Diaphragm foam pump

• US 8,172,555 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Aaron R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jacobs, Todd D
• Application Number:
  US12/488,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20090317270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 417/413.1, 417/222.1, 417/76, 417/87, 417/415, 417/199.1, 222/190, 222/207, 222/209
• US Class Current: 417/413.1
• 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 foam pump including a diaphragm made of a flexible material defining a mixing chamber and having an inlet and an outlet. An inlet passageway, having a one-way valve therein, is in fluid communication with a reservoir containing a foamable liquid and the inlet. The inlet passageway includes an air inlet and associated one-way valve. The pump includes an outlet passageway, having a one-way valve therein, in fluid communication with the outlet. The foam pump includes an electric motor. that drives a motor driven element to collapse and expand the diaphragm. Expansion of the diaphragm creates a vacuum causing foamable liquid and air to flow into the mixing chamber. Collapsing of the diaphragm causes the liquid and air mixture to be forced out 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 configured to contain 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;

wherein actuating said electric motor drives said motor driven element to repeatedly collapse and expand said diaphragm, and wherein expansion of said diaphragm creates a vacuum causing foamable liquid and air to flow into said mixing chamber in the form of a liquid and air mixture, 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, wherein said outlet passageway includes at least one mesh screen.

5. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 1, wherein said inlet passageway includes a flow restrictor within the passageway to increase the velocity of the liquid flow 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.

7. 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 configured to contain 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) the inlet passage having a reduced cross section proximate the air inlet;

(f) an electric motor; and

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

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

8. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 7 wherein the outlet passage comprising a tube having a first opening connected proximate the outlet of the diaphragm pump and a second opening, wherein at least one mesh screen is located adjacent the second opening.

9. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 7 wherein the outlet passage comprising a tube having a first opening connected proximate the outlet of the diaphragm pump and a second opening, and a mixing cartridge located proximate the second opening.

10. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 7 wherein the inlet passageway terminates near the bottom of the reservoir.

11. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 7 wherein an air inlet is located between the reservoir and diaphragm.

12. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 7 further comprising an air pump to force air into the inlet passage.

13. 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 extending from a reservoir configured to contain a foamable liquid to the 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) the inlet passage having a reduced cross section proximate the air inlet;

(f) an electric motor;

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

(h) a foaming cartridge located in the outlet passageway;

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

14. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 13 wherein the one-way valve located in the outlet passageway is located proximate the diaphragm.

15. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 13 wherein air is drawn into the inlet passage by a venturi effect.

16. The diaphragm foam pump of claim 13 wherein air is forced into the inlet passage by an air pump.