Diaphragm pumping
An assembly for a diaphragm pump includes: a body defining a plurality of diaphragm chambers spaced apart about a body axis, wherein each diaphragm chamber defines a membrane opening, an inlet chamber in fluid communication with each diaphragm chamber, and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with each diaphragm chamber; and a plurality of flexible membranes that each comprise an outer edge, wherein the body is configured to clamp the outer edge of each membrane along a corresponding membrane opening to seal a corresponding one of the diaphragm chambers; wherein the membranes are configured to deflect substantially in parallel to the body axis to suction fluid into each diaphragm chamber from the inlet chamber and discharge fluid from each diaphragm chamber into the outlet chamber; wherein each membrane comprises a coupling section configured to couple the membrane to a pump drive and arranged along a diaphragm axis that extends in parallel to the body axis, and a deflection section arranged radially outwardly from the coupling section and configured to deflect in response to movement of the pump drive; and wherein movement of the coupling section radial to and about the diaphragm axis is restricted to suppress movement of the deflection section radial to and about the diaphragm axis.
1 . A pump comprising:
a pump body defining a plurality of diaphragm chambers spaced apart about a body axis, each diaphragm chamber defining a membrane opening and being in communication with both an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;
a mounting ring comprising a mounting ring axis and coupled to a drive shaft at a mounting angle formed at an intersection of the mounting ring axis and an axis of the drive shaft; and
a flexible membrane disposed within the membrane opening of each diaphragm chamber to seal the diaphragm chamber, wherein each flexible membrane comprises:
a coupling section configured to couple to the mounting ring, and
a deflection section arranged radially outwardly from the coupling section and configured to deflect in response to movement of the drive shaft;
wherein the pump body is configured to clamp respective outer edges of each flexible membrane within a generally planar interface at the membrane openings, and
wherein the intersection of the mounting ring axis and the axis of the drive shaft is substantially aligned with the generally planar interface.
2 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the coupling section is supported by a piston that suppresses deflection of the coupling section.
3 . The pump of claim 2 , wherein the flexible membrane is displaced along a diaphragm axis by the piston.
4 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the coupling section along the diaphragm axis defines a stroke length, and wherein the deflection section has in cross-section an arcuate length greater than the stroke length.
5 . The pump of claim 2 , wherein the piston comprises an insert configured to be received by the coupling section to couple the piston to the flexible membrane.
6 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the outer edge of the flexible membrane comprises a sealing bead having a circular or semi-circular cross-section.
7 . The pump of claim 6 , wherein the outer edge of the flexible membrane defines a sealing lip arranged radially outward from the sealing bead, wherein the sealing lip has a smaller thickness than the sealing bead.
8 . The pump of claim 7 , wherein the sealing bead and the sealing lip are clamped within the generally planar interface at the membrane openings.
9 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the mounting angle ranges between 3 to 7 degrees.
10 . A pump comprising:
a pump body defining a plurality of diaphragm chambers spaced apart about a body axis, each diaphragm chamber defining a membrane opening and being in communication with both an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;
a mounting ring comprising a mounting ring axis and coupled to a drive shaft at a mounting angle formed at an intersection of the mounting ring axis and an axis of the drive shaft; and
a flexible membrane disposed within the membrane opening of each diaphragm chamber to seal the diaphragm chamber, wherein each flexible membrane comprises:
an outer edge;
a coupling section configured to couple to the mounting ring, and
a deflection section arranged radially outwardly from the coupling section and configured to deflect in response to movement of the drive shaft, and
wherein the intersection of the mounting ring axis and the axis of the drive shaft is substantially aligned with a plane formed through a central portion of the flexible membrane when in a neutral position.
11 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the mounting ring is arranged to wobble about a chamber axis in response to movement of the drive shaft.
12 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the coupling section is supported by a piston that suppresses deflection of the coupling section.
13 . The pump of claim 12 , wherein the flexible membrane is displaced along a diaphragm axis by the piston.
14 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the movement of the coupling section along the diaphragm axis defines a stroke length, and wherein the deflection section has in cross-section an arcuate length greater than the stroke length.
15 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the outer edge of the flexible membrane comprises a sealing bead having a circular or semi-circular cross-section.
16 . The pump of claim 15 , wherein the outer edge of the flexible membrane defines a sealing lip arranged radially outward from the sealing bead, wherein the sealing lip has a smaller thickness than the sealing bead.
17 . The pump of claim 16 , wherein the sealing bead and the sealing lip are held between a valve plate and a carrier plate.
18 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the mounting angle ranges between 3 to 7 degrees.
19 . A pump comprising:
a pump body defining a plurality of diaphragm chambers spaced apart about a body axis, each diaphragm chamber defining a membrane opening and being in communication with both an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;
a mounting ring comprising a mounting ring axis and coupled to a drive shaft at a mounting angle formed at an intersection of the mounting ring axis and an axis of the drive shaft; and
a flexible membrane disposed within the membrane opening of each diaphragm chamber to seal the diaphragm chamber, wherein each flexible membrane comprises:
a coupling section configured to couple to the mounting ring, and
a deflection section arranged radially outwardly from the coupling section and configured to deflect in response to movement of the drive shaft, and
wherein the intersection of the mounting ring axis and the axis of the drive shaft is substantially aligned with a plane formed through outer edges of the flexible membranes.
20 . The pump of claim 19 , wherein the mounting angle ranges between 3 to 7 degrees.