Reduced energy and volume air pump for a seat cushion
Abstract
An efficient pump system is described 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. 12 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 527768
- Patent Number(s):
- 5657499
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-586,444
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 19 Aug 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, BASIC STUDIES; PUMPS; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; MEDICAL SUPPLIES; AIR; PUMPING; AIR FLOW; OCCUPANTS; WEIGHT; BALLOONS; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Citation Formats
Vaughn, M R, Constantineau, E J, and Groves, G E. Reduced energy and volume air pump for a seat cushion. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Vaughn, M R, Constantineau, E J, & Groves, G E. Reduced energy and volume air pump for a seat cushion. United States.
Vaughn, M R, Constantineau, E J, and Groves, G E. Tue .
"Reduced energy and volume air pump for a seat cushion". United States.
@article{osti_527768,
title = {Reduced energy and volume air pump for a seat cushion},
author = {Vaughn, M R and Constantineau, E J and Groves, G E},
abstractNote = {An efficient pump system is described 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. 12 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1997},
month = {8}
}
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