Diaphragm pump system

Abstract

A pumping system incorporating a diaphragm pump and in association therewith a pressure intensifier receiving pressurised driving fluid from a supply, said intensifier boosting the pressure of the drive fluid beyond its supply pressure and supplying the drive fluid, at said increased pressure, to said diaphragm pump, to generate pumping strokes of the pump producing a pump output pressure in excess of the drive fluid supply pressure.

1 . A pumping system incorporating a diaphragm pump and in association therewith a pressure intensifier receiving pressurised driving fluid from a supply, said intensifier boosting the pressure of the drive fluid beyond its supply pressure and supplying the drive fluid, at said increased pressure, to said diaphragm pump, to generate pumping strokes of the pump producing a pump output pressure in excess of the drive fluid supply pressure.  
   
   
       2 . A pumping system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pressure intensifier is at least a two times intensifier and conveniently the pump has a 1:1 input to output pressure ratio whereby the pressure in the output line of the pump is two times the supply pressure of the drive fluid to the pressure intensifier.  
   
   
       3 . A pumping system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pressure intensifier is at least a 2.5 times intensifier and conveniently the pump has a 1:1 input to output pressure ratio whereby the pressure in the output line of the pump is 2.5 times the supply pressure of the drive fluid to the pressure intensifier.  
   
   
       4 . A pumping system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pressure intensifier is incorporated into the diaphragm pump.  
   
   
       5 . A pumping system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm pump is a double-acting diaphragm pump and the pressure intensifier is incorporated in a spool valve controlling the supply of drive fluid to the diaphragms of the double-acting diaphragm pump.  
   
   
       6 . A pumping system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the diaphragm pump has a 1:1 input to output pressure ratio.  
   
   
       7 . A pumping system comprising in combination a diaphragm pump and a pressure intensifier incorporated in a control valve forming part of the assembly of the diaphragm pump, said intensifier boosting the pressure of the drive fluid beyond its supply pressure and supplying the drive fluid, at said increased pressure, to said diaphragm pump, to generate pumping strokes of the pump producing a pump output pressure in excess of the drive fluid supply pressure.  
   
   
       8 . A pumping system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said pump is a double-acting pump.