Reciprocating pump and check valve

• US 20030077190A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carol Paul, Russ Bruner, Tacmina Corporation, Todd Larson
• Original Assignee: Carol Paul, Russ Bruner, Todd Larson
• Inventors: Kinugawa, Shigehisa
• Granted Patent: US 6,846,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/390
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/067 the fluid being actuated directly by a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1002 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7929 Spring coaxial with valve

Abstract

In a reciprocating pump, drive power of a drive-power supply member is transmitted to a diaphragm within a diaphragm drive chamber via operating fluid. An operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber for regulating the flow of operating fluid is located between the drive-power supply member and the diaphragm drive chamber. A first gas discharge member and a second gas discharge member are respectively located in an upper part of the inside of the operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber and an upper part of the inside of the diaphragm drive chamber. The first gas discharge member is held in fluid communication with the second gas discharge member so as to constitute a single gas discharge mechanism. This single gas discharge mechanism is provided with a reverse-flow prevention member for preventing a reverse flow of fluid from the first gas discharge member to the second gas discharge member.

Claims

1. A reciprocating pump for delivering fluid comprising:

a diaphragm that is reciprocated so as to deliver fluid;

a diaphragm drive chamber provided therein with said diaphragm;

a drive-power supply member for supplying drive power for reciprocating said diaphragm;

wherein

drive power of said drive-power supply member is transmitted to said diaphragm within said diaphragm drive chamber via operating fluid, and an operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber for regulating the flow of operating fluid is located between said drive-power supply member and said diaphragm drive chamber;

a first gas discharge member and a second gas discharge member are respectively located in an upper part of the inside of said operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber and an upper part of the inside of said diaphragm drive chamber; and

said first gas discharge member is held in fluid communication with said second gas discharge member so as to constitute a single gas discharge mechanism, said single gas discharge mechanism being provided with a reverse-flow prevention member for preventing a reverse flow of fluid from said first gas discharge member to said second gas discharge member.

2. A reciprocating pump according to claim 1, wherein:

said operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber is provided with a valve element that is provided adjacent to said diaphragm to be driven along with said diaphragm, and a valve seat that is brought into engagement with said valve element so as to regulate operating fluid supplied into said diaphragm drive chamber; and

said first gas discharge member has a first end located between said drive-power supply member and said valve seat within said operating-fluid-flow regulation chamber, and said second gas discharge member has a first end located between said valve seat and said diaphragm within said diaphragm drive chamber.

3. A reciprocating pump according to claim 1, wherein:

said first gas discharge member and said second gas discharge member respectively have second ends, which are located closer to each other; and

said reverse-flow prevention member is provided above said second end of said second gas discharge member so that when fluid is discharged from said first gas discharge member, said reverse-flow prevention member is pressed against said second end of said second gas discharge member upon receiving the pressure of said fluid so as to close said second end of said second gas discharge member, and when fluid is discharged from said second gas discharge member, said reverse-flow prevention member is lifted up from said second end of said second gas discharge member so as to open said second end of said second gas discharge member.

4. A reciprocating pump according to claim 1, wherein:

said single gas discharge mechanism is made up by using said first gas discharge member, said second gas discharge member, said reverse-flow prevention member and a fluid-discharge-adjusting member; and

said fluid-discharge-adjusting member is made up by using a ball member provided above said reverse-flow prevention member, and an adjustment valve for adjusting a lift amount of said ball member.

5. A reciprocating pump according to claim 4, wherein the lift amount of said reverse-flow prevention member and the lift amount of said ball member are set at given amounts so that gas is automatically discharged from said first gas discharge member and said second gas discharge member.

6. A reciprocating pump according to claim 5, wherein said lift amount of said reverse-flow prevention member is set at about 0.5 mm-2.0 mm, and said lift amount of said ball member is set at about 0.5 mm-2.0 mm.

7. A reciprocating pump according to claim 5, wherein said reverse-flow prevention member is a ball member, which is made of a material having a specific gravity being approximate to a specific gravity of operating fluid.

8. A reciprocating pump according to claim 1, wherein an operating-fluid replenishing means is provided so as to replenish the amount of operating fluid discharged from at least one of said first gas discharge member and said second gas discharge member.

9. A check valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid communication passage;

a valve element provided within said valve body so as to open and close said fluid communication passage; and

an urging member provided within said valve body so as to apply urging force to said valve element;

wherein

said urging member is provided so as to urge said valve element towards an inlet side through which fluid flows; and

a given clearance is created between said valve element and said urging member when said fluid communication passage has been closed by said valve element.

10. A check valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid communication passage;

a valve element provided within said valve body so as to open and close said fluid communication passage;

electromagnet means provided at least in or around said valve body;

wherein

said valve element is made of a magnetic material; and

at least one of a timing at which electricity is sent to said electromagnet means and a timing at which the polarity of electricity sent to said electromagnet means is determined according to a timing at which said fluid communication passage is opened and closed by said valve element.

11. A check valve according to claim 10, wherein a capacitor is provided in an electric power supply line to said electromagnet means.

12. A reciprocating pump for delivering fluid comprising:

a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm that are reciprocated to deliver fluid;

diaphragm drive chambers respectively provided therein with said first and second diaphragms;

a drive-power supply member for supplying drive power for reciprocating said first and second diaphragms;

wherein

said drive-power supply member includes a single eccentric cam, and a first piston member and a second piston member that are reciprocated by the rotation of said single eccentric cam;

drive powers of said first and second piston members are respectively transmitted to said first and second diaphragms via operating fluid; and

an auxiliary drive member is provided so as to deliver fluid into fluid delivery sections respectively provided within said diaphragm drive chambers.

13. A reciprocating pump according to claim 12, wherein:

said auxiliary drive member includes a first auxiliary diaphragm and a second auxiliary diaphragm that are reciprocated so as to deliver fluid, and an auxiliary eccentric cam for reciprocating said first and second auxiliary diaphragms; and

said auxiliary eccentric cam is rotated by means of a drive-power transmission shaft for driving said single eccentric cam.

14. A reciprocating pump for delivering fluid comprising:

a diaphragm that is reciprocated to deliver fluid;

a diaphragm drive chamber provided therein with said diaphragm; and

a drive-power supply member for supplying drive power for reciprocating said diaphragm;

wherein

check valves are respectively provided on the upstream side and downstream side of said diaphragm; and

each of said check valves includes a valve body having a fluid communication passage, a valve element provided within said valve body so as to open and close said fluid communication passage and an urging member provided within said valve body so as to apply urging force to said valve element, in which said urging member is provided so as to urge said valve element towards an inlet side through which fluid flows, and a given clearance is created between said valve element and said urging member when said fluid communication passage has been closed by said valve element.

15. A reciprocating pump for delivering fluid comprising:

a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm that are reciprocated to deliver fluid;

diaphragm drive chambers respectively provided therein with said first and second diaphragms;

a drive-power supply member for supplying drive power for reciprocating said first and second diaphragms;

said drive-power supply member including a single eccentric cam, and a first piston member and a second piston member that are reciprocated by the rotation of said single eccentric cam;

wherein drive powers of said first and second piston members are respectively transmitted to said first and second diaphragms via operating fluid;

an auxiliary drive member provided so as to deliver fluid into fluid delivery sections respectively provided within said diaphragm drive chambers, said auxiliary drive member including a first auxiliary diaphragm and a second auxiliary diaphragm that are reciprocated so as to deliver fluid, and an auxiliary eccentric cam for reciprocating said first and second auxiliary diaphragms, and said auxiliary eccentric cam being rotated by means of a drive-power transmission shaft for driving said single eccentric cam;

check valves respectively provided on the upstream side and downstream side of each of said first and second diaphragms; and

each of said check valves including a valve body having a fluid communication passage, a valve element provided within said valve body so as to open and close said fluid communication passage and an urging member provided within said valve body so as to apply urging force to said valve element, in which said urging member is provided so as to urge said valve element towards an inlet side through which fluid flows, and a given clearance is created between said valve element and said urging member when said fluid communication passage has been closed by said valve element.

16. A reciprocating pump for delivering fluid comprising:

a diaphragm that is reciprocated to deliver fluid;

a diaphragm drive chamber provided therein with said diaphragm;

a drive-power supply member for supplying drive power for reciprocating said diaphragm;

check valves respectively provided on the upstream side and downstream side of said diaphragm; and

each of said check valves including a valve body having a fluid communication passage and a valve element provided within said valve body so as to open and close said fluid communication passage, in which electromagnet means is provided in at least in or around said valve body, said valve element is made of a magnetic material, and at least one of a timing at which electricity is sent to said electromagnet means and a timing at which the polarity of electricity sent to said electromagnet means is determined according to a timing at which said fluid communication passage is opened and closed by said valve element.

18. A reciprocating pump according to claim 16, wherein a capacitor is provided in an electric power supply line to said electromagnet means.

17. A reciprocating pump for delivering fluid comprising:

a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm that are reciprocated to deliver fluid;

diaphragm drive chambers respectively provided therein with said first and second diaphragms;

a drive-power supply member for supplying drive power for reciprocating said first and second diaphragms;

said drive-power supply member including a single eccentric cam, and a first piston member and a second piston member that are reciprocated by the rotation of said single eccentric cam;

wherein drive powers of said first and second piston members are transmitted to said first and second diaphragms via operating fluid;

an auxiliary drive member being provided so as to deliver fluid into fluid delivery sections respectively provided within said diaphragm drive chambers, said auxiliary drive member including a first auxiliary diaphragm and a second auxiliary diaphragm that are reciprocated so as to deliver fluid, and an auxiliary eccentric cam for reciprocating said first and second auxiliary diaphragms, and said auxiliary eccentric cam being rotated by means of a drive-power transmission shaft for driving said single eccentric cam;

check valves respectively provided on the upstream sides and downstream sides of each of said first and second diaphragms; and

each of said check valves including a valve body having a fluid communication passage and a valve element provided within said valve body so as to open and close said fluid communication passage, in which electromagnet means is provided in at least in or around said valve body, said valve element is made of a magnetic material, and at least one of a timing at which electricity is sent to said electromagnet means and a timing at which the polarity of electricity sent to said electromagnet means is determined according to a timing at which said fluid communication passage is opened and closed by said valve element.