The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2004
Edward T. Tanner, Williamsburg, VA (US);
William F. Ott, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Edward T. Tanner, Williamsburg, VA (US);
William F. Ott, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Adaptivenergy, LLC, Hampton, VA (US);
Abstract
A pump comprises a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber (); a pump member which undergoes displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber; and a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement of the pump member to generate an electric current. The electric current generated by the piezoelectric element is preferably applied to a charge storage device which is coupled to the piezoelectric element. The storage device can take various forms, including but not limited to a battery (), a capacitor (), and a power supply for the pump (). In one example embodiment, the pump member is a diaphragm () which undergoes the displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber. In this example embodiment, the piezoelectric element responds to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate the electric current. In another example embodiment, the pump member is a valve () which undergoes the displacement to allow the fluid to communicate with the pumping chamber. The valve can be an inlet valve () for admitting the fluid into the pumping chamber, or an outlet valve ()) for discharging the fluid from the pumping chamber. The piezoelectric element responds to the displacement of the valve to generate the electric current. The piezoelectric element can be adhered to an exterior surface of the valve. Alternatively, the piezoelectric element can constitute a working portion of the valve.