Failure sensing device for a diaphragm pump

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a dipharagm pump having a housing, a first chamber within the housing, a second chamber within the housing and a pair of diaphragm elements mounted in the housing between said first chamber and the second chamber, is provided with a failure sensing system for the diaphragm. The failure sensing system including a failure sensing device which is between the two parts of the diaphragm and an indicator circuit which includes the conductive liquid which is being pumped and an alarm. The two parts of the diaphragm element are clamped together proximate their peripheral edge such that a circumferential fluid tight compression seal region is provided. The sensing device include an electrically conductive lead which extends from the exterior of the housing, through the circumferential fluid tight seal region into the region peripherally inward of the seal region. The electrically conductive material is, advantageously, an electrically conductive graphite and in the form of a filament, fibers or strands. Thus, when a failure of the diaphragm occurs, conductive liquid comes into electrical contact with the lead and completes a circuit to sound an alarm thereby indicating the failure of the diaphragm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.