Pump and combination pump/mixer device with lobed check valve fluid passages

Abstract

A pump or combination pump/mixer device uses moving diaphragms in combination with check valves to pump and/or mix fluid. A main inlet in the pump is fed by a vessel or container that contains fluid. The fluid, in response to the moving diaphragms, passes through an outer chamber into a plurality of lower chambers and then into a central chamber where the fluid then exits via one or more outlets. A series of check-valves are used to ensure one-way flow of fluid through the chambers. The check valves include a plurality of lobed openings or apertures covered by a polymeric head or cap. The drive shaft of a motor or drive unit drives a nutating disk or wobble plate that actuates the diaphragms to drive fluid through the device. One or more additional inlets may be optionally provided to input additional fluids into the device for mixing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump/mixer device comprising:
 a main inlet;   an outer chamber disposed in the pump/mixer device and fluidically connected to the main inlet;   a plurality of lower chambers disposed in the pump/mixer device beneath the outer chamber and fluidically connected to the outer chamber by respective check valves interposed between the outer chamber and the plurality of lower chambers, each check valve comprising a plurality of lobed openings or apertures covered by a polymeric head or cap;   a central chamber disposed in the pump/mixer device, the central chamber fluidically connected to the plurality of lower chambers with respective check valves interposed between the central chamber and the plurality of lower chambers, each check valve comprising a plurality of lobed openings or apertures covered by a polymeric head or cap;   one or more outlets fluidically connected to the central chamber;   one or more additional inlets fluidically coupled to the central chamber via respective inlet check valve(s); and   a moveable diaphragm disposed in each of the plurality of lower chambers, the moveable diaphragms interfacing with a respective actuating element driven by a wobble or nutating plate operatively coupled to a motor or drive unit, wherein each of the moveable diaphragms reciprocally moves in response to actuation by the motor or drive unit.   
     
     
         2 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump/mixer device comprises a plurality of outlets. 
     
     
         3 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump/mixer device comprises a plurality of inlets fluidically coupled to the central chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein the wobble or nutating plate is coupled to the motor or drive unit by an eccentric drive shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional inlets are removable from the pump/mixer device. 
     
     
         6 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more outlets are removable from the pump/mixer device. 
     
     
         7 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , comprising an upper housing containing the main inlet, a central housing containing the plurality of lower chambers and the central chamber, and a bottom housing or plate containing the moveable diaphragms and secured to the central housing. 
     
     
         8 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lobed openings or apertures comprise an outer arcuate surface and an inner arcuate surface that are connected at two lobed ends. 
     
     
         9 . The pump/mixer device of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of lobed openings or apertures are symmetrically arranged around a central aperture that accommodates a post or extension of each respective check valve. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating the pump/mixer device of  claim 1  comprising:
 driving the motor or drive unit to actuate the wobble or nutating plate; 
 inputting a first fluid from a vessel or container into the main inlet of the pump/mixer device; 
 inputting a second or additional fluid(s) into the pump/mixer device via the one or more additional inlets; 
 mixing the first fluid and the second or additional fluid(s) in the central chamber of the pump/mixer device; and 
 outputting the mixed fluid via the one or more outlets. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second or additional fluid(s) are input into the pump/mixer device by one or more additional pumps. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more additional inlets contain or are coupled to respective control valves, and one or more of the respective control valves are actuated to initiate and/or stop flow of the second or additional fluid(s) into the pump/mixer device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second or additional fluid(s) comprises a buffer fluid or concentrated fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first fluid comprises living cells therein. 
     
     
         15 . A pump comprising:
 an inlet located at the top or upper region of the pump;   an outer chamber disposed in the pump and fluidically connected to the inlet;   a plurality of lower chambers disposed in the pump beneath the outer chamber and fluidically connected to the outer chamber by respective check valves interposed between the outer chamber and the plurality of lower chambers, each check valve comprising a plurality of lobed openings or apertures covered by a polymeric head or cap;   a central chamber disposed in the pump, the central chamber fluidically connected to the plurality of lower chambers with respective check valves interposed between the central chamber and the plurality of lower chambers, each check valve comprising a plurality of lobed openings or apertures covered by a polymeric head or cap;   a plurality of outlets fluidically connected to the central chamber; and   a moveable diaphragm disposed in each of the plurality of lower chambers, the moveable diaphragms interfacing with a respective actuating element driven by a wobble or nutating plate operatively coupled to a motor or drive unit, wherein each of the moveable diaphragms reciprocally moves in response to actuation by the motor or drive unit.   
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 15 , wherein the wobble or nutating plate is coupled to the motor or drive unit by an eccentric drive shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of outlets are removable from the pump device. 
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 15 , comprising an upper housing containing the inlet, a central housing containing the plurality of lower chambers and the central chamber, and a bottom housing or plate containing the moveable diaphragms and secured to the central housing. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating the pump of  claim 15  comprising:
 driving the motor or drive unit to actuate the wobble or nutating plate; 
 inputting a fluid from a vessel or container into the pump; and 
 outputting the fluid from the pump via one or more of the plurality of outlets. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising inputting another fluid into the central chamber of the pump from one or more additional inlets.