US3637330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multichamber tubular diaphragm pump
Assignee: Aqua Chem Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-21
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1989-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A tubular diaphragm pump, particularly useful for pumping corrosive fluids at relatively high-uniform pressures, such as in reverse osmosis systems. A work fluid is driven in phased sequence inside a plurality of sealed tubular diaphragm pump chambers arranged in parallel flow paths. The respective diaphragms expand into their associated pump chambers to force the fluid being pumped through the system. Pressure-responsive check valves at the inlet and outlet of each pump chamber open and close in phased sequence to control flow. A drive mechanism which is sealed off from the fluid being pumped is provided to drive the work fluid which flexes the diaphragms. The flexible tubular diaphragms are disposed on cylindrical members having wider end portions and perforated intermediate wall portions of lesser diameter than the adjacent end portions. The cylindrical members each have a central chamber which communicates with the internal surface of the associated tubular diaphragm through the perforations in the intermediate wall portion. Each central chamber is also in communication with a piston chamber containing a reciprocating drive piston. The pistons are connected to reciprocate in phased sequence. The central chambers and the piston chambers are filled with a hydraulic work fluid which flexes the tubular diaphragms when the pistons reciprocate. In at least one embodiment, the cylindrical members supporting the tubular diaphragms each include an integral end extension defining the piston chamber. The cylindrical members also serve as tie rods for the pump assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W Goeldner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:14
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/08; F04B43/10; F04B43/107; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/10; F04B1/00; F04B43/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A diaphragm pump comprising an elongate tubular member, a cylinder formed in a first portion of said member, a plurality of apertures formed in a second portion of said member, a tubular diaphragm disposed over the second portion of said member and affixed thereto in a sealed relation adjacent the margins thereof, a housing surrounding said second portion and having inlet and outlet means, a work fluid disposed within said member, a piston disposed within said cylinder for reciprocating movement therein, valve means associated with said input and output means for controlling the flow of a pumped fluid outwardly from said housing through said outlet means as said piston moves toward said diaphragm to expand the same and inwardly through said inlet means when said piston moves away from said diaphragm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A diaphragm pump comprising an elongate tubular member, a cylinder formed in a first portion of said member, a plurality of apertures formed in a second portion of said member, a tubular diaphragm disposed over the second portion of said member and affixed thereto in a sealed relation adjacent the margins thereof, a housing surrounding said second portion and having inlet and outlet means, a work fluid disposed within said member, a piston disposed within said cylinder for reciprocating movement therein, valve means associated with said input and output means for controlling the flow of a pumped fluid outwardly from said housing through said outlet means as said piston moves toward said diaphragm to expand the same and inwardly through said inlet means when said piston moves away from said diaphragm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The pump set forth in claim 1 and including a pump body, said tubular member and said housing being affixed to said pump body and extending therefrom, said inlet and outlet means comprising port means formed in said pump body and communicating with the interior of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The pump set forth in claim 2 wherein said cylinder is formed in one end of said member which is affixed to said pump body, said second portion extending away from said housing, operating means for moving said piston within said cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The pump set forth in claim 3 wherein said pump body includes a central body member, a first one of said port means being formed in a first portion of said central body member and the second port means being formed in a second portion thereof and first and second body members secured to said central body member and being disposed over said first and second port means respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The pump set forth in claim 3, and including a work fluid reservoir, and passage means including a work fluid port for coupling said cylinder to said reservoir, said work fluid port being uncovered by said piston as the latter moves toward a terminal position away from said diaphragm and being covered by said piston as the same moves toward said diaphragm whereby said cylinder will refill with work fluid during each stroke of said piston.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The pump set forth in claim 5, wherein said work fluid reservoir is connected to said operating means for lubricating the same wherein leakage of work fluid past said piston also provides lubricating fluid for said piston and operating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pump set forth in claim 5 and including three pump units, said drive means being operative to move the piston of said pump means in a balanced phase sequence of 120*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
217 words
A multiple unit pump assembly, each pump unit including an elongate tubular member, a cylinder formed in a first portion of each member and a plurality of apertures formed in a second portion thereof, a tubular diaphragm disposed over the second portion of each member and affixed thereto in a sealed relation adjacent the margins of said respective second portion, a housing surrounding each tubular diaphragm and having inlet and outlet port means, a work fluid disposed within each member, a piston disposed within each cylinder, a drive means for reciprocating said pistons in a phased operating sequence of less than 180* between the respective operating strokes thereof, valve means associated with each inlet and outlet port means for controllIng the flow of a pumped fluid into each inlet port means as its respective piston moves in a first direction and for moving the pumped fluid outwardly of each outlet port means when its respective piston moves in an opposite direction, and inlet and outlet manifold means coupled respectively to the inlet and outlet ports of each pump unit, said inlet manifold means being adapted to be coupled to a source of pumped fluid to provide a flow of pumped fluid in said outlet manifold means in accordance with the phase operating sequence of said pump units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
217 words
A multiple unit pump assembly, each pump unit including an elongate tubular member, a cylinder formed in a first portion of each member and a plurality of apertures formed in a second portion thereof, a tubular diaphragm disposed over the second portion of each member and affixed thereto in a sealed relation adjacent the margins of said respective second portion, a housing surrounding each tubular diaphragm and having inlet and outlet port means, a work fluid disposed within each member, a piston disposed within each cylinder, a drive means for reciprocating said pistons in a phased operating sequence of less than 180* between the respective operating strokes thereof, valve means associated with each inlet and outlet port means for controllIng the flow of a pumped fluid into each inlet port means as its respective piston moves in a first direction and for moving the pumped fluid outwardly of each outlet port means when its respective piston moves in an opposite direction, and inlet and outlet manifold means coupled respectively to the inlet and outlet ports of each pump unit, said inlet manifold means being adapted to be coupled to a source of pumped fluid to provide a flow of pumped fluid in said outlet manifold means in accordance with the phase operating sequence of said pump units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The pump set forth in claim 7 and including pump body means, each of said tubular members and each of said housings being affixed to said pump body means and extending therefrom, each of said inlet and outlet port and manifold means being formed in said pump body means and communicating with their respective housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
The pump set forth in claim 9 wherein said pump body means includes a central body member having said port means formed therein, all of said inlet port means being formed in a first portion of said central body member and the other port means being formed in a second portion thereof and first and second body members secured to said central body member and being disposed over said inlet and outlet and other port means, said first and second body members each having one of said manifold means formed therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The pump set forth in claim 10, and including a work fluid reservoir and passage means including a work fluid port for coupling each cylinder to said reservoir, each of said work fluid ports being uncovered by its respective piston as the latter moves toward a terminal position away from its diaphragm and being covered by said piston as the same moves toward its diaphragm whereby said cylinders will refill with work fluid during each stroke of its piston.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The pump set forth in claim 11, wherein said work fluid reservoir is connected to said drive means for lubricating the same wherein leakage of work fluid past said pistons also provides lubricating fluid for said pistons and said drive means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
198 words
A triplex chamber, piston actuated tubular diaphragm pump for pumping corrosive liquids such as saline water in which the pistons are isolated from the corrosive liquid comprising, inlet and outlet manifold means, three tubular chambers connected to and in liquid communication with the inlet and outlet manifold means, tubular diaphragm means disposed in each tubular chamber, said tubular diaphragms each defining an inner chamber inside the corresponding tubular chamber, a work fluid disposed in each chamber adapted to expand the associated tubular diaphragm means thereby pumping the liquid through said multichamber pump, actuating piston means for successively actuating each tubular diaphragm means in balanced phase sequence to obtain a uniform, pressurized flow of liquid through said tubular diaphragm pump, a tubular support rod disposed within and extending through each tubular diaphragm means, each support rod having first and second end extensions and an intermediate perforated wall portion enclosed by the corresponding tubular diaphragm means, and means for securing the inlet and outlet manifold means and the tubular chambers together in a unitary assembly on the tubular support rods whereby said support rods act as tie rod means in addition to providing support for the associated tubular diaphragm means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
198 words
A triplex chamber, piston actuated tubular diaphragm pump for pumping corrosive liquids such as saline water in which the pistons are isolated from the corrosive liquid comprising, inlet and outlet manifold means, three tubular chambers connected to and in liquid communication with the inlet and outlet manifold means, tubular diaphragm means disposed in each tubular chamber, said tubular diaphragms each defining an inner chamber inside the corresponding tubular chamber, a work fluid disposed in each chamber adapted to expand the associated tubular diaphragm means thereby pumping the liquid through said multichamber pump, actuating piston means for successively actuating each tubular diaphragm means in balanced phase sequence to obtain a uniform, pressurized flow of liquid through said tubular diaphragm pump, a tubular support rod disposed within and extending through each tubular diaphragm means, each support rod having first and second end extensions and an intermediate perforated wall portion enclosed by the corresponding tubular diaphragm means, and means for securing the inlet and outlet manifold means and the tubular chambers together in a unitary assembly on the tubular support rods whereby said support rods act as tie rod means in addition to providing support for the associated tubular diaphragm means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13, in which the first end extension of each tubular support rod defines a cylinder housing the corresponding piston means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 14, including fluid passage means interconnecting the cylinder with the second end extension, closure means for the fluid passage means in said second end extension, said closure means providing a fluid level at least equal in level to any other portion of the cylinder and interconnecting fluid passage means, whereby all air is readily displaced from the cylinders, the fluid passage means, and the tubular supporTs upon filling with work fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 15, in which the tubular chambers comprise housing means defining the respective pump chambers, said inlet manifold being disposed adjacent one end of the assembled housing means, said outlet manifold disposed adjacent the other end of the housing means, enlarged shoulder means on the respective first end extensions of the tubular support rods, fastening means received on the second end extension of each tubular support rod for urging said inlet and outlet manifolds and said housing means firmly together between said enlarged shoulder means and said fastening means when said fastening means is advanced along the support rods towards the shoulder means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |