Diaphragm pump method and apparatus

• US 3,900,276 A
• Filed: 05/16/1973
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: McCullough Corporation (AXA SA (DSG))
• Original Assignee: John Lewis Dilworth
• Inventors: Dilworth, John Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, C. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sessions, O. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/360,819
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 417/566,542,471,38
• US Class Current: 417/542
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 11/0033 with a mechanical spring
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/02 having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B43/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1037 Flap valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1065 fixed at its centre

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus in a diaphragm pump of the type including a frame and a motor connected to the frame. A connecting rod is eccentrically mounted at one end upon a drive shaft of the motor and is directly connected at the other end to a flexible pump diaphragm. A fluid housing is connected to the frame and includes a fluid entry port and a fluid exit port. The flexible pump diaphragm is intercalated between the frame and the fluid housing. The improved apparatus includes a tubular wall coaxially positioned within the interior of the housing and defining thereby an inlet chamber within the interior of the tubular wall and an outlet chamber exterior of the tubular wall and circumferentially extending about the inlet chamber. A conduit is provided to place the fluid entry port into fluid communication with the inlet chamber. A valve plate is mounted between the diaphragm and one end of the coaxial tubular wall means and defines a pumping chamber coaxially extending above the inlet and outlet chambers. The valve plate is provided with a plurality of inlet ports above the inlet chamber and a plurality of outlet ports above the outlet chamber. A first valve operably covers the inlet port for permitting fluid to flow from the inlet chamber into the pumping chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from the pumping chamber into the inlet chamber. A second valve operably covers the outlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from the pumping chamber into the outlet chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from the outlet chamber into the pumping chamber. The improved method utilizing the foregoing apparatus includes the steps of drawing fluid into the coaxial inlet chamber and pumping the fluid into the circumferential outlet chamber coaxially disposed about the inlet chamber.

Claims

1. In a diaphragm pump including, a frame means;

a motor connected to said frame means;

a connecting rod eccentrically mounted at one end thereof to a drive shaft of said motor;

fluid housing means mounted upon said frame means, including a fluid entry port, and a fluid exit port; and

flexible pump diaphragm means affixed to said connecting rod at the other end thereof and intercalated between said frame means and said fluid housing means;

the improvement comprising;

a first cylindrical tubular wall means coaxially positioned within said housing means for defining, an inlet chamber within said tubular wall means, and an outlet chamber exterior of said tubular wall and interior of said fluid housing means, said outlet chamber circumferentially extending about said tubular wall means;

a cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material positioned within said inlet chamber about and disposed in full contact with said first tubular wall means for attenuating fluid pulsations within said inlet chamber;

a second cylindrical wall concentrically extending radially outwardly of said tubular wall means to define a concentrically annular fluid outlet chamber;

a cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material positioned within said outlet chamber contiguously extending about said second cylindrical wall for attenuating fluid pulsations within said outlet chamber;

conduit means extending between and placing in fluid communication said inlet port and said inlet chamber;

valve plate means mounted between said diaphragm and one end of said coaxial tubular wall means and defining a pumpinG chamber coaxially extending above said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said valve plate having a plurality of inlet ports communicating between said inlet chamber and said pumping chamber, and a plurality of outlet ports communicating between said pumping chamber and said outlet chamber;

first valve means operably covering said inlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said inlet chamber into said pumping chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said pumping chamber into said inlet chamber;

second valve means operably covering said outlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said pumping chamber into said outlet chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said outlet chamber into said pumping chamber, whereby upon actuation of said motor said eccentric mounted connecting rod will serve to reciprocate said diaphragm coaxially with said inlet chamber to draw fluid through said conduit means into said inlet chamber, past said first valve means into said pumping chamber, and force fluid from said pumping chamber past said second valve means into said circumferential outlet chamber and out said exit port.

2. An improvement in a diaphragm pump as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said outlet chamber and said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said inlet chamber each are composed of a closed cell silicone rubber foam.

3. In a diaphragm pump including, a frame means;

a motor connected to said frame means;

a connecting rod eccentrically mounted at one end thereof to a drive shaft of said motor;

fluid housing means mounted upon said frame means, including a fluid entry port, and a fluid exit port; and

flexible pump diaphragm means affixed to said connecting rod at the other end thereof and intercalated between said frame means and said fluid housing means;

the improvement comprising;

a first cylindrical tubular wall means coaxially positioned within said housing means for defining an inlet chamber within said first cylindrical wall means;

a second cylindrical wall means concentrically extending radially outwardly of said first wall means to define a concentrically annular fluid outlet chamber exterior of said first cylindrical wall and interior of said second cylindrical wall means, said outlet chamber circumferentially extending about said first cylindrical wall means;

a cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material lining said first cylindrical wall means within said inlet chamber for attenuating fluid pulsations within said inlet chamber;

a cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material positioned within said outlet chamber contiguous about said second cylindrical wall for attenuatig fluid pulsations within said outlet chamber;

said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said outlet chamber and said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said inlet chamber each are composed of a closed cell silicone rubber foam;

a cylindrical filter screen coaxially positioned within said inlet chamber in a posture contiguous to and interiorly of said cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material within said inlet chamber for supporting said sleeve within said inlet chamber and for filtering foreign matter from fluid entering said inlet chamber;

conduit means extending between and placing in fluid communication said inlet port and said inlet chamber;

valve plate means mounted between said diaphragm and one end of said coaxial tubular wall means and defining a pumping chamber coaxially extending above said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said valve plate having a plurality of inlet ports communicating between said inlet chamber and said pumping chamber, and a plurality of outlet ports communicating between said pumping chamber and said outlet chamber;

first valve means operably covering said inlet ports for permittinG fluid to flow from said inlet chamber into said pumping chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said pumping chamber into said inlet chamber;

second valve means operably covering said outlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said pumping chamber into said outlet chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said outlet chamber into said pumping chamber, whereby upon actuation of said motor said eccentric mounted connecting rod will serve to reciprocate said diaphragm coaxially with said inlet chamber to draw fluid through said conduit means into said inlet chamber, past said first valve means into said pumping chamber, and force fluid from said pumping chamber past said second valve means into said circumferential outlet chamber and out said exit port;

said cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material positioned within said inlet chamber is cut at one end by an inclined plane; and

a landing column is fashioned within the interior of said inlet chamber in a posture diametrically opposed to said conduit means extending into said inlet chamber, whereby the greatest height of said cylindrical sleeve is operable to rest upon said landing column and be supported thereby while the shortest height of said cylindrical sleeve longitudinally extends above the opening of said conduit means and wherein said cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material is held in a circumferential posture adjacent the inlet ports within said valve plate.

4. In a diaphragm pump including a frame means;

a motor connected to said frame means;

a connecting rod eccentrically mounted at one end thereof to a drive shaft of said motor;

fluid housing means mounted upon said frame means, including a fluid entry port, and a fluid exit port; and

flexible pump diaphragm means affixed to said connecting rod at the other end thereof and intercalated between said frame means and said fluid housing means;

the improvement comprising;

tubular wall means coaxially positioned within said housing means for defining, an inlet chamber within said tubular wall means, and an outlet chamber exterior of said tubular wall and interior of said fluid housing means, said outlet chamber circumferentially extending about said tubular wall means;

a sleeve of volumetrically compressible material lining the interior wall of said tubular wall means for attenuating fluid pulsations within said inlet chamber;

conduit means extending between said and placing in fluid communication said inlet port and said inlet chamber;

valve plate means mounted between said diaphragm and one end of said coaxial tubular wall means and defining a pumping chamber coaxially extending above said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said valve plate having a plurality of inlet ports communicating between said inlet chamber and said pumping chamber, and a plurality of outlet ports communicating between said pumping chamber and said outlet chamber;

first valve means operably covering said inlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said inlet chamber into said pumping chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said pumping chamber into said inlet chamber;

second valve means operably covering said outlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said pumping chamber into said outlet chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said outlet chamber into said pumping chamber, whereby upon actuation of said motor said eccentric mounted connecting rod will serve to reciprocate said diaphragm coaxially with said inlet chamber to draw fluid through said conduit means into said inlet chamber, past said first valve means into said pumping chamber, and force fluid from said pumping chamber past said second valve means into said circumferential outlet chamber and out said exit port.

5. An improvement in a diaphragm pump as defined in claim 4 and further comprising:

a volumetrically compressible material positioned within said outlet chamber for attenuating fluid pulsations within said outlet chamber.

6. An improvement in a diaphragm pump as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said outlet chamber and said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said inlet chamber each are composed of a closed cell silicone rubber foam.

7. In a diaphragm pump including, a frame means;

a motor connnected to said frame means;

a connecting rod eccentrically mounted at one end thereof to a drive shaft of said motor;

fluid housing means mounted upon said frame means, including a fluid entry port, and a fluid exit port; and

flexible pump diaphragm means affixed to said connecting rod at the other end thereof and intercalated between said frame means and said fluid housing means;

the improvement comprising;

a first cylindrical tubular wall means coaxially positioned within said housing means for defining, an inlet chamber within said tubular wall means, and an outlet chamber exterior of said tubular wall and interior of said fluid housing means, said outlet chamber circumferentially extending about said tubular wall means;

a second cylindrical wall concentrically extending radially outwardly of said tubular wall means to define a concentrically annular fluid outlet chamber;

a cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material positioned within said outlet chamber contiguously extending about said second cylindrical wall for attenuating fluid pulsations within said outlet chamber;

conduit means extending between and placing in fluid communication said inlet port and said inlet chamber;

valve plate means mounted between said diaphragm and one end of said coaxial tubular wall means and defining a pumping chamber coaxially extending above said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said valve plate having a plurality of inlet ports communicating between said inlet chamber and said pumping chamber, and a plurality of outlet ports communicating between said pumping chamber and said outlet chamber;

first valve means operably covering said inlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said inlet chamber into said pumping chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said pumping chamber into said inlet chamber;

second valve means operably covering said outlet ports for permitting fluid to flow from said pumping chamber into said outlet chamber but preventing fluid from flowing from said outlet chamber into said pumping chamber, whereby upon actuation of said motor said eccentric mounted connecting rod will serve to reciprocate said diaphragm coaxially with said inlet chamber to draw fluid through said conduit means into said inlet chamber, past said first valve means into said pumping chamber, and force fluid from said pumping chamber past said second valve means into said circumferential outlet chamber and out said exit port;

a cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material positioned within said inlet chamber for attenuating fluid pulsations within said inlet chamber;

said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said outlet chamber and said volumetrically compressible cylindrical sleeve within said inlet chamber each are composed of a closed cell silicone rubber foam; and

a cylindrical filter screen coaxially positioned within said inlet chamber in a posture contiguous to and interiorly of said cylindrical sleeve of volumetrically compressible material within said inlet chamber for supporting said sleeve within said inlet chamber and for filtering foreign matter from fluid entering said inlet chamber.