US3391963A - Permeable diaphragm pump - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1968 w. J. WEEKS 3,391,963

PERMEABLE D IAPHRAGM PUMP Filed Feb. 6, 1967 Wfla f f (I We e14;

INVENTOR.

ATTO/P/VEV United States Patent o PERMEABLE DIAPHRAGM PUMP Wyatt J. Weeks, Houston, Tex., assignor to Handle};- Weeks, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 614,241

2 Claims. (Cl, 302 36) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pump for moving fine granulated aerated dry material, having means for drawing a supply of the material into the pump upon movement of the pump diaphragm in one direction and discharging said supply of material upon the movement of the pump diaphragm in the opposite direction, imparting a power thrust to the supply of material discharged.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a permeable diaphragm pump.

Background the invention A pump for finely granulated aerated dry material having a flexible, permeable diaphragm mounted in a novel housing providing easy manipulation of the diaphragm during pumping operations, without excessive wear, and that is self-cleaning, cleansing itself of material being pumped upon each stroke, and having novel means for applying and directing the flow of an operating fluid.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the pump in a pumping operation, with relation to unloading a car of dry granulated material, and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, in substantially longitudinal axial cross section, of the pump and connecting conduits.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a conduit leading to a material container such as the car 2, which connects into the inlet conduit 3 in which the spring loaded valve 4 is mounted. The pump housing consists of the joined conical shaped members 5, 6 having the outwardly extending flanges 7, 8 at the abutting ends with means for joining said sections as the nuts and bolts 9, 10.

The inlet conduit 3 preferably discharges into the housing section through the side wall thereof, and a discharge conduit 11 is mounted on the small end of the housing member 5, and the discharge port 12 extends into said conduit 11 and forms the valve seat for the spring loaded valve 13, mounted in the discharge conduit 11.

One end of the pipe line 14 is mounted in the discharge end of the discharge conduit 11. A plugged port 15 is formed in the discharge conduit 11 to permit air to be introduced into the line 14 to clean out said line, or to reaerate the material flowing therethrough.

3,391,963 Patented July 9, 1968 ice A permeable diaphragm, such as a heavy canvas 16, is mounted in the pump housing by anchoring the periphery thereof between the flanges 7, 8. A piston 17 is axially anchored to one end of the piston rod 18 and'the diaphragm 16 is anchored to the piston 17 by the washers 19, 19. The outer periphery of the piston 17 is beveled to reduce wear on the diaphragm 16. 1 1

On the small endof the housing member 6 is the tubular extension 20 into which the piston rod 18 extends, being supported by the bushing 21. On the extended end of the rod 18 is the switch actuator 22 and a similar actuator 23 is mounted on the piston rod 18 adjacent the opposite end. A sliding shaft 24, mounted in the extension 20, and having the notch 25 in which the toggle lever 26 of the switch 27 is mounted, is positioned to make contact with the respective actuators 22, 23, at the respective ends of the stroke of the piston, to reverse the direction of flow of the power fluid. A conduit 28 extends into the housing member 6 at one end, and its other end is mounted on the flow control valve 30. The switch 27 is pneumatically connected to the valve actuator 29, and a source of power, such as an air compressor (not shown) has a positive and negative conduit connection 31, 32 in the flow control valve 30, and a discharge port 33, provides a vent for the negative stroke of the pump.

When the pump is activated, the power fluid will be pumped through the positive conduit connection 31 into the housing member 6, forcing the piston 17 and diaphragm 16 outwardly, exerting a thrust on the contents of the housing 5, compressing the contents and opening the valve 13 and pushing the material in the housing 5 into the conduit 14. The diaphragm 16 being permeable, air will flow through the diaphragm, and will aid in pushing the material into the conduit 14, and will at the same time, maintain the diaphragm free of any granular material at the termination of each power stroke. Upon reaching the end of the power stroke, the actuator 22 will contact the sliding shaft 24 and move same with it until the toggle 26 will have switched, and the control 29 will change the air flow in the housing 6 from positive to negative, discharging the air drawn therefrom through the port 33, and drawing the piston 17 and diaphragm 16 in the opposite direction, permitting the valve 13 to close and opening the valve 4, and drawing into the housing 5 another charge of aerated material, until the actuator 23 contacts the sliding shaft 24 and moves same with it until the toggle 26 will have switched and the control 29 changed the air flow in the housing 6 from negative to positive, and the cycle is repeated.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a permeable diaphragm pump, a pair of conical housing members, the wide ends of said members being in abutting relation, an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit leading into one of said members, spring loaded valves in said conduits, a tubular extension on the small end of the other of said housing members, a piston rod mounted in said housing and reciprocating in said extension, an air permeable flexible diaphragm having its outer periphery anchored between said abutting ends of said housing members, a piston on said piston rod and axially engaged with said diaphragm, and means for reciprocating said piston, opening the inlet valve and closing the discharge valve when the piston moves in one direction and opening the discharge valve and closing the inlet valve when the piston moves in the other direction.

2. In a permeable diaphragm pump, a pair of conical housing members, the wide ends of said members being in abutting relation, an inlet conduit and a discharge conduif leading into one of said members, said discharge eoni References Cited' dfli-thflVi-Hgfifi -3il -il1iet f0l' reaerating .thetmaterial being- 2;. v.,. a A .UNITED; PATEN' FS ,ggihnlvz; pumped, spring loaded valves in said conduits, a tubular extension on the small end of the other of said housing 1005098 10/1911 Van Berendonck 30241 X members, a piston rod mounted in said housing and -re- 5 30481121 8/1962 9 3 103-452 ciprocating in'said extension, a flexible diaphragm having 3: 1 g l y 1 a H, z

1ts outer periphery anchored between sald abutting ends 99,826 /1967. wi fims of said housing members, a piston on said piston rod and 0 7 5 axially engaged with said diaphragm, and means for reciprocating said piston, opening the inletwvalve andelosing 1O EVON BLUNK f I the discharge valve when the piston movesin one direc- RICHARD E. AEGERTER, 'Exdmin ei'.

tion and opening the discharge valve and closing the inlet M L AJEMAN AsSismht-Exdminr valve when the piston moves in the other direction. t

Images