Scalable Pumping Mechanism Utilizing Anti-Synchronized Poly-Diaphragm Stack

Abstract

A diaphragm pump including at least three body plates and at least two diaphragm assemblies positioned between the at least three body plates. A series of drive fluid passages communicate with a drive side of the two diaphragm assemblies and a series of pumped fluid passages communicate with a pump side of the two diaphragm assemblies. There is an inlet check valve communicating with the series of pumped fluid passages and an outlet check valve communicating with the series of pumped fluid passages. At least one of the body plates is a doubled faced plate having either drive fluid passages on both faces or pumped fluid passages on both faces.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a. at least three body plates;   b. at least two diaphragm assemblies positioned between the at least three body plates;   c. a series of drive fluid passages communicating with a drive side of each of the at least two diaphragm assemblies;   d. a series of pumped fluid passages communicating with a pump side of each of the at least two diaphragm assemblies;   e. at least one inlet check valve communicating with said series of pumped fluid passages;   f. at least one outlet check valve communicating with said series of pumped fluid passages;   g. wherein at least one of the body plates is a doubled faced plate having drive fluid passages on both faces; and   h. wherein at least one of the body plates is a doubled faced plate having pumped fluid passages on both faces.   
     
     
         2 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the body plates have coplanar pumped fluid passages formed in the plane of the plates and at least one transverse pumped fluid passage connecting the coplanar pumped fluid passages. 
     
     
         3 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the body plates have coplanar drive fluid passages formed in the plane of the plates and at least one transverse drive fluid passage connects the coplanar drive fluid passages. 
     
     
         4 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 3 , further comprising four body plates and three diaphragm assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a strainer plate having a plurality of apertures positioned between the drive fluid passage and each diaphragm assemblies. 
     
     
         6 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein    
     
     
         7 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein    
     
     
         8 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm assemblies comprise three diaphragm layers. 
     
     
         9 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein one body plate is an end plate distributing pumped fluid through only one face. 
     
     
         10 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 9 , wherein one body plate is an end plate distributing drive fluid through only one face. 
     
     
         11 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a reciprocating plunger moving substantially perpendicular to a plane of the body plates pressurizes the drive fluid against the diaphragm assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the plunger has at least one radial passage and a center passage. 
     
     
         13 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the radial passage of the plunger transitions between an open reservoir and an enclosed fluid passage to move drive fluid against the diaphragm assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet check valve communicates with the pumped fluid passages through a first body plate and the outlet check valve communicates with the pumped fluid passages through a second body plate. 
     
     
         15 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 8 , wherein at least two of the diaphragm layers have leak apertures aligning with a leak aperture of an adjacent body plate. 
     
     
         16 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the adjacent body plate has pumped fluid passages facing the diaphragm assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 15 , wherein a leak detection passage communicates between the body plate leak aperture and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the body plates has a pumped fluid face having a concave surface. 
     
     
         19 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plunger is driven by a pilot valve controlled pneumatic reciprocating motor. 
     
     
         20 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) a bleed passage communicates with each face of each diaphragm assembly, and (ii) selectively closeable bleed valves block the bleed passages from an environment external to the pump. 
     
     
         21 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of all the body plates is approximately equal. 
     
     
         22 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of all the diaphragm assemblies is approximately equal. 
     
     
         23 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a. at least three plate means for enclosing pump components;   b. at least two diaphragm means positioned between the at least three plate means;   c. a means for distributing drive fluid to a drive side of each of the at least two diaphragm means;   d. a means for distributing pumped fluid to a pump side of each of the at least two diaphragm means;   e. a means for allowing one-way fluid communication into the pump side;   f. a means for allowing one-way fluid communication out of the pump side;   g. wherein at least one of the plate means is a doubled faced plate having means for distributing drive fluid on both faces; and   h. wherein at least one of the plate means is a doubled faced plate having means for distributing pumped fluid on both faces.   
     
     
         24 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a reciprocating plunger moving substantially perpendicular to a plane of the plate means pressurizes the drive fluid against the diaphragm means.