Active feedback apparatus and air driven diaphragm pumps incorporating same

Abstract

A diaphragm pump having an active feedback system is provided. The diaphragm pump includes a diaphragm pump having a housing including a pumping cavity. The pump cavity having at least one diaphragm dividing the pumping cavity into a first pumping chamber and a first pump actuating chamber. A rod is attached to and reciprocally movable along an axis with the at least one diaphragm with the rod including a ferromagnetic material. An induction coil disposed around the rod wherein relative axial movement between the inductance coil and the ferromagnetic material of the rod varies the inductance of the induction coil. Also provided is a diaphragm pump having an active feedback system in which the rod has an electrically conductive, diametrically tapered portion. A linear displacement sensor is disposed next to the tapered portion which induces a current in the tapered portion and generates an output voltage proportional to a relative position between the linear displacement sensor and the tapered portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.