Magnetic pump

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnetizable members are of high magnetic permeability and low magnetic coercivity.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said field generating means includes magnetic field generating coil connected to a voltage source.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said second means includes means for reversing the magnetic polarity of one of said coils relative to the other.

Claim 6

The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said voltage source is of alternating current and said means for reversing the magnetic polarities includes rectifier means connected between one of said coils and said voltage source for periodically effecting relative reversal of current through said one coil relative to the other coil.

Claim 7

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable magnetizable member includes a piston mounted for reciprocation in said housing.

Claim 8

The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said inlet port extends through said first magnetizable member, said outlet port extending through said second magnetizable member.

Claim 9

The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said second magnetizable member comprises a piston mounted for reciprocation in said housing.

Claim 10

The structure set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second means each includes a magnetic field generating coil connected to a voltage source.

Claim 11

The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein said second means further includes means for reversing the magnetic polarity of one of said coils relative to the other.

Claim 12

The structure set forth in claim 10 wherein said voltage source is of alternating current and said means for reversing the magnetic polarities includes rectifier means connected between one of said coils and said voltage source for periodically effecting relative reversal of current through said one coil relative to the other coil.

Claim 13

A fluid handling device comprising a housing, a pair of magnetizable pistons reciprocally mounted in said housing for movement along an axis, said pistons defining in part a fluid chamber therebetween, inlet and outlet ports, one-way valve means for establishing communication between said ports and said fluid chamber, each of said pistons being movable away from each other to increase the volume of said fluid chamber, means for periodically generating a magnetic field of substantially uniform flux through said pistons along said axis to effect attraction of said pistons and means for periodically effecting repulsion of said pistons from each other including means for altering said uniform flux magnetic field.

Claim 14

A fluid handling device comprising a housing, a pair of magnetizable pistons reciprocally mounted in said housing for movement along an axis, said pistons defining in part a fluid chamber therebetween, inlet and outlet ports, one-way valve means for establishing communication between said ports and said fluid chamber, each of said pistons being movable away from each other to increase the volume of said fluid chamber, means for periodically generating a magnetic field of substantially uniform flux through said pistons along said axis to effect attraction of said pistons and means for periodically effecting repulsion of said pistons from each other including means for altering said uniform flux magnetic field.

Claim 15

The structure set forth in claim 12 wherein said inlet port is formed in one of said pistons, said outlet port being formed in the other of said pistons.

Claim 16

An electrically operated pump, comprising a tubular member having opposite inlet and outlet ends, at least one piston made of magnetic material reciprocable within the tubular member between limit positions, fluid chamber means volumetrically contracted and expanded in response to reciprocation of the piston between said limit positions, one-way valve means for conducting fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ends of the tubular member through the piston in response to said contraction and expansion of the fluid chamber means, at least one electromagnetic coil mounted externally on the tubular member and extending axially between the limit positions of the piston, an electrical power means connected to said coil for establishing a magnetic field having a flux path of substantially uniform flux density extending axially through the piston between said limit positions, and control means connected to the power means for periodically altering the strength of said magnetic field to effect reciprocation of the piston between the limit positions within said axial flux path of uniform flux density.

Claim 17

An electrically operated pump, comprising a tubular member having opposite inlet and outlet ends, at least one piston made of magnetic material reciprocable within the tubular member between limit positions, fluid chamber means volumetrically contracted and expanded in response to reciprocation of the piston between said limit positions, one-way valve means for conducting fluid flow between said inlet and outlet ends of the tubular member through the piston in response to said contraction and expansion of the fluid chamber means, at least one electromagnetic coil mounted externally on the tubular member and extending axially between the limit positions of the piston, an electrical power means connected to said coil for establishing a magnetic field having a flux path of substantially uniform flux density extending axially through the piston between said limit positions, and control means connected to the power means for periodically altering the strength of said magnetic field to effect reciprocation of the piston between the limit positions within said axial flux path of uniform flux density.