Metallic Sandwich Diaphragm Pump Mechanism

Abstract

A diaphragm pump including a pump head having at least one body plate with a pumped fluid face and at least one body plate with a drive fluid face, a diaphragm assembly positioned between the pumped fluid face and the drive fluid face, and the pumped fluid face having a positive profile biasing the diaphragm assembly in a direction toward the drive fluid face.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a. a pump head including a diaphragm assembly;   b. a drive fluid reservoir communicating with the pump head;   c. a plunger extending thought the fluid reservoir and directing drive fluid against the diaphragm assembly; and   d. a bushing between the diaphragm assembly and the fluid reservoir, the bushing including a main plunger passage into which the plunger travels;   e. wherein (i) a surface of the bushing engaged by the plunger, and (ii) a portion of the plunger engaging the surface, both comprise a ceramic.   
     
     
         9 . The diaphragm pump of claim  1 , wherein the main plunger passage having a tolerance of less than 0.5/1000 of an inch, diametrically, with respect to the plunger. 
     
     
         10 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a. a pump head including at least one body plate with a pumped fluid face and at least one body plate with a drive fluid face;   b. a diaphragm assembly positioned between the pumped fluid face and the drive fluid face;   c. wherein the pumped fluid face has positive profile biasing the diaphragm assembly in a direction toward the drive fluid face.   
     
     
         11 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , wherein the positive profile is positioned on an outer radial half of the pumped fluid face. 
     
     
         12 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , wherein the positive profile is positioned on an outer radial quarter of the pumped fluid face. 
     
     
         13 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , the diaphragm assembly includes at least two metal diaphragms. 
     
     
         14 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , wherein the diaphragm assembly comprises a third, leak detection diaphragm. 
     
     
         15 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , wherein an outer radial portion of the pumped fluid face includes a convex shape and an inner radial portion of the pumped fluid face has a concave shape. 
     
     
         16 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a. a pump head including a pumped fluid side and a drive fluid side separated by a diaphragm assembly;   b. a burp valve assembly hydraulically communicating with the drive fluid side of the diaphragm assembly and comprising; i) a valve housing having an upper and lower valve seat; ii) a valve ball positioned to move between sealing engagement with the upper and lower valve seat; and iii) a valve poppet positioned at least partially in the valve housing and moveable to engage the valve ball and displace the valve ball from engagement with the upper seat.   
     
     
         17 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein the valve housing is at least partially covered by a drive fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein the valve poppet is biased out of engagement with the valve ball. 
     
     
         19 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein in a fluid path is formed through the lower valve seat to an exterior of the valve housing. 
     
     
         20 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein the distance between the upper and lower valve seats is less than twice the diameter of the valve ball. 
     
     
         21 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein the burp valve assembly is positioned in a burp well and the burp well is in fluid communication with a drive fluid reservoir of the diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         22 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein a passage from a drive fluid side of the pump head communicates with the lower valve seat. 
     
     
         23 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a. a pump head including a pumped fluid side and a drive fluid side;   b. an internal relief valve hydraulically communicating with the drive fluid side of the pump head and comprising: i) a valve bore formed in the pump head and communicating with the drive fluid side of the pump head; ii) a valve housing with a valve seat inserted with the valve bore with the valve seat communicating with the drive fluid side of the pump head; iii) a valve stem biased against the valve seat in order to bias the internal relief valve in a closed position; and iv) a side passage communicating with the valve bore and forming a fluid path to the drive fluid side of the pump head when the valve stem is pushed out of engagement with the valve seat;   c. an indicator assembly comprising: i) an indicator bore formed in the pump head; ii) a passage establishing a fluid path between the indicator bore and the side passage in the valve bore; iii) an indicator responsive to pressurized fluid entering the indicator bore from the side passage in the valve bore.   
     
     
         24 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 23 , wherein the indicator includes spool sliding within the indicator bore in response pressurized fluid entering the indicator bore. 
     
     
         25 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 24 , wherein the spool include a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion with a piston surface formed at a transition from the smaller to larger diameter portion. 
     
     
         26 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 25 , wherein an indicator housing is positioned within the indicator bore and the spool Is positioned within the indicator housing. 
     
     
         27 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , wherein the center of the diaphragm assembly is closer to the drive fluid face than the pumped fluid face when the diaphragm assembly is in a resting position.