Miniature pump

A miniature pump includes a cylinder, a piston module, a driving module and a wall body. The cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite to each other along a direction. The piston module is accommodated in the cylinder. The piston module has at least one pumping chamber structure protruded towards the second end, and the pumping chamber structure is able to extend or retract along the direction. The driving module is located at the second end and connected to the pumping chamber structure, configured to drive the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction. The wall body at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure near the first end, and is located between the cylinder and the pumping chamber structure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Number 201510080891.0, filed Feb. 13, 2015, Chinese Application Serial Number 201520107515.1, filed Feb. 13, 2015, Chinese Application Serial Number 201520107520.2, filed Feb. 13, 2015, which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to miniature pumps.

Description of Related Art

A miniature pump is a pump of a tiny size. Due to its tiny size, the motor typically used is of a relatively low efficiency. Therefore, the quality of the design of the valve units and the compression units of a miniature pump has a key effect on the efficiency of the miniature pump.

In tradition, a miniature pump has a piston module and a cylinder, and the piston module is located inside the cylinder. During operation, the pumping chamber of the piston module is driven to extend or retract. However, since it is easy for the piston module to deviate relative to the cylinder, when the miniature pump operates, it is easy for the outer wall of the piston module to rub against the inner wall of the cylinder, causing the damage of the outer wall of the piston module, and thus the malfunction of the miniature pump.

As a result, how to prevent the outer wall of the piston module from rubbing against the inner wall of the cylinder is an important direction for the development of miniature pumps.

SUMMARY

A technical aspect of the present disclosure provides a miniature pump, which can isolate the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure and the inner wall of the cylinder, such that the pumping chamber structure is prevented from getting rubbed and damaged.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a miniature pump includes a cylinder, a piston module, a driving module and a wall body. The cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite to each other along a direction. The piston module is accommodated in the cylinder. The piston module has at least one pumping chamber structure protruded towards the second end, and the pumping chamber structure is able to extend or retract along the direction. The driving module is located at the second end and connected to the pumping chamber structure, configured to drive the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction. The wall body at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure near the first end, and is located between the cylinder and the pumping chamber structure.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the wall body and the pumping chamber structure are integrally molded.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cylinder has a cylinder plate and the piston module includes a plate portion, a piston portion and a connecting portion. The plate portion is stacked on a side of the cylinder plate facing the first end, and the pumping chamber structure is located on a side of the plate portion facing the second end. The piston portion is connected to a side of the pumping chamber structure away from the plate portion. The connecting portion is connected to a side of the piston portion away from the pumping chamber structure. The driving module is connected to the connection portion and drives the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cylinder plate has at least one air intake hole.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the plate portion includes a plate main body and at least one air intake valve piece. The air intake valve piece is connected to the plate main body, and the air intake valve piece covers the air intake hole.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the plate portion further includes a plurality of installation components. Adjacent installation components form a first recessed portion in between. Each of the installation components includes a first installation portion and a second installation portion, in which the first installation portion and the second installation portion are disposed at intervals on an outer periphery of the plate portion.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first installation portion is disposed with an air intake valve piece, and the second installation portion extends outwards from a top surface of the pumping chamber structure. The first installation portion and the second installation portion form a second recessed portion in between.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cylinder includes at least one supporting portion. The supporting portion is disposed on the cylinder plate, and a shape of the supporting portion matches with the installation components.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a miniature pump includes a cylinder and a piston module. The cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite to each other along a direction. The cylinder has a cylinder plate and the cylinder plate has at least one air intake hole. The piston module is accommodated in the cylinder. The piston module includes a plate portion. The plate portion is stacked on a side of the cylinder plate facing the first end. The plate portion has a plate main body and at least one air intake valve piece. The air intake valve piece covers and seals the air intake hole. The air intake valve piece has a root and an edge. The root is connected to the plate main body. The air intake valve piece tilts towards the first end about the root. The edge is composed of two straight-line sections, two curved sections and a circular section. The two straight-line sections are respectively connected to the two opposite ends of the root, the two curved sections are respectively connected to the straight-line sections, and the circular section is connected to the curved sections.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the piston module further has at least one pumping chamber structure. The pumping chamber structure is located on a side of the plate portion facing the second end and protruded towards the second end. The pumping chamber structure is able to extend or retract along the direction.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the root of the air intake valve piece is near to the pumping chamber structure relative to the edge.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the miniature pump further includes a driving module. The driving module is located at the second end and connected to the pumping chamber structure, being configured to drive the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the piston module includes a piston portion and a connecting portion. The piston portion is connected to a side of the pumping chamber structure away from the plate portion. The connecting portion is connected to a side of the piston portion away from the pumping chamber structure. The driving module is connected to the connection portion and drives the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a miniature pump includes a cylinder, a piston module and a driving module. The cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite to each other along a direction. The cylinder has a cylinder plate. The piston module is accommodated in the cylinder. The piston module includes a plate portion, at least one pumping chamber structure and a sealing portion. The plate portion is stacked on a side of the cylinder plate facing the first end. The plate portion has a plate main body and at least one air intake valve piece connected to the plate main body. The pumping chamber structure is located on a side of the plate portion facing the second end. The pumping chamber structure has a pumping chamber. The sealing portion surrounds as a loop and is disposed on a side of the plate portion facing the first end. The pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece are located within the inner edge of the sealing portion. The driving module is located at the second end and connected to the pumping chamber structure, being configured to drive the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the piston module includes a piston portion and a connecting portion. The piston portion is connected to a side of the pumping chamber structure away from the plate portion. The connecting portion is connected to a side of the piston portion away from the pumping chamber structure. The driving module is connected to the connection portion and drives the pumping chamber structure to extend or retract along the direction.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cylinder plate further includes at least one air intake hole. The air intake valve piece covers and seals the air intake hole.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the miniature pump further includes a compression plate. The compression plate is stacked on the side of the plate portion facing the first end. The compression plate has a plurality of exhaust openings with positions correspondent to the pumping chamber.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the miniature pump further includes an exhaust valve piece. The exhaust valve piece is connected to a side of the compression plate facing the first end, with position correspondent to the exhaust openings.

When compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure have at least the following advantages:(1) Since the wall body at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure near the first end, and is located between the cylinder and the pumping chamber structure, the relative position of the piston module and the cylinder can be fixed. This means the deviation of the piston module relative to the cylinder can be avoided. Furthermore, the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure and the inner wall of the cylinder is isolated, hence, when the pumping chamber structure extends or retracts along the direction, the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure and the inner wall of the cylinder will not rub against each other, and the chance that the pumping chamber structure gets damaged is avoided.

(2) Since the wall body at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure near the first end, and is located between the cylinder and the pumping chamber structure, such that the relative position of the piston module and the cylinder is fixed, and the deviation of the piston module relative to the cylinder is avoided, the air intake valve piece will not deviate relative to the air intake hole. Hence, the effect that the air intake valve piece126covers and seals the air intake hole is also unaffected.

(3) Since only the straight-line sections and the curved sections exist between the circular section and the root, the bending moment about the root produced by the air intake valve piece can be effectively reduced. Thus, the deformation and the tilting up of the air intake valve piece due to a too large force are avoided. Consequently, the air intake valve piece can effectively cover and seal the air intake hole.

(4) Since no sealing portion exists between the pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece, when the piston module is assembled between the compression plate and the cylinder, the compression plate will not exert excessive pressure against the local position of the plate portion between the pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece. Thus, the local position of the plate portion between the pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece will not be deformed, and the air intake valve piece will not be tilted up due to deformation. As a result, the sealing criteria of the miniature pump can be maintained.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Drawings will be used below to disclose a plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of clear illustration, many practical details will be explained together in the description below. However, it is appreciated that the practical details should not be used to limit the claimed scope. In other words, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the practical details are not essential. Moreover, for the sake of drawing simplification, some customary structures and elements in the drawings will be schematically shown in a simplified way. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Please refer toFIGS. 1-4.FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view of a miniature pump100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a schematic perspective view of the piston module120ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a sectional view of the assembly of the piston module120and the cylinder110ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a partially enlarged view of the piston module120ofFIG. 3.

As shown inFIGS. 1-4, a miniature pump100includes a cylinder110, a piston module120, a driving module130and a wall body140. The cylinder110has a first end111and a second end112opposite to each other along a direction Z. The piston module120is accommodated in the cylinder110. The piston module120has at least one pumping chamber structure121. The pumping chamber structure121protrudes towards the second end112, and the pumping chamber structure121is able to extend or retract along the direction Z. The driving module130is located at the second end112and connected to the pumping chamber structure121, configured to drive the pumping chamber structure121to extend or retract along the direction Z. The wall body140at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure121near the first end111, and is located between the cylinder110and the pumping chamber structure121.

In other words, since the wall body140at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure121near the first end111, and is located between the cylinder110and the pumping chamber structure121, the relative position of the piston module120and the cylinder110can be fixed. This means the deviation of the piston module120relative to the cylinder110can be avoided. Furthermore, the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure121and the inner wall of the cylinder110is isolated, hence, when the pumping chamber structure121extends or retracts along the direction Z, the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure121and the inner wall of the cylinder110will not rub against each other, and the chance that the pumping chamber structure121gets damaged is avoided.

In this embodiment, the wall body140and the pumping chamber structure121are integrally molded. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

To be more specific, the cylinder110has a cylinder plate113and the piston module120includes a plate portion122, a piston portion123and a connecting portion124. The plate portion122is stacked on a side of the cylinder plate113facing the first end111, and the pumping chamber structure121is located on a side of the plate portion122facing the second end112. The piston portion123is connected to a side of the pumping chamber structure121away from the plate portion122. The connecting portion124is connected to a side of the piston portion123away from the pumping chamber structure121. The driving module130is connected to the connection portion124and drives the pumping chamber structure121to extend or retract along the direction Z.

Furthermore, assuming the width of the wall body140to be d, the inner diameter of the pumping chamber structure121be D, and the wall thickness of the pumping chamber structure121be T, in practical applications, the inner diameter of the cylinder110should be equal to or slightly larger than D+T×2+d×2. To be clear, the wall thickness T of the pumping chamber structure121should not be too thick, so as to avoid the rubbing of the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure121against the outer wall of the piston portion123during the extension or retraction of the pumping chamber structure121along the direction Z. Thus, the chance that the pumping chamber structure121gets damaged is also avoided.

As shown inFIG. 2, the plate portion122further includes a plurality of installation components1221. Adjacent installation components1221form a first recessed portion R1in between. Each of the installation components1221includes a first installation portion1221aand a second installation portion1221b, in which the first installation portion1221aand the second installation portion1221bare disposed at intervals on an outer periphery of the plate portion122.

Moreover, the first installation portion1221ais disposed with an air intake valve piece126, and the second installation portion1221bextends outwards from a top surface of the pumping chamber structure121. The first installation portion1221aand the second installation portion1221bform a second recessed portion R2in between.

Please refer toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a schematic perspective view of the cylinder110ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 5, the cylinder110includes at least one supporting portion115. The supporting portion115is disposed on the cylinder plate113, and a shape of the supporting portion115matches with the installation components1221. As a result, when the miniature pump100operates, the piston module120will not rotate relative to the cylinder110, and the relative position of the piston module120and the cylinder110can be fixed.

In addition, the cylinder plate113has at least one air intake hole114. Please go back toFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the plate portion122of the piston module120includes a plate main body125and at least one air intake valve piece126. The air intake valve piece126is connected to the plate main body125. Correspondingly, the air intake valve piece126covers and seals the air intake hole114. As mentioned above, since the wall body140at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure121near the first end111, and is located between the cylinder110and the pumping chamber structure121, such that the relative position of the piston module120and the cylinder110is fixed, and the deviation of the piston module120relative to the cylinder110is avoided, the air intake valve piece126will not deviate relative to the air intake hole114. Hence, the effect that the air intake valve piece126covers and seals the air intake hole114is also unaffected.

Please stay inFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the pumping chamber structure121includes a pumping chamber127, and the miniature pump further comprises a sealing portion150. The sealing portion150surrounds as a loop and is disposed on a side of the plate portion122facing the first end111. The pumping chamber127and the air intake valve piece126are located within the inner edge of the sealing portion150. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2, the sealing portion150is not disposed on the plate portion122between the pumping chamber127and the air intake valve piece126.

Please go back toFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, the miniature pump100further includes a compression plate160. The compression plate160is stacked on the side of the plate portion122facing the first end111. The compression plate160has a plurality of exhaust openings161with positions correspondent to the pumping chamber127. As mentioned above, since no sealing portion150exists between the pumping chamber127and the air intake valve piece126, when the piston module120is assembled between the compression plate160and the cylinder110, the compression plate160will not exert excessive pressure against the local position of the plate portion122between the pumping chamber127and the air intake valve piece126. Thus, the local position of the plate portion122between the pumping chamber127and the air intake valve piece126will not be deformed, and the air intake valve piece126will not be tilted up due to deformation. As a result, the sealing criteria of the miniature pump100can be maintained.

As shown inFIG. 1, the miniature pump100further includes at least one exhaust valve piece170. The exhaust valve piece170is connected to a side of the compression plate160facing the first end111, with position correspondent to the exhaust openings161.

Please refer toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a plan view of the piston module120ofFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 6, the air intake valve piece126has a root126aand an edge126b. The root126ais connected to the plate main body125. The air intake valve piece126can tilt towards the first end111about the root126a. The edge126bis composed of two straight-line sections126b1, two curved sections126b2and a circular section126b3. The two straight-line sections126b1are respectively connected to the two opposite ends of the root126a. The two curved sections126b2are respectively connected to the straight-line sections126b1. The circular section126b3is connected to the curved sections126b2.

In other words, only the straight-line sections126b1and the curved sections126b2exist between the circular section126b3and the root126a. As a result, the bending moment about the root126aproduced by the air intake valve piece126can be effectively reduced. Thus, the deformation and the tilting up of the air intake valve piece126due to a too large force is avoided. Consequently, the air intake valve piece126can effectively cover and seal the air intake hole114.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 6, the root126aof the air intake valve piece126is near to the pumping chamber structure121relative to the edge126b.

In summary, when compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present disclosure mentioned above have at least the following advantages:(1) Since the wall body at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure near the first end, and is located between the cylinder and the pumping chamber structure, the relative position of the piston module and the cylinder can be fixed. This means the deviation of the piston module relative to the cylinder can be avoided. Furthermore, the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure and the inner wall of the cylinder is isolated, hence, when the pumping chamber structure extends or retracts along the direction, the outer wall of the pumping chamber structure and the inner wall of the cylinder will not rub against each other, and the chance that the pumping chamber structure gets damaged is avoided.

(2) Since the wall body at least partially surrounds a position of the pumping chamber structure near the first end, and is located between the cylinder and the pumping chamber structure, such that the relative position of the piston module and the cylinder is fixed, and the deviation of the piston module relative to the cylinder is avoided, the air intake valve piece will not deviate relative to the air intake hole. Hence, the effect that the air intake valve piece126covers and seals the air intake hole is also unaffected.

(3) Since only the straight-line sections and the curved sections exist between the circular section and the root, the bending moment about the root produced by the air intake valve piece can be effectively reduced. Thus, the deformation and the tilting up of the air intake valve piece due to a too large force are avoided. Consequently, the air intake valve piece can effectively cover and seal the air intake hole.

(4) Since no sealing portion exists between the pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece, when the piston module is assembled between the compression plate and the cylinder, the compression plate will not exert excessive pressure against the local position of the plate portion between the pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece. Thus, the local position of the plate portion between the pumping chamber and the air intake valve piece will not be deformed, and the air intake valve piece will not be tilted up due to deformation. As a result, the sealing criteria of the miniature pump can be maintained.

It will be apparent to the person having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of the present disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.