U.S. patent application number 14/188703 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for miniature pump device.
This patent application is currently assigned to XIAMEN KOGE MICRO TECH CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is XIAMEN KOGE MICRO TECH CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kun-Lin CHANG.
Application Number | 20140255230 14/188703 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51385696 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140255230 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANG; Kun-Lin |
September 11, 2014 |
MINIATURE PUMP DEVICE
Abstract
An air pump includes a driving unit and an airflow control unit.
A piston base has a first intake through hole. A piston unit has an
intake valve and a bladder portion, and the intake valve is located
over the first intake through hole. A first valve base is located
over the piston unit. A flow guide groove of the first valve base
crosses over the paired intake valve and bladder portion. The first
valve base has a first output through hole. The first valve base
has a circular wall surrounding the first output through hole. A
first output valve is located over the first output through hole. A
second valve base is coupled to the circular wall to define a
compression chamber. The second valve base has a second output
through hole communicating with the compression chamber. A second
output valve is located over the second output through hole.
Inventors: |
CHANG; Kun-Lin; (New Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
XIAMEN KOGE MICRO TECH CO., LTD. |
Fujian |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
XIAMEN KOGE MICRO TECH CO.,
LTD.
Fujian
CN
|
Family ID: |
51385696 |
Appl. No.: |
14/188703 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/480 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 49/22 20130101;
F04B 45/065 20130101; F04B 45/04 20130101; F04B 43/021 20130101;
F04B 43/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/480 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/22 20060101
F04B049/22; F04B 43/02 20060101 F04B043/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 11, 2013 |
TW |
102108483 |
Claims
1. A miniature air pump comprising: a driving unit; and an airflow
control unit driven by the driving unit to input or output
airflows, wherein the airflow control unit comprises: a piston base
having at least one first intake through hole; a piston unit having
at least one intake valve and at least one bladder portion, wherein
the intake valve is covered over the first intake through hole; a
first valve base disposed over the piston unit, a bottom surface of
the first valve base having at least one flow guide groove, which
crosses the intake valve and the bladder portion, the first valve
base having at least one first output through hole corresponding to
the bladder portion, the first valve base further comprising a
circular wall surrounding the first output through hole; a first
output valve disposed over the first output through hole; a second
valve base coupled to the circular wall to collectively define a
compression chamber, the second valve base having at least one
second output through hole communicating with the compression
chamber; and a second output valve covered over the second output
through hole, when the bladder portion is being compressed,
airflows inside the bladder portion are output through the first
output through hole, the first output valve, the compression
chamber, the second output through hole and the second output valve
sequentially, when the bladder portion is being decompressed,
airflows are introduced into the bladder portion through the first
intake through hole, the intake valve and the flow guide groove
sequentially.
2. The miniature air pump of claim 1, wherein the first output
valve comprises a four-petal-flower-shaped valve.
3. The miniature air pump of claim 2, wherein the second output
valve comprises an umbrella-shaped valve.
4. The miniature air pump of claim 3, wherein the first output
valve has a greater covering area than the second output valve
has.
5. The miniature air pump of claim 1, wherein the second output
valve comprises an umbrella-shaped valve.
6. The miniature air pump of claim 1, wherein the first output
valve has a greater covering area than the second output valve
has.
7. The miniature air pump of claim 1 further comprising an upper
cover disposed over the first valve base and the second valve base,
wherein the piston base, the piston unit, the first valve base and
the upper cover commonly share to second intake through hole.
8. The miniature air pump of claim 7, wherein the second valve base
has a double-circular wall surrounding the second output through
hole.
9. The miniature air pump of claim 8, wherein the upper cover has
an air outlet, which communicates with an area surrounded by the
double-circular wall.
10. The miniature air pump of claim 9 further comprising a seal
ring disposed into a seal groove of the double-circular wall.
11. The miniature air pump of claim 8 further comprising a seal
ring disposed into a seal groove of the double-circular wall.
12. The miniature air pump of claim 1, wherein the driving unit
comprises a motor and an oblique linkage, the oblique linkage is
coupled with a rotation axis of the motor.
13. The miniature air pump of claim 12, wherein the oblique linkage
has a plurality of connection ports, each connection port is
coupled with a bottom end of the bladder portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwan Application
Serial Number 102108483 filed Mar. 11, 2013, which is herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a miniature pump
device.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] A miniature pump is a smaller size pump. Because the
miniature pump's volume is reduced, only a motor of a lower power
can be installed in the miniature pump. Therefore, the efficiency
of miniature pump depends on its valve or chamber design.
[0006] One shortcoming of a conventional miniature pump is the
output airflows with lower pressure, more effort is thus needed to
enhance the output pressure based upon the same power motor and
same size volume.
SUMMARY
[0007] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to
provide as miniature air pump to deal with the problems as
discussed in the prior art.
[0008] In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the
present invention, a miniature air pump includes a driving unit and
an airflow control unit, which is driven by the driving unit to
input or output airflows. The airflow control unit includes a
piston base, a piston unit, a first valve base, a first output
valve, a second valve base, and a second output valve. The piston
base has at least one first intake through hole. The piston unit
has at least one intake valve and at least one bladder portion,
wherein the intake valve is covered over the first intake through
hole. The first valve base is located over the piston unit, a
bottom surface of the first valve base has at least one flow guide
groove, which crosses the intake valve and the bladder portion, the
first valve base has at least one first output through hole
corresponding to the bladder portion, the first valve base further
includes a circular wall surrounding the first output through hole.
The first output valve is located over the first output through
hole. The second valve base is coupled to the circular wall to
collectively define a compression chamber, and the second valve
base has at least one second output through hole communicating with
the compression chamber. The second output valve is covered over
the second output through hole. When the bladder portion is being
compressed, airflows inside the bladder portion are output through
the first output through hole, the first output valve, the
compression chamber, the second output through hole and the second
output valve sequentially. When the bladder portion is being
decompressed, airflows are introduced into the bladder portion
through the first intake through hole, the intake valve and the
flow guide groove sequentially.
[0009] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the first
output valve includes a four-petal-flower-shaped valve.
[0010] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the second
output valve includes an umbrella-shaped valve.
[0011] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the first
output valve has a greater covering area than the second output
valve has.
[0012] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the
miniature air pump further includes an upper cover disposed over
the first valve base and the second valve base, wherein the piston
base, the piston unit, the first valve base and the upper cover
commonly share a second intake through hole.
[0013] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the second
valve base has a double-circular wall surrounding the second output
through hole.
[0014] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the upper
cover has an air outlet, which communicates with an area surrounded
by the double-circular wall.
[0015] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the
miniature air pump further includes a seal ring filled into a seal
groove of the double-circular wall.
[0016] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the
driving unit includes a motor and an oblique linkage, and the
oblique linkage is coupled with a rotation axis of the motor.
[0017] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the
oblique linkage has a plurality of connection ports, and each
connection port is coupled with a bottom end of the bladder
portion.
[0018] Thus, when the miniature air pump operates, the bladder
portion of the piston unit is compressed and airflows are forced by
the first output valve for the first time, and then forced by the
second output valve for the second time. Therefore, the airflows of
the miniature air pump can be output with a higher pressure. When
airflows are reversed, two one-way valves, i.e., the first output
valve and the second output valve, are able to stop the
reversed-airflows and enhance the output pressure.
[0019] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are by examples,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
following detailed. description of the embodiment, with reference
made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a miniature air pump
according to one embodiment of this invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the miniature
air pump in FIG. 1, which all components are assembled;
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of partial components of
the miniature air pump in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of the first valve base
in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of the second valve base
in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second
valve taken along a cross-sectional line 6-6 in FIG. 5;
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of the first output
valve in FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first
output valve, taken along a cross-sectional line 8-8' in FIGS. 7;
and
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first
output valve taken along a cross-sectional line 9-9' in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to
the same or like parts.
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a miniature air pump
according to one embodiment of this invention. A miniature air pump
200 basically includes a driving unit and an airflow control unit.
The airflow control unit is driven by the driving unit to input or
output airflows so as to perform the major functions of the
miniature air pump.
[0032] The driving unit basically includes a motor 226, a motor
base 224 and an oblique linkage 218. The motor 226 is secured to
the motor base 224 by a plurality of screws 224a. The oblique
linkage 218 is coupled with a rotation axis 226a of the motor 226
by a steel rod 219 and an eccentric shaft. 220. Therefore, the
motor 226 is able to drive the oblique linkage 218 to rotate.
[0033] The airflow control unit basically includes a piston base
216, a piston unit 214, a first valve base 212, a first output
valve 210, a second valve base 208, a second output valve 206 and
an upper cover 204. The piston base 216 has several receiving holes
216c for bladder portions 214a of the piston unit 214 to be
accommodated within. The amount of the bladder portion 214a may be
varied according, to actual demands. The piston base 216 should
have receiving holes 216c to accommodate bladder portions 214a, and
each receiving. hole 216c is used to accommodate a corresponding
bladder portion 214a. When the piston base 216 and the piston unit
214 are assembled, the first valve base 212 is mounted over the
piston base 216 and the piston unit 214. in order to increase an
output pressure of the miniature air pump, the miniature air pump
200 is equipped with an anti-reverse-flow double-stage structure,
which includes a first valve base 212, a first output valve 210, a
second valve base 208 and a second output valve 206. Several bolts
202 are led through corresponding holes at four corners of the
upper cover 204, the first valve base 212 and the piston base 216,
and then screwed into four corners of the motor base 224 so as to
secure the airflow control unit of the miniature air pump 200. One
or more seal rings may be installed between the upper cover 204 and
the first valve base 212 to increase the airtight level. In this
embodiment, the first output valve 210 may be a
four-petal-flower-shaped valve, but not being limited to, while the
second output valve 206 may be an umbrella-shaped valve, but not
being, limited to.
[0034] In addition, the oblique linkage 218 has a plurality of
connection ports 248a at its end portions. Each connection port
218a is coupled with a bottom end of the bladder portion 214a. When
the motor 226 drives the oblique linkage 218 to rotate, the bladder
portion 214a is compressed or decompressed so as to perform the
major functions of the miniature air pump.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, FIG. 2 illustrates a
cross-sectional view of the miniature air pump in FIG. 1, which all
components are assembled, while FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view
of partial components of the miniature air pump in FIG. 1. The
miniature air pump is used to supply pressured airflows, and needs
to input airflows before supplying or outputting airflows. When the
miniature air pump 200 introduces airflows, the bladder portion
214a is being decompressed. The airflows are routed through the
communicated second intake through holes (204b, 212a, 214b, 216b)
on the upper cover 204, the first valve base 212, the piston unit
214 and the piston base 216 along a direction 100a, routed into a
hollow chamber, which is collectively defined by the piston base
216 and the motor base 224, along a direction 100b, and then routed
through a second intake through hole 216a and an intake valve 214c
of the piston unit 214 along a direction 100c, and routed into the
bladder portion 214a through a flow guide groove 212b on a bottom
surface of the first valve base 212. The flow guide groove 212b
crosses the paired intake valve 214c and the bladder portion 214a.
When the miniature air pump 200 supplies airflows, the bladder
portion 214a is being compressed. The airflows are routed into a
compression chamber 212d via a first output through hole 212e, the
first valve base 212 and the first output valve 210 along a
direction 100d, routed through the second output through hole 208d,
the second valve base 208 and the second output valve 206 along a
direction 100e, and then output via an air outlet 204a along a
direction 100f. In this embodiment, the first output valve 210 has
a greater covering area (the area which the first output valve 210
covers over the first valve base) than the second output valve 206
has (the area which the first output valve 206 covers over the
second valve base). In addition, the upper cover 204 has an air
outlet 204a, which communicates with an area surrounded by the
double-circular wall 208b, to output airflows.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view
of the first valve base in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged
view of the second valve base in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 illustrates a
cross-sectional view of the second valve taken along a
cross-sectional line 6-6' in FIG. 5. The second valve base 208 in
FIGS. 5 & 6 is secured to a circular wall 212c of the first
valve base 212 in FIG. 4 such that the second valve base 208 and
the circular wall 212c of the first valve base 212 collectively
form a compression chamber 212d. The circular wall 212c is used to
surround the first output through hole 212e (one or more first
output through holes). When the circular wall 212c of the first
valve base 212 is assembled with the second valve base 208, the
second valve base 208 has at least one second output through hole
208d communicated with the compression chamber 212d. The second
valve base 208 has a double-circular wall 208b surrounding the
second output through hole 208d (one or more second output through
holes). The double-circular wall 208b has a circular seal groove
208c into which a seal ring, i.e., the seal ring 205 as illustrated
in FIG. 1, may be installed. In order to precisely position the
second valve base 208 on the circular wall 212c, a disc body 208a
of the second valve base 208 is equipped with a position rib 208g
to be inserted into a position hole 212h of the circular wall 212c.
In addition, a central position hole 208e of the second valve base
208 is used to be inserted by a shaft portion of the second output
valve 206. A bottom protruding rib 208f of the second valve base
208 is used to contact a top surface of the first output valve 210
so as to secure the first output valve 210 within the compression
chamber 212d (referring to FIG. 7).
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 7-9, FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view
of the first output valve of the miniature air pump in FIG. 1, FIG.
8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first output valve
taken along a cross-sectional line 8-8' in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9
illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first output valve taken
along a cross-sectional line 9-9' in FIG. 7. The first output valve
210 is used to cover the first output through hole 212e of the
first valve base 212, which is surrounded by the circular wall
212c. The first output valve 210 includes a cross-shaped fastener
210b and multiple valve portions 210c. The cross-shaped fastener
210b is used to engage a cross-shaped groove 212fof the first valve
base 212 (referring to FIG. 4) such that multiple valve portions
210c (e.g., four valve portions) of the first output valve 210 are
covered over multiple first output through holes 212e,
respectively. In this embodiment, the first output valve 210 may be
a four-petal-flower-shaped valve, which has four valve portions
210c to cover four corresponding first output through holes 212e,
but not being limited to the four-petal-flower-shaped valve.
[0038] According to the above-discussed embodiments, when the
miniature air pump operates, the bladder portion of the piston unit
is compressed and airflows are forced by the first output valve for
the first time, and then forced by the second output valve for the
second time. Therefore, the airflows of the miniature air pump can
be output with a higher pressure. When airflows are reversed, two
one-way valves, i.e., the first output valve and the second output
valve, are able to stop the reversed-airflows and enhance the
output pressure.
[0039] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof,
other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of
the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the
embodiments contained herein.
[0040] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention, in view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *