Abstract: A multi-chamber wobble plate pump that includes a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of pump chambers. The pump further includes a plurality of inlet valves each located within one of the pump chambers to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the pump chambers. The pump also includes a plurality of outlet valves that control fluid flow from the pump chambers to the outlet port. A wobble plate is coupled to a diaphragm and a plurality of pistons. The diaphragm has at least one flex area with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The diaphragm has a plurality of diaphragm piston openings each with a diaphragm piston opening centerline. The wobble plate has a plurality of wobble plate piston openings, each wobble plate piston opening having a wobble plate piston open centerline that is offset from one of diaphragm piston opening centerlines.

Abstract: A multi-chamber wobble plate pump having a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of pump chambers. A wobble plate is coupled to a diaphragm and a plurality of pistons. Rotation of the wobble plate moves the pistons within the pump chambers to draw in and force fluid out of the chambers. The pump includes a plurality of inlet valves each located within one of the pump chambers to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the pump chambers. Each inlet valve has an asymmetric cross-section, a thin section and a stem along a longitudinal axis. The thin section of the valve has less mechanical strength than the remaining portion of the valve. The valve is configured to open first at the thin section from reduced pressure during outward movement of the piston allowing air to be removed from the chambers.

Abstract: A multi-chamber wobble plate pump that includes a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of pump chambers. The pump further includes a plurality of inlet valves each located within one of the pump chambers to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the pump chambers. The pump also includes a plurality of outlet valves that control fluid flow from the pump chambers to the outlet port. A wobble plate is coupled to a diaphragm and a plurality of pistons. Rotation of the wobble plate moves the pistons within the pump chambers to draw in and force fluid out of the chambers. The diaphragm has at least one flex area with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The trailing edge of the diaphragm is thicker than the leading edge. The diaphragm may also have a plurality of diaphragm piston openings each with a diaphragm piston opening centerline.

Abstract: A multi-chamber wobble plate pump that includes a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of pump chambers. The pump further includes a plurality of inlet valves each located within one of the pump chambers to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the pump chambers. The pump also includes a plurality of outlet valves that control fluid flow from the pump chambers to the outlet port. A wobble plate is coupled to a diaphragm and a plurality of pistons. Rotation of the wobble plate moves the pistons within the pump chambers to draw in and force fluid out of the chambers. The diaphragm has at least one flex area with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The trailing edge of the diaphragm is thicker than the leading edge. The diaphragm may also have a plurality of diaphragm piston openings each with a diaphragm piston opening centerline.

Abstract: A multi-chamber wobble plate pump that includes a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of pump chambers. The pump includes inlet valves having an asymmetric cross-section with a thin section and/or a peripheral seal bead. A wobble plate is coupled to a diaphragm and a plurality of pistons. Rotation of the wobble plate moves the pistons within the pump chambers to draw in and force fluid out of the chambers. The diaphragm may have a thin cross-sectional area that creates a hinge. The pump may further have a pulsation damper and a flexible liner located in-line with an outward flow of fluid and which absorb pressure transients and reduce noise. The pulsation dampener may be integrated into the relief valve. An elastomeric sleeve may be located adjacent to the wobble plate to provide both a seal and a noise absorber.

Abstract: A multi-chamber wobble plate pump that includes a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of pump chambers. The pump further includes a plurality of inlet valves each located within one of the pump chambers to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the pump chambers. Each inlet valve may have an asymmetric cross-section with a thin section and/or a peripheral seal bead. The pump also includes a plurality of outlet valves that control fluid flow from the pump chambers to the outlet port and may each also have a peripheral seal bead. A wobble plate is coupled to a diaphragm and a plurality of pistons. Rotation of the wobble plate moves the pistons within the pump chambers to draw in and force fluid out of the chambers. The diaphragm may have a thin cross-sectional area that creates a hinge. The pump may further have a pulsation damper and a flexible liner located in-line with an outward flow of fluid and which absorb pressure transients and reduce noise.

Abstract: A pump that has a flexible liner located adjacent to a diaphragm. The liner provides structural support for the diaphragm. The flexible liner can slide relative to the diaphragm. This relative movement reduces the stiffness of the diaphragm/liner assembly. The diaphragm/liner assembly is therefore both flexible and strong. Additionally, the liner provides a thermal insulator for the diaphragm. The flexible liner may be constructed from a low friction material to lower the friction between the liner and a wobble plate of the pump. Lowering the friction reduces the heat generated within the pump. The structural reinforcement, thermal insulation and lower friction features of the liner increase the life of the diaphragm and the pump.

Abstract: A pump that has a flexible liner located adjacent to a diaphragm. The liner provides structural support for the diaphragm. The flexible liner can slide relative to the diaphragm. This relative movement reduces the stiffness of the diaphragm/liner assembly. The diaphragm/liner assembly is therefore both flexible and strong. Additionally, the liner provides a thermal insulator for the diaphragm. The flexible liner may be constructed from a low friction material to lower the friction between the liner and a wobble plate of the pump. Lowering the friction reduces the heat generated within the pump. The structural reinforcement, thermal insulation and lower friction features of the liner increase the life of the diaphragm and the pump.

Abstract: A pump assembly that has a control circuit and a pressure switch which control the operation of a pump motor. The motor drives a positive displacement pump that is coupled to a fluid system. The control circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit. The control circuit is activated when a pressure switch senses that a line pressure of the fluid system is below a threshold value. The control circuit can either operate in a continuous mode to provide a constant signal to the motor, or a pulse regulating mode to provide a series of pulses to the motor. The pulses begin with a minimum width and gradually increase until a predetermined current limit has been attained, or the motor reaches a full speed with the control circuit in a continuous on state. The speed of the motor will then correspond to the flow demanded by the fluid system. The energy provided by the pulses is varied as a function of changes in peak current drawn by the motor. The peak current is sensed and used to determine the pulse width.

Abstract: A pump assembly that has a control circuit and a pressure switch which control the operation of a pump motor. The motor drives a positive displacement pump that is coupled to a fluid system. The control circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit. The control circuit is activated when a pressure switch senses that a line pressure of the fluid system is below a threshold value. The control circuit can either operate in a continuous mode to provide a constant signal to the motor, or a pulse regulating mode to provide a series of pulses to the motor. The pulses begin with a minimum width and gradually increase until a predetermined current limit has been attained, or the motor reaches a full speed with the control circuit in a continuous on state. The speed of the motor will then correspond to the flow demanded by the fluid system. The energy provided by the pulses is varied as a function of changes in peak current drawn by the motor. The peak current is sensed and used to determine the pulse width.

Abstract: A pump assembly that has a control circuit and a pressure switch which control the operation of a pump motor. The motor drives a positive displacement pump that is coupled to a fluid system. The control circuit includes a pulse width modulator circuit. The control circuit is activated when a pressure switch senses that a line pressure of the fluid system is below a threshold value. The control circuit can either operate in a continuous mode to provide a constant signal to the motor, or a pulse regulating mode to provide a series of pulses to the motor. The pulses begin with a minimum width and gradually increase until a predetermined current limit has been attained, or the motor reaches a full speed with the control circuit in a continuous on state. The speed of the motor will then correspond to the flow demanded by the fluid system. The energy provided by the pulses is varied as a function of changes in peak current drawn by the motor. The peak current is sensed and used to determine the pulse width.

Abstract: A pump that has an inlet manifold passage with a varying cross-sectional area. The manifold passage provides fluid communication between an inlet port and a plurality of pump chambers within the pump. The varying cross-sectional area may reduce the likelihood of air being entrapped in the pump chambers. Each pump chamber may have a corresponding piston that moves in a reciprocating manner within the chamber. The pistons may be moved by a motor driven wobble plate. Movement of the pistons may pull fluid into the pump chambers through corresponding inlet valves and into an outlet port through corresponding outlet valves. The valves may cooperate with valve seats that each have an outer radius smaller than an inner radius. The pump may have an in-line check valve that controls fluid flow from an outlet manifold passage to the outlet port, and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the outlet port. The motor may have a leak detector integrated into the metal shell and fasteners of the motor assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a wobble plate pump typically used in a reverse osmosis water purification system. The pump has a piston that is coupled to a wobble plate by a rocker arm. The piston has a stem which snaps into a corresponding sleeve of a diaphragm. The diaphragm is attached to the rocker arm and extends across the inner diameter of the pump to provide an inner pump seal. The piston stem and diaphragm sleeve extend through an access opening in a diaphragm support plate. The access opening of the wobble plate has an inner lip defined by a first relatively small radius near the center of the pump and a second relatively larger radius at the outer portion of the pump. The dual radiuses allow the piston to symmetrically reciprocate about a surface of the diaphragm support plate without inducing excessive stresses in the diaphragm. The symmetrical reciprocating motion maximizes the compression ratio of the pump. The piston reciprocates within a pump chamber defined by a manifold plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a wobble plate pump typically used in a reverse osmosis water purification system. The pump has a piston that is coupled to a wobble plate by a rocker arm. The piston has a stem which snaps into a corresponding sleeve of a diaphragm. The diaphragm is attached to the rocker arm and extends across the inner diameter of the pump to provide an inner pump seal. The piston stem and diaphragm sleeve extend through an access opening in a diaphragm support plate. The access opening of the wobble plate has an inner lip defined by a first relatively small radius near the center of the pump and a second relatively larger radius at the outer portion of the pump. The dual radiuses allow the piston to symmetrically reciprocate about a surface of the diaphragm support plate without inducing excessive stresses in the diaphragm. The symmetrical reciprocating motion maximizes the compression ratio of the pump. The piston reciprocates within a pump chamber defined by a manifold plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a wobble plate pump typically used in a reverse osmosis water purification system. The pump has a piston that is coupled to a wobble plate by a rocker arm. The piston has a stem which snaps into a corresponding sleeve of a diaphragm. The diaphragm is attached to the rocker arm and extends across the inner diameter of the pump to provide an inner pump seal. The piston stem and diaphragm sleeve extend through an access opening in a diaphragm support plate. The access opening of the wobble plate has an inner lip defined by a first relatively small radius near the center of the pump and a second relatively larger radius at the outer portion of the pump. The dual radiuses allow the piston to symmetrically reciprocate about a surface of the diaphragm support plate without inducing excessive stresses in the diaphragm. The symmetrical reciprocating motion maximizes the compression ratio of the pump.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a fluid medium comprising a positive displacement member movable to move the fluid medium and a drive mechanism adapted to be driven by a motor for driving the positive displacement member to move the fluid medium. The drive mechanism includes a wobble plate coupled to the positive displacement member for driving the positive displacement member. The drive mechanism is responsive to back pressure on the positive displacement member for adjusting the angle of the wobble plate to thereby change the volume of the fluid medium movable by the positive displacement member.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing system comprising a collapsible container, a dispensing head, a conduit leading from the container to the dispensing head and a pump for pumping liquid from the container through the conduit to the dispensing head. A vacuum switch is responsive to a sharp increase in the vacuum on the intake side of the pump to shut the pump off. The pump is controlled by a pressure switch which is responsive to the pressure of the liquid pumped by the pump. A bypass is provided for bypassing liquid in response to a predetermined pressure in the pumping chamber.

Abstract: Electrical apparatus to monitor electrical three-phase power includes circuitry to protect three-phase equipment from excessive variations in line voltage, phase to phase unbalance, and reverse phase sequencing; to protect personnel against automatic restart of equipment at return of line power; and protect power sources against overload at return of line power, after power interruptions.