Pump for vehicle suspension system

• US 8,821,130 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Venton-Walters, Roy, Rositch, Aaron J., Ellifson, Erik, Zuleger, Jason J., Krebs, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamo, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/943,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6.157, 417/395, 417/413.1, 92/98.R, 92/96, 921/03.SD
• US Class Current: 417/63
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0408 details, e.g. antifreeze for suspension fluid, pumps, retarding means per se
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0054 particularities of the flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/073 the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/04 having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B45/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2225/00 Synthetic polymers, e.g. plastics; Rubber
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2225/08 Thermoplastics

Abstract

A pump includes a housing defining an interior volume, a diaphragm partitioning the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber, a diaphragm support associated with the actuating chamber and configured to limit movement of the diaphragm, and a dispersion element coupled to the housing. The dispersion element is configured to laterally distribute a fluid within the pump.

Claims

1. A pump, comprising:

a housing defining an interior volume;

a diaphragm partitioning the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber, wherein the housing defines a flow path between an inlet and the actuating chamber;

a diaphragm support associated with the actuating chamber and configured to limit movement of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm support includes a plurality of apertures that define a portion of the flow path; and

a dispersion element coupled to the housing and including a network of channels extending around an array of columns, wherein the dispersion element is positioned along the flow path between the diaphragm support and the inlet, wherein the network of channels is configured to laterally distribute a fluid within the flow path.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first shell and a second shell, and wherein the diaphragm, the diaphragm support, and the dispersion element are fastened between the first and second shells.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures each have a cross-sectional width between a hundredth and a quarter of an inch.

4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm support forms a concave recess adjacent to the diaphragm, and wherein the array of columns are positioned to reinforce the diaphragm support.

5. The pump of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures are connected to the network of channels.

6. The pump of claim 5, wherein the diaphragm support and the dispersion element are integrally formed as parts of a continuous body of material.

7. The pump of claim 1, further comprising a modulating assembly positioned along the flow path and configured to selectively place the actuating chamber in fluid communication with the inlet.

8. The pump of claim 7, wherein the modulating assembly includes a solenoid coupled to a flow-control valve.

9. A pump, comprising:

a housing defining an interior volume, wherein the housing includes an inlet configured to be coupled to a high pressure fluid line and an outlet configured to be coupled to a low pressure fluid line;

a diaphragm coupled to the housing, wherein the diaphragm partitions the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber, wherein the housing defines a flow path between the inlet, the outlet, and the actuating chamber; and

a modulating assembly coupled to the housing and configured to selectively place the actuating chamber in fluid communication with the inlet or the outlet, wherein the modulating assembly is positioned along the flow path and includes a solenoid coupled to a flow-control valve.

10. The pump of claim 9, wherein the flow-control valve is movable between a first position to place the inlet in fluid communication with the actuating chamber and a second position to place the outlet in fluid communication with the actuating chamber.

11. The pump of claim 10, wherein the diaphragm is formed from a polymeric material that stretches to increase the volume of the actuating chamber when the flow-control valve is in the first position and increase the volume of the pumping chamber when the flow-control valve is in the second position.