Diaphragm pump with ball bearing drive
AssigneeProduct Research and Development
InventorE. Dale Hartley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diaphragm pump comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable input member and first and second bearings mounted on the input member so that the rotation of the input member causes the second bearing to nutate. Each of the bearings have outer races, and the outer race of the first bearing is coupled to the supporting structure by a mounting member of sheet material. A region of the diaphragm forms a portion of a pumping chamber, and a drive member is provided for moving the region of the diaphragm in at least one direction. First and second mounting members couple the outer race of the second bearing to the drive member so that nutation of the second bearing causes the pump to operate.
Claims13
An apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable input member having first and second bearing mounting surfaces, with the axes of the first and second bearing mounting surfaces being inclined relative to each other;
- first and second bearings, each of said bearings having an inner race, an outer race and means between said races to provide low friction rotation of one of said races relative to the other of said races;
- said first and second bearing mounting surfaces of said rotatable input member being received by said inner races of said first and second bearings, respectively;
- a supporting structure;
- means for coupling the outer race of said first bearing to the supporting structure whereby rotation of the rotatable input member causes the second bearing to nutate;
- first and second mounting members of sheet material on opposite sides of the second bearing;
- a driving member;
- said first mounting member having an opening therein for receiving at least a portion of said driving member;
- and
- fastener means for coupling the second mounting member to the driving member, said second mounting member retaining the first mounting member on the driving member and said fastener means holding the mounting members in clamping relationship with the outer race of the second bearing whereby the second bearing is coupled to the drive member to drive the latter.
A pump comprising:
- a rotatable input member having a bearing mounting surface;
- means for mounting the rotatable input member for rotation about a rotational axis with the axis of the bearing mounting surface being inclined relative to the rotational axis;
- a bearing having an inner race, an outer race and means between said races to provide low friction rotation of one of said races relative to the other of said races;
- said bearing mounting surface of said rotatable input member being received by said inner race of said bearing;
- first and second mounting members of sheet material on opposite sides of the bearing;
- a driving member movable along a path to pump fluid;
- said first mounting member having an opening therein for receiving at least a portion of said driving member;
- and
- fastener means for coupling the second mounting member to the driving member, said second mounting member retaining the first mounting member on the driving member and said fastener means holding the mounting members in clamping relationship with the outer race of the bearing whereby the bearing is coupled to the drive member to drive the latter along said path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.