Diaphragm Pump with Sensor Mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201663-A1
Application number	US-201615069184-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Jan 14, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Illustrative embodiments of diaphragm pumps including a sensor mount are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may include a shaft disposed within a pump housing and coupled to at least one diaphragm, a mount removably attached to the pump housing and having a sensor receptacle, and a proximity sensor received in the sensor receptacle of the mount such that a sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle nearest the shaft.

First claim

1 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
a shaft disposed within a pump housing and coupled to at least one diaphragm; a mount removably attached to the pump housing and having a sensor receptacle; and a proximity sensor received in the sensor receptacle of the mount such that a sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle nearest the shaft.

2 . The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the sensor receptacle comprises a receptacle housing and a bore defined through the receptacle housing for receiving the proximity sensor.

3 . The diaphragm pump of claim 2 , wherein the sensor receptacle comprises one or more protrusions extending inwardly into the bore from an inner surface of the receptacle housing, the one or more protrusions forming an interference fit with an exterior surface of the proximity sensor to secure the proximity sensor within the sensor receptacle.

4 . The diaphragm pump of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle housing is cylindrical and includes an exterior surface having a threading disposed thereon, and wherein the mount is removably attached to the pump housing via the threading on the exterior surface of the receptacle housing.

5 . The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust chamber defined in the pump housing, wherein the exhaust chamber is configured to receive a motive fluid that has driven reciprocation of the at least one diaphragm and the shaft, and wherein the sensor receptacle of the mount extends into the exhaust chamber.

6 . The diaphragm pump of claim 5 , wherein the mount comprises a body plate, and the sensor receptacle extends from a side of the body plate.

7 . The diaphragm pump of claim 6 , wherein the mount includes a muffler receptacle, the muffler receptacle being configured to receive an inlet of an exhaust muffler for fluid connection of the exhaust muffler to the exhaust chamber.

8 . The diaphragm pump of claim 7 , wherein the muffler receptacle comprises a projection extending from the mount away from the shaft and a bore extending through the projection, the bore being configured to receive the inlet of the exhaust muffler.

9 . The diaphragm pump of claim 7 , wherein the sensor receptacle and the muffler receptacle extend from opposite sides of the body plate.

10 . The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the mount includes at least one fastener opening defined therein, the fastener opening receiving a fastener for securing the mount to the pump housing.

11 . The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is retained within the sensor receptacle of the mount independently of the mount being removably attached to the pump housing.

12 . A method of assembling a diaphragm pump comprising a shaft coupled to at least one diaphragm, the method comprising:
inserting a proximity sensor into a sensor receptacle defined in a mount of the diaphragm pump such that a sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle; and attaching the mount to a pump housing of the diaphragm pump such that the end of the sensor receptacle is positioned at a predetermined distance from the shaft of the diaphragm pump.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the method comprises first inserting the proximity sensor into the sensor receptacle, and second attaching the mount to the pump housing.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined distance is a distance that requires no additional mechanical calibration of the position of the sensor end relative to the shaft.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein inserting the proximity sensor into the sensor receptacle comprises:
aligning the proximity sensor with the sensor receptacle; and pressing the proximity sensor into the sensor receptacle until the sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with the end of the sensor receptacle.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein pressing the proximity sensor comprises forming an interference fit between at least one protrusion of the sensor receptacle and an exterior surface of the proximity sensor.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising attaching an inlet of a muffler to a pump housing of the diaphragm pump such that the inlet of the muffler is fluidly connected with an exhaust chamber of the diaphragm pump.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein attaching the inlet of the muffler to the pump housing comprises inserting the inlet of the muffler into a muffler receptacle defined in the mount.

19 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
a shaft disposed within a pump housing and coupled to at least one diaphragm; a proximity sensor for sensing a position of the shaft, the proximity sensor having a sensing end; and means for mounting the proximity sensor to the pump housing such that the sensing end is positioned at a predetermined distance from the shaft when the means is removably attached to the pump housing.

20 . The diaphragm pump of claim 19 , wherein the means comprises a sensor receptacle configured to receive the proximity sensor therein such that the sensing end of the proximity sensor is flush with an end of the sensor receptacle.

21 . The diaphragm pump of claim 20 , wherein the proximity sensor is received in the sensor receptacle independently of the means being removably attached to the pump housing.

Assignees

• Ingersoll Rand Co

Inventors

• Treml Dale
• Conrad John

Classifications

• F04B53/16

  Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections · CPC title

• F04B2201/0201

  Position of the piston · CPC title

• F04B43/0009

  Special features · CPC title

• F04B53/22

  Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• F04B39/0061

  using muffler volumes · CPC title