Split fluidic diaphragm

Abstract

A diaphragm for a fluid mover, such as a synthetic jet device includes separate, concentric substrate sections. The substrate sections may be joined together by a resilient material at a junction between the sections, and the sections may include intermeshed cantilever tabs. The substrate sections may be joined to resist pressure-induced ballooning or similar deformation, yet allow for relatively large axial deformation.

1 . A fluid mover comprising:
 a chamber having an outlet opening;   a fluidic diaphragm having a portion movable in the chamber to cause fluid to move at the outlet opening, the fluidic diaphragm including two or more diaphragm substrate sections including first and second diaphragm substrate sections having cantilever tabs that are joined together by a resilient junction material, the cantilever tabs of the first and second diaphragm substrate sections being at least partially intermeshed such that one or more cantilever tabs of the first diaphragm substrate section is positioned between two cantilever tabs of the second diaphragm substrate section; and   an actuator coupled to the fluidic diaphragm to move the portion of the fluidic diaphragm in the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic diaphragm is flat, has a center, and the cantilever tabs have portions that extend radially relative to the center. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the cantilever tabs of each diaphragm section form a directionally alternating and length-wise over lapping array of cantilever tabs that define a primary flexing portion of the diaphragm and wherein the alternating cantilever tabs provide mutual support of each of their adjacent cantilever tabs. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient junction material includes an overmolding layer that bonds the cantilever tabs of the first and second diaphragm substrate sections together. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second diaphragm substrate sections are concentric with the first diaphragm substrate section located inside of the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid mover of  claim 5 , wherein the cantilever tabs of the first diaphragm substrate section extend radially outwardly from a main body of the first diaphragm substrate section and the cantilever tabs of the second diaphragm substrate section extend radially inwardly from the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid mover of  claim 6 , wherein the cantilever tabs of the first and second diaphragm substrate sections are interdigitated such that the cantilever tabs of the first diaphragm substrate section are each positioned between a respective pair of cantilever tabs of the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second diaphragm substrate sections each have a main body and the cantilever tabs each have a triangular shape that extends from the main body of the corresponding diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm substrate sections are formed of a sheet metal. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient junction material includes a rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient junction material is positioned in gaps between adjacent cantilever tabs. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid mover of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient junction material is positioned over a top or bottom surface of cantilever tabs of the fluidic diaphragm. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second diaphragm substrate sections, including the cantilever tabs, are flat and arranged in a common plane. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic diaphragm is arranged for vibratory movement in the chamber in which a portion of the fluidic diaphragm moves at a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 1 kHz or more. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid mover of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic diaphragm has a periphery which is fixed relative to the chamber, and the actuator is arranged to move portions of the fluidic diaphragm located inward of the periphery relative to the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A fluid mover comprising:
 a chamber having an outlet opening;   a fluidic diaphragm having a portion movable in the chamber to cause fluid to move at the outlet opening, the fluidic diaphragm including first and second diaphragm substrate sections that are flat and concentric such that the first diaphragm substrate section is located inside of the second diaphragm substrate section, the first and second diaphragm substrate sections being joined together by a resilient junction material; and   an actuator coupled to the fluidic diaphragm to move the portion of the fluidic diaphragm in the chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid mover of  claim 16 , wherein the first diaphragm substrate section has portions that extend radially outwardly and the second diaphragm substrate section has portions that extend radially inwardly, the radially outwardly and radially inwardly extending portions being interleaved such that one or more outwardly extending portions of the first diaphragm substrate section is positioned between two inwardly extending portions of the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid mover of  claim 16 , wherein the fluidic diaphragm has a spring stiffness in relation to pressure deformation that is 34 to 64 times greater than a spring stiffness of the fluidic diaphragm in relation to axial displacement. 
     
     
         19 . A fluidic diaphragm comprising:
 first and second diaphragm substrate sections that are flat and concentric such that the first diaphragm substrate section is located inside of the second diaphragm substrate section, the first and second diaphragm substrate sections being joined together by a resilient junction material.   
     
     
         20 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second diaphragm substrate sections each have cantilever tabs that are joined together by the resilient junction material and are at least partially intermeshed such that one or more cantilever tabs of the first diaphragm substrate section is positioned between two cantilever tabs of the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         21 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second diaphragm substrate sections have cantilever tabs that are joined together by the resilient junction material. 
     
     
         22 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the fluidic diaphragm is flat, has a center, and the cantilever tabs have portions that extend radially relative to the center. 
     
     
         23 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the cantilever tabs of each diaphragm section form a directionally alternating and length-wise over lapping array of cantilever tabs that define a primary flexing portion of the diaphragm and wherein the alternating cantilever tabs provide mutual support of each of their adjacent cantilever tabs. 
     
     
         24 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the resilient junction material includes an overmolding layer that bonds the cantilever tabs of the first and second diaphragm substrate sections together. 
     
     
         25 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the cantilever tabs of the first diaphragm substrate section extend radially outwardly from a main body of the first diaphragm substrate section and the cantilever tabs of the second diaphragm substrate section extend radially inwardly from the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         26 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the cantilever tabs of the first and second diaphragm substrate sections are interdigitated such that the cantilever tabs of the first diaphragm substrate section are each positioned between a respective pair of cantilever tabs of the second diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         27 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second diaphragm substrate sections each have a main body and the cantilever tabs each have a triangular shape that extends from the main body of the corresponding diaphragm substrate section. 
     
     
         28 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 19 , wherein the diaphragm substrate sections are formed of a sheet metal, and the resilient junction material includes a rubber. 
     
     
         29 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 21 , wherein the resilient junction material is positioned in gaps between adjacent cantilever tabs. 
     
     
         30 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 29 , wherein the resilient junction material is positioned over a top or bottom surface of cantilever tabs of the fluidic diaphragm. 
     
     
         31 . The fluidic diaphragm of  claim 19 , wherein the fluidic diaphragm is arranged for vibratory movement in a chamber in which a portion of the fluidic diaphragm moves at a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 1 kHz or more.