IP Library Granted Patent US 9,604,157
Granted Patent B2
US 9,604,157 · App. 14/204,674 · Granted Mar 28, 2017

Pump with water management

Inventor: Brandon Richardson (South San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
B01D19/0031B60C23/00B60C23/001B60C23/003B60C23/12B60S5/043C02F1/20F04B9/04F04B9/042F04B17/00F04B49/08F04C25/00F16F15/1485F17D3/00Y10T74/2107Y10T74/2128Y10T137/86002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,604,157
App. No.
14/204,674
Granted
Mar 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pumping system configured to pump fluid from the ambient environment to a target reservoir, the pumping system including: a fluid pump configured to statically mount to a rotating surface, the pump configured to rotate about an axis of rotation; a pump reservoir statically coupled to the fluid pump and configured to fluidly couple to the target reservoir, the pump reservoir including a collection area defined along a portion of the pump reservoir radially outward of the axis of rotation; and a liquid separation member arranged along a portion of the collection area, the liquid separation member including a membrane configured to preferentially permit liquid flow therethrough.

Claims (31)

1. A pumping system configured to pump fluid from the ambient environment to a target reservoir, the pumping system comprising:

a fluid pump configured to statically mount to a rotating surface, the pump configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a pump reservoir statically coupled to the fluid pump and configured to fluidly couple to the target reservoir, comprising:

a collection area defined along a portion of the pump reservoir radially outward of the axis of rotation; and

a liquid separation member arranged along a portion of the collection area, the liquid separation member comprising a membrane configured to preferentially permit liquid flow therethrough.

2. The pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is water permeable and substantially gas impermeable.

3. The pumping system of claim 2 , wherein the membrane comprises a reverse osmosis membrane.

4. The pumping system of claim 2 , wherein the membrane comprises a NAFION® membrane.

5. The pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane fluidly connects a pump reservoir interior to an ambient environment.

6. The pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the collection area extends radially outward from a main body of the reservoir.

7. The pumping system of claim 1 , further comprising an expulsion force mechanism configured to apply an expulsion force to accumulated liquid within the collection area.

8. The pumping system of claim 7 , wherein the expulsion mechanism comprises the fluid pump, wherein the expulsion force comprises a pressure force generated by pressurized fluid within the pump reservoir.

9. The pumping system of claim 1 , further comprising a separation force mechanism configured to apply a separation force to liquid entrained within the pumped fluid.

10. The pumping system of claim 9 , wherein the separation force comprises a centrifugal force, wherein the separation force mechanism comprises a static mounting system configured to statically mount the pumping system to the rotating surface.

11. The pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid pump comprises: a drive mechanism having a rotational axis, the drive mechanism comprising: a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis; and an eccentric mass coupled to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis; and a pump cavity positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation and rotatably coupled to the cam, the pump cavity comprising a first actuating element and a first chamber; and a force translator coupling the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, the force translator comprising a force translator axis having an arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity.

12. The pumping system of claim 11 , wherein the force translator comprises a roller, wherein the axis comprises a roller rotational axis, wherein the roller rotational axis is statically coupled to an actuating axis of the first actuating element.

13. The pumping system of claim 12 , wherein the first actuating element comprises a piston.

14. The pumping system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid pump further comprises a second pump cavity comprising a second actuating element and a second chamber, the second actuating element statically connected to the first actuating element.

15. The pumping system of claim 14 , wherein the second actuating element has a surface area different from a surface area of the first actuating element, wherein the second chamber is fluidly connected to the first chamber.

16. A method for contaminant removal from a fluid stream, comprising:

pumping the fluid stream into a first reservoir;

separating the fluid stream into separated liquid and a gaseous stream within the first reservoir by applying a separation force to the fluid stream;

pumping the gaseous stream from the first reservoir to a second reservoir;

collecting the separated liquid in a collection area within the first reservoir;

applying, with the pumped fluid, a pressure force to bias the separated liquid against a membrane; and

preferentially permitting liquid flow to an ambient environment in response to the pressure force application by the membrane.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein preferentially permitting liquid flow through the membrane comprises using a water-selective membrane.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the water-selective membrane comprises a reverse osmosis membrane.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein applying a separation force comprises applying a centrifugal force to the fluid stream.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein applying the separation force comprises statically mounting the first reservoir to a rotating surface having an axis of rotation, wherein the collection area is arranged along a portion of the first reservoir radially outward of the axis of rotation and the membrane is arranged along a wall of the collection area.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein pumping the fluid stream into the first reservoir comprises pumping the fluid stream from the ambient environment by leveraging relative motion between a gravity element and a pump statically mounted to the rotating surface.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2026
From: APERIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: TQS ADVISORS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074894/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2014
From: RICHARDSON, BRANDON
To: APERIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 032484/0846 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 13797826 · Mar 12, 2013
Provisional Application 61778288 · Mar 12, 2013
Related Publication 20140260969A1 · Sep 18, 2014