Valved pump

Claim 1

A RAPID ACTUATING PULSE PUMP INCLUDING: (A) A CASING, (B) A DIAPHRAGM DISPOSED IN THE CASING FORMING PRESSURE AND LIQUID CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY THEREIN, AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN FORWARD AND REARWARD POSITIONS, (C) SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER BEING COMMUNCIATED WITH A SOURCE OF PULSATING PRESSURE FOR ACTING AGAINST SAID DIAPHRAGM AND FOR OSCILLATING THE LATTER BETWEEN SAID FORWARD AND SAID REARWARD POSITIONS, (D) SAID LIQUID CHAMBER HAVING SUCTION AND DISCHARGE OPENINGS, (1) SAID SUCTION OPENING BEING COMMUNICATED WITH A SUPPLY OF LIQUID TO BE PUMPED, (E) VALVE MEANS CARRIED IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SUCTION AND DISCHARGE OPENINGS AND BEING OPERABLE TO REGULATE A FLOW OF LIQUID PASSING THROUGH SAID LIQUID CHAMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT THEREIN OF: (F) SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING: (1) MEANS FOR FORMING A PASSAGE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LIQUD CHAMBER AND HAVING A VALVE SEAT, (2) A CIRCULARLY CROSS-SECTIONED RING MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID MEANS FORMING A PASSAGE AND BEING SPACED DOWNSTREAM OF SAID VALVE SEAT, (G) A FREE FLOATING VALVE MEMBER RETAINED IN SAID MEANS FORMING A PASSAGE AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN SAID VALVE SEAT AND SAID RING MEMBER FOR ALTERNATELY CONTACTING SAID RESPECTIVE MEMBERS THEREBY OPENING AND CLOSING SAID PASSAGE TO REGULATE THE FLOW OF LIQUID THERETHROUGH, (H) SAID FREE FLOATING VALVE MEMBER HAVING A GEOMETRIC SHAPE FORMED WITH STRAIGHT EDGES WHICH TERMINATE AT ARCUATE JUNCTURES, THE LATTER OVERLYING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SPRING MEMBER, (I) WHEREBY WHEN SAID VALVE MEMBER IS URGED AGAINST SAID RING MEMBER THE AREA OF CONTACT THEREBETWEEN WILL BE LIMITED TO POINT CONTACT AT EACH OF SAID ARCUATE JUNCTURES, THEREBY MINIMIZING THE HOLDING FORCE BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS CAUSED BY CAPILLARY ACTION OF LIQUID RETAINED IN AREAS ADJACENT TO SAID RESPECTIVE POINTS OF CONTACT