Waters Investments Limited

Richard L Vigeant

George E Sgourakes

Carlton H Paul

Joseph F Actor

A magnetostrictive pump is provided which makes use of a magnetostrictive element which, when an alternating magnetic field is applied to it, compresses a chamber containing a working fluid. A bellows located within the working fluid is repeatedly compressed by the compression of the chamber, and pumps a fluid to be pumped in and out of the bellows. Since the magnetostrictive element does not directly contact the bellows, the bellows life is greatly extended. Valves are provided to direct the fluid flow in a desired manner. The pump may be combined with other pumps in various series or parallel arrangements to create a pump system. The pump may be pre-biased to make its response more linear by either mechanical or magnetic biasing. A permanent magnet may be used to magnetically bias the pump and create an 'at-rest' initial extension of the magnetostrictive element. Similarly, a spring may be used to mechanically load the magnetostrictive element. A controller is used to detect feedback signals from pressure and pump displacement transducers, and thereby provide active control of the pump or pump system. It is especially useful for high performance liquid chromatography.

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East Douglas, MA, United States of America

Richard L Vigeant