Material Pump

Abstract

A composite pump comprises multiple fluid pumps, each including a movable component and a crank coupled to the movable component. At least two of the movable components define between them a non-zero included angle.

1 . An assembly of multiple fluid pumps, each pump including a movable component, a crank coupled to the movable component, at least two of the movable components defining between them a non-zero included angle. 
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pumps are coating material pumps. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crank comprises at least two throws, the apparatus further including at least two connecting rods, the crank being coupled to the movable components by the at least two throws and the at least two connecting rods. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pumps are coating material pumps. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of claim-  3  wherein the at least two throws comprise at least three throws, one of the at least three throws defining substantially equal included angles with the other two of the at least three throws. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the pumps are coating material pumps. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the at least three throws comprise n throws, n an integer greater than 2, each throw making included angles with two others of the n throws, each said included angle being about 360°/n. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the pumps are coating material pumps. 
   
   
       9 . An assembly of multiple fluid pumps, each pump including a movable component, a cam coupled to the movable component, at least two of the movable components defining between them a non-zero included angle, at least two followers, the cam being coupled to the movable component by the at least two followers. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the pumps are coating material Pumps. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the cam is configured to drive at least two of the pumps such that one of the at least two pumps reaches the beginning of an exhaust stroke at substantially the same time that the other of the at least two pumps reaches the beginning of a priming stroke. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the pumps are coating material pumps. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  comprising m cams, m an integer greater than or equal to 2, each cam including p lobes, p an integer greater than or equal to 2, a line drawn between peaks of two adjacent lobes of one of the m cams making non-zero angles with lines drawn between peaks of any two adjacent lobes of another of the m cams. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the pumps are coating material pumps.