Pump for vehicle suspension system
First Claim
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1. A pump, comprising:
- a housing defining an interior volume, wherein the housing comprises a first shell and a second shell;
a diaphragm partitioning the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber;
a diaphragm support located in the actuating chamber and configured to limit movement of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm and the diaphragm support are fastened between the first and second shells and the diaphragm support is configured to allow the diaphragm to operate at pressures of at least about 3000 pounds-per-square-inch; and
a dispersion element configured to laterally distribute hydraulic fluid within the pump, wherein the diaphragm support and the dispersion element are integrally formed as parts of a continuous body of material, wherein the dispersion element includes an array of columns structurally reinforcing the diaphragm support and a network of channels extending around the columns, the channels of the dispersion element connected to an array of apertures extending through the diaphragm support;
wherein the diaphragm has about a four inch operating diameter, and provides about a 1.5 cubic-inch stroke volume.
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Abstract
A pump includes a housing defining an interior volume, and a diaphragm, where the diaphragm partitions the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber. The diaphragm is formed from a polymeric material, and the pump further includes a diaphragm support configured to limit a stroke of the diaphragm. The diaphragm support includes an array of apertures through which fluid passes to interface with the diaphragm during operation of the pump.
157 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pump, comprising:
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a housing defining an interior volume, wherein the housing comprises a first shell and a second shell; a diaphragm partitioning the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber; a diaphragm support located in the actuating chamber and configured to limit movement of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm and the diaphragm support are fastened between the first and second shells and the diaphragm support is configured to allow the diaphragm to operate at pressures of at least about 3000 pounds-per-square-inch; and a dispersion element configured to laterally distribute hydraulic fluid within the pump, wherein the diaphragm support and the dispersion element are integrally formed as parts of a continuous body of material, wherein the dispersion element includes an array of columns structurally reinforcing the diaphragm support and a network of channels extending around the columns, the channels of the dispersion element connected to an array of apertures extending through the diaphragm support; wherein the diaphragm has about a four inch operating diameter, and provides about a 1.5 cubic-inch stroke volume. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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2. A pump, comprising:
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a housing defining an interior volume, wherein the housing comprises a first shell and a second shell; a diaphragm partitioning the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber; a diaphragm support located in the actuating chamber and configured to limit movement of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm and the diaphragm support are fastened between the first and second shells and the diaphragm support is configured to allow the diaphragm to operate at pressures of at least about 3000 pounds-per-square-inch; and a dispersion element configured to laterally distribute hydraulic fluid within the pump, wherein the diaphragm support and the dispersion element are integrally formed as parts of a continuous body of material, wherein the dispersion element includes an array of columns structurally reinforcing the diaphragm support and a network of channels extending around the columns, the channels of the dispersion element connected to an array of apertures extending through the diaphragm support; wherein the pump has about a six inch outer diameter, and is configured to operate at a flow rate of 1.5 gallons-per-minute of hydraulic fluid passing through the actuating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A pump, comprising:
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a housing defining an interior volume, wherein the housing comprises a first shell and a second shell; a diaphragm partitioning the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber; a diaphragm support located in the actuating chamber and configured to limit movement of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm and the diaphragm support are fastened between the first and second shells and the diaphragm support is configured to allow the diaphragm to operate at pressures of at least about 3000 pounds-per-square-inch; a dispersion element configured to laterally distribute hydraulic fluid within the pump, wherein the diaphragm support and the dispersion element are integrally formed as parts of a continuous body of material, wherein the dispersion element includes an array of columns structurally reinforcing the diaphragm support and a network of channels extending around the columns, the channels of the dispersion element connected to an array of apertures extending through the diaphragm support; and a modulating assembly configured to selectively place the diaphragm in fluid communication with a first port and a second port; wherein the diaphragm has about a four inch operating diameter, and provides about a 1.5 cubic-inch stroke volume. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification