Air driven diaphragm pump

Abstract

A double diaphragm pump having an air chamber housing centrally located between two pump chamber housings. The air chamber housing includes a center section and two outwardly facing concave discs. Each pump chamber housing includes a pump chamber shell mating with one of the discs with a flexible diaphragm therebetween. Check valve chambers and inlet and outlet passages associated with each pump chamber and with inlet and exhaust manifolds control flow through the pump. A solenoid actuated valve alternately directs air pressure to each of the two diaphragms for reciprocal pumping action. Inner pistons associated with the diaphragms include stops which limit pump stroke in each direction. The solenoid may be driven by conventional electronics on a timed stroke or responsive to flow considerations.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An air driven double diaphragm pump comprising 
       an air chamber housing having a center section and two outwardly facing concave discs rigidly positioned to either side of said center section;  
       two pump chamber housings fixed to said air chamber housing and mating with said two outwardly facing concave discs about the periphery thereof, respectively;  
       a control rod slidably extending through said center section of said air chamber housing and extending concentrically through said two outwardly facing concave discs;  
       two diaphragms concentrically fixed to the ends of said control rod, respectively, and extending outwardly to the mating peripheries of said two outwardly facing concave discs and said two pump chamber housings, respectively;  
       two pistons on said control rod between said two diaphragms and said air chamber housing, respectively, each piston including a stop facing said air chamber housing to abut against said air chamber housing to define the extent of slidable movement of said control rod;  
       an actuator valve coupled with  immediately attached to said air chamber housing and including an air inlet and an actuator piston to provide alternating pressure to said diaphragms independently of the position of said control rod.  
     
     
       2. The pump of  claim 1  wherein said actuator valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
       3. The pump of  claim 2  wherein said solenoid valve includes timed alternation of pressure to said diaphragms. 
     
     
       4. An air driven double diaphragm pump comprising 
       
         an air chamber housing having a center section and two outwardly facing concave discs rigidly positioned to either side of said center section;  
       
       
         two pump chamber housings fixed to said air chamber housing and mating with said two outwardly facing concave discs about the periphery thereof, respectively;  
       
       
         a control rod slidably extending through said center section of said air chamber housing and extending concentrically through said two outwardly facing concave discs;  
       
       
         two diaphragms concentrically fixed to the ends of said control rod, respectively, and extending outwardly to the mating peripheries of said two outwardly facing concave discs and said two pump chamber housings, respectively;  
       
       
         two pistons on said control rod between said two diaphragms and said air chamber housing, respectively, each piston including a stop facing said air chamber housing to abut against said air chamber housing to define the extent of slidable movement of said control rod;  
       
       
         an actuator valve attached to said air chamber housing and including an air inlet and an actuator piston to provide alternating pressure to said diaphragms independently of the position of said control rod, said actuator piston having two positions, a first position with said air inlet in communication with one of said two outwardly facing concave discs and a second position with said air inlet in communication with the other of said two outwardly facing concave discs. 
       
     
     
       5. The pump of  claim 4 , said actuator valve being a solenoid valve. 
     
     
       6. The pump of  claim 4 , said solenoid valve includes timed alternation of pressure to said diaphragms. 
     
     
       7. An air driven double diaphragm pump comprising 
       
         an air chamber housing having a center section and two outwardly facing concave discs rigidly positioned to either side of said center section;  
       
       
         two pump chamber housings fixed to said air chamber housing and mating with said two outwardly facing concave discs about the periphery thereof, respectively;  
       
       
         a control rod slidably extending through said center section of said air chamber housing and extending concentrically through said two outwardly facing concave discs;  
       
       
         two diaphragms concentrically fixed to the ends of said control rod, respectively, and extending outwardly to the mating peripheries of said two outwardly facing concave discs and said two pump chamber housings, respectively;  
       
       
         two pistons on said control rod between said two diaphragms and said air chamber housing, respectively, each piston including a stop facing said air chamber housing to abut against said air chamber housing to define the extent of slidable movement of said control rod;  
       
       
         an actuator valve attached to said air chamber housing and including an air inlet, an actuator piston and a spring, said actuator piston providing alternating pressure to said diaphragms independently of the position of said control rod and having two positions, a first position with said air inlet in communication with one of said two outwardly facing concave discs and a second position with said air inlet in communication with the other of said two outwardly facing concave discs, said actuator valve being a solenoid valve, said spring biasing said actuator piston toward said first position, said actuator piston being in said second position with actuation of said solenoid valve.