US3715174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diaphragm pump
Assignee: Wooster Brush Co
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Filing: 1970-08-31
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1990-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A diaphragm pump including a variable area relief valve for the working fluid which permits the pump to operate at reduced pressure when a peak load is reached during standby operation to reduce power requirements, allow the pump to run cooler, and reduce wear of parts. The walls of the pumping and working chambers are desirably shaped to conform to the natural form taken by the diaphragm during flexing for increased diaphragm life, and relatively small ring-shaped flow passages of different diameters desirably communicate with such chambers to reduce the change of diaphragm extrusion into the flow passages and diaphragm rupture. The diaphragm itself may consist of multiple unconnected layers all of the same size for increased life, and radially spaced cooperating seal ridges may be provided on the diaphragm clamping faces to prevent extrusion of the diaphragm material into the center during uniform clamping of the diaphragm around its periphery. A molded diaphragm having a built-up center portion may also be used for increased life.
Inventors
- 👤 H Davis
- 👤 H Pritz
- 👤 C Burton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:09
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/0009; F04B43/0054; B; B05; B05B; B05B9/00; B05B9/03; B05B9/04; B05B9/0403; B05B9/0409; F04B43/02; F04B43/06; F04B43/067; F04B49/00; F04B49/22; F04B49/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least two layers of flexible material, with silicon grease applied to said diaphragm between said layers to enhance sliding of said layers relative to each other during flexing of said diaphragm, and means for clamping said layers together radially outwardly of said cavity, said layers otherwise being unconnected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least two layers of flexible material, with silicon grease applied to said diaphragm between said layers to enhance sliding of said layers relative to each other during flexing of said diaphragm, and means for clamping said layers together radially outwardly of said cavity, said layers otherwise being unconnected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least two layers of flexible material, with silicon grease applied to said diaphragm between said layers to enhance sliding of said layers relative to each other during flexing of said diaphragm, and means for clamping said layers together radially outwardly of said cavity, said layers otherwise being unconnected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least two layers of flexible material, with silicon grease applied to said diaphragm between said layers to enhance sliding of said layers relative to each other during flexing of said diaphragm, and means for clamping said layers together radially outwardly of said cavity, said layers otherwise being unconnected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pump of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm consists of three layers of such flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The pump of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm material is Mylar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pump of claim 1 wherein each layer of diaphragm material is approximately 0.015 inch thick.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least one layer of flexible material of substantially uniform thickness, the walls of said chamber being of substantially spherical shape which conforms to the natural shape taken by said diaphragm durIng flexing, central openings in said chamber walls communicating with said chambers, and a backup member disposed in at least one of said openings providing a relatively small ring-shaped passage in communication with one of said chambers, said backup member being shaped to provide a continuation of the curvature of the wall of said one chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least one layer of flexible material of substantially uniform thickness, the walls of said chamber being of substantially spherical shape which conforms to the natural shape taken by said diaphragm durIng flexing, central openings in said chamber walls communicating with said chambers, and a backup member disposed in at least one of said openings providing a relatively small ring-shaped passage in communication with one of said chambers, said backup member being shaped to provide a continuation of the curvature of the wall of said one chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The pump of claim 5 further comprising inlet and outlet check valves and associated seats in said housing for passage of pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, said backup member being disposed in the opening in the chamber wall of said other chamber and having a projection on the inner end for guiding movement of said inlet check valve during movement toward and away from its associated seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The pump of claim 5 wherein the outer edges of said chamber walls have a reverse radius to provide a gradual transformation region between said clamping means and the spherical contour of said chamber walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
The pump of claim 5 further comprising means for maintaining said relief valve means open until the pump pressure drops to a predetermined level substantially less than the pressure level at which said relief valve means originally opened, said relief valve means comprising a ball check valve, and said means for maintaining said relief valve means open comprising a relief valve piston, spring means urging said relief valve piston into engagement with said ball check valve for closing said ball check valve, said relief valve piston being subjected to the fluid pressure in said pump after opening of said ball check valve to reduce the amount of pressure required to keep said ball check valve open.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The pump of claim 8 wherein the effective area of said relief valve piston is substantially greater than the area of said ball check valve acted on by fluid pressure, and said relief valve piston has a bleed passage therein for bleeding of the fluid pressure acting on said relief valve piston to a reservoir.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pump of claim 8 further comprising means for adjusting the tension of said spring means to vary the pressure setting of said ball check valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
164 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least one layer of flexible material of substantially uniform thickness, the walls of said chambers being of substantially spherical shape which conforms to the natural shape taken by said diaphragm during flexing, said housing including ring-shaped annular flow passages communicating with each of said chambers, said flow passages being of a relatively narrow width to prevent extrusion of the diaphragm material into said flow passages during flexing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
A diaphragm pump comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a flexible diaphragm dividing said cavity into two separate chambers, means for forcing a working fluid into and out of one of said chambers to cause said diaphragm to flex in opposite directions for respectively decreasing and increasing the volume of the other of said chambers for pumping fluid into and out of said other chamber, and relief valve means opened in response to the pump pressure reaching a predetermined high level to prevent increased pressure build up within said pump, said diaphragm consisting of at least one layer of flexible material of substantially uniform thickness, the walls of said chambers being of substantially spherical shape which conforms to the natural shape taken by said diaphragm during flexing, said housing including ring-shaped annular flow passages communicating with each of said chambers, said flow passages being of a relatively narrow width to prevent extrusion of the diaphragm material into said flow passages during flexing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pump of claim 11 wherein said ring-shaped flow passages are coaxial but radially offset to distribute the stresses on opposite sides of said diaphragm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The pump of claim 11 further comprising clamping means for uniformly clamping said diaphragm radially outwardly of said chambers, said clamping means comprising a pair of substantially radial surfaces having annular sealing ridges thereon for engagement with the outer periphery of said diaphragm, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fasteners for drawing said radial surfaces into clamping engagement with said outer periphery of said diaphragm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pump of claim 13 wherein there are two sets of sealing ridges, each set consisting of a plurality of said sealing ridges closely spaced apart, and each set being further spaced apart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2736332A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |