US 11,898,548 B2
Diaphragm pump utilizing duckbill valves, multi-directional ports and flexible electrical connectivity
Humberto V. Meza, Trabuco Canyon, CA (US); Derrick T. Tran, Yorba Linda, CA (US); and Bernard L Perkins, Orange, CA (US)
Assigned to FLOW CONTROL LLC, Beverly, MA (US)
Filed by Flow Control LLC, Beverly, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/748,166.
Application 16/748,166 is a continuation of application No. 14/740,577, filed on Jun. 16, 2015, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/012,526, filed on Jun. 16, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2020/0158105 A1, May 21, 2020
Int. Cl. F04B 45/04 (2006.01); F04C 15/06 (2006.01); F04B 43/02 (2006.01); F04B 53/10 (2006.01); F04B 53/16 (2006.01); F04B 15/02 (2006.01); F04B 43/04 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 43/026 (2013.01) [F04B 15/02 (2013.01); F04B 43/04 (2013.01); F04B 53/10 (2013.01); F04B 53/1057 (2013.01); F04B 53/16 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dual diaphragm pump (10), comprising:
upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14) having diaphragms (12, 14a) and upper and lower inlet manifold conduits in fluidic communication with upper and lower outlet manifold conduits;
a combination of a motor (13) and a shaft/diaphragm actuator assembly (15) coupled to the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14) and together with the diaphragms (12a, 14a) in order to provide a liquid from the upper and lower inlet manifold conduits to the upper and lower outlet manifold conduits; and
a manifold assembly (20) arranged between the upper and lower inlet manifold conduits and the upper and lower outlet manifold conduits of the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14), the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14) configured to pump a particle medium having solids and particulates with up to four millimeters in diameter through the manifold assembly (20) without fouling or clogging, the manifold assembly (20) having a manifold body that is a plastic injection molded integral structure and includes:
an inlet having at least one inlet port (20a(1), 20a(2)) and an inlet chamber (20a) configured to receive the particle medium from at least one fluid source,
an inlet check valve assembly channel (20d) formed therein and being in fluidic communication with the inlet chamber (20a) and both the upper and lower inlet manifold conduits of the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14),
an inlet duckbill check valve assembly having two input duckbill check valves (30, 32) arranged in the inlet check valve assembly channel (20d), each input duckbill check valve configured to allow the particle medium to pass from the inlet chamber (20a), through the inlet check valve assembly channel (20d), to a respective one of the upper and lower inlet manifold conduits of the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14),
an outlet check valve assembly channel (20e) formed therein and being in fluidic communication with both the upper and lower outlet manifold conduits of the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12,14),
an outlet duckbill check valve assembly having two output duckbill check valves (40, 42) arranged in the outlet check valve assembly channel (20e), each output duckbill check valve configured to allow the particle medium to pass from the respective one of the upper and lower outlet manifold conduits of the upper and lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (12, 14) and to the outlet check valve assembly channel (20e), and
an outlet having an outlet chamber (20b) and at least one outlet port (20b(1), 20b(2)), the outlet chamber (20b) being in fluidic communication with the outlet check valve assembly channel (20e), and configured to allow the particle medium to pass from the outlet check valve assembly channel (20e), through the outlet chamber (20b), to the at least one outlet port (20b(1), 20b(2)) for providing to at least one fluid outlet source,
wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a plurality of outlet ports, wherein each of the plurality of outlet ports is configured to slidably receive one of: a first port fitting connection that allows passage of fluid either to or from a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet ports, and a second port fitting connection that does not allow passage of fluid to or from the corresponding one of the plurality of outlet ports.