Button diaphragm piston pump

Abstract

A system, method, and process of using a button diaphragm for a piston pump are provided. The button diaphragm is a thin sheet of material with a raised bead located on its periphery. The button diaphragm also has a button with a button face and a relief. The button is centered and inserted into a mating receptacle on a piston pump thereby aligning the diaphragm on the piston. When suction is applied to the internal surface of the piston the button diaphragm, is aligned with the piston by the button, and the diaphragm is drawn toward the face of the piston, thereby ensuring the diaphragm is properly seated on the piston during operation of the piston pump.

1 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump, comprising: 
 a raised bead located on the periphery of the button diaphragm;    a thin sheet of material connecting the area inside said raised bead; and,    a button located on said thin sheet, wherein said button comprises a button face and relief.    
   
   
       2 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said raised bead, said thin sheet, and said button are fabricated from the same material.  
   
   
       3 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said material is an elastomer.  
   
   
       4 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said button is molded as an integral part of the button diaphragm.  
   
   
       5 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said button is located substantially near the center of the area of said thin sheet or material.  
   
   
       6 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said button relief is substantially semicircular in profile.  
   
   
       7 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said relief is configured to engage a mating receptacle on the piston pump.  
   
   
       8 . A button diaphragm for a piston pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said button face is substantially of a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindric, conic, spheric, parabolic, or ellipsoid.  
   
   
       9 . A fill pump assembly, comprising: 
 a pump head with a product inlet and product outlet defining a pump chamber in fluid communication with said product inlet and product outlet;    an outer cylinder attached to said pump chamber with a frontside opening into said pump chamber, and a backside opening, with a groove and backside groove;    a button diaphragm with a raised bead located on the periphery of said button diaphragm attached to said groove. sealing said frontside opening from said pump chamber, the button diaphragm including a button;    a piston sized to fit within said outer cylinder with a piston face, a backside, a drive connector, a mating receptacle sided to accept said button, a fluid volume, and a vacuum face;    a backside diaphragm with a backside diaphragm bead forming a seal with said outer cylinder with said backside groove and a backside piston bead forming a seal with said piston backside; and,    a means for reciprocating said piston into and out of said pump chamber.    
   
   
       10 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a suction means for reducing the pressure of said fluid volume.  
   
   
       11 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 9  whereby said means for reciprocating said piston into and out of said pump chamber is accomplished by a linear actuator.  
   
   
       12 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a drive motor with a rotary output coupled to said linear actuator.  
   
   
       13 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said vacuum face and said mating receptacle are on said piston face.  
   
   
       14 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the separation between said piston wall and said outer cylinder is sized to accommodate a convolution of said button diaphragm.  
   
   
       15 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said button further comprises a relief.  
   
   
       16 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said button diaphragm is an elastomer.  
   
   
       17 . A fill pump assembly, comprising: 
 a pump head with a product inlet and product outlet defining a pump chamber in fluid communication with said product inlet and product outlet;    an outer cylinder attached to said pump chamber with a backside opening and a frontside opening into said pump chamber, with a groove and backside groove;    a diaphragm with a contact face and a raised bead located on the periphery of the diaphragm attached to said groove sealing said frontside opening from said pump chamber;    a piston with a piston face, and a backside, sized to fit within said outer cylinder;    a means of aligning said contact face with said piston face;    a backside diaphragm with a backside diaphragm bead forming a seal with said outer cylinder on said backside groove and a backside piston bead forming a seal with said piston backside;    a means for creating a suction across said piston face and applying said suction to said contact face; and,    a means for reciprocating said piston into and out of said pump chamber.    
   
   
       18 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 17 , where said means for creating a suction across said piston face and applying said suction to said contact face further comprises a sensor means for detecting if product enters said piston.  
   
   
       19 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 17 , whereby said means of aligning said contact face with said piston face is the interface of a button placed on said contact face inserted into a mating receptacle sized to accept said button on said piston face.  
   
   
       20 . A fill pump assembly as recited in  claim 17 , whereby said means for reciprocating said piston is a linear actuator.