Cyclic flow apparatus

Abstract

The cyclic flow apparatuses consistent with the technology disclosed herein are configured to sealably couple to a liquid flow circuit. The cyclic flow apparatus is configured to change a flow velocity of a liquid through a filter media holder. In various embodiments, the cyclic flow apparatus is configured to change the flow velocity of the liquid through a portion of the liquid flow circuit. The cyclic flow apparatus can be configured to cyclically change the flow velocity of the liquid in the liquid flow circuit through the filter media holder.

1 . A cyclic flow apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a first variable volume and a first flow opening extending to the first variable volume, the housing comprising a moveable sidewall defining the first variable volume, and the housing comprising a first conduit coupling structure about the first flow opening; and   a linear actuator fixed to the moveable sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable sidewall is a piston. 
     
     
         3 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator and the moveable sidewall are configured to change a flow velocity of a liquid in a liquid flow circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit coupling structure is configured to sealably couple to a liquid flow circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the piston has a media opening defining a flow path in fluid communication with the first variable volume. 
     
     
         6 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the piston comprises a media coupling structure about the media opening. 
     
     
         7 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the piston forms a fluid seal with the housing across the first variable volume. 
     
     
         8 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow opening is a flow inlet and flow outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow opening is a flow inlet and the first flow opening is not a flow outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 1 , the housing having a complementary variable volume, wherein the moveable sidewall defines the complementary variable volume. 
     
     
         11 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the housing has a second flow opening extending to the complementary variable volume. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A cyclic flow apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and a cavity extending in an axial direction from the flow inlet to the flow outlet; and   a piston disposed across the cavity and forming a seal with the housing, wherein the piston is linearly translatable in the axial direction along the cavity, the piston defining an axially extending media opening in fluid communication with the cavity.   
     
     
         14 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the piston. 
     
     
         15 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator is configured to cyclically translate the piston between a first position and a second position in the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first position is towards a first end of the cavity and the second position is towards the second end of the cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the piston defines a media coupling structure about the media opening. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A cyclic flow apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a first variable volume defining a first flow opening and a conduit coupling structure about the first flow opening, wherein the conduit coupling structure is configured to detachably couple to a liquid flow circuit; and   an actuator in operative communication with the housing, wherein the actuator is configured to cause the housing to cyclically accumulate liquid in the liquid flow circuit in the first variable volume and release liquid from the first variable volume to the liquid flow circuit.   
     
     
         20 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a flow sensor positioned in the first flow opening and a controller coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is in data communication with the flow sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the housing is a cylinder. 
     
     
         22 . The cyclic flow apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a piston translatably disposed in the cylinder, wherein the first variable volume is defined by the cylinder and piston. 
     
     
         23 - 46 . (canceled)