Diaphragm mounting method for a diaphragm pump
View Patent ↗A diaphragm pump and method for making same, the pump having a diaphragm coupled to a wobble plate achieved using: a post ( 11 ) protruding from the wobble plate toward the diaphragm and at least partially surrounded by a collar ( 11 a ); and a pin ( 22 ) protruding from the diaphragm toward the wobble plate and having a recess ( 22 a ) for mating with the post ( 11 ) and also having an outer portion ( 22 b ) surrounding the recess ( 22 a ) and able to resiliently deform so as to squeeze through the collar ( 11 a ) when the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ). The outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin typically includes a locking feature ( 22 c ) for holding the pin ( 22 ) on the post ( 11 ). The pin ( 22 ) and the diaphragm are typically made from thermoplastic materials, with the pin ( 22 ) typically made from a harder material than the diaphragm.
1. A diaphragm pump, having a diaphragm coupled to a wobble plate, the diaphragm and the wobble plate each having a front surface disposed so as to face the other, the diaphragm pump characterized in that the coupling comprises:
a post ( 11 ) protruding from the front surface of the wobble plate and at least partially surrounded by a collar ( 11 a ); and
a pin ( 22 ) protruding from the front surface of the diaphragm, the pin ( 22 ) having a recess ( 22 a ) for mating with the post ( 11 ), and having an outer portion ( 22 b ) surrounding the recess ( 22 a ) and able to resiliently deform so as to squeeze through the collar ( 11 a ) when the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ).
2. A diaphragm pump as in claim 1 , wherein the outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin includes a locking feature ( 22 c ) for holding the pin ( 22 ) on the post ( 11 ) when the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ).
3. A diaphragm pump as in claim 1 , further characterized in that the pin ( 22 ) and the diaphragm are made from respective different thermoplastic materials, and the pin ( 22 ) is made from a harder material than the diaphragm.
4. A diaphragm pump as in claim 3 , wherein the respective different thermoplastic materials are from the same family of thermoplastic materials.
5. A diaphragm pump as in claim 1 , further characterized in that the pin ( 22 ) is formed so as to have one or more ring features ( 22 d ) along a bonding area between the pin ( 22 ) and the diaphragm.
6. A diaphragm pump as in claim 1 , wherein the collar ( 11 a ) extends outward from the wobble plate toward a distal end of the post ( 11 ) substantially the same distance as the post ( 11 ).
7. A diaphragm as in claim 6 , further wherein the collar ( 11 a ) includes a region protruding radially inward toward the distal end of the post ( 11 ), and the outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin ( 22 ) includes a thickened region ( 22 c ) serving as a locking feature, wherein after the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ) the thickened region ( 22 c ) of the outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin ( 22 ) occupies a region between the post ( 11 ) and the collar ( 11 a ) and is prevented from being removed by interference of the thickened region ( 22 c ) with the region of the collar ( 11 a ) protruding radially inward toward the distal end of the post ( 11 ).
8. A method for use in making a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm coupled to a wobble plate, the diaphragm and the wobble plate each having a front surface disposed so as to face the other, the method characterized by:
providing a post ( 11 ) protruding from the front surface of the wobble plate and at least partially surrounded by a collar ( 11 a ); and
providing a pin ( 22 ) protruding from the front surface of the diaphragm, the pin ( 22 ) having a recess ( 22 a ) for mating with the post ( 11 ), and having an outer portion ( 22 b ) surrounding the recess ( 22 a ) and able to resiliently deform so as to squeeze through the collar ( 11 a ) when the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ).
9. A method as in claim 8 , wherein the outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin includes a locking feature ( 22 c ) for holding the pin ( 22 ) on the post ( 11 ) when the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ).
10. A method pump as in claim 8 , further characterized in that the pin ( 22 ) and the diaphragm are made from respective different thermoplastic materials, and the pin ( 22 ) is made from a harder material than the diaphragm.
11. A method pump as in claim 10 , wherein the respective different thermoplastic materials are from the same family of thermoplastic materials.
12. A method pump as in claim 8 , further characterized in that the pin ( 22 ) is formed so as to have one or more ring features ( 22 d ) along a bonding area between the pin ( 22 ) and the diaphragm.
13. A method as in claim 8 , wherein the collar ( 11 a ) extends outward from the wobble plate toward a distal end of the post ( 11 ) substantially the same distance as the post ( 11 ).
14. A method as in claim 13 , further wherein the collar ( 11 a ) and includes a region protruding radially inward toward the distal end of the post ( 11 ), and the outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin ( 22 ) includes a thickened region ( 22 c ) serving as a locking feature, wherein after the pin ( 22 ) is pushed onto the post ( 11 ) the thickened region ( 22 c ) of the outer portion ( 22 b ) of the pin ( 22 ) occupies a region between the post ( 11 ) and the collar ( 11 a ) and is prevented from being removed by interference of the thickened region ( 22 c ) with the region of the collar ( 11 a ) protruding radially inward toward the distal end of the post ( 11 ).
15. A diaphragm pump, having a diaphragm as a first component coupled to a wobble plate as a second component, the diaphragm and the wobble plate each having a front surface disposed so as to face the other, the diaphragm pump characterized in that the coupling comprises:
a post ( 11 ) protruding from the front surface of one of the components and at least partially surrounded by a collar ( 11 a ) having a surface for serving as a stop; and
a pin ( 22 ) protruding from the front surface of the other of the components, the pin ( 22 ) having a recess ( 22 a ) for mating with the post ( 11 ), and having an outer portion ( 22 b ) substantially surrounding the recess ( 22 a ) including a wider section and a narrower section connected by a surface serving as a stop for engagement with the stop surface of the post.
16. A method for use in making a diaphragm pump having a diaphragm as one component coupled to a wobble plate as another component, the diaphragm and the wobble plate each having a front surface disposed so as to face the other, the method characterized by:
providing a post ( 11 ) protruding from the front surface of one of the components and at least partially surrounded by a collar ( 11 a ); and
providing a pin ( 22 ) protruding from the front surface of the other of the components, the pin ( 22 ) having a recess ( 22 a ) for mating with the post ( 11 ), and having an outer portion ( 22 b ) substantially surrounding the recess ( 22 a ) including a wider section and a narrower section connected by a surface serving as a stop for engagement with the stop surface of the post.