Methods and systems for pumping fluids

Abstract

A modular system, the modular system including multiple inflatable modules, each of the multiple inflatable modules comprising: (a) an inflatable body that is adapted to be inflated from a contracted state to inflated state; and (b) multiple connectors, connected to the inflatable body, for connecting the inflatable module to at least one other inflatable module.

1 . A pump, comprising:
 (a) a first expandable compartment, comprising: a first compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the first expandable compartment from outside the pump, and a first compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the first expandable compartment outwards of the pump; (b) a second expandable compartment, comprising: a second compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the second expandable compartment from outside the pump, and a second compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the second expandable compartment outwards of the pump; and (c) an expandable supporting compartment that is coupled to the first expandable compartment and to the second expandable compartment, and which is adapted to contain second fluid;   wherein a shape of the expandable supporting compartment is adapted to be changed upon an applying of force onto a first supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the first supporting compartment portion to a second supporting compartment portion; and upon an applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the second supporting compartment portion to the first supporting compartment portion;   wherein a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the first supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the second expandable compartment via the second compartment intake valve, and a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the first expandable compartment via the first compartment intake valve.   
   
   
       2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment output valve is adapted to allow a flow first fluid outwards of the pump as a result of an applying of force onto the first expandable compartment, and wherein the second compartment output valve is adapted to allow a flow first fluid outwards of the pump as a result of an applying of force onto the second expandable compartment. 
   
   
       3 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is air, wherein: (a) the first expandable compartment comprises the first compartment intake valve that allows a flow of air into the first expandable compartment from outside the pump, and the first compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of air from the first expandable compartment outwards of the pump; and (b) the second expandable compartment comprises the second compartment intake valve that allows a flow of air into the second expandable compartment from outside the pump, and the second compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of air from the second expandable compartment outwards of the pump. 
   
   
       4 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable supporting compartment comprises a supporting compartment intake unidirectional valve that is adapted to allow insertion of second fluid into the expandable supporting compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment intake valve allows a flow of first fluid into the first expandable compartment from an external object, and wherein the second compartment intake valve allows a flow of first fluid into the second expandable compartment from the external object. 
   
   
       6 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment output valve is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the first expandable compartment into an external object, and wherein the second compartment output valve is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the second expandable compartment into the external object. 
   
   
       7 . The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the first compartment output valve is adapted to allow flow of first fluid from the first expandable compartment into a first compartment of the external object, and wherein the second compartment output valve is adapted to allow flow of first fluid from the second expandable compartment into a second compartment of the external object 
   
   
       8 . The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the pump is a part of the external object. 
   
   
       9 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable supporting compartment substantially enclose on the first expandable compartment and on the second expandable compartment. 
   
   
       10 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the expandable supporting compartment is enclosed in one of the following ways: (a) within the first expandable compartment; (b) within the second expandable compartment; and (c) between the first and the second expandable compartments. 
   
   
       11 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable supporting compartment comprises multiple supporting compartment expandable units, wherein each of the multiple supporting compartment expandable units is coupled to at least one another supporting compartment expandable unit, so as to allow a flow of second fluid between the coupled supporting compartment expandable units. 
   
   
       12 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a contracted volume of the pump, in which the first expandable compartment, the second expandable compartments, and the expandable supporting compartment are contracted, is substantially smaller than a second volume of the pump, in which the expandable supporting compartment and at least one of the first and the second expandable compartments are expanded. 
   
   
       13 . A modular system, the modular system comprising multiple inflatable modules, each of the multiple inflatable modules comprising: (a) an inflatable body that is adapted to be inflated from a contracted state to inflated state; and (b) multiple connectors, coupled to the inflatable body, for connecting the inflatable module to at least one other inflatable module. 
   
   
       14 . The modular system according to  claim 13 , wherein each connector of the multiple connectors comprises a socket and a projection, wherein a projection of a first connector fits into a socket of a second connector, and a projection of the second connector fits into a socket of the first connector. 
   
   
       15 . The modular system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the multiple inflatable modules is substantially of the size of a bed mattress. 
   
   
       16 . The modular system according to  claim 13 , wherein the inflatable body of at least one inflatable module comprises a first inflatable module compartment and a second inflatable module compartment, wherein fluid can not flow between the first inflatable module compartment and the second inflatable module compartment. 
   
   
       17 . The modular system according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one inflatable module is adapted to be shaped by the connecting of a first part of the inflatable module to a second part of the inflatable module, using at least one connector of the inflatable module. 
   
   
       18 . The modular system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the multiple expandable modules have an incorporated pump incorporated therein, for the inflating of the inflatable module, wherein the incorporated pump comprises: (a) a first expandable compartment, comprising: a first compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the first expandable compartment from outside the pump, and a first compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the first expandable compartment into the inflatable object; (b) a second expandable compartment, comprising: a second compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the second expandable compartment from outside the pump, and a second compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the second expandable compartment into the inflatable object; and (c) an expandable supporting compartment that is coupled to the first expandable compartment and to the second expandable compartment, and which is adapted to contain second fluid; wherein a shape of the expandable supporting compartment is adapted to be changed upon an applying of force onto a first supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the first supporting compartment portion to a second supporting compartment portion; and upon an applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the second supporting compartment portion to the first supporting compartment portion; wherein a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the first supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the second expandable compartment via the second compartment intake valve, and a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the first expandable compartment via the first compartment intake valve.