IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,404,849
Granted Patent B2
US 12,404,849 · App. 18/067,370 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Micromembrane pumping device

Inventors: Agnes Bussmann (Munich, DE); Lorenz Gruenerbel (Munich, DE); Christian Wald (Munich, DE); Sebastian Kibler (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
F04B43/043F04B43/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,404,849
App. No.
18/067,370
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

What is suggested is a micromembrane pumping device for pumping a fluid, having: a pump chamber to which an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a membrane device for varying a volume of the pump chamber are associated, wherein the membrane device has a plate-shaped actuator for deforming the membrane device; and influencing means for influencing the plate-shaped actuator and the volume of the pump chamber; wherein the membrane device has a plate-shaped membrane body limiting the pump chamber; wherein the plate-shaped actuator is arranged on a side of the plate-shaped membrane body facing away from the pump chamber; wherein the plate-shaped actuator is mounted to and electrically insulated from the plate-shaped membrane body by an electrically insulating glue layer; wherein at least one embedded portion of a support body at or in which a deformation sensor for detecting a deformation of the membrane device is arranged, is arranged within the glue layer to detect the volume of the pump chamber; wherein the influencing means, the plate-shaped actuator and the deformation sensor form a closed-loop control circuit for regulating a volume flow.

Claims (29)

1. A micromembrane pumping device for pumping a fluid, comprising:

a pump chamber to which an inlet valve for introducing the fluid into the pump chamber, an outlet valve for discharging the fluid from the pump chamber, and a membrane device for varying a volume of the pump chamber are associated, wherein the membrane device comprises a plate-shaped actuator for deforming the membrane device; and

an influencer for influencing the plate-shaped actuator so as to influence the volume of the pump chamber;

wherein the membrane device comprises a plate-shaped membrane body limiting the pump chamber;

wherein the plate-shaped actuator is arranged on a side of the plate-shaped membrane body facing away from the pump chamber;

wherein the plate-shaped actuator is mounted to the plate-shaped membrane body by means of an electrically insulating glue layer so that the plate-shaped actuator is electrically insulated from the membrane body;

wherein at least one embedded portion of a support body at which or in which a deformation sensor for detecting a deformation of the membrane device is arranged, is arranged within the electrically insulating glue layer in order to detect the volume of the pump chamber;

wherein the influencer, the plate-shaped actuator and the deformation sensor form a closed-loop control circuit for regulating a ratio between a change in volume of the pump chamber during an operating cycle of the micromembrane pumping device and a duration of the operating cycle of the micromembrane pumping device; and

wherein the embedded portion of the support body, when viewed in a direction from the plate-shaped actuator towards the plate-shaped membrane body, comprises an area which is smaller than an area of the plate-shaped membrane body facing the embedded portion of the support body, and which is smaller than an area of the plate-shaped actuator facing the embedded portion of the support body.

2. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the glue layer is applied over an area on a side of the plate-shaped actuator facing the membrane body, and/or wherein the glue layer is applied over an area-on a side of the membrane body facing the plate-shaped actuator.

3. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the glue layer comprises a cured liquid glue, cured glue paste and/or adhesive film.

4. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the glue layer comprises a temperature-curing material, an anaerobically curing material, a UV radiation-curing material, an activator-curing material, humidity-curing material, dry-curing material and/or hot-melt glue material.

5. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped actuator is an electromagnetic actuator, a single-layer or multi-layer piezoelectric actuator, a shape-memory actuator or bimetal actuator.

6. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the support body comprises one or more electrically insulating materials.

7. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the support body comprises glass, one or more semiconductor materials, one or more composites, one or more polymeric materials or one or more ceramic materials.

8. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the deformation sensor is a strain gauge.

9. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with any claim 1 , wherein the deformation sensor is a force sensor.

10. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the membrane body comprises a metal, semiconductor material and/or plastic.

11. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least a part for evaluating signals of the deformation sensor is arranged at or in the support body.

12. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the influencer is configured for recognizing operating disturbances of the micromembrane pumping device using measuring signals of the deformation sensor.

13. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the support body comprises a non-embedded portion which is led out from the glue layer, wherein contacts for tapping measuring signals of the deformation sensor which are electrically connected to the deformation sensor are attached to the non-embedded portion.

14. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a heating wire is arranged at or in the embedded portion.

15. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the support body comprises a non-embedded portion which is led out from the glue layer, wherein contacts for providing the heating wire with electrical energy which are electrically connected to the heating wire are attached to the non-embedded portion.

16. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a temperature sensor is arranged at or in the embedded portion.

17. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the support body comprises a non-embedded portion which is led out from the glue layer, wherein contacts for tapping measuring signals of the temperature sensor which are electrically connected to the temperature sensor are attached to the non-embedded portion.

18. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a state sensor for checking a state of the glue layer is arranged at or in the embedded portion.

19. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the support body comprises a non-embedded portion which is led out from the glue layer, wherein contacts for tapping measuring signals of the state sensor which are electrically connected to the state sensor are attached to the non-embedded portion.

20. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the embedded portion of the support body comprises at least one through hole which extends from a side of the embedded portion of the support body, facing the plate-shaped actuator, to a side of the embedded portion of the support body, facing the plate-shaped membrane body.

21. The micromembrane pumping device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the embedded portion of the support body, when viewed in the direction from the plate-shaped actuator towards the plate-shaped membrane body, comprises an edge which comprises recesses.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: BUSSMANN, AGNES; GRUENERBEL, LORENZ; WALD, CHRISTIAN; KIBLER, SEBASTIAN
To: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
Reel/Frame 066300/0009 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2020066821 · Jun 17, 2020
Related Publication 20230121697A1 · Apr 20, 2023
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