US-12618403-B2 - Adaptive programmable pump

US12618403B2US 12618403 B2US12618403 B2US 12618403B2US-12618403-B2

Abstract

An adaptive programmable pump includes a pump housing, a diaphragm comprising a variable stiffness element attached to the pump housing, a piezoelectric element operatively connected to the diaphragm, and a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element, where the control element is configured to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness element via a voltage applied to the control element. The pump can also include a controller configured to decrease the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the pump and/or increase the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the pump. The variable stiffness element can include a thermoplastic material with stiffness controlled by applying heat, an amorphous metal alloy with stiffness controlled by applying a magnetic field, or an electroactive laminate with stiffness controlled by applying an electric field.

Inventors

Paul Gilmore
Umesh Gandhi

Assignees

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230428

Claims (14)

1 . An adaptive programmable pump comprising: a pump housing; a diaphragm comprising a variable stiffness element attached to the pump housing, wherein the variable stiffness element comprises a thermoplastic material; a piezoelectric element operatively connected to the diaphragm; a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element, wherein the control element comprises an electrically resistive wire or film; wherein when a voltage is applied to the control element, the control element is to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying heat to the thermoplastic material to cause a change in the stiffness of the thermoplastic material; and further comprising a controller configured to one or more of decrease the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the adaptive programmable pump or increase the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the adaptive programmable pump.
2 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor to sense a backpressure relating to operation of the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the controller is to increase the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a sensed increase in the backpressure.
3 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , further comprising a flow rate sensor to sense a flow rate relating to operation of the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the controller is to decrease the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a sensed decrease in the flow rate.
4 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an isolator attached to the pump housing.
5 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 4 , wherein the diaphragm further comprises a metal shim attached to the isolator.
6 . The adaptive programmable pump of claim 1 , wherein the electrically resistive wire or film comprises a nichrome wire or film.
7 . A method of controlling an adaptive programmable pump comprising: monitoring, via a sensor, one of a pressure or a flow rate of a fluid in the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the adaptive programmable pump comprises a diaphragm that includes a variable stiffness element, and wherein the variable stiffness element comprises a thermoplastic material; determining a level of a stiffness of the variable stiffness element that is required for operation of the adaptive programmable pump; controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying a voltage to a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element, wherein the control element comprises an electrically resistive wire or film, wherein when the voltage is applied to the control element, the control element controls the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying heat to the thermoplastic material to cause a change in the stiffness of the thermoplastic material, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises one or more of decreasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the adaptive programmable pump or increasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the adaptive programmable pump.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the sensor includes one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an isolator attached to the pump housing and wherein the diaphragm further comprises a metal shim attached to the isolator.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrically resistive wire or film comprises a nichrome wire or film.
11 . At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising: monitoring, via a sensor, one of a pressure or a flow rate of a fluid in an adaptive programmable pump, wherein the adaptive programmable pump comprises a diaphragm that includes a variable stiffness element, and wherein the variable stiffness element comprises a thermoplastic material; determining a level of a stiffness of the variable stiffness element that is required for operation of the adaptive programmable pump; controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying a voltage to a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element, wherein the control element comprises an electrically resistive wire or film, wherein when the voltage is applied to the control element, the control element controls the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying heat to the thermoplastic material to cause a change in the stiffness of the thermoplastic material, and wherein controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element comprises one or more of decreasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high flow rate condition for the adaptive programmable pump or increasing the stiffness of the variable stiffness element responsive to a high pressure condition for the adaptive programmable pump.
12 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor.
13 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the variable stiffness element comprises an isolator attached to the pump housing and wherein the diaphragm further comprises a metal shim attached to the isolator.
14 . The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the electrically resistive wire or film comprises a nichrome wire or film.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments generally relate to piezoelectric pumps. More particularly, embodiments relate to an adaptive piezoelectric pump having a variable stiffness diaphragm element that is controllable to change the stiffness responsive to pumping conditions. BACKGROUND State-of-the-art piezoelectric pumps have an isolator that is part of the diaphragm. The isolator is a thin, flexible membrane which connects the rest of the diaphragm (with connected piezoelectric element) to the side wall of the pump. The isolator allows the volume displacement of the diaphragm to be increased and also creates the desired mode shape of the diaphragm. However, the isolator leads to a reducing in bending stiffness of the diaphragm, therefore reducing the maximum backpressure of the pump. BRIEF SUMMARY In some embodiments, an adaptive programmable pump includes a pump housing, a diaphragm comprising a variable stiffness element attached to the pump housing, a piezoelectric element operatively connected to the diaphragm, and a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element, wherein the control element is configured to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness element via a voltage applied to the control element. In some embodiments, a method of controlling an adaptive programmable pump includes monitoring one of a pressure or a flow rate of a fluid in the adaptive programmable pump, wherein the adaptive programmable pump comprises a diaphragm that includes a variable stiffness element, determining a level of stiffness of the variable stiffness element that is required for operation of the adaptive programmable pump, and controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying a voltage to a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element. In some embodiments, at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising monitoring one of a pressure or a flow rate of a fluid in an adaptive programmable pump, wherein the adaptive programmable pump comprises a diaphragm that includes a variable stiffness element, determining a level of stiffness of the variable stiffness element that is required for operation of the adaptive programmable pump, and controlling the stiffness of the variable stiffness element by applying a voltage to a control element coupled to the variable stiffness element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The various advantages of the embodiments will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which: FIG. 1 provides a diagram illustrating examples of conventional pump performance profiles; FIGS. 2A-2B provide diagrams illustrating an example of an adaptive programmable pump performance profile according to one or more embodiments; FIGS. 3A-3C provide diagrams illustrating an example of an adaptive programmable pump according to one or more embodiments; FIGS. 4A-4C provide diagrams illustrating another example of an adaptive programmable pump according to one or more embodiments; FIGS. 5A-5B provide diagrams illustrating examples of an electroactive laminate for use as a variable stiffness material in an adaptive programmable pump according to one or more embodiments; FIG. 6 provides a diagram illustrating aspects of an adaptive programmable pump according to one or more embodiments; FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an adaptive programmable pump system according to one or more embodiments; FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a controller for an adaptive programmable pump according to one or more embodiments; and FIG. 9 provides a flow diagram illustrating an example method of controlling an adaptive programmable pump according to one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the technology disclosed herein, an adaptive programmable pump includes a diaphragm with a variable stiffness element that can be controlled to vary the stiffness. The stiffness (e.g., bending stiffness of the diaphragm or isolator), which is a property of the material(s) and/or configuration of the variable stiffness element, can be controlled by a control signal (e.g. an applied voltage) which, when applied to a control element, provides control over the variable stiffness element via a thermal, electrical field, or magnetic field input. The disclosed technology provides improved pump performance under variable pressure or flow rate conditions. For example, the adaptive programmable pump can be programmed such that the variable stiffness element is controlled to be in a low stiffness state (i.e., more flexible) when a high flowrate is required, thus increasing the volume displacement of diaphragm. As another example, when a high pressure is required, the adaptive programmable pump can be programmed such t