Pumps – Motor driven – Fluid motor
Utility Patent
1999-06-18
2001-01-02
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Fluid motor
C417S393000
Utility Patent
active
06168394
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the present invention is air driven diaphragm pumps.
Pumps having double diaphragms driven by compressed air directed through an actuator valve are well known. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,213,485; 5,169,296; and 4,247,264; and to U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 294,946; 294,947; and 275,858. Actuator valves using a feedback control system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,242,941 and 4,549,467. An actuator valve using a timed solenoid is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,122. Current designs for components of such pumping devices are disclosed in U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/842,377, filed Apr. 23, 1997; 09/116,029, filed Jul. 15, 1998; and 09/115,287, filed Jul. 14, 1998. The disclosures of the foregoing patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Common to the aforementioned patents on air driven diaphragm pumps is the disclosure of two opposed pump cavities. The pump cavities each include a pump chamber, an air chamber and a diaphragm extending fully across the pump cavity defined by these two chamber structures to split the cavity. Each pump chamber includes an inlet and an outlet controlled by check valves. A common shaft typically extends through each air chamber to connect to the diaphragms therein.
A number of different actuator valves are available. Such valves provide alternating air to the air chambers in order that the pump may reciprocate. The actuators may be feedback control systems dependent upon the stroke position or timed independently of the stroke. The mechanisms to determine stroke position and to valve the air also are varied.
Air driven double diaphragm pumps also come in a great range of sizes. The standard indication of pump size is measured by the pump inlet diameter. The materials for such pumps also vary widely from stainless steel to exotic inert polymers. Certain design challenges accompany variations in size and material. With larger pumps, the stocking of parts can become burdensome, tolerances to avoid leakage can become proportionally more critical, overall forces from pumping pressure can be magnified and assembly can prove challenging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a double diaphragm pump including pump chambers and air chambers mating together, respectively, to form pump cavities. A diaphragm extends across each of the pump cavities. Flow connectors extend to inlets in the pump chambers and also to outlets in the pump chambers. Check valves are associated with both the inlets and the outlets.
In a first separate aspect of the present invention, the flow connectors for both the inlets and the outs of the double diaphragm pump are interchangeable. Each flow connector includes a valve cavity to receive a valve and a threaded valve seat attachment cavity adjacent the valve cavity capable of threadably receiving a valve seat for each valve. The outlets of the pump chambers also each include a threaded valve seat attachment cavity capable of threadably receiving one of the valve seats.
In a second separate aspect of the present invention, the flow connectors of the first separate aspect are further contemplated to variously include outlet ports which have a cross-sectional area at least as small as the flow path through the pump cavities, check valves with the valve elements fully displaced from the valve seats and the flow connectors and mating annular bolting flanges with an equiangularly spaced bolting pattern for versatile attachment to the pump chambers. With the flow connectors formed as elbows, an inlet T-section and an outlet T-section may connect between pairs of connectors. The connectors and the T-sections may have mating annular T-section bolting flanges with an equiangularly spaced T-section bolting pattern.
In a third separate aspect of the present invention, compressible seals positioned between radially extending annular shoulders on threaded valve seats and the radially outward sealing surfaces on both outlet flow connectors and pump chambers adjacent the threaded valve seat attachment cavities provide positive sealing without requiring a sliding fit perpendicular to the plane of the compressible seals with close tolerances.
In a fourth separate aspect of the present invention, valves are arranged in valve cavities at both inlets and outlets to the pump cavities. Each valve includes a valve seat, a ball and a ball cage. The valve seats are threadably engaged with the pump to be held within the valve cavities. The ball cages extend to and angularly interlock with the valve seats. The interlocking allows the ball cages to be used for setting the valve seats.
In a fifth separate aspect of the present invention, flow connectors are coupled with the pump chambers at the inlets and outlets, respectively. The flow connectors and the pump chambers each further include mating annular bolting flanges with an equiangularly spaced bolting pattern. A pump stand associated with the pump includes four legs with each leg having a mounting plate with a plurality of mounting holes matching the equiangular spacing of the bolting pattern. The plates can be positioned and retained between the pump chambers and the flow connectors to support the pump.
In a sixth separate aspect of the present invention, any of the several foregoing separate aspects are contemplated to be combined to provide even greater advantage in pump design.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air driven double diaphragm pump. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4549467 (1985-10-01), Wilden et al.
patent: 4597721 (1986-07-01), Santefort
patent: 4936753 (1990-06-01), Kozumplik, Jr. et al.
patent: 5074757 (1991-12-01), Horn
patent: 5279504 (1994-01-01), Williams
patent: 5368452 (1994-11-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5378122 (1995-01-01), Duncan
patent: 5391060 (1995-02-01), Kozumplik, Jr. et al.
patent: 5584666 (1996-12-01), Kozumplik, Jr. et al.
patent: 5711658 (1998-01-01), Conti et al.
patent: 5957670 (1999-09-01), Duncan et al.
Dearen Greg
English Thomas
Forman Eric L
Evora Robert Z.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Thorpe Timothy S.
Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
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