US 5,707,217 AGranted

Pressure transfer modules

AssigneeVaughn Thermal Corporation

InventorHerbert H. Loeffler

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Abstract

The invention comprises an improved pressure transfer module having, in one embodiment, two double-diaphragm pumps each having its diaphragms connected to one another by a respective drive shaft for reciprocating motion. Spool valve assemblies are mounted directly on the connecting shafts of each pump and arranged to maintain the operation of the two diaphragms of the pumps 90.degree. out of phase in that each such assembly constitutes pressurized water control valves for the other pump. The two pumps are mounted with the drive shafts at 90.degree. to one another, and arranged to pump in sequence so that a complete pumping cycle comprises four pumping strokes, one every 90.degree.. To insure reversal of motion of the shafts in proper phase, the invention includes either two, meshed square cams and cam surfaces formed on respective shafts connecting the pumping surfaces, or a floating crankshaft with each end pivoted in one of the connecting shafts.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In a pressure transfer module including a first pair of pump means each of said pump means having (1) a corresponding pair of variable-volume pump chambers having respective pump inlet and outlet ports for providing flow of unpressurized fluid from a source thereof into said pump chambers and out to a fluid outlet line, (2) a corresponding pair of variable-volume drive chambers having respective drive inlet and outlet ports for providing flow of a pressurized fluid in and out of said drive chambers, (3) a pair of movable partition walls each respectively separating a corresponding one of said drive chambers from a corresponding one of said pump chambers, and (4) an elongated shaft connecting said partition walls to one another and mounted for reciprocating travel along the axis of elongation of said shaft, said module including first valving means for controlling fluid flow from a source of said pressurized fluid to said drive inlet ports and fluid flow from said drive outlet ports to said reservoir, the improvement wherein said module comprises:

a second pair of said pump means having substantially the same elements (1) through (4) inclusive as set forth hereinbefore, and
means for arranging said first and second pairs of pump means to one another to form a radial array in which said first valving means are operable by the shafts of respective pairs of said pump means that each of said pump chambers in said array are operable sequentially in a cycle in which each of said pump chambers provides an output flow of fluid to said output line substantially during a respective, approximately one-half of said cycle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.