Linear pump with exhaust pulsation attenuation

Abstract

A linear pump having an axially aligned cylinder and piston arrangement driven by an electromagnet motor has an exhaust chamber defining a cavity covered by a diaphragm. The diaphragm is movable toward the cavity in response to pressure fluctuations in the exhaust chamber to attenuate pulsations in an air stream exiting the exhaust chamber. A diaphragm is mounted over the recessed cavity by a support ring having an open center allowing air to act against the diaphragm.

1 . A linear pump comprising a cylinder and piston disposed along a piston axis and an electromagnet having a stator containing a wire coil driving an armature connected to the piston to reciprocate the piston within the cylinder along the piston axis, wherein the cylinder is in communication with an exhaust chamber through an exhaust port of a valve head, and wherein the exhaust chamber includes an attenuator movable in response to pressure fluctuations in the exhaust chamber to attenuate pulsations in an air stream exiting the exhaust chamber.  
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuator is a diaphragm.  
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the diaphragm is mounted over a cavity allowing the diaphragm to move toward the interior of the cavity in response to pressure fluctuation in the exhaust chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the cavity is a circular recess.  
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 2 , further including a diaphragm support.  
   
   
       6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the diaphragm support has a center opening.  
   
   
       7 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is a rubber disc.  
   
   
       8 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein there is only one cylinder and piston arrangement.