Micropump, Inc.

Micropump, Inc., a Unit of Idex Corporation

Larry F Krebs

Craig Sunada

Steven E Owen

Various methods are disclosed for manufacturing pump-heads having a housing enclosing at least one rotary member. In an exemplary method first and second housing portions are provided that collectively, when assembled, define a pump-cavity that accommodates the rotary member(s). The rotary member(s) is assembled into the pump-cavity, along with at least one soluble spacer of a defined thickness that corresponds to a desired clearance of the rotary member relative to the pump-cavity. The spacer contacts a surface of the rotary member facing a corresponding surface of the housing portion. The first and second housing portions are attached together to form the pump-cavity containing the rotary member(s). The soluble spacer is dissolved to provide the desired clearance of the rotary member in the pump-cavity. As the housing portions are attached together, e.g., by adhesive bonding, the spacer establishes the desired clearance of the rotary member(s) in the pump-cavity.

Methods for manufacturing pump-heads having a desired internal clearance for rotary member

Magnetically driven gear-pump heads and pumps are disclosed. An exemplary gear-pump head includes a housing, a magnet cup, a pump driving gear, and a pump driven gear. The housing has a pump axis and defines a pump cavity. The magnet cup extends along the pump axis and contains a driven magnet that is rotatable inside the magnet cup about the pump axis. The driven magnet comprises a first driving gear. The pump driving gear has a first gear axis, and the pump driven gear has a second gear axis. The first gear axis is parallel to but laterally offset from the pump axis on a first side of the pump axis. The second gear axis is parallel to but laterally offset from the pump axis on a second side of the pump axis. The pump gears are situated in the pump cavity and interdigitate with each other such that rotation of the pump driving gear causes a corresponding contrarotation of the pump driven gear. The pump driving gear includes a second driving gear that interdigitates with the first driving gear such that rotation of the driven magnet causes, via the first and second driving gears, corresponding rotation of the pump driving gear and contrarotation of the pump driven gear to pump liquid through the pump housing.

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Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Larry F Krebs