Diaphragm Pump with Sensor Mount

• US 20160201663A1
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc. (Ingersoll Rand, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Treml, Dale, Conrad, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,731,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0201 Position of the piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0061 using muffler volumes
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0009 Special features
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/026 each plate-like pumping flexible member working in its own pumping chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0736 with two or more pumping chambers in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/0536 the actuating fluid being controlled by one or more valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/001 Noise damping
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly

Abstract

Illustrative embodiments of diaphragm pumps including a sensor mount are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may include a shaft disposed within a pump housing and coupled to at least one diaphragm, a mount removably attached to the pump housing and having a sensor receptacle, and a proximity sensor received in the sensor receptacle of the mount such that a sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle nearest the shaft.

Claims

1. A diaphragm pump comprising:

a shaft disposed within a pump housing and coupled to at least one diaphragm;

a mount removably attached to the pump housing and having a sensor receptacle; and

a proximity sensor received in the sensor receptacle of the mount such that a sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle nearest the shaft.

2. The diaphragm pump of claim 1, wherein the sensor receptacle comprises a receptacle housing and a bore defined through the receptacle housing for receiving the proximity sensor.

3. The diaphragm pump of claim 2, wherein the sensor receptacle comprises one or more protrusions extending inwardly into the bore from an inner surface of the receptacle housing, the one or more protrusions forming an interference fit with an exterior surface of the proximity sensor to secure the proximity sensor within the sensor receptacle.

4. The diaphragm pump of claim 2, wherein the receptacle housing is cylindrical and includes an exterior surface having a threading disposed thereon, and wherein the mount is removably attached to the pump housing via the threading on the exterior surface of the receptacle housing.

5. The diaphragm pump of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust chamber defined in the pump housing, wherein the exhaust chamber is configured to receive a motive fluid that has driven reciprocation of the at least one diaphragm and the shaft, and wherein the sensor receptacle of the mount extends into the exhaust chamber.

6. The diaphragm pump of claim 5, wherein the mount comprises a body plate, and the sensor receptacle extends from a side of the body plate.

7. The diaphragm pump of claim 6, wherein the mount includes a muffler receptacle, the muffler receptacle being configured to receive an inlet of an exhaust muffler for fluid connection of the exhaust muffler to the exhaust chamber.

8. The diaphragm pump of claim 7, wherein the muffler receptacle comprises a projection extending from the mount away from the shaft and a bore extending through the projection, the bore being configured to receive the inlet of the exhaust muffler.

9. The diaphragm pump of claim 7, wherein the sensor receptacle and the muffler receptacle extend from opposite sides of the body plate.

10. The diaphragm pump of claim 1, wherein the mount includes at least one fastener opening defined therein, the fastener opening receiving a fastener for securing the mount to the pump housing.

11. The diaphragm pump of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is retained within the sensor receptacle of the mount independently of the mount being removably attached to the pump housing.

12. A method of assembling a diaphragm pump comprising a shaft coupled to at least one diaphragm, the method comprising:

inserting a proximity sensor into a sensor receptacle defined in a mount of the diaphragm pump such that a sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle; and

attaching the mount to a pump housing of the diaphragm pump such that the end of the sensor receptacle is positioned at a predetermined distance from the shaft of the diaphragm pump.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises first inserting the proximity sensor into the sensor receptacle, and second attaching the mount to the pump housing.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance that requires no additional mechanical calibration of the position of the sensor end relative to the shaft.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein inserting the proximity sensor into the sensor receptacle comprises:

aligning the proximity sensor with the sensor receptacle; and

pressing the proximity sensor into the sensor receptacle until the sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with the end of the sensor receptacle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein pressing the proximity sensor comprises forming an interference fit between at least one protrusion of the sensor receptacle and an exterior surface of the proximity sensor.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising attaching an inlet of a muffler to a pump housing of the diaphragm pump such that the inlet of the muffler is fluidly connected with an exhaust chamber of the diaphragm pump.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the inlet of the muffler to the pump housing comprises inserting the inlet of the muffler into a muffler receptacle defined in the mount.

19. A diaphragm pump comprising:

a shaft disposed within a pump housing and coupled to at least one diaphragm;

a proximity sensor for sensing a position of the shaft, the proximity sensor having a sensing end; and

means for mounting the proximity sensor to the pump housing such that the sensing end is positioned at a predetermined distance from the shaft when the means is removably attached to the pump housing.

20. The diaphragm pump of claim 19, wherein the means comprises a sensor receptacle configured to receive the proximity sensor therein such that the sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle.

21. The diaphragm pump of claim 20, wherein the proximity sensor is received in the sensor receptacle independently of the means being removably attached to the pump housing.