Modular bib pump

Abstract

A modular pump features a gas-control-and-drive-unit (GCDU), a cartridge-style-pumping-module (CSPU) and a retainer clip (RC). The GCDU includes a GCDU-housing to receive/provide gas to a gas-passageway causing a GCDU-force in one direction; an actuator-rod-and-slide-valve-arrangement (AR/SVA) to respond to a CSPM-force and exhaust the gas from the GCDU-housing causing a GCDU-exhaustion-force in an opposite direction; and a GCDU-coupling-member. The CSPM includes a CSPM-housing to receive a fluid to be pumped, and a piston-and-dual-diaphragm-arrangement (PDDA) to respond to the GCDU-force, provide the CSPM-force and pump the fluid from the CSPM, and to respond to the GCDU-exhaustion-force and pump the fluid from the CSPM. The CSPM-housing includes a CSPM coupling member to detachably couple to the GCDU-coupling-member. The RC detachably couples a piston of the PDDA and an actuator rod of the AR/SVA, so the CSPM attaches/detaches from the GCDU using a three-step process for field replacement using the RC.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular pump comprising:
 a gas control and drive unit having a gas control and drive unit housing configured to receive gas from a gas inlet and provide the gas to a gas passageway so as to cause a gas control and drive unit force, having an actuator rod and slide valve arrangement configured to respond to a cartridge style pumping module force in an axial direction and exhaust the gas from a gas exhaust outlet of the gas control and drive unit housing so as to cause a gas control and drive unit exhaustion force in an opposite axial direction, and also having a gas control and drive unit coupling member;   a cartridge style pumping module having a cartridge style pump module housing configured to receive a fluid to be pumped from a fluid inlet, having a piston and dual diaphragm arrangement configured to respond to the gas control and drive unit force, provide the cartridge style pumping module force in the axial direction and pump the fluid from a fluid discharge outlet of the cartridge style pumping module, and also configured to respond to the gas control and drive unit exhaustion force in the opposite axial direction and pump the fluid from the fluid discharge outlet of the cartridge style pumping module, the cartridge style pumping module housing having a cartridge style pumping module coupling member configured to detachably couple to the gas control and drive unit coupling member; and   a retainer clip configured to detachably couple together a piston of the piston and dual diaphragm arrangement and an actuator rod of the actuator rod and slide valve arrangement, so that the cartridge style pumping module can be attached and detached from the gas control and drive unit using a three step process so as to be field replaceable using a retainer clip attaching/detaching tool.   
     
     
         2 . A modular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge style pumping module is attached to the gas control and drive unit using the three step process, as follows:
 partially coupling together the cartridge style pumping module coupling member and the gas control and drive unit coupling member so as to leave a space between the cartridge style pumping module and the gas control and drive unit for accessing the retainer clip;   attaching together the piston of the piston and dual diaphragm arrangement and the actuator rod of the actuator rod and slide valve arrangement with the retainer clip using the retainer clip attaching/detaching tool to push the retainer clip into a locking position; and   fully coupling together the cartridge style pumping module coupling member and the gas control and drive unit coupling member in a locking engagement.   
     
     
         3 . A modular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge style pumping module is detached from the gas control and drive unit using the three step process, as follows:
 partially decoupling and unlocking the cartridge style pumping module coupling member and the gas control and drive unit coupling member from a locking engagement, so as to leave a space between the cartridge style pumping module and the gas control and drive unit for accessing the retainer clip;   detaching the piston of the piston and dual diaphragm arrangement and the actuator rod of the actuator rod and slide valve arrangement by removing the retainer clip using the retainer clip attaching/detaching tool to push the retainer clip from a locking position; and   fully decoupling together the cartridge style pumping module coupling member and the gas control and drive unit coupling member.   
     
     
         4 . A modular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the gas control and drive unit housing and the cartridge style pumping module housing are configured along a common longitudinal axis; and   the cartridge style pumping module coupling member comprises a pair of tabs configured on opposite sides of the cartridge style pumping module housing and extending in parallel with the common longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         5 . A modular pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the gas control and drive unit coupling member comprise a pair of channels configured on opposite sides of the gas control and drive unit housing and configured with openings to detachably couple to the pair of tabs. 
     
     
         6 . A modular pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the pair of tabs are configured to deflect towards or away from the common longitudinal axis in order to couple or decouple to or from the pair of channels. 
     
     
         7 . A modular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the modular pump is a bag-in-the-box (BIB) pump for pumping syrup. 
     
     
         8 . A modular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the actuator rod comprises a tapered end having a slot or opening formed or configured therein;   the piston shaft comprises a flanged portion having a cylindrical recessed channel portion, a rim portion and an interior cavity formed within the recessed channel portion configured to receive the tapered end;   the retainer clip comprises a three prong clip having prongs;   so that the tapered end is configured in the slot or opening, and the retainer clip is pushed so a center prong passed into and through the slot or opening and the interior cavity, and two outer prongs are adapted in the cylindrical recessed channel portion and engage the rim portion, so as to lock, fasten or couple the actuator rod and piston shaft together.