초록 ▼

A valve assembly for a diaphragm pump reduces leakage while providing good flow-through by including shaping of the seat and/or the valve that increases the elastic tension between the valve and seat in outer regions of the valve assembly, thereby providing a more optimal tension over the entire val

A valve assembly for a diaphragm pump reduces leakage while providing good flow-through by including shaping of the seat and/or the valve that increases the elastic tension between the valve and seat in outer regions of the valve assembly, thereby providing a more optimal tension over the entire valve. In embodiments, outer regions of the seat are more steeply sloped upward than inner regions while the valve is substantially uniform in slope. In other embodiments, valve outer regions are less steeply sloped upward, or more steeply sloped downward, than its inner regions, and the seat is substantially uniform in slope. A vertical cross section of the seat and/or valve can include continuous curvature and/or discrete changes in linear slope. In some embodiments, two linear slopes are included in the vertical cross section of the seat or valve. The pump can be a multi-chamber pump.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A one-way valve assembly, comprising: a valve seat having a first sealing surface, said first sealing surface having a first surface shape; anda valve having a flexible extension, said flexible extension including a second sealing surface, said second sealing surface having a second surface shape

1. A one-way valve assembly, comprising: a valve seat having a first sealing surface, said first sealing surface having a first surface shape; anda valve having a flexible extension, said flexible extension including a second sealing surface, said second sealing surface having a second surface shape when the valve is not attached to the valve seat and the flexible extension is in a relaxed state;a difference between said first surface shape and said second surface shape causing vertical elastic displacement of said flexible extension when said valve is attached to said valve seat, said vertical elastic displacement pressing the second sealing surface against the first sealing surface so as to cause the second sealing surface to be in direct contact with the first sealing surface over a range of contact between the first and second sealing surfaces, and to form a fluid seal therebetween;said vertical elastic displacement in said range of contact being describable as a function D(r), where r is a radial distance from a center of the valve seat, D(r) having a non-zero slope that is flat in an outer range of r and in an inner range of r, said slope being greater in the outer range of r than in the inner range of r. 2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve comprises an attachment feature that includes a valve stem having a retention barb that is configured to retain the valve stem in a shank of the valve seat, said valve stem being shorter than said shank, thereby causing said second sealing surface to be pressed against said first sealing surface when the valve is installed in the valve seat. 3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein both the first and second surface shapes curve upward as a function of increasing radial distance r from the center of the valve seat, the second surface shape curving upward more rapidly than the first surface shape. 4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first surface shape includes a flat annular outer region concentric about a flat annular inner region, a slope of the first surface shape being at least 10 degrees greater in the outer annular region that in the inner annular region. 5. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first surface shape and the second surface shape is a section of a first right circular conical surface bounded by two horizontal planes. 6. A diaphragm pump for pumping a process fluid, the diaphragm pump comprising: a pump housing;an inlet region within the pump housing into which process fluid flows in an inlet direction;an outlet region within the pump housing from which process fluid flows out in an outlet direction;a pumping zone that is separated from the inlet region by at least one inlet valve assembly, and from the outlet region by at least one outlet valve assembly, the pumping zone being partially bounded by a flexible diaphragm;at least one of said inlet valve assembly and said outlet valve assembly including: a valve seat having a first sealing surface, said first sealing surface having a first surface shape; anda valve having a flexible extension, said flexible extension including a second sealing surface, said second sealing surface having a second surface shape when the valve is not attached to the valve seat and the flexible extension is in a relaxed state;a difference between said first surface shape and said second surface shape causing vertical elastic displacement of said flexible extension when said valve is attached to said valve seat, said vertical elastic displacement pressing the second sealing surface against the first sealing surface so as to cause the second sealing surface to be in direct contact with the first sealing surface over a range of contact between the first and second sealing surfaces, and to form a fluid seal therebetween;said vertical elastic displacement in said range of contact being describable as a function D(r), where r is a radial distance from a center of the valve seat, D(r) having a non-zero slope that is flat in an outer range of r and in an inner range of r, said slope being greater in the outer range of r than in the inner range of r. 7. The diaphragm pump of claim 6, wherein said valve comprises an attachment feature that includes a valve stem having a retention barb that is configured to retain the valve stem in a shank of the valve seat, said valve stem being shorter than said shank, thereby causing said second sealing surface to be pressed against said first sealing surface when the valve is installed in the valve seat. 8. The diaphragm pump of claim 6, wherein both the first and second surface shapes curve upward as a function of increasing radial distance r from the center of the valve seat, the second surface shape curving upward more rapidly than the first surface shape. 9. The diaphragm pump of claim 6, wherein the first surface shape includes a flat annular outer region concentric about a flat annular inner region, a slope of the first surface shape being at least 10 degrees greater in the outer annular region that in the inner annular region. 10. The diaphragm pump of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first surface shape and the second surface shape is a section of a first right circular conical surface bounded by two horizontal planes.