Diaphragm pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970429-B2
Application number	US-201414332627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A diaphragm pump includes a bypass valve and spring that are easy to install and do not require support by a special plug or mounting bracket. The pump outlet is perpendicular to the input, causing the bypass valve and spring to operate laterally as seen from the pump base. When installed, the bypass spring is suspended between the bypass valve and a simple “T” insert that is held in place within the pump by interior elements of the pump, without need for a special plug or bracket. The longitudinal strength of the housing is increased by providing a cone-shaped outer wall having a scalloped inner surface. The conical shape enhances the housing's resistance to longitudinal forces applied to the diaphragm. The cusps of the scalloped shape provide wall support ribs and locations for assembly screws, while increasing the interior volume and reducing the pump weight.

First claim

We claim:

1. A diaphragm pump for pumping a process fluid, the diaphragm pump comprising:
a pump housing having an outer wall;
an inlet region within the pump housing into which process fluid flows in an inlet direction;
an outlet region within the pump housing from which process fluid flows out in an outlet direction, the outlet region being separated from the inlet region by a separating boundary;
a pumping zone that is separated from the inlet region by at least one inlet valve, and from the outlet region by at least one outlet valve, the pumping zone being partially bounded by a flexible diaphragm;
a bypass valve that penetrates the separating boundary, the bypass valve being configured, when open, to allow process fluid to flow from the outlet region into the inlet region;
a bypass spring having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the bypass spring being in pressing communication with the bypass valve; and
a support insert having a top end in pressing communication with the distal end of the bypass spring, the support insert being held in position within the housing by the bypass valve spring and by direct physical contact with at least one of the pump housing, the separating boundary, and a valve support structure that supports at least one of the inlet valve and the outlet valve, without attachment thereto.

2. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the outlet region surrounds the inlet region.

3. The diaphragm pump of claim 2 , wherein the separating boundary is substantially cylindrical.

4. The diaphragm pump of claim 2 , wherein the separating boundary includes a first boundary segment that is unitary with the pump housing and a second boundary segment that is unitary with the valve support structure.

5. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the the support insert makes direct physical contact with the pump housing.

6. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the support insert makes direct physical contact with the valve support structure.

7. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the support insert includes an insert body having a left face and a right face, the left and right faces being separated by a thickness that is less than a width of the left and right faces, the top of the insert body being terminated by a top extension having a flat upper surface that extends beyond the left and right faces of the insert body.

8. The diaphragm pump of claim 7 , wherein the insert body is positioned to allow process fluid to flow in the inlet region past the left and right faces of the insert body.

9. The diaphragm pump of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the housing, the separating boundary, and the valve support structure includes a slot into which a base of the insert body is inserted.

10. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the pump housing is shaped substantially as a truncated cone, extending at its smaller end to a pump inlet and at its larger end to a pump base.

11. The diaphragm pump of claim 10 , wherein the outer wall of the pump housing makes an angle of 30 degrees with the central axis of the truncated cone.

12. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the outer wall of the pump housing is cycloid shaped, cusps of the cycloid extending inward to form thickened regions of the pump housing outer wall, and rounded segments of the cycloid curving outward to form thinned regions of the pump housing outer wall.

13. The diaphragm pump of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the thickened regions at the base of the pump housing outer wall includes a threaded hole configured to accept an assembly screw.

14. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the valve support structure supports the inlet and outlet valves and divides the pumping zone from the inlet and outlet regions, and makes direct physical contact with the support insert so as to prevent the support insert from moving in a direction parallel to the inlet direction.

15. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the inlet direction is substantially perpendicular to the outlet direction.

16. The diaphragm pump of claim 1 , wherein the valve support structure can be removed from the pump housing so as to provide an opening through which the bypass valve, bypass spring, and support insert can be installed and removed from the pump.

Assignees

• Flowserve Man Co

Inventors

• Han Yang
• Lowe Sidney

Classifications

• F04B15/04

  the fluids being hot or corrosive (for liquids near their boiling point, e.g. under subnormal pressure, F04B15/06) · CPC title

• F04B45/04

  having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms (F04B45/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04B49/035

  Bypassing · CPC title

• F04B43/02 Primary

  having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms (F04B43/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04B15/02

  the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous · CPC title