February 05, 2025
How Does a Linear Diaphragm Air Pump Work?
Linear diaphragm air pump history and principles of operation
HIBLOW (Techno Takatsuki) engineering in the late 1960’s invented the linear diaphragm air pump. The energy efficient, quiet, lubrication/ oil free design is still the most efficient technology for producing continuous air flow.
Design concept – the speaker
The HIBLOW engineer conceptualized the design while observing how a speaker produces sound.
How a speaker works: A circular permanent magnet, attached to the frame of the speaker, creates a magnetic field. The voice coil (a cylinder wound tightly with copper coil), placed inside the permanent magnet, turns into an electromagnet as alternating current (AC) electricity cycles through the copper wire. The AC signal changes the polarity of the electromagnetic at the rate of the frequency (Hz) causing it to move in a linear motion through the permanent magnet. The cone (or diaphragm) attached to the voice coil vibrates creating the sound we hear.
Linear diaphragm air pump principles of operation:
How it works: Linear diaphragm air pumps produce air flow from a set of diaphragms that are attached to a permanent magnetic rod. The magnetic rod moves in a linear motion as AC electricity powers electromagnets (in purple above) made from copper wire wrapped around an iron core. The magnetic attraction and repellent forces between the permanent magnet and electromagnets oscillate the rod at the frequency of the power supply (60 Hz in the US). Meaning the rod is shuttled back and forth 60 x’s per second as the electromagnets change polarity from the alternating current.
The blue bubbles in the simulation above show the path of the air flow. Following the bubble on the right side of the simulation: the diaphragm as it stretches inward (to the left), creates a vacuum effect – opening the umbrella valve and pulling ambient air into the chamber. As the diaphragm moves back to the right, it pushes air out through the second umbrella valve (at the top of the diagram). The same is happening on the other side in opposite orientation. The combination creates consistent air flow with minimal pulsation that merges in the lower housing of the aerator before exiting through an outlet port.
Can a linear diaphragm air pump run on DC power?
No, the technology must run on AC power. However, it is still used in many DC applications with a power inverter because of how energy efficient the technology is.
For more information about HIBLOW linear diaphragm air pumps, please send us an email or give us a call.
Email: info@hiblow-usa.com
Phone: 734-944-5032