ENERGY TRANSFER FLUID DIAPHRAGM AND DEVICE
An energy transfer fluid diaphragm including a diaphragm substrate including cutouts. The cutouts are covered with a sealing layer bonded to the diaphragm substrate. The cutouts are configured to bend thereby allowing displacement of a center portion of the diaphragm. The displacement of the center portion transfers energy to a fluid located adjacent to the diaphragm.
1 . An energy transfer fluid diaphragm comprising:
a diaphragm substrate including cutouts, wherein the cutouts are covered with a sealing layer bonded to the diaphragm substrate, wherein portions of the diaphragm substrate adjacent to the cutouts are configured to bend in a substantially planar mode allowing displacement of a center portion of the diaphragm and wherein the displacement of the center portion transfers energy to a fluid located adjacent to the diaphragm.
2 . A liquid pump configured to pump either single-phase or two-phase liquids comprising a positive displacement element for pumping fluid, wherein the positive displacement element comprises the energy transfer fluid diaphragm of claim 1 .
3 . A compressor or vacuum pump for pumping fluids primarily in a gaseous state, comprising a positive displacement element for pumping fluid, wherein the positive displacement element comprises the energy transfer fluid diaphragm of claim 1 .
4 . A synthetic jet actuator comprising a positive displacement element for moving fluid, wherein the positive displacement element comprises the energy transfer fluid diaphragm of claim 1 .
5 . A mechanically resonant fluid mover, comprising a positive displacement element and a system spring for use in a spring-mass mechanical resonance wherein both the positive displacement element and the system spring comprise the energy transfer fluid diaphragm of claim 1 .
6 . An electro active actuator comprising:
a diaphragm substrate including cutouts, wherein the cutouts are covered with a sealing layer bonded to the diaphragm substrate, and
an electro active material bonded to the center of the diaphragm substrate.
7 . The electro active actuator of claim 6 further comprising a reaction mass attached at or near the center of the electro active material.
8 . The electro active actuator of claim 6 wherein the diaphragm substrate comprises an electrical lead for applying power to the electro active material.
9 . The electro active actuator of claim 8 , further comprising a second electrical lead being bonded to the sealing layer, wherein the second electrical lead is electrically isolated from the diaphragm substrate.
10 . The electro active actuator of claim 6 , wherein the actuator includes a mass-spring mechanical resonance, and wherein the actuator is configured so that a periodic voltage is applied to the electro active material, wherein the voltage is applied at a frequency at or near the mass-spring mechanical resonance of the actuator.
11 . The electro active actuator of claim 6 , wherein the actuator includes a mass-spring mechanical resonance and wherein the actuator is configured so that a periodic voltage is applied to the electro active material, wherein the voltage is applied at a frequency at or near a sub-harmonic or harmonic of the mass-spring mechanical resonance of the actuator.
12 . A fluid energy transfer device comprising:
a diaphragm including a substrate and a sealing layer bonded to the substrate, wherein the substrate includes cutouts and the cutouts are covered by the sealing layer;
a driver for the diaphragm;
wherein a perimeter surface of the diaphragm is connected to a housing to form a chamber between the housing and the diaphragm and where the chamber contains a fluid and the driver is configured to move a central portion of the diaphragm thereby causing a change in the chamber volume whereby the motion of the diaphragm conveys energy to the fluid.
13 . A positive displacement liquid pump configured to pump either single-phase or two-phase liquids, comprising the fluid energy transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the diaphragm is a positive displacement element for the liquid pump.
14 . A compressor or vacuum pump for use with fluids in a primarily gaseous state, comprising the fluid energy transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the diaphragm is a positive displacement element for the compressor or vacuum pump.
15 . A synthetic jet actuator, comprising the fluid energy transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the diaphragm is a positive displacement element for the synthetic jet actuator.
16 . A mechanically resonant fluid mover, comprising the fluid energy transfer device of claim 12 , wherein the fluid mover includes a positive displacement element and a system spring for use in a spring-mass mechanical resonance wherein both the positive displacement element and the system spring comprise the diaphragm.