Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump has two opposed pumping cavities with diaphragms extending thereacross. A shaft extends between the diaphragms and through an actuator housing. The housing includes a control valve assembly having a control valve to direct pressurized air to one or the other of the dual pumping cavities and two relief valves which cooperate with the pump shaft position to release air from one end or the other of the control valve for the shifting thereof. Shuttle valve elements are positioned between the control valve and the pumping chambers. The shuttle valve elements are slidably positioned within the valve cavities to move between extreme positions under the pressures within the input and the pumping cavity. In one extreme position, the pumping cavity is in communication with an exhaust having a tapered passage. In the other, the exhaust is cut off and pressurized air is able to pass through a one-way valve in a passageway through the shuttle valve element to charge the pumping chamber.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two, opposed pumping cavities. A center section assembly between the pumping cavities includes a cylinder and a power amplifier piston. The power amplifier piston as well as the diaphragms are coupled with a common control shaft. A valve assembly is arranged with a manifold to receive pressurized air and distribute that air in alternating fashion to the sides of the power amplifier piston as well as to each of the diaphragms. By directing pressure to a side of the power amplifier piston facing the same direction as the diaphragm receiving pressure, an amplified pressure on a pump chamber is experienced. With the power amplifier piston being approximately twice as large as the diaphragm assembly, an amplification of three times the pressure on the pump chamber is experienced. Both pump chambers are able to operate to pump material.

Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump including two opposed pump chambers with an air motor having air chambers therebetween. The pump chambers and air chambers form pumping cavities divided by diaphragms. Each pump chamber includes an inlet ball valve and outlet ball valve. An inlet manifold is positioned below the pump chambers and an outlet manifold above. Tie-rods extend both across the pump from one pump chamber to the other with nuts to place the assembly in compression. Tie-rods also extend from the outlet manifold through the pump chambers, to the inlet manifold and to feet mounted therebelow. Two plates, one to either side of the air motor extend to grooves in the inlet and outlet manifold and also extend to grooves in the pump chambers so as to close of the side of the pump structure. With the plates, an outlet manifold is provided from which air may be exhausted remotely. The ball valves include small diametrical clearance and a limitation on lift for added performance.

Abstract: A double diaphragm pump driven by alternating charges of air includes air chambers and pump chambers to form pump cavities. Diaphragms extend across the pump cavities and are held by their periphery between the mating pump chambers and air chambers. Elbows are coupled with the pump chambers at the inlets and outlets thereof with each of the elbows being identical and including a valve cavity to receive a ball valve. Each ball valve includes a seat with a threaded portion accommodated in either the elbow when the elbow is used at the inlet or the pump chamber at the outlet. The ball valves further include a ball and a ball cage. The components are sized to insure that when the ball is fully unseated, the minimum cross-sectional flow area is at the pump outlet. Sealing surfaces are associated with the valve seat and the associated structure to receive a compressible seal. Annular bolting flanges allow components to be reoriented for particular applications.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two, opposed pumping cavities. A center section assembly between the pumping cavities includes a cylinder and a power amplifier piston. The power amplifier piston as well as the diaphragms are coupled with a common control shaft. A valve assembly is arranged with a manifold to receive pressurized air and distribute that air in alternating fashion to the sides of the power amplifier piston as well as to each of the diaphragms. By directing pressure to a side of the power amplifier piston facing the same direction as the diaphragm receiving pressure, an amplified pressure on a pump chamber is experienced. With the power amplifier piston being approximately twice as large as the diaphragm assembly, an amplification of three times the pressure on the pump chamber is experienced. Both pump chambers are able to operate to pump material.

Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump has two opposed pumping cavities with diaphragms extending thereacross. A shaft extends between the diaphragms and through an actuator housing. The housing includes a control valve assembly having a control valve to direct pressurized air to one or the other of the dual pumping cavities and two relief valves which cooperate with the pump shaft position to release air from one end or the other of the control valve for the shifting thereof. Shuttle valve elements are positioned between the control valve and the pumping chambers. The shuttle valve elements are slidably positioned within the valve cavities to move between extreme positions under the pressures within the input and the pumping cavity. In one extreme position, the pumping cavity is in communication with an exhaust having a tapered passage. In the other, the exhaust is cut off and pressurized air is able to pass through a one-way valve in a passageway through the shuttle valve element to charge the pumping chamber.

Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump including two opposed pump chambers with an air motor having air chambers therebetween. The pump chambers and air chambers form pumping cavities divided by diaphragms. Each pump chamber includes an inlet ball valve and outlet ball valve. An inlet manifold is positioned below the pump chambers and an outlet manifold above. Tie-rods extend both across the pump from one pump chamber to the other with nuts to place the assembly in compression. Tie-rods also extend from the outlet manifold through the pump chambers, to the inlet manifold and to feet mounted therebelow. Two plates, one to either side of the air motor extend to grooves in the inlet and outlet manifold and also extend to grooves in the pump chambers so as to close of the side of the pump structure. With the plates, an outlet manifold is provided from which air may be exhausted remotely. The ball valves include small diametrical clearance and a limitation on lift for added performance.

Abstract: An actuator valve for an air driven reciprocating device including a housing with a cylinder having a sliding valve piston located therein. The valve piston includes circumferential grooves near the ends of the piston to receive floating piston rings. The piston rings exhibit a positive clearance with the cylinder which allows axial airflow thereby. The housing provides an inlet extending into one side of the cylinder and passageways diametrically opposed extending from the cylinder. Controlled passageways at the ends of the cylinder alternately vent. Between venting, the cylinder accumulates pressure at both ends of the piston. With venting, the pressurized air at the unvented end of the piston shifts the piston toward the vented end. Bleed passageways extend from adjacent the inlet to the ends of the piston to assist shifting once the piston proceeds over center.

Abstract: A pump having a center section including an actuator housing and an air valve is arranged with air chambers to either side of the actuator housing. Diaphragms are associated with the air chambers to create enclosed cavities for alternately pressurizing and venting the air chambers. Pumping chambers are positioned outwardly of the diaphragms and assembled with intake and exhaust manifolds and one-way valves to pump materials with operation of the diaphragms. The actuator uses a pilot shifting shaft which is shuttled by movement of the diaphragms. An air valve is controlled by the pilot shifting shaft to control flow to and from the air chambers. Diffusers include outwardly tapered oblong holes with ports from the air valves. An expansion chamber surrounds the diffusers and a exit to a standard muffler provides a smaller cross-sectional area than the diffuser outlet cross-sectional area.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two, opposed pumping cavities. A center section assembly between the pumping cavities includes a cylinder and a power amplifier piston. The power amplifier piston as well as the diaphragms are coupled with a common control shaft. A valve assembly is arranged with a manifold to receive pressurized air and distribute that air in alternating fashion to the sides of the power amplifier piston as well as to each of the diaphragms. By directing pressure to a side of the power amplifier piston facing the same direction as the diaphragm receiving pressure, an amplified pressure on a pump chamber is experienced. With the power amplifier piston being approximately twice as large as the diaphragm assembly, an amplification of three times the is pressure on the pump chamber is experienced. Both pump chambers are able to operate to pump material.

Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for an air driven diaphragm pump having a circular configuration with an inner attachment portion, an outer attachment portion and an annular flexure portion bounded by transition portions to the inner and outer attachment portions. The annular flexure portion is configured with a constant radius of curvature concave on the air chamber side. The curvature is such that the center of curvature lies substantially within a plane also including the transition portion between the annular flexure portion and the inner attachment portion. The diaphragm is molded in this shape to avoid the creation of internal stress and permanent strain resulting from use of the diaphragm. Fabric is positioned across the diaphragm closest to the air chamber side and being about one-third of the total thickness of the diaphragm from the air chamber side of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two diaphragms joined by a common control shaft to reciprocate in opposed chambers for pumping material through check valve ported cavities. An actuator valve is associated with the central housing of the pump and includes a valve cylinder within which a valve piston reciprocates. The valve piston is caused to reciprocate by alternate venting of the ends of the cylinder. Enlarged air chamber passages are controlled by the control shaft to vent the ends of the valve cylinder. A cylindrical portion of the control shaft includes axial slots for venting alternate ends of the valve piston. Annular channels manifold air to and from the axial slots. The actuator housing is molded about the center bushing for the control shaft and includes inwardly extending portions. Annular passages are then machined in the bushing for sealing channels to receive O-rings. The O-rings extend to seal against the housing directly at the floor of the sealing channels.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two diaphragms joined by a common control shaft to reciprocate in opposed chambers for pumping material through check valve ported cavities. An actuator valve is associated with the central housing of the pump and includes a valve cylinder within which a valve piston reciprocates. The valve piston is caused to reciprocate by alternate venting of the ends of the cylinder. Air chamber passages are controlled by the control shaft to vent the ends of the valve cylinder. A cylindrical portion of the control shaft includes axial slots for venting alternate ends of the valve piston. Annular channels manifold air to and from the axial slots. Seals of elastomeric annular rings and PTFE cylindrical inner liners bonded to the annular rings are arranged in certain of the annular channels, the sidewall of one of which is relieved outwardly for increased venting air flow.

Abstract: A pump having a center section including an actuator housing and an air valve is arranged with air chambers to either side of the actuator housing. Diaphragms are associated with the air chambers to create enclosed cavities for alternately pressurizing and venting the diaphragms. The actuator uses a pilot shifting shaft which is shuttled by movement of the diaphragms. An air valve is controlled by the shuttle shifting shaft to control flow to and from the air chambers. The passageways from the air chambers to exhaust find the passage to the outlet being at least as restrictive to air flow as the remainder of the passageways so as to prevent major pressure decreases within the actuator body. A diffuser includes a thin space between two surfaces into which the exhaust is directed. One of the surfaces is associated with a porous block of material. Exhausting air is distributed within the space and then passed through the porous block of material.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two diaphragms joined by a common control shaft to reciprocate in opposed chambers for pumping material through check valve ported cavities. An actuator valve is associated with the central housing of the pump and includes a valve cylinder within which a valve piston reciprocates. The valve piston is caused to reciprocate by alternate venting of the ends of the cylinder. Enlarged air chamber passages are controlled by the control shaft to vent the ends of the valve cylinder. A cylindrical portion of the control shaft includes axial slots for venting alternate ends of the valve piston. Annular channels manifold air to and from the axial slots. The actuator housing is molded about the center bushing for the control shaft and includes inwardly extending portions. Annular passages are then machined in the bushing for sealing channels to receive O-rings. The O-rings extend to seal against the housing directly at the floor of the sealing channels.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two diaphragms joined by a common control shaft to reciprocate in opposed chambers for pumping material through check valve ported cavities. An actuator valve is associated with the central housing of the pump and includes a valve cylinder within which a valve piston reciprocates. The valve piston is caused to reciprocate by alternate venting of the ends of the cylinder. Enlarged air chamber passages are controlled by the control shaft to vent the ends of the valve cylinder. A cylindrical portion of the control shaft includes axial slots for venting alternate ends of the valve piston. Annular channels manifold air to and from the axial slots. The actuator housing is molded about the center bushing for the control shaft and includes inwardly extending portions. Annular passages are then machined in the bushing for sealing channels to receive O-rings. The O-rings extend to seal against the housing directly at the floor of the sealing channels.

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.

Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump having two diaphragms joined by a common control shaft to reciprocate in opposed chambers for pumping material through check valve ported cavities. An actuator valve is associated with the central housing of the pump and includes a valve cylinder within which a valve piston reciprocates. The valve piston is caused to reciprocate by alternate venting of the ends of the cylinder. Enlarged air chamber passages are controlled by the control shaft to vent the ends of the valve cylinder. A cylindrical portion of the control shaft includes axial slots for venting alternate ends of the valve piston. Annular channels manifold air to and from the axial slots.

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.