Piston vibratory pump

Abstract

A vibratory pump for dispensing a fluid in a highly controllable manner includes a pumping mechanism in which a piston is slidably disposed within a chamber having an inlet and an outlet spaced from one another. The piston is shaped similarly to the interior of the chamber and is capable of moving within the chamber in a manner that prevents any fluid in the chamber from flowing between the chamber and the piston. As a result, the pumping mechanism does not require the use of any separate compressible or elastic sealing members, thereby increasing the reliability and useful life of the pump.

1 . A vibratory pump comprising:
 a) a pump chamber defining an interior space and including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet spaced from the fluid inlet;   b) a piston having a unitary construction, and disposed within the interior space of and sealingly engaged with the chamber;   c) a shaft connected to the piston and extending outwardly from the chamber;   d) an enclosure sealingly secured around and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the pump chamber to define a fluid-tight space around the chamber and the fluid inlet, the enclosure including a fluid receiving aperture formed in the enclosure and spaced from the chamber and a fluid inlet tube having one end connected to the enclosure around the aperture and the opposite end adapted to be positioned within a supply of fluid to be pumped; and   e) a vibratory mechanism connected to the shaft to oscillate the shaft and piston within the chamber, wherein the pump does not include a separate sealing to prevent the leaking of fluid between the piston and chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a pair of inlets spaced from the outlet, and the enclosure is positioned around both of the pair of inlets. 
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet includes a wide inner portion adjacent the interior space of the chamber in a narrow outer portion. 
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is releasably secured to the chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid outlet is formed as a nozzle threadedly engaged with the chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the vibratory mechanism is an electric motor. 
   
   
       7 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the piston is formed of a self-lubricating material. 
   
   
       8 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein the piston is formed from a plastic. 
   
   
       9 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure includes a body disposed around and spaced from the chamber within which the fluid receiving aperture is formed, and a pair of opposed end plates having openings therein through which the chamber extends, the end plates affixed to the chamber around the entire opening therein in a fluid-tight manner. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet is formed as a bore extending through the chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a shaft collar secured to the chamber opposite the fluid outlet. 
   
   
       13 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is formed of a plastic. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the piston is coated with a lubricating material. 
   
   
       18 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the chamber is coated with a lubricating material. 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A vibratory pump consisting of:
 a) a pump chamber defining an interior space and including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet spaced from the fluid inlet;   b) a piston consisting of a unitary piece of a rigid and self-lubricating hard plastic material disposed within the interior space of and sealingly engaged with the chamber;   c) a shaft connected to the piston and extending outwardly from the chamber;   d) an enclosure sealingly secured to the chamber around the fluid inlet of the pump chamber to define a fluid-tight space around the chamber and the fluid inlet, the enclosure including a body disposed around and spaced from the chamber, the chamber extending through opposed ends of the body, a fluid receiving aperture formed in the enclosure and spaced from the chamber and a fluid inlet tube having one end connected to the enclosure around the aperture and the opposite end adapted to be positioned within a supply of fluid to be pumped; and   e) a vibratory mechanism connected to the shaft to oscillate the shaft and piston within the chamber.   
   
   
       21 . A vibratory pump consisting of:
 a) a pump chamber defining an interior space and including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet spaced from the fluid inlet;   b) a piston consisting of a unitary piece of a rigid and self-lubricating hard plastic material disposed within the interior space of and sealingly engaged with the chamber;   c) a shaft connected to the piston and extending outwardly from the chamber;   d) an enclosure sealingly secured directly to the pump chamber around the fluid inlet of the pump chamber to define a fluid-tight space around the chamber and the fluid inlet, the enclosure including a body having a side wall disposed around and spaced from the chamber and a pair of opposed end walls connected between the side wall and the chamber, the chamber extending through opposed ends of the body, a fluid receiving aperture formed in the enclosure and spaced from the chamber and a fluid inlet tube having one end connected to the enclosure around the aperture and the opposite end adapted to be positioned within a supply of fluid to be pumped, the fluid-tight space configured to receive fluid from the fluid inlet tube and to direct the fluid through the space around the chamber to the fluid inlet in the chamber; and   e) a vibratory mechanism connected to the shaft to oscillate the shaft and piston within the chamber.