Reduced energy and volume air pump for a seat cushion

Patent · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871097

Vaughn, Mark R ^[1]; Constantineau, Edward J ^[1]; Groves, Gordon E ^[2]

---

1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Tijeras, NM

An efficient pump system for transferring air between sets of bladders in a cushion. The pump system utilizes a reversible piston within a cylinder in conjunction with an equalizing valve in the piston which opens when the piston reaches the end of travel in one direction. The weight of a seated user then forces air back across the piston from an inflated bladder to the previously deflated bladder until the pressure is equalized. In this fashion the work done by the pump is cut in half. The inflation and deflation of the different bladders is controlled to vary the pressure on the several pressure points of a seated user. A principal application is for wheel chair use to prevent pressure ulcers.

• Research Organization: SANDIA CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 5657499
• OSTI ID: 871097
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/5/297/
air
air pump
application
bladder
bladders
chair
conjunction
controlled
cushion
cut
cylinder
deflated
deflation
direction
efficient
energy
equalized
equalizing
fashion
forces
half
inflated
inflation
piston
pressure
prevent
previously
principal
pump
reaches
reduced
reduced energy
reversible
seat
seated
sets
transferring
travel
ulcers
user
utilizes
valve
vary
volume
volume air
weight
wheel