Fully-draining diaphragm pump and check valve assembly
AssigneeMurzan, Inc.
InventorAlberto Bazan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fully-draining check valve with a mushroom assembly having a tapered back edge and a drain line disposed with the lower rim of the drain line below the tapered back edge to ensure no fluid becomes trapped in the check valve when not in use. Additionally, a fully-draining diaphragm pump is disclosed having a drain line configured to drain the lowest point of a product chamber to ensure no fluid becomes trapped in the diaphragm pump when not in use. A method of cleaning a fully-draining diaphragm pump and fully-draining check valve assembly is further disclosed comprising inducing turbulent flow of water, wash solution, and/or sanitizer through the assembly and opening ball valves the drain lines of the fully-draining check valves to vent the assembly.
Claims20
A fully-draining diaphragm pump and check valve system, comprising:
- a sealed diaphragm pump having a first product chamber on a first side of the pump and a second product chamber on a second side of the pump, which takes fluid by suction from a suction manifold and discharges fluid to a discharge manifold;
- a first check valve disposed between the suction manifold and the first product chamber;
- a second check valve disposed between the suction manifold and the second product chamber;
- a third check valve disposed between the first product chamber and the discharge manifold;
- a fourth check valve disposed between the second product chamber and the discharge manifold, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth check valves comprises a mushroom assembly having a stem and valve disc, the valve disc having a back surface that tapers continuously from the stem to a lateral edge, and each of the first, second, third, and fourth check valves having a check valve drain line that is disposed such that an opening in of the respective check valve drain line makes direct contact with the respective valve disc such that fluid at the tapered back surface flows to the check valve drain line.
A diaphragm pump assembly comprising:
- a diaphragm pump configured to take fluid by suction from a suction manifold and discharge fluid to a discharge manifold, the diaphragm pump having a product chamber in intermittent fluid communication with each of the suction manifold and the discharge manifold;
- and
- a check valve disposed between the product chamber and one of the suction manifold and the discharge manifold, the check valve comprising a mushroom assembly having a stem and a valve disc having a tapered back edge back surface that tapers continuously from the stem to a lateral edge, wherein a check valve drain line is disposed such that an opening in of the check valve drain line makes direct contact with the valve disc such that fluid at the tapered back surface flows to the check valve drain line.
A diaphragm pump assembly comprising:
- a diaphragm pump configured to take fluid by suction from a suction manifold and discharge fluid to a discharge manifold, the diaphragm pump having a product chamber in intermittent fluid communication with each of the suction manifold and the discharge manifold, wherein the product chamber defines a low point;
- a check valve disposed between the product chamber and one of the suction manifold and the discharge manifold, the check valve comprising a mushroom assembly having a stem and a valve disc having a back surface that tapers continuously from the stem to a lateral edge, wherein a check valve drain line is disposed such that an opening in the check valve drain line makes direct contact with the valve disc such that fluid at the tapered back surface flows to the check valve drain line;
- and
- a product chamber drain line coupled to the product chamber at the low point such that when the diaphragm pump is secured, fluid drains through the product chamber drain line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.