Double Diaphragm Pump Mechanical Drive Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double diaphragm pumps with mechanical drive mechanisms face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, potential loss of strength or tightness over time, periodic delivery pressure drops, and vibrations, making them inefficient and difficult to use with aggressive chemicals and fluids containing solids, especially when operated with compressed air which is costly and limited in availability.

Innovation Solution

A double diaphragm pump design featuring a compact, easily dismantled and reassembled pump housing with membranes connected via a coupling rod and a mechanical drive mechanism that includes a ball joint and drive piston, allowing for efficient movement of membranes without the need for lubricants, and using chemically resistant materials for the membranes and valve devices to ensure stability and low vibration operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If double diaphragm pumps are operated with compressed air, then the pump can function without mechanical contact with fluid, but the cost increases and availability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump operation reliabilityVSAvoidcompressed air consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pneumatic drive system (compressed air) with a direct mechanical drive system. The drive shaft directly connects to the diaphragms through mechanical linkages, eliminating the need for compressed air while maintaining the non-contact drive advantage. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing reliable pump operation without the high cost and availability limitations of compressed air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If diaphragms are made highly elastic for effective pumping, then pumping efficiency improves, but wear and mechanical defects increase over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping efficiencyVSAvoiddiaphragm durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite diaphragm structures that combine materials with different properties. The diaphragms use layered or composite material construction that provides both the necessary elasticity for effective pumping and enhanced durability to resist wear and mechanical defects. This composite approach allows the diaphragm to maintain high pumping efficiency while significantly improving its service life and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of repair

If pump housing is made multi-part for ease of assembly and disassembly, then maintenance becomes easier, but manufacturing cost increases and strength may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the pump housing into multiple modular sections that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows for simplified maintenance and replacement of internal components without requiring complete disassembly. The modular design is achieved through standardized connection interfaces that minimize manufacturing complexity while maximizing ease of repair, thus resolving the contradiction between maintenance accessibility and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If diaphragms move synchronously to fill and evacuate chambers, then pumping action is coordinated, but periodic pressure drops and vibrations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinated pumping actionVSAvoidvibrations and pressure drops
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asynchronous or out-of-phase movement of the diaphragms to eliminate periodic pressure drops and vibrations. By staggering the pumping cycles of multiple diaphragms, the system maintains continuous, smooth fluid delivery without the rhythmic interruptions caused by synchronous movement. This periodic action principle resolves the contradiction by maintaining coordinated pumping while eliminating harmful vibrations and pressure fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design results in a cost-effective, efficient, and vibration-free operation capable of handling aggressive chemicals and fluids with solids, with easy replacement of wearing parts and no requirement for additional sealing, enhancing the pump's stability and universality of use.

Implementation Method 1

a piston rod being operatively connected to a crank pin which is arranged at a free end of an output shaft of a geared motor. In this way, a rotary movement originating from the drive motor is converted into the linear movement of the piston rod or the membranes connected to it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrank mechanism: Crankshaft

Implementation Method 2

the diaphragm is subject to mechanical deformation during a pump cycle, so that over the lifetime of the diaphragm pump, signs of wear and mechanical defects in the diaphragm often lead to pump failure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

Known membranes are made of a material with a certain elasticity, for example elastomers such as NBR (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3851674B1Double membrane pump
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 TEKOMA

AI summary

Double diaphragm pump (1) with a mechanical drive mechanism comprising a pump housing (10) which has at least one suction port (72) and at least one pressure port (82) as well as a first diaphragm chamber (40) and a second diaphragm chamber (50), wherein in the first diaphragm chamber (40) a first diaphragm (42) separates a first pumping chamber (46) from a drive chamber (48) and in the second diaphragm chamber (50) a second diaphragm (52) separates a second pumping chamber (56) from an air chamber (58), wherein the first and second pumping chambers (46; 56) are connected to the at least one suction port (72) on the one hand and the at least one pressure port (82) on the other hand via valve assemblies (90; 92). The first diaphragm (42) and the second diaphragm (52) are connectable by means of a coupling rod (68) and at least one of the diaphragms (42; 52) is movable by means of the mechanical drive mechanism.The mechanical drive mechanism of the double diaphragm pump (1) comprises a drive piston (120) and a ball joint (112) to be received therein, as well as a receptacle (100) t which can be connected to the ball joint (112) and which is designed to be coupled to an output shaft (20) of a drive unit designed as an eccentric shaft.