Magnetic pumping machines

Abstract

Magnetic pumping systems and methods of pumping using such systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for pumping fluid comprises: a substantially cylinder-shaped pump housing ( 200 ); a magnetic piston ( 210 ) residing within the pump housing ( 200 ) for displacing the fluid; a magnetic actuator ( 220 ) surrounding the pump housing ( 200 ), wherein the magnetic actuator ( 220 ) is configured to move the piston ( 210 ) by a magnetic force between the magnetic piston ( 210 ) and the magnetic actuator ( 220 ); and a magnetic ring ( 230 ) surrounding and attached to the magnetic actuator ( 220 ) for increasing a magnitude of the magnetic force. In another embodiment, a system for pumping fluid comprises: a pump housing ( 10 ); a magnetic piston ( 20 ) residing within the pump housing ( 10 ) for displacing the fluid; an electromagnetic actuator ( 150 ) outside the pump housing ( 10 ) comprising a movable conductive coil ( 160 ), wherein the electromagnetic actuator ( 150 ) is configured to move the piston ( 20 ) by an electromagnetic force; and an external driver for moving the conductive coil ( 160 ).

1 . A system for pumping fluid, comprising:
 a substantially cylinder-shaped pump housing;   a magnetic piston residing within the pump housing for displacing the fluid;   a magnetic actuator surrounding the pump housing, wherein the magnetic actuator is configured to move the piston by a magnetic force between the magnetic piston and the magnetic actuator; and   a magnetic ring surrounding and attached to the magnetic actuator for increasing a magnitude of the magnetic force.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an external driver for moving the magnetic actuator and the magnetic ring, wherein the external driver is capable of moving the magnetic actuator and the ring repeatedly in a first direction parallel to an axis of the pump housing followed by a second direction opposite the first direction. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the external driver is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic driver, a hydraulic driver, a piezoelectric driver, and an electric driver. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is hermetically sealed within the pump housing when the fluid passes through the pump housing. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic piston is substantially cylinder-shaped, and wherein the magnetic ring comprises iron. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic piston comprises a magnetic core surrounded by piston magnets arranged around a periphery of the magnetic core, and wherein the magnetic actuator comprises a plurality of actuator magnets aligned to the piston magnets. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising two or more pumps arranged in series or in parallel, wherein each pump comprises the pump housing, the magnetic piston, the magnetic actuator, and the ring. 
   
   
       8 . A system for pumping fluid, comprising:
 a pump housing;   a stack of at least two magnetic piston residing within the pump housing for displacing the fluid; and   a stack of at least two magnetic actuators outside the pump housing, wherein the magnetic actuators are configured to move the pistons by a magnetic force between the magnetic pistons and the magnetic actuators.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an external driver for moving the at least two magnetic actuators, wherein the external driver is configured to move the at least two magnetic actuators repeatedly in a first direction parallel to an axis of the pump housing followed by a second direction opposite the first direction. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is hermetically sealed within the pump housing when the fluid passes through the pump housing. 
   
   
       11 . A system for pumping fluid, comprising:
 at least two magnetic pumps arranged in series or in parallel, wherein each magnetic pump comprises:   a pump housing;   a magnetic piston residing within the pump housing for displacing the fluid; and   an actuator outside the pump housing, wherein the actuator is configured to move the piston by a magnetic or electromagnetic force.   
   
   
       12 . A system for pumping a fluid, comprising:
 a pump housing comprising an inner wall laterally spaced from an outer wall,   a magnetic piston residing within the inner wall for displacing the fluid; and   a plurality of conductive coils arranged inside the outer wall along a periphery of the inner wall, wherein the piston is configured to move upon application of a current in a sequential pattern to the different conductive coils.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the outer wall is thicker than the inner wall. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a solid or liquid material fills unoccupied space provided between the inner wall and the outer wall. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid is hermetically sealed within the pump housing when the fluid passes through the pump housing. 
   
   
       16 . A system for pumping fluid, comprising:
 a pump housing;   a magnetic piston residing within the pump housing for displacing the fluid;   an electromagnetic actuator outside the pump housing comprising a movable conductive coil, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is configured to move the piston by an electromagnetic force; and   an external driver for moving the conductive coil.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the external driver is configured to move the conductive coil repeatedly in a first direction parallel to an axis of the pump housing followed by a second direction opposite the first direction. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid is hermetically sealed within the pump housing when the fluid passes through the pump housing. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more additional magnetic pistons spaced from and in parallel to the magnetic piston within the pump housing. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising two or more pumps arranged in series or in parallel, wherein each pump comprises the pump housing, the magnetic piston, and the electromagnetic actuator.