Adaptive programmable pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024360824-A1
Application number	US-202318309399-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2023
Publication date	Oct 31, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An adaptive programmable pump includes a pump housing, a diaphragm comprising a variable stiffness element attached to the pump housing, a piezoelectric element operatively connected to the diaphragm, and a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element, where the control element is configured to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness element via a voltage applied to the control element. The pump can also include a controller configured to decrease the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the pump and/or increase the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the pump. The variable stiffness element can include a thermoplastic material with stiffness controlled by applying heat, an amorphous metal alloy with stiffness controlled by applying a magnetic field, or an electroactive laminate with stiffness controlled by applying an electric field.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An adaptive programmable pump comprising:
a pump housing; a diaphragm comprising a variable stiffness element attached to the pump housing; a piezoelectric element operatively connected to the diaphragm; and a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element; wherein the control element is configured to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness element via a voltage applied to the control element.

2 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to one or more of decrease the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the adaptive programmable pump or increase the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the adaptive programmable pump.

3 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 2 , further comprising a pressure sensor to sense a backpressure relating to operation of the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the controller is to increase the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a sensed increase in the backpressure.

4 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 2 , further comprising a flow rate sensor to sense a flow rate relating to operation of the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the controller is to decrease the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a sensed decrease in the flow rate.

5 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises a thermoplastic material, and wherein the control element is to apply heat to the thermoplastic material to cause a change in a stiffness of the thermoplastic material.

6 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an amorphous metal alloy, and wherein the control element is to apply a magnetic field to the amorphous metal alloy to cause a change in a stiffness of the amorphous metal alloy.

7 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an electroactive laminate including a dielectric layer arranged between two conductive layers, and wherein the control element is to apply an electric field to the electroactive laminate to cause a change in a stiffness of the electroactive laminate.

8 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , wherein the variable stiffness element includes an isolator, and wherein the diaphragm further comprises a metal shim attached to the isolator.

9 . A method of controlling an adaptive programmable pump comprising:
monitoring, via a sensor, one of a pressure or a flow rate of a fluid in the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the adaptive programmable pump comprises a diaphragm that includes a variable stiffness element; determining a level of a stiffness of the variable stiffness element that is required for operation of the adaptive programmable pump; and controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying a voltage to a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises one or more of decreasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the adaptive programmable pump or increasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the adaptive programmable pump.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor includes one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises a thermoplastic material, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises applying heat to the thermoplastic material to cause a change in a stiffness of the thermoplastic material.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an amorphous metal alloy, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises applying a magnetic field to the amorphous metal alloy to cause a change in a stiffness of the amorphous metal alloy.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an electroactive laminate including a dielectric layer arranged between two conductive layers, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises applying an electric field to the electroactive laminate to cause a change in a stiffness of the electroactive laminate.

15 . At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:
monitoring, via a sensor, one of a pressure or a flow rate of a fluid in an adaptive programmable pump, wherein the adaptive programmable pump comprises a diaphragm that includes a variable stiffness element; determining a level of a stiffness of the variable stiffness element that is required for operation of the adaptive programmable pump; and controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying a voltage to a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element.

16 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises one or more of decreasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the adaptive programmable pump or increasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the adaptive programmable pump.

17 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the sensor includes one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor.

18 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises a thermoplastic material, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises applying heat to the thermoplastic material to cause a change in a stiffness of the thermoplastic material.

19 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an amorphous metal alloy, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises applying a magnetic field to the amorphous metal alloy to cause a change in a stiffness of the amorphous metal alloy.

20 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an electroactive laminate including a dielectric layer arranged between two conductive layers, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises applying an electric field to the electroactive laminate to cause a change in a stiffness of the electroactive laminate.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Gilmore Paul
• Gandhi Umesh

Classifications

• F04B43/0054

  particularities of the flexible members · CPC title

• F04B2205/05

  Pressure after the pump outlet · CPC title

• F04B2205/09

  Flow through the pump · CPC title

• F04B49/06 Primary

  Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) · CPC title

• F04B45/047 Primary

  Pumps having electric drive · CPC title