Abstract:
An automated pump including a pulse generator capable of altering the output volume of fluid flow produced by the pump. The present invention is a vibratory pump including a pulse generator connected to a vibratory generator on the pump that is used to selectively control the amount of vibration created by the vibration generator. By increasing or decreasing the amount of vibrations created by the vibration generator, an operator can control the fluid flow output of the pump to fit the desired use for the pump.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to pumps and more specifically to vibratory pumps in which the flow output from the pump can be varied by varying the oscillation of a vibration generator connected to the pump. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a vibratory pump in which the outgoing flow from the pump can be altered by changing the oscillation of the vibration generator connected to the pump. The vibration generator moves a plunger within a housing for the pump, such that the plunger repeatedly contacts a flexible diaphragm also disposed within the pump housing. The repeated contact of the plunger with the diaphragm urges the liquid to be pumped through an opening in the diaphragm into an outlet chamber connected to the housing from which the liquid is discharged. The frequency at which the vibration generator operates can be varied by altering the operation of a pulse generator connected to the vibration generator. In this manner, the pump can supply as large or as little a fluid flow from the pump as necessary for the desired application. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings currently illustrate the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an automated vibrating pump constructed according to the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 2A-B are cross-section views of alternative constructions for a plunger utilized with the pump of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals describe like parts throughout the disclosure, an automated pump is indicated generally at  10  in FIG.  1 . The pump  10  includes a vibration generator  20  connected by a shaft  30  to a pump housing  40  that are formed from a rigid material, such as hard plastic. The vibration generator  20  enclosed within an enclosure  25  and is operatively connected to a power supply  50 , a pulse generator  60  and an amplifier  70 , which, in turn, are connected in series with the amplifier  70  connected directly to the vibration generator  20  through an aperture  75  in the enclosure  25 . The vibration generator  20  consists of a piezo electric element  80  that is fixed at one end to a stationary platform  90  located within the vibration generator  20 . Adjacent the platform  90 , a pair of electrodes  100  are disposed on either side of the piezo electric element  80  and form a circuit  110  with a wire  120  that is operably connected to each of the electrodes  100  and to the amplifier  70 . 
     Opposite the platform  90 , the piezo electric  80  is connected to a rod  130  by an amount of an adhesive  140 , or other suitable securing means. The rod  130  extends downwardly from the vibration generator  20  through the shaft  30  and into the pump housing  40 . The shaft  130  may be made of any suitable rigid material, such as a plastic or metal. 
     Opposite the piezo electric element  80 , the rod  130  is connected to a plunger  150 . The plunger  150  is generally circular in shape, has a diameter D and can be formed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a plastic or hard rubber. The plunger  150  is secured to the rod  130  by the insertion of a knob  160  extending from the rod  130  that is received within an aperture  170  in the plunger  150 . Alternatively, the plunger  150  can be secured to the rod  130  by other suitable means such as adhesives, screws extending through the plunger  150  into the rod  130  and the like. 
     The plunger  150  is retained within the plunger housing  40 . The plunger housing  40  includes a number of wall sections  180  that extend downwardly from the lower end of the shaft  30  and are connected to a base  190  opposite the shaft  30 . The wall sections  180  partially enclose the housing  40  and define openings  200  therebetween. 
     The base  190  further includes an outlet chamber  210  disposed in the center of the base  190 . The outlet chamber  210  is generally circular in shape and can be formed separately from or formed integrally with the base  190 . The outlet chamber  210  includes an open end  220  disposed within the housing  40  adjacent the plunger  150  and an outlet nozzle  230  extending away from the housing  40  opposite the open end  220 . The nozzle  230  defines a passage  240  that is in fluid communication with the interior of the outlet chamber  210 . A flexible diaphragm  250  covers the open end  220  of the outlet chamber  210 . The diaphragm  250  includes a central, circular opening  260  which has a diameter d and a downwardly depending circumferential flange  255  that engages the exterior of the outlet chamber  210 . 
     A hose (not shown) can be secured to the nozzle  230  by frictional engagement with a circumferential ridge  270  disposed on the nozzle  230  in order to direct the outcoming fluid flow from the outlet chamber  210  through the nozzle  230  and through the hose. 
     In operation, the automated pump  10  is positioned partially within the fluid to be pumped such that the pump housing  40  is completely submerged beneath the surface of the fluid. The power supply  50  is then activated such that the piezo electric element  80  begins to vibrate opposite the platform  90 , thereby oscillating the rod  130  in a vertical direction. As the rod  130  and plunger  150  move in a downward direction, the plunger  150  urges fluid located beneath the plunger  150  through the opening  260  in the diaphragm  250  and into the outlet chamber  210 . When the plunger  150  contacts the diaphragm  250 , because the plunger  150  has a diameter D greater than the diameter d of the opening  260 , the plunger  150  prevents any further fluid flow into the outlet chamber  210 . Due to the flexibility of the diaphragm  250 , he plunger  150  also urges the fluid outwardly through the nozzle  230  when the plunger  150  contacts the diaphragm  250  by pressing downwardly on the diaphragm d  250  and compressing the fluid contained within the outlet chamber  210 . 
     When the rod  130  and plunger  150  stop moving downwardly and begin to move upwardly due to the oscillation of the piezo electric element  80 , the upward movement of the plunger  150  creates a slight vacuum between the plunger  150  and the diaphragm  250 . This vacuum draws fluid from the exterior of the plunger housing  40  through the openings  200  and into the space vacated by the plunger  150 . The incoming fluid further urges the fluid contained within the outlet chamber  210  outwardly through the nozzle  230 . The pumping of the fluid in this manner continues until the power supply  50  is turned off, ceasing the vibration of the piezo electric element  80 . 
     Due to the presence of a pulse generator  60  connected in series between the power supply  50  and the piezo electric element  80 , the vibrations of the piezo electric element  80  can be controlled by varying the pulse supplied from the pulse generator  60  to control the output of the pump  10 . For applications needing a large volume of fluid, increasing the number of pulses output by the pulse generator  60  increases the number of oscillations of the element  80 , consequently increasing the fluid flow through the pump  10 . Alternatively, if the application requires only a small amount of fluid, the pulse generator  60  can be adjusted to reduce the number of vibrations of the piezo electric element  80 , consequently reducing the fluid output of the pump  10 . 
     The output of the pump  10  can also be varied by the use of plungers  150  having various configurations, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. A first variation for the plunger  150  is the plunger  150 ′ in FIG.  2 A. This plunger  150 ′ is formed as a generally hollow cylinder  280  having a closed end  290 , an open end  300  opposite the closed end  290 , and a circumferential flange  310  adjacent the open end  300 . The closed end  290  is attached to the rod  130  such that the open end  300  faces the diaphragm  250 . When the plunger  150 ′ moves downwardly due to the oscillation of the piezo electric element  80 , fluid fills the interior of the plunger  150 ′, reducing the mount of fluid urged downwardly by the plunger  150 ′, decreasing the compressive force exerted on the diaphragm  250  and resulting in a reduced fluid flow through the nozzle  230 . 
     A second embodiment for the plunger is shown in FIG. 2B at  150 ″. In this embodiment, the plunger  150 ″ is formed as a circular disk formed of a rigid material having one of the two opposite faces  320  secured to the rod  130 . The plunger  150 ″ creates a greater compressive force on the diaphragm  250  than the plunger  150 ′, but less than that of the plunger  150  to provide a mid-range amount of fluid flow through the nozzle  230 . 
     Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter applicant regards as the invention.