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 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: A water conductivity monitor that is controlled by a microcontroller which provides a pair of probe driving signals that are 180° out of phase. The monitor is connected to a feed water probe that is located within the unfiltered water of a water purification system and a filter water probe that is located within the filtered water of the system. The driving signals are provided to the probes to create a probe test signal. The filtered water test signal is a ratio of the voltage across the feed water probe and the voltage across the filter water probe. The driving signals are also provided to a resistor circuit which provides a threshold test signal. The test signals are integrated by an integrator circuit which is controlled by the microcontroller. The integrated test signals are compared by a comparator. The comparator provides an output signal to the microcontroller if the voltage level of the probe test signal is below the threshold test signal.

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: A pump diaphragm that is composed of two different shore-hardness materials of the same base polymer. The diaphragm includes a strong layer that will withstand hydraulic pressures and one or more soft layers that can be shaped into desirable sealing configurations. The diaphragm is constructed by first injecting a first thermoplastic material, with a relatively lower percentage of rubber filler, into a mold cavity and allowing the first material to cure. The hardened first material is then placed into a second mold cavity. A second thermoplastic material which contains the same base polymer but a relatively higher percentage of rubber filler is then injected into the second cavity. The first and second material utilize the same base polymer and thus will have the same melt temperature, as well as a strong propensity to bond to each other when molten. The second material is introduced to the cavity at a temperature that melts the interface of the first material.

Abstract: A pump diaphragm that is composed of two different shore-hardness materials of the same base polymer. The diaphragm includes a strong layer that will withstand hydraulic pressures and one or more soft layers that can be shaped into desirable sealing configurations. The diaphragm is constructed by first injecting a first thermoplastic material, with a relatively lower percentage of rubber filler, into a mold cavity and allowing the first material to cure. The hardened first material is then placed into a second mold cavity. A second thermoplastic material which contains the same base polymer but a relatively higher percentage of rubber filler is then injected into the second cavity. The first and second material utilize the same base polymer and thus will have the same melt temperature, as well as a strong propensity to bond to each other when molten. The second material is introduced to the cavity at a temperature that melts the interface of the first material.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis water purification system which has a tank coupled to an osmotic membrane so that the water within the tank flushes the osmotic membrane. The tank has an opening that is in fluid communication with a source of feed water and an osmotic membrane. The tank may also have a lower level switch and an upper level switch that are coupled to a pump that pumps water through the membrane. When the tank water falls to the level of the lower switch, the pump is activated and purified water is pump into the tank. When the tank water reaches the level of the upper switch the pump is deactivated. The opening is located at an elevation above the membrane, so that when the water level within the tank reaches the height of the opening, the feed water pump turns off and the tank water provides a hydrostatic pressure that drives the water back through the membrane to flush the same. The upper switch is located above the opening so that a sufficient amount of water flows back through the membrane.

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: A solenoid valve for a water purification system. The solenoid valve contains a fluid valve which can move between an opened position and a closed position, and a coil which moves the valve to the open position when a first voltage is supplied to the coil and maintains the valve in the open position as a second voltage is supplied to the coil. The coil is coupled to a control circuit which initially supplies the first voltage to the coil when the valve is to be opened, and then reduces the first voltage to the second voltage after the valve is in the open position.

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: A pump diaphragm that is composed of two different shore-hardness materials of the same base polymer. The diaphragm includes a strong layer that will withstand hydraulic pressures and one or more soft layers that can be shaped into desirable sealing configurations. The diaphragm is constructed by first injecting a first thermoplastic material, with a relatively lower percentage of rubber filler, into a mold cavity and allowing the first material to cure. The hardened first material is then placed into a second mold cavity. A second thermoplastic material which contains the same base polymer but a relatively higher percentage of rubber filler is then injected into the second cavity. The first and second material utilize the same base polymer and thus will have the same melt temperature, as well as a strong propensity to bond to each other when molten. The second material is introduced to the cavity at a temperature that melts the interface of the first material.

Abstract: A booster pump for a reverse osmosis water purification system. The booster pump has a spring return piston that is stroked by the pressure of feedwater. The pump also has a pair of solenoid control valves that control the flow of feedwater into and out of the pump to move the piston between stroke and return positions. The control valves are switched by a detector switch which detects when the piston reaches the fully stroked and return positions.

Abstract: A monitor for a beverage processing system that can sense a characteristic of the system, compare the characteristic to a threshold value to determine if a component of the system is not operating properly, and transmit the characteristic to a remote site. The monitor includes a controller coupled to a number of sensors that sense various system characteristics such as the water pressure and resistance at various locations of the system. The processor compares the outputs of the sensors with threshold values to determine if the various components are operating properly. The monitor also has a visual display unit which can output the various characteristic values along with processor generated messages that identify a component(s) that is not operating properly or needs preventive maintenance. The monitor transmits data via a modem to a computer located at a remote site. The computer can store and display the characteristics and other processor outputs.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis water purification system that incorporates a high torque low speed motor to drive a pump, such that the pump can continuously pump water from a source of water to an osmotic membrane The system may have a reservoir to store the purified water as it is pumped through the osmotic filter. The system can also have a transformer and rectifier to convert and rectify an alternating electrical power source to 24 volt DC power for the motor. The transformer having a higher impedance than the motor such that the transformer acts as a current limiter in the event the motor stalls. The pump has an internal pressure relief valve Operatively connected to the inlet of the pump housing. The relief valve opens when the output pressure of the diaphragm piston reaches a predetermined valve. The relief valve allows the high pressure water to flow back into the housing inlet creating a flow loop from the inlet back to the water source.