US3318250A

US3318250A - High pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps

Info

Publication number: US3318250A
Application number: US533081A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Bowen
Original assignee: PRESSURE PRODUCTS IND Inc
Current assignee: PRESSURE PRODUCTS IND Inc
Priority date: 1966-03-09
Filing date: 1966-03-09
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09

Description

J. c. BOWEN 3,318,250

HIGH PRESSURE DIAPHRAGM COMPRESSORS AND PUMPS May 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1966 R S 4 N w V 5 0 we H o J 0 W 0 I 7 4 lm l May 9, 1967 J. c. BOWEN HIGH PRESSURE DIAPHRAGM COMPRESSORS AND PUMPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1966 INVE/VTGR JOHN c. B OWEN er v H ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 I J. c. BOWEN 3,318,250

HIGH PRESSURE DIAPHRAGM COMPRESSORS AND PUMPS Filed March 9, 1966 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/G H616 26 28 2 2-9 $0 25 5/ 90 T 5/ Q 22 46 2a 23 0 58 1k JOHN c. HOWE/V ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,318,250 Patented May 9, 1967 tion of Pennsylvania 'Filed Mar. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 533,081

20 Claims. (Cl. 10344) This application is a continuation-impart of my prior application filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,294, now abandoned.

This invention relates to high pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps and more particularly to improvements in pressure seals and packing therefor.

Difliculties have been encountered with high pressure compressors and pumps operating at pressures of 10,000 .p.s.i.g. and higher, in preventing fluid leakage both of the fluid being pumped and the actuating fluid.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide in high pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps, an improved and simplified construction which will avoid fluid leakage and have longer life.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in high pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps, improved sealing in which a metallic sealing element is backed up and urged to sealing position by a resilient sealing element of an elastomer or compressible material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in high pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps, improved fluid leakage preventing seals which are sturdy and free from likelihood of problems in use and which will have a long useful life.

. It is a further object of the present invention to .provide high pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps having a pumped fluid and an actuating fluid and simple but effective provisions for sealing to avoid fluid leakage in which the pressure of one of the fluids can be utilized to aid in the sealing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide high pressure diaphragm compressors and pumps of the character aforesaid in which working of the metal of the diaphragm is reduced and longer diaphragm life is obtained.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection. with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly diagrammatic and partly in vertical central section of a diaphragm compressor in accordance with the invention, and showing preferred sealing provisions;

FIG. 2 is. a horizontal sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, still further enlarged, taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 2; 4

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the marginal edge of the diaphragm showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 7 is a view further enlarged, similar to FIG. 5 showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to form of sealing;

FIG. 7 showing another FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing another form of sealing;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the area at 13 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view taken approximately at the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, a main body 10 is provided and has a central longitudinal axial bore 11 with an upper internally threaded portion 12 and a lower internally threaded portion 13.

The threaded portion 13 has a closure ring 14 in threaded engagement therewith. A cross head adapter 15 has the ring 14 secured thereto andhas a bore 16 communicating with a bore 17 in the ring 14.

Within the bore 11, a lower diaphragm mounting head 20 is provided having a central cylindrical opening 21 within which a diaphragm limit plate 22 is carried. The plate 22 has a plurality of fluid delivery bores 23 therein communicating with a dished face 25 for engagement by and limiting movement of a diaphragm 26 in one direction. The diaphragm 26 is of metal and the holes-23 are of such size as to prevent extrusions or deformation of the diaphragm 26 thereinto.

An upper diaphragm mounting head 28 is provided in the bore 11 and has a dished face 29 providing with the diaphragm 26 a compression chamber and limiting movement of the diaphragm 26 in the other direction. The diaphragm 26 is interposed between and held along its outer margins by the

mounting heads

20 and 28 and these components are held in assembled relation by a clamping nut 30 in threaded engagement in the threaded portion 12. The thickness of the diaphragm limit plate 22, is preferably equal to or slightly less than the depth of the opening 21 so that upon compression of the mounting head 20 pinching of the diaphragm 26 between the plate 22 and the under face of the mounting head 28 will be avoided.

The upper mounting head 28 has a nut 32 with a fluid supply pipe 33 carried thereby for delivery of fluid to be compressed or pumped. The nut 32 is in threaded engagement in a portion of a bore 34 and retains an inlet check valve 35 in place.

The upper mounting head 28 also has a nut 36 with a fluid delivery pipe 37 carried thereby for delivery of fluid which has been compressed or pumped. The nut 36 is in threaded engagement in a portion of a bore 38 and retains a delivery check valve 39 in place.

The

check valves

35 and 39 can be of any desired type, one suitable form being shown in the application of Eigel J. Bacino et al., filed Jan. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 250,108.

Communication is provided to the space bounded by the dished face 29 and the diaphragm 26 by a passageway 31. The passageway 31 extending from the dished face 29 has an enlargement for the reception of an annulus plug 18, in an annular space 19 around its outer end and passageways 52 communicating with the passageway 31.-

The dished face 29 is preferably provided with a plurality of radially extending grooves 53 which terminate at their outer ends inwardly of the ring 50, and at their inner ends communicate with the annular space 46. The head of the .plug 19 can also be provided with radial grooves 53a.

The

grooves

53 and 53a are preferably formed so as to be free from chips, burrs or projections, and preferably have a maximum depth of the order of 0.030 inch and a maximum width of the order of 0.015 inch with an exposed diaphragm area of the order of three square inches.

The

grooves

53 and 53a are effective because of their size for reducing the working of the metal of the diaphragm 26 as it is forced against the dished face 29 so that longer effective life ofthe diaphragm 26. is attained. Atthe same time the clearance volume in the compression chamber between the diaphragm 26 and the dished face 25 is kept to a minimum with attendant increase in efficiency. The

grooves

53 and 53a are effective to permit any trapped liquid to escape on both sides of the diaphragm '26.

The cross head adapter 15 has a piston assembly 40 carried thereby with a piston 40a reciprocable in a bore 41 in the mounting head 20. The opening 21 has a passageway 42 communicating therewith, the passageway 42' having a fluid supply pipe 43 carried by a nut 44, connected thereto and threaded into the head 20.

A manifold block 47 is provided to which a supply of liquid (not shown) is connected by a pipe 48, through a non-return or check valve V1. The manifold block also has a discharge pipe 49 connected through a pressure relief valve V2 for discharge of excess fluid as required.

In order to prevent fluid leakage at the peripheral face 45 of the diaphragm limit plate 22, a non-extrudable ring 50, of continuous cylindrical shape and of rectangular cross section, of metal, nylon or the like is provided.

.The ring 50 engages the lower face of the diaphragm 26,

the peripheral face 45 of the limit plate .22, and the peripheral face 46 of the opening 21., The ring 50 has in engagement therewith a continuous ring 51 of elastomer which is also confined by the peripheral faces 45 and 46 respectively engages and confines the ring 51 and a continuous ring 54 of elastomer which is confined by the

faces

45 and 46 and the bottom'of the opening 21. The

rings

51 and 54 are preferably internally of greater cross sectional area than the space they are intended to occupy in use so that their resilience can be utilized to apply onto the ring 50 and therefrom to the diaphragm 26 the pressure, ora substantial portion thereof, desired for sealing.

A fluid passageway 56 communicates with the space at the spacer ring 52 and is connected to the manifold block 47 by a pipe '57 carried by a nut 58 threaded in .a

bore '59 in the head 28. The pipe 57 has a non-return or check valve V3 therein.

The upper face of the diaphragm 26, opposite the location of the ring 50 can have applied thereto by plating or the like an integral metal band 61 which engages the upper head 20.=

In order to collect fluid leakage between the head 20 and the ring 14 a circular seal plate 65 is seated in a groove 66 in the upper face of the ring 14 and .has a rim portion 67 extending partially into a groove 68 in the lower face of the head 28. The, groove 68 and rim portion 67 .provide a space for the retention of radially spaced sealing rings 69 and 70 such as O-rings. extends to the space between the sealing rings 69 and 70 and is connected by a pipe 73 carried in a bore 75 in the mounting head 20. A non-return or check valve V4 is provided in the pipe 73.

In order to prevent fluid leakage between the facing portions of the

heads

20 and 28 the head 20 has a peripheral groove 78 spaced from the diaphragm 26 with a sealing ring 79, such as an O-ring therein,engaged with the bore 11. The head 28 has a peripheral groove 80 alongits upper face, with a packing ring 81, such as an O-ring, engaged in the groove 80, with the bore 11 and with the diaphragm 22. A peripheral groove -82 has a A fluid passageway 72 4 fluid connection 83 to which a pipe 84 is connected to conduct away any fluid leakage.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a non-extrudable ring 50 is provided as before, in engagement with the diaphragm 26 the peripheral face 46 of the opening 21 having a groove 90 within which the ring 50 is located. Also disposed within the groove 90 is an elastomer ring 51 which loads the ring 50 by the bulk modulus of the elastomer. It is preferred that the entire space within the groove 90 be filled by the

rings

50 and 51, the ring 51 being compressed to the desired extent for this purpose.

In FIG. 6 a sealing construction for the diaphragm 26 similar to that of FIG. 3 shows an additional continuous cylindrical anti-extrusion ring 91 of rectangular cross section being interposed between the ring 54 and the bottom of the opening 21. The pressure fluid connection 56 permits of applying fluid pressure to increase the sealing pressure effective from the

rings

51 and 54, without'having these rings extruded by the pressures effective thereon.

In FIG. 7, a sealing construction for the diaphragm 26 is shown in which the anti-extrusion ring '50 has one or more rims 93 of decreased contact area for intensifying the unit sealing pressure applied against the diaphragm 26. The rim 93 is preferably oppositely disposed with respect to the plated band 61. In order to avoid extru sion of the ring 51, small

continuous rings

94 and 95 of substantially triangular cross section can be interposed between the

rings

51 and, 50 to block access to the sides of the ring 50. The

rings

94 and 95 can be of metal, nylon or the like. The likelihood of extrusion along the sides of the rings 50 can thus be greatly reduced.

In FIG. 8, a sealing construction for the diaphragm 26 is shown in which the

rings

50 and 51 and the ring 51 and-the bottom of the groove 90 have interposed therebetween a continuous cylindrical ring 96 of rectangular cross section and of synthetic plastic material having anti-extrusion characteristics such as that available under the name Delrin, from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.

In FIG. 9, the sealing construction there shown is similar to that of FIG. 8 except for the omission of the lower ring 96.

In FIG. 10, the sealing construction is similar to that of FIG. 9, except for the addition of a continuous antiex-trusion ring 97 similar in composition and shape t the

rings

94 and 95.

In FIG. 11, in the sealing construction there shown, the ring 51 has anti-extrusion rings 94, 95 and 97 in engagement therewith.

In FIG. 12, a sealing construction is shown which is similar to those of FIGS. 7 and 11.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

Upon reciprocation of the piston assembly 40, the piston 40a will be reciprocated.

Upon downward movement of the piston 40a, the

. diaphragm 26 will move downwardly until it reaches the face 25 which prevents further movement.- If any fluid is required up it will be supplied from the source through the pipe 48, the valve V1, the pipe 43 and the passageway 42.

Upon downward movement of the diaphragm 26 fluid enters through the inlet valve 35.

Upon upward movement of the piston 40a, the diaphragm 26-is moved upwardly for delivery of fluid past the delivery valve 39.

As the pressure effective on the lower side of the diaphragm 26 increases in the event that it becomes excessive fluid will be discharged past the valve V2.

The pressure effective from the manifold 47 through the pipe 73 and the passageway 72 provides a fluid pressure enhanced seal between the head 20 and the sealing plate 65 preventing fluid leakage at this location.

As the pressure on the diaphragm 26 is increased by upward movement of the piston 40a the sealing pressure on the ring 50 is effective on the diaphragm 26 remains effective or may even be increased depending upon the sealing construction which is employed.

In the form of sealing construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 the fluid pressure applied through the fluid connection 56 augments the sealing pressure available from the resilience of the elastomer ring 51 and/ or the ring 54.

In the form of sealing construction shown in FIGS. 5, and 8 to 12, inclusive, the main reliance for sealing pressure is that of the elastomer ring 51, which has been supersqueezed into the space available for it. Any leakage which may occur between the

faces

45 and 46 tends to augment the force from the ring 51.

I claim:

1. A diaphragm compressor or pump comprising a first diaphragm mounting head;

a second diaphragm mounting head,

one of said mounting head-s having a diaphragm movement limiting plate mounted thereon, a diaphragm interposed between said heads, said plate and one of said mounting heads having spaced portions dividing said portions into a process fluid chamber and an actuating fluid chamber,

means for applying an actuating fluid pressure against said diaphragm, and

sealing means for preventing leakage of fluid between said diaphragm and at least one of said heads;

said sealing means including a pressure applying mem ber in engagement with said diaphragm, and

a resilient member engaging said pressure applying member and urging it toward said diaphragm.

2. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which said resilient member is of an elastomer and is confined in a space smaller than its normal and unconfined volume.

3. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which said resilient member is an elastomer and a fluid connection is provided for applying fluid pressure against said resilient member additive to that of the resilient member.

4. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which said plate and the head on which it is mounted having a space therebetween, and

said members of said sealing means are disposed in said space.

5. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 4 in which said sealing means also includes an additional elastomeric member spaced from said resilient member.

6. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 4 in which said pressure applying member has at least one diaphragm contacting rim of lesser area than the remainder of said pressure applying member for intensifying the pressure application on said diaphragm.

7. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 4 in which said resilient member has at said plate a-n anti-extrusion ring in engagement therewith.

8. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 7 in which said resilient member has an additional anti-extrusion ring in engagement therewith spaced from said first mentioned ring.

9. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which said diaphragm has a plated band thereon in engagement with one of said heads.

10. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which additional sealing means is provided from one of said heads for preventing leakage of actuating fluid.

11. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 10 in which a pressure fluid supply connection is provided, and

said additional sealing means has said fluid pressure connection in communication therewith.

12. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 10 in which said actuating fluid pressure applying means has said supply connection connected thereto.

13. A seal for a diaphragm comprising members in facing relation having portions engaging said diaphragm on opposite sides thereof in holding relation,

a ring mounted in one of said members in radially offset relation to said portions and engaging one side of said diaphragm, and

a resilient ring of an elastomer engaging said first ring and urging it toward said diaphragm.

14. A seal as defined in claim 13 in which a fluid pressure supply connection is provided connected to supply fluid pressure additive to the pressure applied by said resilient ring.

15. A seal as defined in claim 13 in which said resilient ring has an extrusion preventing member in engagement therewith.

16. A seal as defined in claim 13 in which said resilient ring and said first mentioned ring have an extrusion preventing ring therebetween.

17. A seal as defined in claim 13 in which said first ring has a rim thereon engaging said diaphragm and said rim is of lesser width than said ring for applying pressure to said diaphragm.

18. A seal as defined in claim 13 in which said diaphragm has a band engaged with one face thereof engaging one of said members on the opposite side thereof from that with which said ring is in engagement.

19. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which a fluid pressure connection is provided for applying pressure on one of said mounting heads in opposition to the fluid pressure applied on said diaphragm and by said diaphragm against said mounting head.

20. A diaphragm compressor or pump as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said diaphragm mounting heads has a dished face with respect to which the diaphragm is movable,

said face has a plug with an annular opening therearound with a fluid passageway communicating therewith, and

said dished portion has a plurality of grooves therein extending to said annular opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,835 4/1908 Brush 103152 2,970,747 2/ 1961 Kasper et al 230162 3,052,188 9/1962 Wolf et al. 10344 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DIAPHRAGM COMPRESSOR OR PUMP COMPRISING A FIRST DIAPHRAGM MOUNTING HEAD; A SECOND DIAPHRAGM MOUNTING HEAD, ONE OF SAID MOUNTING HEADS HAVING A DIAPHRAGM MOVEMENT LIMITING PLATE MOUNTED THEREON, A DIAPHRAGM INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID HEADS, SAID PLATE AND ONE OF SAID MOUNTING HEADS HAVING SPACED PORTIONS DIVIDING SAID PORTIONS INTO A PROCESS FLUID CHAMBER AND AN ACTUATING FLUID CHAMBER, MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ACTUATING FLUID PRESSURE AGAINST SAID DIAPHRAGM, AND SEALING MEANS FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID DIAPHRAGM AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID HEADS; SAID SEALING MEANS INCLUDING A PRESSURE APPLYING MEMBER IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DIAPHRAGM, AND A RESILIENT MEMBER ENGAGING SAID PRESSURE APPLYING MEMBER AND URGING IT TOWARD SAID DIAPHRAGM.