摘要 |
<p>A fluid pump comprising a conical body having an apex, a base and defining a lateral surface between the apex and base; a mating surface defined by a pump plate; a flexible membrane having a first face comprising a first part which is attached to at least a portion of the lateral surface of the conical body and a second part which is free, and having a second, opposite face secured around its periphery to the mating surface; and a driver adapted to drive the conical body; wherein the mating surface includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, the fluid inlet port being spaced from the fluid outlet port; the driver includes a drive shaft and a drive plate carried by the distal end of the drive shaft, wherein the drive plate is inclined with respect to a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft such that the drive plate drives the conical body to precess about its apex in use such that at any given time the flexible membrane defines a contact portion in contact with the mating surface where the lateral surface of the conical body is adjacent to the mating surface, and defines a non-contact portion which is spaced from the mating surface; a pump chamber is defined by a cavity formed between the non-contact portion of the flexible membrane and the mating surface; the pump chamber rotates about an axis of the mating surface as the conical body precesses about its apex; and fluid is drawn into the pump chamber as it passes the fluid inlet port and the fluid is urged out of the pump chamber as it passes the fluid outlet port.</p> |