Patent ID: 8267675

Claim:
A piezoelectric pump for pumping a fluid, the pump comprising: a housing; an actuator located within the housing, wherein an electric voltage applied to the actuator causes the actuator to apply a force; a first diaphragm proximate to the actuator; a second diaphragm proximate to the first diaphragm; a piston assembly located within the housing, the piston assembly moveable between at least a first position and a second position; a first fluid chamber defined by the housing, the first diaphragm, and the second diaphragm, and wherein the first fluid chamber is sealed from communicating with the piston assembly; a coupling fluid located within the first fluid chamber for coupling the first diaphragm to the second diaphragm; a second fluid chamber defined by the housing and the piston assembly; an inlet valve in communication with the second fluid chamber; an outlet valve in communication with the second fluid chamber; wherein the force applied by the actuator displaces the first diaphragm forcing the coupling fluid to move the second diaphragm and the piston assembly from the first position to the second position, and wherein movement of the piston assembly between the first position and the second position changes a volume of the second fluid chamber thereby moving the fluid into the second fluid chamber through the inlet valve and out of the second fluid chamber through the outlet valve.