High efficiency diaphragm pump
DCFirst Claim
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1. A pump comprising:
- a housing including first and second housing sections;
a diaphragm between the first and second housing sections;
at least one fastener for holding the first and second housing sections together;
said housing having at least a first pumping chamber, an inlet, an inlet passage in the housing leading from the inlet to the pumping chamber, an outlet and an outlet passage in the housing leading from the pumping chamber to the outlet;
a first pumping member movable in the first pumping chamber on an intake stroke whereby a fluid from the inlet passage is drawn into the first pumping chamber and a discharge stroke whereby fluid in the first pumping chamber is discharged into the outlet passage;
a drive for moving the pumping member on the intake and discharge strokes, the pumping member being operatively secured to the drive, said drive including a wobble plate mounted on a ball bearing and operatively secured to the pumping member for driving the pumping member on the intake and discharge strokes and a wobble mechanism mounted in said housing for imparting wobbling motion to the wobble plate; and
the wobble plate includes a snap retainer assembly to retain the ball bearing in position, the snap retainer assembly including a first segment substantially parallel to the nutating axis of the wobble plate, a second segment oriented at an acute angle relative to the nutating axis, and a third segment substantially parallel to the nutating axis.
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Abstract
A pump comprising a housing, a diaphragm mounted in the housing, a pumping member or members, and a drive, preferably a wobble plate drive, for driving the pumping member or members on intake and discharge strokes. The wobble plate is preferably mounted on a ball bearing and includes a snap retainer assembly to retain the bearing in place without force fitting. The wobble plate preferably defines one or more open ended chambers in which the pumping member or members are placed. The annular zone or zones of the diaphragm which flex when driven by the wobble plate drive to provide the pumping action are configured to increase efficiency and/or to reduce wear.
182 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A pump comprising:
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a housing including first and second housing sections; a diaphragm between the first and second housing sections; at least one fastener for holding the first and second housing sections together; said housing having at least a first pumping chamber, an inlet, an inlet passage in the housing leading from the inlet to the pumping chamber, an outlet and an outlet passage in the housing leading from the pumping chamber to the outlet; a first pumping member movable in the first pumping chamber on an intake stroke whereby a fluid from the inlet passage is drawn into the first pumping chamber and a discharge stroke whereby fluid in the first pumping chamber is discharged into the outlet passage; a drive for moving the pumping member on the intake and discharge strokes, the pumping member being operatively secured to the drive, said drive including a wobble plate mounted on a ball bearing and operatively secured to the pumping member for driving the pumping member on the intake and discharge strokes and a wobble mechanism mounted in said housing for imparting wobbling motion to the wobble plate; and the wobble plate includes a snap retainer assembly to retain the ball bearing in position, the snap retainer assembly including a first segment substantially parallel to the nutating axis of the wobble plate, a second segment oriented at an acute angle relative to the nutating axis, and a third segment substantially parallel to the nutating axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pump comprising:
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a housing including first and second housing sections; a diaphragm between the first and second housing sections; at least one fastener for holding the first and second housing sections together; said housing having at least a first pumping chamber, an inlet, an inlet passage in the housing leading from the inlet to the pumping chamber, an outlet and an outlet passage in the housing leading from the pumping chamber to the outlet; a first pumping member movable in the first pumping chamber on an intake stroke whereby a fluid from the inlet passage is drawn into the first pumping chamber and a discharge stroke whereby fluid in the first pumping chamber is discharged into the outlet passage; a drive for moving the pumping member on the intake and discharge strokes, the pumping member being operatively secured to the drive; and said diaphragm includes a generally annular region which flexes when the pump member is driven by the drive, provided that the thickness of the generally annular region increases as the region approaches the pumping member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A pump comprising:
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a housing including first and second housing sections; a diaphragm between the first and second housing sections; at least one fastener for holding the first and second housing sections together; said housing having at least a first pumping chamber, an inlet, an inlet passage in the housing leading from the inlet to the pumping chamber, an outlet and an outlet passage in the housing leading from the pumping chamber to the outlet; a first pumping member movable in the first pumping chamber on an intake stroke whereby a fluid from the inlet passage is drawn into the first pumping chamber and a discharge stroke whereby fluid in the first pumping chamber is discharged into the outlet passage, said first pumping member being integral with said diaphragm; a drive for moving the pumping member on the intake and discharge strokes, the pumping member being operatively secured to the drive; the drive including a wobble plate operatively secured to the pumping member for driving the pumping member and a wobble mechanism mounted in said housing for imparting wobbling motion to the wobble plate; the wobble plate defining a first open ended chamber having two opposing open ends and the pumping member is removably secured to the wobble plate, is partially located within the open ended chamber and extends outwardly from both of the opposing open ends; and the portion of the pumping members within the open ended chamber is stretched during installation of the pumping member in the wobble plate to preload the pumping member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification