US 12,326,142 B2
Diaphragm position control system
Richard Hembree, Port Coquitlam (CA); Dustin Featherstone, Hastings, MN (US); and Scott C. Losey, Edina, MN (US)
Assigned to Wanner Engineering, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Wanner Engineering, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/146,744.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/324,442, filed on Mar. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0304487 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. F04B 43/067 (2006.01); F04B 23/04 (2006.01); F04B 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 43/067 (2013.01) [F04B 23/04 (2013.01); F04B 43/0081 (2013.01); F04B 2205/01 (2013.01); F04B 2205/18 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a diaphragm pump, the diaphragm pump comprising:
a housing having a pumping chamber containing fluid to be pumped, and a transfer chamber adapted to contain hydraulic fluid;
a diaphragm supported by the housing, the diaphragm defining a pumping chamber side and a transfer chamber side, the pumping chamber side at least partially defining the pumping chamber and the transfer chamber side at least partially defining the transfer chamber;
a driven plunger sliding in a reciprocating motion and forcing hydraulic fluid against the diaphragm;
a first valve allowing hydraulic fluid into the transfer chamber;
a second valve allowing hydraulic fluid to be removed from the transfer chamber;
a hydraulic fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the transfer chamber;
the method comprising:
operating the diaphragm pump at a pumped fluid inlet pressure;
setting a pressure regulator to controllably allow fluid to flow to the transfer chamber, the pressure regulator being actuated at a hydraulic pressure greater than the fluid inlet pressure of pumped fluid, wherein make-up hydraulic fluid flows to the transfer chamber when the pressure regulator is actuated;
setting pressures of the pressure regulator and starting the diaphragm pump, followed by starting an oil pump supplying the make-up hydraulic fluid.