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  Diaphragm pumpUSPTO Application #: 20070071615Title: Diaphragm pump Abstract: A diaphragm pump is provided. The diaphragm includes an upper housing, a diaphragm, and a lower housing. Recessed parts are formed in the surfaces of the upper and lower housings that face the diaphragm to define an upper pump chamber and a lower pump chamber above and below the diaphragm. A suction port and a discharge port are formed in the lower housing to communicate with the lower pump chamber. Branch channels are formed in the lower housing and the upper housing to communicate the suction port and the discharge port with the upper pump chamber. Suction-side check valves are respectively provided between the suction port and the upper pump chamber and between the suction port and the lower pump chamber. Discharge-side check valves are provided between the discharge port and the upper pump chamber and between the discharge port and the lower pump chamber. (end of abstract)
Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione - Chicago, IL, US Inventors: Jiro Nakajima, Satoshi Yamada USPTO Applicaton #: 20070071615 - Class: 417397000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Pumps, Motor Driven, Fluid Motor, Rectilinearly Reciprocating Pumping Members Coaxial With Intermediate Unitary Motor Working Member The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070071615. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-280548 filed on Sep. 27, 2005 and Japanese Patent Application NO. 2006-136693 filed on May 16, 2006. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field [0003] The present embodiments relate to a diaphragm pump. [0004] 2. Related Art [0005] A diaphragm pump, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-182413, is configured such that a pump chamber (variable volume chamber) is formed by a diaphragm. A pair of flow channels connected with the pump chamber is provided with a pair of check valves, which are different in the direction of flow (a suction-side check valve, which allows the flow of fluid to the pump chamber, and a discharge-side check valve, which allows the flow of fluid from the pump chamber). When the diaphragm is vibrated, since the volume of the pump chamber changes, and the operation of opening the suction-side check valve during the stroke in which the volume increases, and the operation of opening the discharge-side check valve during the stroke in which the volume reduces, are repeated, a pumping action is obtained. The diaphragm is made of elastic (vibrational) materials, for example, rubber and piezoelectric vibrator. [0006] In this diaphragm pump, as described above, since the operation of opening the suction-side check valve during the stroke in which the volume of the pump chamber increases, and the operation of opening the discharge-side check valve during the stroke in which the volume reduces, are repeated, pulsation in the discharge port is inevitable. [0007] A diaphragm pump with half the cycle of the pulsation has been disclosed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-154991). According to this diaphragm pump, an upper pump chamber and a lower pump chamber (a pair of pump chambers) are respectively formed above and below a diaphragm by the diaphragm. A single suction port and a single discharge port are provided. First and second suction-side check valves, which allow the flow of fluid from the suction port to the pair of pump chambers and do not allow the flow of fluid in the reverse direction are provided between the pair of pump chambers, and the suction port. First and second discharge-side check valves, which allow the flow of fluid from the pair of pump chambers to the discharge port and do not allow the flow of fluid in the reverse direction are provided between the pair of pump chambers and the discharge port (4-valve diaphragm pump). [0008] The 4-valve diaphragm pump can basically be configured by forming recessed parts, which define an upper pump chamber and a lower pump chamber, in upper and lower housings, which sandwich a diaphragm, stacking these housings in order, and forming flow channels which communicates a pair of pump chambers and the suction and discharges ports, in the upper and lower housings. However, there is a need for a 4-valve diaphragm pump that ensures liquid tightness of connecting parts of the flow channels formed over the upper housing and the lower housing or the liquid tightness of the suction flow channel and the discharge flow channel, with high reliability and durability. SUMMARY [0009] One exemplary object of the present embodiments is to provide a 4-valve diaphragm pump that is liquid tight at the connecting parts of flow channels formed over an upper housing and a lower housing. A second exemplary object of the present embodiments is to provide a 4-valve diaphragm pump capable of ensuring the liquid tightness of a suction flow channel and a discharge flow channel with high reliability and durability. [0010] In a present embodiment, a diaphragm pump includes an upper housing, a diaphragm, and a lower housing which are stacked in order. Recessed parts are respectively formed in the surfaces of the upper and lower housings facing the diaphragm to define an upper pump chamber and a lower pump chamber above and below the diaphragm. A suction port and a discharge port are formed in the lower housing to communicate with the lower pump chamber. Branch channels are formed in the lower housing and the upper housing to communicate the suction port and the discharge port with the upper pump chamber. Suction-side check valves are respectively provided between the suction port and the upper pump chamber and between the suction port and the lower pump chamber. Discharge-side check valves are respectively provided between the discharge port and the upper pump chamber and between the discharge port and the lower pump chamber. The branch channels include holes formed in either the upper housing or the lower housing, a protruding cylindrical part fitted into the hole, and a sealing ring disposed in an annular gap formed between the hole and the protruding cylindrical part such that a compressive force is generated radially. [0011] Although the upper housing can theoretically be composed of one member, it is practical that the upper housing is composed of two members in a case where the upper housing is a molded article made of a resin material. If the upper housing is composed of two members, a problem occurs in the structure in which the liquid tightness of the suction flow channel and the discharge flow channel is ensured. The present embodiments disclose a suitable liquid-tight structure in a case where the upper housing is composed of two members. [0012] In a present embodiment, the upper housing is composed of two members. The upper housing is composed of a pump chamber plate, which is stacked on the diaphragm and has a recessed part for forming an upper pump chamber and a blind plate stacked on the pump chamber plate. A pair of an inter-plate suction flow channel and an inter-plate discharge flow channel, which communicates the suction port and the discharge port with the upper pump chamber, and which constitute parts of the branch channels is formed between the pump chamber plate and the blind plate. The inter-plate suction flow channel and the inter-plate discharge flow channel includes a pair of protruding parts formed in any one of the pump chamber plate and the blind plate, a pair of recessed groove parts which are formed in the other one of the pump chamber plate and the blind plate to allow the pair of protruding parts to fit thereinto, and a pair of sealing rings which are disposed in a pair of closed curve gaps between the pair of protruding parts and the pair of recessed groove parts such that a compressive force is generated radially. [0013] In another embodiment, the upper housing is composed of two members. The upper housing is composed of an upper plate, which is stacked on the diaphragm and a pair of lid plates that are members separate from the upper plate. The upper plate is formed with recessed parts, which are opened to the front and back of the upper plate to form the upper pump chamber, and a pair of an open suction flow channel groove and an open discharge flow channel groove which communicates with the suction port and the discharge port with the upper pump chamber. Any one of the upper plates and the pair of lid plates is formed with protruding parts corresponding to the open suction flow channel groove and the open discharge flow channel groove. The other one of the upper plates and the pair of lid plates is formed with recessed groove parts to allow the pair of protruding parts to fit thereinto. A pair of sealing rings are interposed between the protruding parts and the recessed groove parts such that a compressive force is generated radially. [0014] In one exemplary embodiment, the protruding parts, the recessed groove parts, and the sealing rings are elliptical. [0015] By keeping a compressive force in the stacked direction of the upper housing, the diaphragm, and the lower housing from being applied to any of the sealing rings, and allowing a compressive in a direction (radial direction) orthogonal to the stacked direction to be applied to the sealing rings, the liquid tightness can be ensured with high durability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exploded state showing one exemplary embodiment of a diaphragm pump; [0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the exploded state according to FIG. 1; [0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an exemplary lower housing; [0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3; [0020] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 3; [0021] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an upper housing on the side of a pump chamber plate; Continue reading... Full patent description for Diaphragm pump Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Diaphragm pump patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Diaphragm pump or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Fluid pump having plunger and method of monoblock casting for housing of the same Next Patent Application: Segmented driven-magnet assemblies for pumps, and pumps comprising same Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Diaphragm pump patent info. 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