DIAPHRAGM FOAM PUMP

• US 20090317270A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Aaron R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/410.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/16 with mechanical drive food mixers A47J43/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0037 including sieves, porous members or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0062 including sieves, porous members or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/262 a liquid and a gas being brought together before entering the discharge device

Abstract

A diaphragm foam pump including a diaphragm made of a flexible material defining a mixing chamber and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. An inlet passageway is in fluid communication with a reservoir containing a foamable liquid and the inlet opening, with the inlet passageway having a one-way valve therein. The pump also includes an outlet passageway in fluid communication with the outlet opening and having a one-way valve therein, and an air inlet in the inlet passageway having a one-way valve. The diaphragm foam pump further includes an electric motor and a motor-driven element associated with said electric motor. Actuating the electric motor drives the motor driven element to repeatedly collapse and expand the diaphragm, and where expansion of the diaphragm creates a vacuum causing foamable liquid and air to flow into the mixing chamber, and collapsing of the diaphragm causes the liquid and air mixture to be forced out through the outlet passageway as foam.

Claims

1. A diaphragm foam pump comprising:

(a) a diaphragm made of a flexible material defining a mixing chamber and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

(b) an inlet passageway in fluid communication with a reservoir containing a foamable liquid and said inlet opening, said inlet passageway having a one-way valve therein;

(c) an outlet passageway in fluid communication with said outlet opening, and having a one-way valve therein;

(d) an air inlet in said inlet passageway having a one-way valve;

(e) an electric motor;

(f) a motor-driven element associated with said electric motor;

where actuating said electric motor drives said motor driven element to repeatedly collapse and expand said diaphragm, and where expansion of said diaphragm creates a vacuum causing foamable liquid and air to flow into said mixing chamber, and collapsing of said diaphragm causes the liquid and air mixture to be forced out through said outlet passageway as foam.

2. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 1, wherein said electric motor includes a rotating shaft;

and said motor-driven element is a cam secured to said motor shaft, the actuation of said motor serving to rotate said motor shaft, causing said cam to repeatedly collapse and expand said diaphragm.

3. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 1, wherein said motor-driven element is a reciprocating rod, the actuation of said motor serving to reciprocate said rod, causing said rod to repeatedly collapse and expand said diaphragm.

4. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 1, where said outlet passageway includes at least one mesh screen.

5. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 1, where said inlet passageway includes a venturi valve therein at said air inlet.

6. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 1, further comprising an air pump providing pressurized air to said air inlet.