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  Diaphragm pump and thin channel structureUSPTO Application #: 20080095651Title: Diaphragm pump and thin channel structure Abstract: A diaphragm pump includes a duct structure capable of connecting an inlet port and an outlet port without using a tube. In the diaphragm pump, each of an inlet channel hole and an outlet channel hole is formed as a depression without the provision of inlet and outlet ports each formed as a protrusion on a housing, and a tubular protrusion provided on a plate forming a channel is fit in the depression. (end of abstract) Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione - Chicago, IL, US Inventor: Hitoshi Onishi USPTO Applicaton #: 20080095651 - Class: 417558 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080095651. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001]This application claims benefit of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-285842 filed on Oct. 20, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]The present invention relates to a diaphragm pump using a vibrating diaphragm to produce a pumping action, and in particular, to a diaphragm pump and a thin channel structure that can be reduced in size and thickness. [0004]2. Description of the Related Art [0005]The applicant is developing a diaphragm pump (piezoelectric pump) for use as, for example, a cooling-water circulating pump for a water-cooled notebook personal computer (PC). A notebook PC has a limited space for storing parts, so a smaller and thinner pump is increasingly demanded. A technique for providing such a pump is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005-0231914 A1 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005-229038 and 2005-282386. [0006]However, according to typical known techniques, an inlet port and an outlet port for a piezoelectric pump are each formed as a protrusion protruding from a housing, and a flexible tube is used as a duct connected to both ports. The inlet and outlet ports as a protrusion and the structure of connection including the tube connected to both ports and its surroundings prevent size and thickness reduction in the entire system, even when the piezoelectric pump is reduced in size and thickness in itself. SUMMARY [0007]The present invention provides a diaphragm pump that has a duct structure capable of connecting a duct to an inlet port and an outlet port without using a tube. [0008]According to a first aspect, a diaphragm pump includes a vibrating diaphragm, an inlet channel hole in which an inlet check valve is disposed, an outlet channel hole in which an outlet check valve is disposed, an inlet channel, and an outlet channel. The diaphragm is supported between a pair of housings, has a sealed edge to prevent leakage of liquid, and forms a pump chamber. The inlet channel hole and the outlet channel hole are formed through at least a first housing of the pair of housings so as to communicate with the pump chamber. The inlet channel has a first inlet channel plate and a second inlet channel plate laminated together with the first inlet channel plate. The first inlet channel plate includes a tubular protrusion communicating with the inlet channel hole. The second inlet channel plate forms an inlet channel communicating with the tubular protrusion. The outlet channel has a first outlet channel plate and a second outlet channel plate laminated together with the first outlet channel plate. The first outlet channel plate includes a tubular protrusion communicating with the outlet channel hole. The second outlet channel plate forms an outlet channel communicating with the tubular protrusion. [0009]In one embodiment, the inlet channel hole and the outlet channel hole may be substantially parallel to each other. [0010]In one embodiment, the first inlet channel plate and the first outlet channel plate may be made of a single plate material, and the second inlet channel plate and the second outlet channel plate may be made of a single plate material. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and assembly can be facilitated. [0011]According to a second aspect of the present invention, a thin channel structure includes a channel block in which a channel hole is formed, a first plate having a tubular protrusion communicating with the channel hole of the channel block, and a second plate laminated together with the first plate and forming a liquid channel communicating with the tubular protrusion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a piezoelectric pump to which the disclosed structure is applied, with a part of the surface being removed to show the inside thereof. [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1. [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the piezoelectric pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0015]According to the present embodiment, the disclosed pump is applied to a two-valve piezoelectric pump 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the piezoelectric pump 20 includes a lower housing 21 and an upper housing 22 in sequence from the bottom. [0016]The lower housing 21 has an inlet channel hole 24 and an outlet channel hole 25 for allowing cooling water (liquid) to pass therethrough. The inlet channel hole 24 and the outlet channel hole 25 are substantially perpendicular to the through-thickness plane of the lower housing 21 and are preferably substantially parallel to each other. A piezoelectric vibrator (diaphragm) 28 is supported between the lower housing 21 and the upper housing 22 via an O ring 29 so as to be sealed against leakage of liquid. A pump chamber P is formed between the piezoelectric vibrator 28 and the lower housing 21. An air chamber A is formed between the piezoelectric vibrator 28 and the upper housing 22. According to the present embodiment, the axis of the inlet channel hole 24 and that of the outlet channel hole 25 are preferably substantially perpendicular to the piezoelectric vibrator 28. [0017]The piezoelectric vibrator 28 may be of a unimorph type and may have a central shim 28a and a piezoelectric element 28b laminated on one of both sides of the shim 28a (in FIG. 2, on the upper surface). The shim 28a is made of a conductive metal sheet, for example, a metal sheet having a thickness of approximately about 50 .mu.m to about 300 .mu.m made of stainless steel, 42 alloy, or other materials. The piezoelectric element 28b is made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) (Pb(Zr,Ti)O.sub.3) and has a thickness of the order of about 300 .mu.m. The piezoelectric element 28b is poled in the direction of both sides thereof. Such a piezoelectric vibrator is well known. [0018]The inlet channel hole 24 and the outlet channel hole 25 of the lower housing 21 are provided with (umbrella) check valves 32 and 33, respectively. The check valve 32 is disposed adjacent to the pump chamber P and is an inlet check valve for permitting a fluid to flow from the inlet channel hole 24 to the pump chamber P and preventing reverse flow of the fluid. The check valve 33 is disposed adjacent to the outlet channel and is an outlet check valve for permitting a fluid to flow from the pump chamber P to the outlet channel hole 25 and preventing reverse flow of the fluid. [0019]The check valves 32 and 33 have the same form. The check valves 32 and 33 have perforated substrates 32a and 33a and elastic umbrellas 32b and 33b attached thereto, respectively. Such umbrella check valves are well known. In the present embodiment, the perforated substrates 32a and 33a are separated from the lower housing 21. However, they may be integrally molded with the lower housing 21. [0020]According to the present embodiment, the lower housing 21 has the inlet channel hole 24 and the outlet channel hole 25, as described above. In addition, the inlet channel hole 24 and the outlet channel hole 25 are connected to an inlet channel 26 and an outlet channel 27, respectively. Both the inlet channel 26 and the outlet channel 27 are formed by a first channel plate 40 and a second channel plate 50. The lower housing 21 includes annular grooves 24a and 25a whose outer surfaces are opened (see FIG. 2). The annular grooves 24a and 25a are concentric with the inlet channel hole 24 and the outlet channel hole 25, respectively. The annular grooves 24a and 25a may be eccentric as needed. The first channel plate 40 serves as both a first channel plate for the inlet side and that for the outlet side and is formed as a plate in which both the first channel plates are integrated with each other. The first channel plate 40 includes an inlet tubular protrusion 41 to be fit in the annular groove 24a, an outlet tubular protrusion 42 to be fit in the annular groove 25a, an inlet channel recess 43 communicating with the inlet tubular protrusion 41, an outlet channel recess 44 communicating with the outlet tubular protrusion 42, and a partition 45 separating the inlet channel recess 43 and the outlet channel recess 44. Continue reading... Full patent description for Diaphragm pump and thin channel structure Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Diaphragm pump and thin channel structure patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Diaphragm pump and thin channel structure or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: High pressure lubricant pump for steelworks Next Patent Application: Roudong volume variation method for fluid machinery and its mechanisms and applications Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Diaphragm pump and thin channel structure patent info. 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