US3874052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming and installing pressure responsive diaphragms
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-01
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A cavity of predetermined shape is formed in the lower housing member of a pressure responsive device and a fluid duct is drilled through a housing wall to communicate with the cavity. A thermoplastic diaphragm sheet, either directly or in the form of a sheet clamped to a ring, is clamped over the cavity and a relatively light vacuum is applied to the fluid duct to urge the diaphragm sheet toward the bottom of the cavity. The diaphragm sheet is heated by a stream of hot air so that it will be drawn by the vacuum against the bottom of the cavity to permanently assume the shape of the cavity. A piston is then placed within the cavity on top of the diaphragm and an upper housing containing a member to be actuated by piston movement is attached to the lower housing member.
Inventors
- 👤 Spencer C Schantz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:13
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/26; B29C51/261; B29C51/262; B23; B23P; B23P15/00; B29C51/10; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/24; H01H35/34; H01H35/245; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49428; Y10T29/4943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
In a method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device which includes a shaped actuating diaphragm of thin material, the steps of: a. fabricating a housing member for the pressure responsive device with a cavity of predetermined contour in accordance with a desired diaphragm shape for the pressure responsive device and with a marginal portion surrounding said cavity; b. providing a duct in said housing member communicating with said cavity; c. covering said cavity with a diaphragm formed of a flat sheet of thin thermoplastic material; d. clamping a marginal portion of said diaphragm over said marginal portion of said housing around said cavity; e. applying a relatively light vacuum to said duct to draw said diaphragm toward the bottom of said cavity; f. heating said diaphragm to enable it to be drawn by said vacuum against the walls of said cavity to permanently assume said predetermined shape of the cavity; g. allowing the diaphragm to cool while in said predetermined shape; h. fabricating a second housing member having a second marginal portion surrounding a cavity, said second cavity having approximately the same outline as said cavity of the firstmentioned housing member; and i. then clamping the marginal portion of said second housing to the marginal portion of the first housing, with said cavities in alignment with each other and while the shaped diaphragm remains clamped over the margin of the first housing portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
In a method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device which includes a shaped actuating diaphragm of thin material, the steps of: a. fabricating a housing member for the pressure responsive device with a cavity of predetermined contour in accordance with a desired diaphragm shape for the pressure responsive device and with a marginal portion surrounding said cavity; b. providing a duct in said housing member communicating with said cavity; c. covering said cavity with a diaphragm formed of a flat sheet of thin thermoplastic material; d. clamping a marginal portion of said diaphragm over said marginal portion of said housing around said cavity; e. applying a relatively light vacuum to said duct to draw said diaphragm toward the bottom of said cavity; f. heating said diaphragm to enable it to be drawn by said vacuum against the walls of said cavity to permanently assume said predetermined shape of the cavity; g. allowing the diaphragm to cool while in said predetermined shape; h. fabricating a second housing member having a second marginal portion surrounding a cavity, said second cavity having approximately the same outline as said cavity of the firstmentioned housing member; and i. then clamping the marginal portion of said second housing to the marginal portion of the first housing, with said cavities in alignment with each other and while the shaped diaphragm remains clamped over the margin of the first housing portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device as claimed in claim 1 in which the diaphragm material is a thermoplastic film having a thickness less than .010 of an inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device as claimed in claim 1 in which the margin of the diaphragm is first welded between the clamping faces of two rings which fit the marginal portion of the first housing, and in which the rings are secured over the marginal portion of the first housing member around its cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the second housing member is clamped over the rings which have the diaphragm welded thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the rings between which the diaphragm is welded are formed of thermoplastic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 which includes the step of forming teeth on one of the two rings between which the diaphragm is positioned, and applying heat and pressure to cause the rings, including the teeth, to be fused to the diaphragm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 in which the teeth are so formed as to extend approximately parallel with the marginal edges of the diaphragm sheet, and in which the teeth are formed so that they decrease in height inwardly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device which includes a shaped diaphragm of thin material, the steps of: a. fabricating a mold with a cavity of predetermined contour in accordance with a desired diaphragm shape; b. providing a duct in said mold communicating with said cavity; c. fabricating clamping means having marginal clamping areas; d. clamping the margin of a diaphragm formed of a cool sheet of thin thermoplastic material having a thickness less than 0.010 of an inch by the use of said clamping means while said clamping means is over the margin of said mold and while the mold is cool; e. applying a relatively light vacuum to said duct to draw said diaphragm toward the bottom of said cavity; f. heating said diaphragm while the vacuum is being applied to enable it to be drawn by said vacuum against the walls of said cavity to permanently assume said predetermined shape of the cavity; g. allowing the diaphragm to cool while in said predetermined shape; and h. assembling the diaphragm in the pressure responsive device while its margins are in clamped condition, and with the clamping means becoming part of the pressure responsive device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device which includes a shaped diaphragm of thin material, the steps of: a. fabricating a mold with a cavity of predetermined contour in accordance with a desired diaphragm shape; b. providing a duct in said mold communicating with said cavity; c. fabricating clamping means having marginal clamping areas; d. clamping the margin of a diaphragm formed of a cool sheet of thin thermoplastic material having a thickness less than 0.010 of an inch by the use of said clamping means while said clamping means is over the margin of said mold and while the mold is cool; e. applying a relatively light vacuum to said duct to draw said diaphragm toward the bottom of said cavity; f. heating said diaphragm while the vacuum is being applied to enable it to be drawn by said vacuum against the walls of said cavity to permanently assume said predetermined shape of the cavity; g. allowing the diaphragm to cool while in said predetermined shape; and h. assembling the diaphragm in the pressure responsive device while its margins are in clamped condition, and with the clamping means becoming part of the pressure responsive device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device as defined in claim 8 in which the clamping means comprises at least one ring of thermoplastic material, and in which heat and pressure are employed to weld the diaphragm to said ring so that the ring is permanently fused to the diaphragm material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device as defined in claim 9 in which the clamping means comprises two rings of thermoplastic material, and in which the diaphragm is welded between said two rings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device as defined in claim 10 which includes the step of forming teeth on one of said rings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of manufacturing a pressure responsive device as defined in claim 11 in which the teeth are formed so that they decrease in height inwardly.
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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) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |