Diaphragm pump and valve assembly for a diaphragm pump

Abstract

A diaphragm pump and a valve system each include a valve plate having a planar valve engaging surface, a plurality of planar valve seats formed in the valve engaging surface, and a hole extending through each of the valve seats to an opposite face. Valves are disposed in the valve seats. Each of the valves includes a stem having a longitudinal axis extending through an associated one of the holes, and a flap at a first end of the valve extending transversely to the longitudinal axis. The stem and the flap have a non-circular cross-section, and a width of the flap and stem transverse to the longitudinal axis is greater than a depth of the flap and stem transverse to the longitudinal axis along the valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A diaphragm pump comprising:
 a valve plate having a planar valve engaging surface, a plurality of planar valve seats formed in the valve engaging surface, and a hole extending through each of the valve seats to an opposite face;   a plurality of valves disposed in the valve seats, each of the valves comprising:   a stem having a longitudinal axis extending through an associated one of the holes, and   a flap at a first end of the valve extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the stem and the flap having non-circular cross-section, wherein a width of the flap and stem transverse to the longitudinal axis is greater than a depth of the flap and stem transverse to the longitudinal axis along the valve.   
     
     
         2 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve stem comprises a portion of increased cross-section spaced apart from the flap. 
     
     
         3 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 2 , wherein a thickness of the valve plate through the valve seat is greater than a distance between the flap and the portion of increased cross-section of the stem in a relaxed condition. 
     
     
         4 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap comprises a concave valve plate engagement surface. 
     
     
         5 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap has an elliptical periphery. 
     
     
         6 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprise inlet valves. 
     
     
         7 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprise outlet valves. 
     
     
         8 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprise inlet valves mounted on a first face of the valve plate and outlet valves mounted on an opposite face of the valve plate. 
     
     
         9 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet valves and the outlet valves are interchangeable. 
     
     
         10 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , comprising a unitary wobble plate and a plurality of distinct diaphragms. 
     
     
         11 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve plate comprises a radiused transition from each of the valve seats to an associate one of the holes. 
     
     
         12 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a wobble plate;   a plurality of diaphragms;   a motor;   an inlet port; and   an outlet port.   
     
     
         13 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprise an elastic material selected from the group consisting of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), Fluorine Kautschuk Material (FKM), or materials containing butadiene and sodium (BUNA®). 
     
     
         14 . A flexible valve comprising:
 a stem having a longitudinal axis;   a flap at a first end of the valve extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the stem and the flap having non-circular cross-section, wherein a ratio of a width to depth transverse to the axis is constant along the valve;   a portion of increased cross-section spaced apart from the flap.   
     
     
         15 . The flexible valve according to  claim 14 , wherein the flap comprises a concave portion facing the stem engagement surface. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible valve according to  claim 14 , wherein the flap has an elliptical periphery. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible valve according to  claim 15 , wherein the flap has an elliptical periphery. 
     
     
         18 . A valve system comprising:
 a valve plate having a planar valve engaging surface, a plurality of planar valve seats formed in the valve engaging surface, and a hole extending through each of the valve seats to an opposite face;   a plurality of valves disposed in the valve seats, each of the valves comprising:   a stem having a longitudinal axis extending through an associated one of the holes, and a flap at a first end of the valve extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the stem and the flap having non-circular cross-section, wherein a width of the flap and the stem transverse to the longitudinal axis is greater than a depth of the flap and stem transverse to the longitudinal axis along the valve.   
     
     
         19 . The valve system according to  claim 18 , wherein the valve stem comprises a portion of increased cross-section spaced apart from the flap. 
     
     
         20 . The valve system according to  claim 19 , wherein a thickness of the valve plate through the valve seat is greater than a distance between the flap and the portion of increased cross-section of the stem in a relaxed condition. 
     
     
         21 . The valve system according to  claim 20 , wherein the stem of each valve is stretched when mounted to form a seal at each end of the hole in which the valve is mounted. 
     
     
         22 . The valve system according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of valves comprise inlet valves mounted on a first face of the valve plate and outlet valves mounted on an opposite face of the valve plate. 
     
     
         23 . The valve system according to  claim 18 , wherein the inlet valves and the outlet valves are interchangeable.