Apparatus and method for sensing diaphragm failures in reciprocating pumps
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for determining a pump diaphragm failure comprising:
- a single continuous circuit trace supported by said diaphragm, and insulated therefrom, and from a pumping medium, traversing substantially the entire surface area of said diaphragm;
an electrical circuit means connected to said continuous circuit trace for measuring both circuit trace continuity and a ground fault condition between said circuit trace and a pumping environment, whereby a diaphragm failure is detected when either said circuit trace electrical continuity is broken or said pumping environment comes into contact with said continuous circuit trace; and
,an alarm connected to said electrical circuit for indicating said diaphragm failure.
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Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring the diaphragm integrity in a diaphragm pump. A single continuous circuit trace is supported on a pump diaphragm. An electrical circuit is connected to the continuous circuit trace for measuring both the continuity and a potential ground fault condition between the circuit trace and pumping liquid. The circuit trace is formed in a configuration which resists the effects of strain induced by continuous flexing of the diaphragm.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a pump diaphragm failure comprising:
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a single continuous circuit trace supported by said diaphragm, and insulated therefrom, and from a pumping medium, traversing substantially the entire surface area of said diaphragm; an electrical circuit means connected to said continuous circuit trace for measuring both circuit trace continuity and a ground fault condition between said circuit trace and a pumping environment, whereby a diaphragm failure is detected when either said circuit trace electrical continuity is broken or said pumping environment comes into contact with said continuous circuit trace; and
,an alarm connected to said electrical circuit for indicating said diaphragm failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for determining a pump diaphragm failure comprising:
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a single continuous circuit trace disposed on said diaphragm, insulated from a pumping environment, said continuous circuit trace traversing substantially all the surface area of said diaphragm; a voltage supply connected through a first resistance element to one end of said circuit trace, and connected through a second resistance element to a second end of said circuit trace, whereby a current flow through said circuit trace is established; a window comparator circuit connected to compare the voltage potential on one of said circuit trace ends with first an second threshold levels, whereby a fault is detected when said circuit trace either experiences an open circuit or when said pumping environment comes in contact with said circuit trace; and
,failure indicating means connected to said comparator circuit for indicating said detected fault. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for detecting a failure of a diaphragm separating two liquid mediums, comprising:
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disposing a continuous circuit trace over a major portion of said diaphragm; measuring the continuity of said circuit trace; measuring a current flowing between said circuit trace and one of said liquid mediums; and indicating a failure when either said continuity of said circuit trace changes or said current flowing between said circuit trace and said liquid medium changes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification