Non-metallic pressure caps and diaphragm pump housings incorporating same

Abstract

A non-metallic pressure cap equivalent for a metallic pressure cap of a diaphragm pump, is provided the non-metallic pressure cap having a plate portion, a flange portion, and a wall portion located between and connecting the plate and the flange portions. The thickness of the flange portion of the non-metallic pressure cap is greater than the thickness of a flange portion of the metallic pressure cap. Also provided is a non-metallic pressure cap for a diaphragm pump, the non-metallic pressure cap having a plate portion, a flange portion, and a wall portion located between and connecting the plate and the flange portions. The wall portion has a thickness, t w , and defines a radius, r, on an outer surface transition between the wall and flange portions, the ratio between the radius and the thickness of the wall portion being defined according to the following equation r>⅓ (t w ). A diaphragm pump having a non-metallic pressure cap equivalent is also provided having a plate portion, a flange portion, and a wall portion located between and connecting the plate and the flange portions. The thickness of the flange portion of the non-metallic pressure cap is greater than the thickness of a flange portion of the metallic pressure cap. The wall portion includes a radius, r, defined on an outer surface transition between the wall and flange portions, the ratio between the radius and the thickness of the wall portion being defined according to the following equation: r>⅓ (t w ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A non-metallic pressure cap equivalent for a metallic pressure cap of a diaphragm pump, the non-metallic pressure cap comprising: 
 a plate portion, a flange portion, and a wall portion located between and connecting said plate and said flange portions,    said flange portion having a thickness, t f , wherein said thickness of said flange portion of said non-metallic pressure cap is greater than the thickness of a flange portion of said metallic pressure cap.    
     
     
         2 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 1  wherein said non-metallic pressure cap is made of a polymer material.  
     
     
         3 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 2  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester and polypropylene.  
     
     
         4 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 1  wherein the relationship between the non-metallic flange thickness and the metallic flange thickness is defined according to the following equation:  
       
         
           
             
               
                 t 
                 
                   f 
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     nonmetallic 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               ≃ 
               
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         E 
                         m 
                       
                       
                         E 
                         
                           n 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           m 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   
                     1 
                     / 
                     3 
                   
                 
                 × 
                 
                   t 
                   
                     f 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       metallic 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
       
       where: 
 t f(metallic) =metallic flange thickness  
 t f(nonmetallic) =equivalent non-metallic flange thickness  
 E m=modulus of elasticity of metal  
 E nm=modulus of elasticity of non-metal  
 
     
     
         5 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 4  wherein said non-metallic pressure cap is made of a polymer material.  
     
     
         6 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 5  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester and polypropylene.  
     
     
         7 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 1 , wherein said wall portion further comprises a thickness, t w , and a radius, r, defined on an outer surface transition between said wall and flange portions, the ratio between the radius and the thickness of the wall portion being defined according to the following equation: 
         r >⅓( t   w ) 
     
     
         8 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 7  wherein said non-metallic pressure cap is made of a polymer material.  
     
     
         9 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 8  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester and polypropylene.  
     
     
         10 . A non-metallic pressure cap for a diaphragm pump, the non-metallic pressure cap comprising: 
 a plate portion, a flange portion, and a wall portion located between and connecting said plate and said flange portions,    said wall portion having a thickness, t w , and defining a radius, r, on an outer surface transition between said wall and flange portions, the ratio between the radius and the thickness of the wall portion being defined according to the following equation:     r >⅓( t   w )   
     
     
         11 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 10  wherein said non-metallic pressure cap is made of a polymer material.  
     
     
         12 . The non-metallic pressure cap according to  claim 11  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester and polypropylene.  
     
     
         13 . A diaphragm pump having a non-metallic pressure cap equivalent for a metallic pressure cap, comprising: 
 a non-metallic pressure cap having a plate portion, a flange portion, and a wall portion located between and connecting said plate and said flange portions,    said flange portion having a thickness, t f , and    said wall portion having a thickness, t w , and defining a radius, r, on an outer surface transition between said wall and flange portions, wherein said thickness of said flange portion of said non-metallic pressure cap is greater than the thickness of a flange portion of said metallic pressure cap and the ratio between the radius and the thickness of the wall portion being defined according to the following equation:     r >⅓( t   w )   
     
     
         14 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 13  wherein said non-metallic pressure cap is made of a polymer material.  
     
     
         15 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 14  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester and polypropylene.  
     
     
         16 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 13  wherein the relationship between the non-metallic flange thickness and the metallic flange thickness being defined according to the following equation:  
       
         
           
             
               
                 t 
                 
                   f 
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     nonmetallic 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               ≃ 
               
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         E 
                         m 
                       
                       
                         E 
                         
                           n 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           m 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   
                     1 
                     / 
                     3 
                   
                 
                 × 
                 
                   t 
                   
                     f 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       metallic 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
       
       where: 
 t f(metallic) =metallic flange thickness  
 t f(nonmetallic) =equivalent non-metallic flange thickness  
 E m=modulus of elasticity of metal  
 E nm=modulus of elasticity of non-metal  
 
     
     
         17 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 16  wherein said non-metallic pressure cap is made of a polymer material.  
     
     
         18 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 17  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl ester and polypropylene.