Multiple diaphragm pump

Abstract

A multiple diaphragm pump having a single drive and controller is disclosed. Each diaphragm of the multiple diaphragm pump is connected to a piston. The pistons may be connected to at least one lever. A cam may be operatively engaged with the at least one lever such that movement of the cam causes movement of the piston which translates into piston stroke. The pistons move in substantially the same direction such that when one diaphragm is in a forward stroke the other diaphragm is in a backward stroke.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A diaphragm pump, comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an electric motor; 
 a motor shaft driven by the electric motor for rotation about an electric motor shaft axis; 
 a cam connected to the motor shaft for rotation about the motor shaft axis; 
 at least one lever having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one lever attached to the housing and the second end of the at least one lever in operative engagement with the cam such that the cam acts on the second end of the at least one lever to move the lever; 
 a first piston and a second piston coupled to the at least one lever such that movement of the lever in a first direction causes the first piston and the second piston to move in a first piston direction and movement of the lever in a second direction causes the first piston and the second piston to move in a second piston direction; 
 a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm; and 
 a fluid manifold having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to a first pumping chamber and a second pumping chamber, the first diaphragm sealing the first pumping chamber and the second diaphragm sealing the second pumping chamber, the first diaphragm coupled to the first piston and the second diaphragm coupled to the second piston such that movement of the first piston in the first piston direction causes the first pumping chamber to increase in volume, movement of the second piston in the first piston direction causes the second pumping chamber to decrease in volume, movement of the first piston in the second piston direction causes the first pumping chamber to decrease in volume and movement of the second piston in the second piston direction causes the second pumping chamber to increase in volume such that fluid passes from the fluid inlet and alternatively through the first pumping chamber and the second pumping chamber to the fluid outlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1  further comprising a first lever and a second lever, the first lever coupled to the first piston and the second lever coupled to the second piston. 
     
     
         3 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 2 , wherein a ring connects the first lever and the second lever such that movement of first lever causes movement of the second lever. 
     
     
         4 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1  wherein movement of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm causes fluid to be drawn into and out of the manifold, the manifold being detachably secured to a front surface of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1  further comprising a shaft support member having an opening to receive the motor shaft and configured to support the motor shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 5 , wherein the shaft support member comprises a bearing mounted within a bearing mounting detachably secured to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the motor shaft axis defines a motor shaft plane. 
     
     
         8 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the lever moves in a plane perpendicular to the motor shaft plane. 
     
     
         9 . A diaphragm pump, comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an electric motor; 
 a motor shaft driven by the electric motor for rotation about an electric motor shaft axis, the motor shaft axis defining a motor shaft plane; 
 a cam connected to the motor shaft for rotation about the motor shaft axis; 
 a first lever configured such that movement of the cam causes movement of the first lever; 
 a second lever configured such that movement of the cam causes movement of the second lever; 
 a coupling member coupling the first lever and the second lever such that movement of the first lever causes movement of the second lever; 
 a first piston coupled to the first lever; 
 a second piston coupled to the second lever; 
 a first diaphragm coupled to the first piston; 
 a second diaphragm coupled to the second piston; and 
 a fluid manifold having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to a first pumping chamber and a second pumping chamber, the first diaphragm sealing the first pumping chamber fluidly connected to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and the second diaphragm sealing the second pumping chamber fluidly connected to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; 
 wherein movement of the first piston in a first piston direction causes the first pumping chamber to increase in volume, movement of the second piston in the first piston direction causes the second pumping chamber to decrease in volume, movement of the first piston in a second piston direction causes the first pumping chamber to decrease in volume and movement of the second piston in the second piston direction causes the second pumping chamber to increase in volume. 
   
     
     
         10 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 9  wherein movement of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm causes fluid to be drawn into and out of the manifold, the manifold being detachably secured to a front surface of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 9  further comprising a shaft support member having an opening to receive the motor shaft and configured to support the motor shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft support member comprises a bearing mounted within a bearing mounting detachably secured to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 9 , wherein the motor shaft axis defines a motor shaft plane. 
     
     
         14 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second levers move in a plane perpendicular to the motor shaft plane. 
     
     
         15 . A diaphragm pump, comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an electric motor; 
 a motor shaft driven by the electric motor for rotation about an electric motor shaft axis; 
 a cam connected to the motor shaft for rotation about the motor shaft axis; 
 a first diaphragm coupled to a first piston; 
 a second diaphragm coupled to a second piston; 
 a coupling member operatively connected to the cam, the coupling member coupling the first piston and the second piston such that rotation of the cam moves the first piston and the second piston simultaneously; and 
 a fluid manifold having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the first diaphragm sealing a first pumping chamber fluidly connected to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and the second diaphragm sealing a second pumping chamber fluidly connected to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; 
 wherein movement of the first piston in a first piston direction causes the first pumping chamber to increase in volume, movement of the second piston in the first piston direction causes the second pumping chamber to decrease in volume, movement of the first piston in a second piston direction causes the first pumping chamber to decrease in volume and movement of the second piston in the second piston direction causes the second pumping chamber to increase in volume. 
   
     
     
         16 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 15  further comprising a first lever and a second lever, the first lever coupled to the first piston and the second lever coupled to the second piston. 
     
     
         17 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 16 , wherein a ring connects the first lever and the second lever such that movement of first lever causes movement of the second lever. 
     
     
         18 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 17  wherein movement of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm causes fluid to be drawn into and out of the manifold, the manifold being detachably secured to a front surface of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 15  further comprising a shaft support member having an opening to receive the motor shaft and configured to support the motor shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 19 , wherein the shaft support member comprises a bearing mounted within a bearing mounting detachably secured to the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 15 , wherein the motor shaft axis defines a motor shaft plane. 
     
     
         22 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second levers move in a plane perpendicular to the motor shaft plane.