Flushable pump fluid chamber

Abstract

A fluid cover for a displacement pump includes an inlet and an outlet oriented to provide desired flow characteristics to fluid entering a fluid chamber defined between the fluid cover and a diaphragm. The inlet is positioned to provide fluid to the fluid chamber at an oblique angle relative to the fluid cover. The oblique angle prevents the fluid from impinging on the fluid cover and the diaphragm, thereby maintaining a fluid velocity within the fluid chamber. The fluid velocity and rotational movement of the fluid facilitates flushing of the fluid chamber, as areas of low velocity or no velocity are eliminated from the fluid chamber, thereby preventing residuals from settling within the fluid chamber. The outlet is also positioned at an oblique angle to the fluid cover to maintain the rotational movement of the fluid flow.

1 . A pump comprising:
 a pump drive system;   a first fluid displacement member disposed at a first end of the pump drive system;   a first fluid cover attached to a first end of the pump drive system, wherein the first fluid displacement member is secured between the pump drive system and the first fluid cover, wherein the first fluid cover comprises:
 a first cover body defined by a first inner wall and a first outer wall, wherein the first inner wall and the first fluid displacement member define a first fluid chamber; 
 a first fluid port extending through the first cover body, wherein the first fluid port includes a first inner orifice extending through the first inner wall, wherein the first fluid port is configured to direct a flow through the first inner orifice and into the first fluid chamber at a first oblique angle to the inner wall; and 
 a second fluid port extending through the first cover body, wherein the second fluid port includes a second inner orifice extending through the first inner wall and configured to direct a flow through the second inner orifice at a second oblique angle to the first inner wall; and 
 wherein the first inner orifice is disposed a first radial distance from a center of the first inner wall and the second inner orifice is disposed at a second radial distance from the center; 
   an inlet manifold attached to the first fluid cover and configured to provide a fluid to the first fluid chamber through the first inlet; and   an outlet manifold attached to the first fluid cover and configured to receive the fluid from the fluid chamber through the first outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid port further comprises:
 a first outer orifice configured to receive the pumped fluid from the inlet manifold; and   a first flow path extending from the first outer orifice to the first inner orifice.   
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the second fluid port further comprises:
 a second outer orifice configured to provide the pumped fluid to the outlet manifold; and   a second flow path extending from the second outer orifice to the second inner orifice.   
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first radial distance is approximately equal to the second radial distance. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner orifice is disposed proximate a circumferential edge of the inner wall, and the second outer orifice is disposed proximate the circumferential edge of the inner wall. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the first inner orifice is a mirror-image of the second inner orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein the first fluid port is a mirror-image of the second fluid port. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second fluid displacement member disposed at a second end of the pump drive system; and   a second fluid cover attached to a second end of the pump drive system, wherein the second fluid displacement member is secured between the second fluid cover and the second end of the pump drive system, wherein the second fluid cover comprises:
 a second cover body defined by a second inner wall and a second outer wall, wherein the second inner wall and the second fluid displacement member define a second fluid chamber; 
 a third fluid port extending through the second cover body, wherein the third fluid port includes a third inner orifice extending through the second inner wall and configured to direct the pumped fluid into the second fluid chamber through the third inner orifice at a third oblique angle to the inner wall; and 
 a fourth fluid port extending though the second cover body, wherein the fourth fluid port includes a fourth inner orifice extending through the second inner wall and positioned to direct a flow through the fourth inner orifice at a fourth oblique angle to the second; and 
 wherein the third inner orifice is disposed at a third radial distance from a center of the second inner wall, and the fourth inner orifice is disposed at a fourth radial distance from the center. 
   
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , and wherein:
 the first fluid displacement member comprises a first diaphragm; and   the second fluid displacement member comprises a second diaphragm.   
     
     
         10 . A fluid cover for a pump, the fluid cover comprising:
 a cover body extending between a convex outer wall and a concave inner wall;   a first fluid port extending through the body, wherein the first fluid port comprises:
 a first outer orifice; 
 a first inner orifice extending through the concave inner wall; and 
 a first flow path extending between the first outer orifice and the first inner orifice; 
 wherein the first inner orifice is positioned on the concave inner wall such that a pumped fluid is directed through the first inner orifice at a first oblique angle to the concave inner wall; 
   an second fluid port extending through the body and disposed opposite the first fluid port, wherein the second fluid port comprises:
 a second inner orifice extending through the concave inner wall; 
 a second outer orifice; and 
 a second flow path extending between the second outer orifice and the second inner orifice; 
 wherein the second inner orifice is positioned on the concave inner wall such that a pumped fluid is directed through the second inner orifice at a second oblique angle to the concave inner wall. 
   
     
     
         11 . The fluid cover of  claim 10 , wherein the first inner orifice is disposed a first radial distance from a center of the concave inner wall, and wherein the second inner orifice is disposed a second radial distance from the center of the concave inner wall. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid cover of  claim 11 , wherein the first radial distance is approximately equal to the second radial distance. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid cover of  claim 10 , wherein the first inner orifice is disposed proximate a circumferential edge of the concave inner wall, and wherein the second inner orifice is disposed proximate the circumferential edge of the concave inner wall. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid cover of  claim 13 , wherein the first inner orifice is a mirror-image of the second inner orifice. 
     
     
         15 . A method of flushing a fluid chamber, the method comprising:
 drawing a fluid into a fluid chamber defined between a fluid cover and a fluid displacement member through a first inner orifice, wherein the first inner orifice is positioned to provide the fluid to the fluid chamber at a first oblique angle relative to an inner wall of the fluid cover, thereby imparting a rotational movement to the fluid entering the fluid chamber; and   driving the fluid out of the fluid chamber through an second inner orifice positioned to receive the fluid circulating within the fluid chamber, wherein the second inner orifice is positioned on the inner wall to direct the fluid at a second oblique angle relative to the inner wall.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid displacement member comprises a diaphragm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first inner orifice is disposed proximate a circumferential edge of the inner wall, and the second inner orifice is disposed proximate a circumferential edge of the inner wall. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first inner orifice is configured to provide the fluid to the first fluid chamber tangentially to a circumferential edge of the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first inner orifice is disposed at a first radial distance from a center of the inner wall, and the second inner orifice is disposed at a second radial distance from the center of the inner wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , and wherein the first oblique angle is positioned such that the pumped fluid entering the fluid chamber through the first inner orifice does not impinge on the inner wall or the fluid displacement member.