a micropump arranged in a most downstream row is directly connected, the integrated discharge port receiving the fluid transferred by the micropumps to be discharged finally through the integrated discharge port; a discharge direct-connection path and a discharge direct-connection valve connecting respective discharge ports of the plurality of micropumps in a middle row directly to the integrated discharge port; an intake direct-connection path and an intake direct-connection valve connecting respective intake ports of the plurality of micropumps in the middle row directly to the fluid to be supplied first from an integrated intake port; a series-connection path and a series-connection valve connecting a discharge port of a micropump in an upstream row directly to an intake port of a micropump in a downstream row; and a controller for controlling the discharge direct-connection valve, the intake direct-connection valve, and the series-connection valve, wherein the controller connects a discharge port of a micropump in the upstream row directly to an intake port of a micropump in the downstream row by opening the series-connection valve and closing the intake direct-connection valve to form a multistage connection in a direction of the columns so that a pressure of the fluid increases from the upstream row to the downstream row, thereby bringing the plurality of micropumps in a pressure preferred transfer state, and connects the discharge ports of the micropumps in a plurality of rows directly to the integrated discharge port by opening the discharge direct-connection valve, and connects the intake ports of the micropumps in the plurality of rows directly to the fluid to be supplied first from the integrated intake port by closing the series-connection valve and opening the intake direct-connection valve, so that the micropumps are connected with each other in parallel, thereby bringing the plurality of micropumps in a flow rate preferred transfer state.