Diaphragm pump utilizing duckbill valves, multi-directional ports and flexible electrical connectivity

Abstract

Diaphragm pump features upper/lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (U/LDPAs) for pumping fluid and a manifold assembly arranged therebetween. The manifold assembly include a manifold body having an inlet with dual inlet ports and an inlet chamber to receive the fluid from a source; an inlet check valve assembly channel having an inlet duckbill check valve assembly (DCVA) arranged therein to receive the fluid from the dual inlet ports; U/LDPAs orifices having the U/LDPA arranged therein to receive the fluid from the inlet DCVA via first upper/lower manifold conduits and provide the fluid from the U/LDPAs via second upper/lower manifold conduits; an outlet check valve assembly channel having an outlet DCVA arranged therein to receive the fluid from the U/LDPAs; and an outlet having dual outlet ports and an outlet chamber to receive the fluid from the U/LDPAs and provide the fluid from the pump to a outlet source.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A pump, comprising:
 upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies for pumping fluid through the pump; and   a manifold assembly arranged between the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies, comprising:
 a manifold body configured with an inlet having at least one inlet port and an inlet chamber to receive the fluid from at least one fluid source, configured with an inlet check valve assembly channel having an inlet duckbill check valve assembly arranged therein to receive the fluid from the at least one inlet port, configured with upper and lower diaphragm pumping assembly orifices having the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies arranged therein to receive the fluid from the inlet duckbill check valve assembly via first upper and lower manifold conduits and provide the fluid from the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies via second upper and lower manifold conduits, configured with an outlet check valve assembly channel having an outlet duckbill check valve assembly arranged therein to receive the fluid from the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies, and an outlet having at least one outlet port and an outlet chamber to receive the fluid from the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies and provide the fluid from the pump to at least one fluid outlet source. 
   
     
     
         2 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet port comprises dual inlet ports configured to receive inlet port fitting connections, and the at least one outlet port comprises dual outlet ports configured to receive outlet port fitting connections. 
     
     
         3 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet duckbill check valve assembly comprises two duckbill check valves, and the outlet duckbill check valve assembly comprises two duckbill check valves. 
     
     
         4 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold assembly comprises two manifold assembly plates attached to upper and lower surfaces of the manifold body and configured with the first and second upper and lower manifold conduits. 
     
     
         5 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold body is a plastic injection molded integral structure. 
     
     
         6 . A pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the dual inlet ports are configured or oriented orthogonal to one another; and the dual outlet ports are configured or oriented orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         7 . A pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the dual inlet ports and the inlet chamber are configured to receive the fluid from two fluid sources for mixing together in the inlet chamber; and the dual outlet ports and the outlet chamber are configured to provide a mixed fluid to the at least one fluid outlet source. 
     
     
         8 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet duckbill check valve assembly and the outlet duckbill check valve assembly are configured to process a particle medium having up to 4 millimeters (mm) in diameter. 
     
     
         9 . A pump according to  claim 2 , wherein either the dual inlet ports, or the dual outlet ports, or both the dual inlet ports and the dual outlet ports are configured to receive different port fitting connections. 
     
     
         10 . A pump, comprising:
 upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies for pumping fluid through the pump; and   a manifold assembly arranged between the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies, comprising:
 a manifold body configured with an inlet having dual inlet ports and an inlet chamber to receive the fluid from one or more fluid sources, configured with an inlet check valve assembly channel having an inlet duckbill check valve assembly arranged therein to receive the fluid from the dual inlet ports, configured with upper and lower diaphragm pumping assembly orifices having the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies arranged therein to receive the fluid from the inlet duckbill check valve assembly via first upper and lower manifold conduits and provide the fluid from the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies via second upper and lower manifold conduits, configured with an outlet check valve assembly channel having an outlet duckbill check valve assembly arranged therein to receive the fluid from the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies, and an outlet having dual outlet ports and an outlet chamber to receive the fluid from the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies and provide the fluid from the pump to one or more fluid outlet sources. 
   
     
     
         11 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the dual inlet ports are configured to receive inlet port fitting connections, and the dual outlet ports are configured to receive outlet port fitting connections. 
     
     
         12 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlet duckbill check valve assembly comprises two duckbill check valves, and the outlet duckbill check valve assembly comprises two duckbill check valves. 
     
     
         13 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the manifold assembly comprises two manifold assembly plates attached to upper and lower surfaces of the manifold body and configured with the first and second upper and lower manifold conduits. 
     
     
         14 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the manifold body is a plastic injection molded integral structure. 
     
     
         15 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the dual inlet ports are configured or oriented orthogonal to one another; and the dual outlet ports are configured or oriented orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         16 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the dual inlet ports and the inlet chamber are configured to receive the fluid from two fluid sources for mixing together in the inlet chamber; and the dual outlet ports and the outlet chamber are configured to provide a mixed fluid to one or more fluid outlet sources. 
     
     
         17 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlet duckbill check valve assembly and the outlet duckbill check valve assembly are configured to process a particle medium having up to 4 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         18 . A pump according to  claim 10 , wherein either the dual inlet ports, or the dual outlet ports, or both the dual inlet ports and the dual outlet ports are configured to receive different port fitting connections.