Air pressure-actuated double-acting diaphragm pump

Claim 1

A double-acting pressure-actuated diaphragm pump having a horizontal pump axis, which comprises a first pair of housing sections bolted to each other to constitute a first pump housing, a first pump diaphragm interpOsed between said housing sections, and dividing the housing into a first pumping chamber having first intake- and discharge connections directed away from one another, and a first actuating chamber having an opening concentric with the diaphragm, a second pair of housing sections bolted to each other to constitute a second pump housing, a second pump diaphragm dividing said second pump housing into a second pumping chamber having second intake- and discharge connections directed opposite to each other, similar to said first intake- and discharge connections, and a second actuating chamber having an opening concentric with the diaphragm, a tubular connecting member rigidly interconnecting said pump housings in axially aligned relationship, and so that said first and second actuating chambers are located adjacent to each other, and that the pump housing assembly is constituted of a pair of inner housing sections defining the respective actuating chambers, and a pair of outer housing sections defining the respective pumping chambers, an actuating rod interconnecting said first and second diaphragms, coaxial with the pump axis and guided in said connecting member in sealing relationship with each end thereof, providing a double diaphragm assembly whereby the pump delivery stroke of one diaphragm will coincide with the pump intake stroke of the other diaphragm, said pump consisting of an intermediate section comprising said connecting member and associated inner housing sections, a first disconnectible subassembly unit comprising the first outer housing section, a first upright intake check valve having a lateral discharge neck connected to said outer housing section, and having a bottom intake neck extending parallel to the pump axis, and towards the opposite end of the pump, and a first upright discharge check valve having a bottom intake neck connected to said outer housing section, and having a lateral discharge neck extending parallel to the pump axis and towards said opposite end of the pump, a second disconnectible subassembly unit opposite to said first subassembly unit, which comprises the second outer housing section, a second upright intake check valve having a lateral discharge neck connected to said outer housing section, and having a bottom intake neck extending parallel to the pump axis and towards the opposite end of the pump, and a second upright discharge check valve having a bottom intake neck connected to said outer housing section, and a lateral discharge neck extending parallel to the pump axis and towards said opposite end of the pump, a first intermediate pipe header detachably interconnecting the intake necks of the first and second intake check valves, and having intake means for both said intake valves, and a second intermediate pipe header detachably interconnecting the discharge necks of the first and second discharge check valves, and having discharge means for both said discharge valves, and track structure for supporting said first and second subassembly units, when disconnected from said intermediate section, and retracted to allow for inspection of the respective diaphragms.