Fluid operated double acting diaphragm pump housing and method

Claim 2

A housing for a fluid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including (1) a pair of spaced-apart end sections each of which includes a central circular recess, for use as a driving fluid chamber, a connecting flange surrounding said end section and extending radially outwardly from said recess, and a central shaft opening concentric to said circular recess, said end sections being located in-line on an axis passing through said shaft openings and being arranged in a plane perpendicular to said axis and each of said end sections facing outwardly away from the other end section such that said recesses open outwardly away from said pump body, (2) a fluid inlet manifold enclosing a fluid inlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said inlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid inlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid inlet manifold including a single fluid inlet located in-between said ends thereof, (3) a fluid outlet manifold enclosing a fluid outlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said outlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid outlet manifold including a single fluid outlet located in-between said ends thereof, and (4) a driving fluid manifold enclosing a driving fluid passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said driving fluid manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially inwardly of the peripheral edge of said recesses and terminating at each end thereof in a single driving fluid port in a respective one of said end sections and in fluid communication with the recess therein, (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps including (1) a central section including a circular recess concentric to said pump body recesses, for use as a discharge chamber, (2) a connecting flange surrounding said central section and extending radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mattingly engaging the adjacent end section connecting flange, said end cap recess facing axially inwardly toward the adjacent end section recess, (3) a fluid inlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid inlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid inlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid inlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, and (4) a fluid outlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid outlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid outlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid outlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, (c) means for connecting each of said pump body flanges to a respective one of said end cap flanges, (d) a single check valve cartridge positioned one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and positioned one in each of said two fluid outlet ports, each of said check valve cartridges being in sealing contact with each of said pump body and respective one of said end caps, and wherein each of said cartridges includes a pair of spaced-apart o-ring seals, and wherein one o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in said pump body and the other o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 3

A housing for a fluid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including (1) a pair of spaced-apart end sections each of which includes a central circular recess, for use as a driving fluid chamber, a connecting flange surrounding said end section and extending radially outwardly from said recess, and a central shaft opening concentric to said circular recess, said end sections being located in-line on an axis passing through said shaft openings and being arranged in a plane perpendicular to said axis and each of said end sections facing outwardly away from the other end section such that said recesses open outwardly away from said pump body, (2) a fluid inlet manifold enclosing a fluid inlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said inlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid inlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid inlet manifold including a single fluid inlet located in-between said ends thereof, (3) a fluid outlet manifold enclosing a fluid outlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said outlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid outlet manifold including a single fluid outlet located in-between said ends thereof, and (4) A driving fluid manifold enclosing a driving fluid passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said driving fluid manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially inwardly of the peripheral edge of said recesses and terminating at each end thereof in a single driving fluid port in a respective one of said end sections and in fluid communication with the recess therein, (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps including (1) a central section including a circular recess concentric to said pump body recesses, for use as a discharge chamber, (2) a connecting flange surrounding said central section and extending radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mattingly engaging the adjacent end section connecting flange, said end cap recess facing axially inwardly toward the adjacent end section recess, (3) a fluid inlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid inlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid inlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid inlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, and (4) a fluid outlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid outlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid outlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid outlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, (c) means for connecting said each of pump body flanges to a respective one of said end cap flanges, (d) an annular groove concentric to said axis in at least one of the connecting flanges of each pair of mating connecting flanges and adapted to sealingly receive an enlarged circular bead of a diaphragm, said groove in at least one of said flanges comprising a pair of opposed mating grooves, one in each of said flanges, (e) a pair of diaphragms, each one having an enlarged circular perpheral bead sealing locked in a respective one of said pair of opposed grooves, each of said diaphrams defining with the respective end section a driving fluid chamber and with the respective end cap a fluid chamber for fluid to be pumped, (f) a reciprocable shaft connected at each end thereof to one each of said diaphragms and extending through said shaft openings, and shaft sealing means in each of said shaft openings, and (g) a single check valve cartridge positioned one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and positioned one in each of said two fluid outlet ports, each of said check valve cartridges being in sealing contact with each of said pump body and a respective one of said end caps, and wherein each of said cartridges includes a pair of spaced-apart o-ring seals, and wherein one o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in said pump body and the other o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 4

A housing for a fluid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including (1) a pair of spaced-apart end sections each of which includes a central circular recess, for use as a driving fluid chamber, a connecting flange surrounding said end section and extending radially outwardly from said recess, and a central shaft opening concentric to said circular recess, said end sections being located in-line on an axis passing through said shaft openings and being arranged in a plane perpendicular to said axis and each of said end sections facing outwardly away from the other end section such that said recesses open outwardly away from said pump body, (2) a fluid inlet manifold enclosing a fluid inlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said inlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid inlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid inlet manifold including a single fluid inlet located in-between said ends thereof, (3) a fluid outlet manifold enclosing a fluid outlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said outlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid outlet manifold including a single fluid outlet located in-between said ends thereof, and (4) A driving fluid manifold enclosing a driving fluid passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said driving fluid manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially inwardly of the peripheral edge of said recesses and terminating at each end thereof in a single driving fluid port in a respective one of said end sections and in fluid communication with the recess therein, (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps including (1) a central section including a circular recess concentric to said pump body recesses, for use as a discharge chamber, (2) a connecting flange surrounding said central section and extending radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mattingly engaging the adjacent end section connecting flange, said end cap recess facing axially inwardly toward the adjacent end section recess, (3) a fluid inlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid inlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid inlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid inlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, and (4) a fluid outlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid outlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid outlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid outlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, (c) means for connecting said each of pump body flanges to a respective one of said end cap flanges, (d) an annular groove concentric to said axis in at least one of the connecting flanges of each pair of mating connecting flanges and adapted to sealingly receive an enlarged circular bead of a diaphragm, said groove in at least one of said flanges comprising a pair of opposed mating grooves, one in each of said flanges, (e) a pair of diaphragms, each one having an enlarged circular perpheral bead sealing locked in a respective one of said pair of opposed grooves, each of said diaphrams defining with the respective end section a driving fluid chamber and with the respective end cap a fluid chamber for fluid to be pumped, (f) a reciprocable shaft connected at each end thereof to one each of said diaphragms and extending through said shaft openings, and shaft sealing means in each of said shaft openings, and (g) a single check valve cartridge positioned one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and positioned one in each of said two fluid outlet ports, each of said check valve cartridges being in sealing contact with each of said pump body and a respective one of said end caps, and wherein each of said cartridges includes a pair of spaced-apart o-ring seals, and wherein one o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in said pump body and the other o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 5

The housing as recited in claim 2 wherein said end sections and said end section connecting flanges are circular and concentric to said axis.

Claim 6

The housing as recited in claim 3 wherein said fluid inlet manifold and said fluid outlet manifold are spaced-apart and are located on diametrically opposite sides of said pump body.

Claim 7

The housing as recited in claim 4 wherein said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet are located on the same side of said pump body.

Claim 8

A housing for a fluuid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including (1) a pair of spaced-apart end sections each of which includes a central circular recess, for use as a driving fluid chamber, a connecting flange surrounding said end section and extending radially outwardly from said recess, and a central shaft opening concentric to said circular recess, said end sections being located in-line on an axis passing through said shaft openings and being arranged in a plane perpendicular to said axis and each of said end sections facing outwardly away from the other end section such that said recesses open outwardly away from said pump body, (2) a fluid inlet manifold enclosing a fluid inlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said inlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid inlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid inlet manifold including a single fluid inlet located in-between said ends thereof, (3) a fluid outlet manifold enclosing a fluid outlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said outlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid outlet manifold including a single fluid outlet located in-between said ends thereof, and (4) a driving fluid manifold enclosing a driving fluid passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said driving fluid manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially inwardly of the peripheral edge of said recesses and terminating at each end thereof in a single driving fluid port in a respective one of said end sections and in fluid communication with the recess therein, and (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps including (1) a central section including a circular recess concentric to said pump body recesses, for use as a discharge chamber, (2) a connecting flange surrounding said central section and extending radially outwardly from said end cap recess and matingly engaging the adjacent end section connecting flange, said end cap recess facing axially inwardly toward the adjacent end section recess, (3) a fluid inlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid inlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid inlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid inlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, and (4) a fluid outlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid outlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid outlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid outlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, (c) means for connecting each of said pump body flanges to a respective one of said end cap flanges.

Claim 9

A housing for a fluuid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including (1) a pair of spaced-apart end sections each of which includes a central circular recess, for use as a driving fluid chamber, a connecting flange surrounding said end section and extending radially outwardly from said recess, and a central shaft opening concentric to said circular recess, said end sections being located in-line on an axis passing through said shaft openings and being arranged in a plane perpendicular to said axis and each of said end sections facing outwardly away from the other end section such that said recesses open outwardly away from said pump body, (2) a fluid inlet manifold enclosing a fluid inlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said inlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid inlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid inlet manifold including a single fluid inlet located in-between said ends thereof, (3) a fluid outlet manifold enclosing a fluid outlet passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said outlet manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially outwardly beyond said recesses, and terminating at each end thereof in a fluid outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and located radially outwardly from said recesses, and said fluid outlet manifold including a single fluid outlet located in-between said ends thereof, and (4) a driving fluid manifold enclosing a driving fluid passageway and extending between and connecting together said end sections, said driving fluid manifold being parallel to said axis and being located radially inwardly of the peripheral edge of said recesses and terminating at each end thereof in a single driving fluid port in a respective one of said end sections and in fluid communication with the recess therein, and (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps including (1) a central section including a circular recess concentric to said pump body recesses, for use as a discharge chamber, (2) a connecting flange surrounding said central section and extending radially outwardly from said end cap recess and matingly engaging the adjacent end section connecting flange, said end cap recess facing axially inwardly toward the adjacent end section recess, (3) a fluid inlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid inlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid inlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid inlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, and (4) a fluid outlet port located in said end cap connecting flange and located radially outwardly from said end cap recess and mating with said fluid outlet port in the adjacent pump body connecting flange, and a fluid outlet passageway extending between said end cap fluid outlet port and said end cap recess to provide fluid communication therebetween, (c) means for connecting each of said pump body flanges to a respective one of said end cap flanges.

Claim 10

The housing as recited in claim 6 wherein said end sections, said end section connecting flanges and said end cap connecting flanges are circular and concentric to said axis.

Claim 11

The housing as recited in claim 6 wherein said fluid inlet manifold and said fluid outlet manifold are spaced-apart and are located on diametrically opposite sides of said pump body.

Claim 12

The housing as recited in claim 8 wherein said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet are located on the same side of said pump body.

Claim 13

The housing as recited in claim 1 including a single check valve cartridge positioned one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and positioned one in each of said two fluid outlet ports.

Claim 14

The housing as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said check valve cartridges is in sealing contact with each of said pump body and a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 15

The housing as recited in claim 10 wherein said check valve cartridges are identical to each other.

Claim 16

The housing as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said fluid inlet passageways and said fluid outlet passageways are formed completely inside of a respective one of said end caps, whereby there are no leakage paths directly therefrom to the outside of said housing.

Claim 17

The housing as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said end sections are substantially identical to each other, and wherein each of said end caps are substantially identical to each other.

Claim 18

The housing as recited in claim 14 including a single check valve cartridge mounted in each of said two fluid inlet ports and in each of said two fluid outlet ports, and wherein said check valve cartridges are identical to each other.

Claim 19

The housing as recited in claim 6 including an annular groove concentric to said axis in at least one of the connecting flanges of each pair of mating connecting flanges and adapted to sealingly receive an enlarged circular bead of a diaphragm.

Claim 20

The housing as recited in claim 16 wherein said groove in at least one of said flanges comprises a pair of opposed mating grooves, one in each of said flanges.

Claim 21

The housing as recited in claim 17 including a pair of diaphragms, each one having an enlarged circular peripheral bead sealingly locked in a respective one of said pair of opposed grooves, each of said diaphrams defining with the respective end section a driving fluid chamber and with the respective end cap a fluid chamber for fluid to be pumped.

Claim 22

The housing as recited in claim 18 including a reciprocatable shaft connected at each end thereof to one each of said diaphragms and extending through said shaft openings, and shaft sealing means in each of said shaft openings.

Claim 23

The housing as recited in claim 19 including a single check valve cartridge positioned one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and positioned one in each of said two fluid outlet ports.

Claim 24

The housing as recited in claim 20 wherein each of said check valve cartridges is in sealing contact with each of said pump body and a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 25

A housing for a fluid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including a pair of substantially identical, spaced-apart in-line, end sections, each having an axially outwardly facing circular recess for forming a driving fluid chamber, surrounded by a radially outwardly extending connecting flange, each of said recesses being concentric to the same axis and each of said end sections being oriented in a plane perpendicular to said axis, manifold means, including an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold and a driving fluid manifold, extending between and connecting said end sections together and terminating in fluid ports including an inlet port and an outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and a driving fluid port in direct fluid communication with said driving fluid recess; (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps having an axially inwardly facing circular recess and each having a radially outwardly extending connecting flange that mates with a respective one of said end section connecting flanges for use in assembling said end caps to said pump body, each of said end caps also having an inlet port and an outlet port in each of said flanges located so as to mate with the respective inlet and outlet ports, respectively, in the respective end section when said end caps are connected to said pump body, and a fluid passageway extending between each of said end cap inlet and outlet ports and said end cap recess, (c) a single, elongated check valve cartridge, including a check valve and a cartridge body, located one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and one in each of said outlet ports, and means for sealing one end of each of said check valve cartridges to the respective port in the pump body and the other end to a respective port in the end cap, and (d) means for connecting each of said pump body connecting flanges to the connecting flange of a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 26

A housing for a fluid operated double-acting diaphragm pump comprising: (a) a one-piece molded plastic pump body including a pair of substantially identical, spaced-apart in-line, end sections, each having an axially outwardly facing circular recess for forming a driving fluid chamber, surrounded by a radially outwardly extending connecting flange, each of said recesses being concentric to the same axis and each of said end sections being oriented in a plane perpendicular to said axis, manifold means, including an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold and a driving fluid manifold, extending between and connecting said end sections together and terminating in fluid ports including an inlet port and an outlet port in each of said connecting flanges and a driving fluid port in direct fluid communication with said driving fluid recess; (b) a pair of identical, one-piece, molded plastic end caps connected one each to a respective one of said end sections, each of said end caps having an axially inwardly facing circular recess and each having a radially outwardly extending connecting flange that mates with a respective one of said end section connecting flanges for use in assembling said end caps to said pump body, each of said end caps also having an inlet port and an outlet port in each of said flanges located so as to mate with the respective inlet and outlet ports, respectively, in the respective end section when said end caps are connected to said pump body, and a fluid passageway extending between each of said end cap inlet and outlet ports and said end cap recess, (c) a single, elongated check valve cartridge, including a check valve and a cartridge body, located one in each of said two fluid inlet ports and one in each of said outlet ports, and means for sealing one end of each of said check valve cartridges to the respective port in the pump body and the other end to a respective port in the end cap, and (d) means for connecting each of said pump body connecting flanges to the connecting flange of a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 27

The housing as recited in claim 22 wherein said end sections, said end section connecting flanges and said end cap connecting flanges are circular and concentric to said axis.

Claim 28

The housing as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said connecting flanges of said pump body includes an annular groove located radially outwardly from said outwardly facing recess, and wherein each of said flanges of each of said end caps includes a mating annular groove, and including a pair of diaphragms, each one having an enlarged, circular, peripheral bead sealingly locked in a respective one of said mating grooves, each of said diaphragms defining with the respective end section a driving fluid chamber, and with the respective end cap a fluid chamber for fluid to be pumped.

Claim 29

The housing as recited in claim 24 wherein each of said check valve cartridges is in sealing contact with each of said pump body and a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 30

The housing as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said check valve cartridges is in sealing contact with each of said pump body and a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 31

The housing as recited in claim 26 wherein each of said cartridges includes a pair of spaced-apart o-ring seals, and wherein one o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in said pump body and the other o-ring seal is in sealing contact with the port in a respective one of said end caps.

Claim 32

The housing as recited in claim 23 wherein said check valve cartridges are identical to each other.

Claim 35

The method as recited in claim 29 wherein each of said connecting flanges includes an annular groove positioned so as to mate with the annular groove in the adjacent connecting flange, and including the step of positioning said bead of each diaphragm in one of said mating pairs of grooves.

Claim 36

The method as recited in claim 29 wherein said check valve cartridges are identical to each other, and said positioning step comprises orienting each of said check valve cartridges to provide the proper predetermined fluid flow direction therethrough.

Claim 37

The method as recited in claim 29 including forming said fluid passageways completely inside of each of said end caps to avoid any external leakage paths associated therewith.