Modular double-diaphragm pump

A modular double-diaphragm pump including a pump inlet in fluid communication with a source of fluid to be pumped and a pump outlet in fluid communication with a pumped fluid destination, said pump comprising:

• a central housing block having a first side face defining a first recess, and a second side face defining a second recess;
• a first inlet passage formed in a central region of said central housing block, said first inlet passage having an inlet opening selectively connected in fluid communication with said pump inlet and an outlet opening formed in said first recess of said housing block;
• a second inlet passage formed in a central region of said central housing block, said second inlet passage having an inlet opening selectively connected in fluid communication with said pump inlet and an outlet opening formed in said second recess of said housing block;
• a first outlet passage formed in a central region of said central housing block, said first outlet passage having an inlet opening formed in said first recess of said housing block and an outlet opening in selective fluid communication with said pump outlet;
• a second outlet passage formed in a central region of said central housing block, said second outlet passage having an inlet opening formed in said second recess of said housing block and an outlet opening in selective fluid communication with said pump outlet;
• a first flexible diaphragm secured to said first side face of said housing block, said first diaphragm defining, with said first recess of said first side face, a first pumping chamber in fluid communication with said first inlet passage and said first outlet passage;
• a second flexible diaphragm secured to said second side face of said housing block, said second diaphragm defining, with said second recess of said second side face, a second pumping chamber in fluid communication with said second inlet passage and said second outlet passage;
• a first diaphragm housing secured to said first side face of said housing block, said first diaphragm housing defining, with said first diaphragm, a first drive chamber;
• a second diaphragm housing secured to said second side face of said housing block, said second diaphragm housing defining, with said second diaphragm, a second drive chamber;
• a first drive assembly in fluid communication with said first drive chamber, said first drive assembly being independently selectively actuable to pressurize said first drive chamber;
• and
• a second drive assembly in fluid communication with said second drive chamber, said second drive assembly being independently selectively actuable to pressurize said second drive chamber;
• and
• whereby, during operation of said pump, said first and second drive assemblies may be actuated independently of one another.

In a modular double diaphragm pump receiving a drive fluid for moving two diaphragms to displace a pumped fluid, a central housing block comprising:

• a first side face recess formed on a first side of said central housing block forming a first pumping chamber;
• a second side face recess formed on a second side of said central housing block forming a second pumping chamber, said second side face recess being spaced from, and disposed generally parallel to, said first side face recess;
• and
• a first pair of separate fluid passages in selective fluid communication with said first side face recess for inlet and outlet of the pumped fluid and a second pair of separate fluid passages in selective communication with said second side face recess for inlet and outlet of the pumped fluid, both of said first and second pairs of passages being disposed within said central housing block at a location between said first and second side face recesses.

A multi-pump control system comprising:

• a plurality of diaphragm pumps connected to a common output, each of said pumps being adapted for independent actuation and including a fluid pumping chamber and a drive chamber separated by a diaphragm;
• a plurality of individually actuable drive assemblies respectively associated with one said drive chamber, each of said drive assemblies including a drive piston mounted for reciprocation within a drive cylinder containing driver fluid in communication with said drive chamber, said drive piston being operatively connected to an actuator assembly including an actuator piston mounted for reciprocation within an actuator cylinder, with opposite ends of said actuator cylinder being provided with ports that are selectively coupled to a source of pressurized fluid via respective electronically controlled valves;
• stroke sensing means for generating a signal corresponding to the position of said actuator piston at the opposite ends of said actuator cylinder and at least one point intermediate thereof;
• flow condition sensing means for generating a signal corresponding to a condition of at least one said fluid in said pump system;
• and
• control means operatively coupled to said electronically controlled valves, said stroke sensing means, and said flow condition sensing means, for selectively actuating said electronically controlled valves to control the speed and direction of movement of said actuator pistons in response to said signals generated by said flow condition sensing means.

A pump system comprising:

• at least one diaphragm pump having a pumped fluid chamber with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, valves connected to regulate flow to said inlet and from said outlet, a driver fluid chamber containing driver fluid, and a flexible diaphragm separating said pumped fluid chamber from said driver fluid chamber;
• a drive piston in fluid communication with said driver fluid chamber, said drive piston being actuable to selectively pressurize and depressurize said driver fluid;
• a moving member operatively connected to said drive piston, the movement of said moving member corresponding to movement of said drive piston and actuating movement of said drive piston;
• actuator means, connected to said moving member, for actuating movement of said moving member;
• moving member sensor means operatively connected to said moving member for detecting changes in position of said moving member and for generating signals corresponding to the position of said moving member;
• control means operatively connected to said actuator means and said moving member sensor means, for receiving signals generated by said moving member sensor means and for generating control signals to said actuator means to change a condition of movement of said moving member in response to said signals generated by said moving member sensor means.