The SwashPump project has been a major part of Design Smarts workload in recent years. This project has involved steep learning curves not just from a technical point of view but also from a commercial point of view. The project has faced and resolved numerous technical difficulties with Design Smart's assistance. This involved resolving technical issues that have stopped nutating plate pumps from being successfully implemented before now. With significant registered prior art, this involved design thinking outside the square, as in thinking not found in a text book. There were approximately 100 previous international patents registered when fully searching both European and U.S. databases, and in one case prior art was found dating back to a patent registered in 1896.
SwashPump now has 2 international patents registered with inventive step, one for pumping incompressible liquids (Petrol & Diesel) and one for pumping compressible liquid or gas (currently Petrol Vapour). Both pump designs have significant advantages over incumbent technology; with the most important pumping efficiency.
The Petrol Vapour pump is ready for full commercialisation with the assistance of Axiam Metals Ltd who has proven that the design is manufacture-able in quantity, with full process control capability. Commercial deals are currently pending. The issues surrounding the commercialisation are inextricably linked to the very risk-averse nature of the American corporate world, especially in today's post 2008 GFC economic market.
