Pump diaphragm

Abstract

A diaphragm for use in a fluid pump comprising a disc of resilient material having a substantially dished shape. The curvature of the disc is formed from a plurality of steps.

1 . A diaphragm for use in a fluid pump comprising a disc of resilient material having a substantially dished shape, the curvature of the disc being formed from a plurality of steps. 
   
   
       2 . A diaphragm according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of steps are formed from a series of flat annular rings of increasing diameter axially displaced from one another and joined at their adjacent edges by shoulder portions extending in an axial direction. 
   
   
       3 . A diaphragm according to  claim 1  having a substantially inelastic chemically resistant coating on at least one side thereof. 
   
   
       4 . A diaphragm according to  claim 3  wherein the chemically resistant coating is formed on a concave side of the diaphragm when in its natural un-deflected state. 
   
   
       5 . A diaphragm according to  claim 3  wherein the chemically resilient material is PTFE. 
   
   
       6 . A diaphragm according to  claim 1  wherein the resilient material is an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       7 . A diaphragm according to  claim 2  having a substantially inelastic chemically resistant coating on at least one side thereof. 
   
   
       8 . A diaphragm according to  claim 4  wherein the chemically resilient material is PTFE. 
   
   
       9 . A diaphragm according to  claim 2  wherein the resilient material is an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       10 . A diaphragm according to  claim 1  wherein the disk is one of circular and oval in shape. 
   
   
       11 . A diaphragm for use in a fluid pump system, the diaphragm comprising:
 a plurality of annular rings, wherein each ring defines an inner annular edge and an outer annular edge, wherein the inner annular edge and the outer annular edge of adjacent rings are substantially axially aligned with one another; and   an annular shoulder portion interconnecting adjacent annular rings to one another such that each annular ring is axially spaced from an adjacent annular ring,   wherein at least the annular rings are elastomeric.   
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a diaphragm comprising the steps of:
 collecting a plurality of flat annular rings of increasing diameter;   axially displacing each ring from one another;   joining the rings at their adjacent edges by shoulder portions in an axial direction; and   coating a substantially inelastic chemically resilient material on at least one side thereof.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is formed on the concave side of the diaphragm. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is formed on the convex side of the diaphragm. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is formed on both sides of the diaphragm. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is PTFE. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is rubber. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is a low-temperature resistant rubber material. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the resilient material is nitrile.