US3727623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diaphragm valve
Assignee: Paul Mueller Co
•
Filing: 1970-11-27
•
Granted: 1973-04-17
•
Expires: 1990-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A diaphragm valve is provided with an improved sealing surface and a mechanical flow regulator for precise flow control. The valve has a body with an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. Passages extend from both chambers to at least one side of the body. The passages are covered by a diaphragm which in turn is covered by a cap. The cap and diaphragm define a control cavity which may be pressurized to force the diaphragm against the side of the body, thereby closing the valve. The openings from the passages are surrounded with ridges, which reduce the effective sealing area against which the diaphragm presses. The cap also supports a mechanical flow regulator which presses the diaphragm towards the body of the valve between the passages from the inlet chamber and the passages to the outlet chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 J Robbins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K7/00; F16K7/02; F16K7/04; F16K7/07; F16K7/075; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/14; F16K31/145; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86718; Y10T137/86734; Y10T137/86759; Y10T137/87265; Y10T137/8733; Y10T137/87499
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A diaphragm valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; b. first and second flexible members overlying separate parts of the exterior of the body; c. at least one opening in the body that communicates with the inlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the inlet chamber and with the second flexible member; d. at Least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; e. a first cap overlying said first flexible member and a second cap overlying said second flexible member, said caps and said flexible members defining control cavities that overly said openings; f. a mechanical flow regulator within at least one of the cavities for pressing the flexible member toward the body; and g. means for individually supplying control fluid to each control cavity, whereby the valve may be switched between a number of pre-set flow rates by selectively supplying control fluid to the individual control cavities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A diaphragm valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; b. first and second flexible members overlying separate parts of the exterior of the body; c. at least one opening in the body that communicates with the inlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the inlet chamber and with the second flexible member; d. at Least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; e. a first cap overlying said first flexible member and a second cap overlying said second flexible member, said caps and said flexible members defining control cavities that overly said openings; f. a mechanical flow regulator within at least one of the cavities for pressing the flexible member toward the body; and g. means for individually supplying control fluid to each control cavity, whereby the valve may be switched between a number of pre-set flow rates by selectively supplying control fluid to the individual control cavities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 1 wherein there is a bore through the top of the cap that defines the control cavity containing the mechanical flow regulator and the flow regulator comprises: a. a shaft extending through the bore in the cap; b. a bar within the control cavity, said bar being attached to the shaft and adapted to conform to said body between the opening that communicates with the inlet chamber and the opening that communicates with the outlet chamber; and c. means for reciprocating the shaft within the bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 2 wherein the shaft is threaded at one end and the bar is attached at the other end of the shaft so that the shaft can rotate relative to the bar, and the means for reciprocating the shaft comprises a regulator body mounted in the bore in the cap, said regulator body having a threaded bore through which the threaded end of the shaft extends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 3 wherein the length of the bar is slightly less than the width of the control cavity and the width of the bar is sufficient to keep the bar from turning when the shaft is rotated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 2 wherein the cap defines a transverse channel extending across the top of the cavity into which the bar can be retracted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 1 wherein there are: a. a plurality of small openings that communicate with the inlet chamber and with the flexible member, and b. a plurality of small openings that communicate with the outlet chamber and with the flexible member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
A diaphragm valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port and an outlet port; b. a flexible member overlying at least part of an exterior surface of the body; c. a plurality of small openings in said surface that communicate with the flexible member and with the inlet chamber; d. a plurality of small openings in said surface that communicate with the outlet chamber and with the flexible member; e. a cap overlying the flexible member, said cap and said flexible member defining a control cavity that overlies all of said openings; f. means for adding control fluid to the cavity to press the flexible member against the openings; and g. individual ridges around at least some of said small openings, whereby the control fluid pressure needed to seal the openings is reduced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
A diaphragm valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet port and an outlet port; b. a flexible member overlying at least part of an exterior surface of the body; c. a plurality of small openings in said surface that communicate with the flexible member and with the inlet chamber; d. a plurality of small openings in said surface that communicate with the outlet chamber and with the flexible member; e. a cap overlying the flexible member, said cap and said flexible member defining a control cavity that overlies all of said openings; f. means for adding control fluid to the cavity to press the flexible member against the openings; and g. individual ridges around at least some of said small openings, whereby the control fluid pressure needed to seal the openings is reduced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 7 wherein the flexible member is an elastomeric diaphragm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 7 wherein the ridges have a semicircular cross-section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A diaphragm valve according to claim 7 wherein all of said small openings are surrounded by individual ridges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
194 words
A diaphragm valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; b. first and second flexible members overlying separate parts of the exterior of the body; c. a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate with the inlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate with the inlet chamber and with the second flexible member; d. a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate wIth the outlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; e. individual ridges around at least some of said small openings; f. a first cap overlying said first flexible member and a second cap overlying said second flexible member, said caps and said flexible members defining control cavities that overly said openings; g. means for adding control fluid to the cavities to press the flexible members against the openings; and h. a mechanical flow regulator within at least one of the cavities for pressing the flexible member toward the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
194 words
A diaphragm valve comprising: a. a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; b. first and second flexible members overlying separate parts of the exterior of the body; c. a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate with the inlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate with the inlet chamber and with the second flexible member; d. a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate wIth the outlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and a plurality of small openings in the body that communicate with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; e. individual ridges around at least some of said small openings; f. a first cap overlying said first flexible member and a second cap overlying said second flexible member, said caps and said flexible members defining control cavities that overly said openings; g. means for adding control fluid to the cavities to press the flexible members against the openings; and h. a mechanical flow regulator within at least one of the cavities for pressing the flexible member toward the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A valve according to claim 11 wherein the ridges have a semicircular cross-section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A valve according to claim 11 wherein the flexible member is an elastomeric diaphragm.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of controlling a diaphragm valve having: a. a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; b. first and second flexible members overlying separate parts of the exterior of the body; c. at least one opening in the body that communicates with the inlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; d. at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; e. a first cap overlying said first flexible member and a second cap overlying said second flexible member, said caps and said flexible members defining control cavities that overly said openings; and f. a mechanical flow regulator within at least one of the cavities for pressing the flexible member toward the body; g. comprising: adjusting the mechanical flow regulator to set the flow rate through the openings covered by the diaphragm controlled by said flow regulator; and switching the valve between pre-set flow rates by supplying control fluid to various combinations of the individual control cavities.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of controlling a diaphragm valve having: a. a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; b. first and second flexible members overlying separate parts of the exterior of the body; c. at least one opening in the body that communicates with the inlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; d. at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the first flexible member, and at least one opening in the body that communicates with the outlet chamber and with the second flexible member; e. a first cap overlying said first flexible member and a second cap overlying said second flexible member, said caps and said flexible members defining control cavities that overly said openings; and f. a mechanical flow regulator within at least one of the cavities for pressing the flexible member toward the body; g. comprising: adjusting the mechanical flow regulator to set the flow rate through the openings covered by the diaphragm controlled by said flow regulator; and switching the valve between pre-set flow rates by supplying control fluid to various combinations of the individual control cavities.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USRE19151E
Cited
DE614351C
Cited
US2572175A
Cited
US2677390A
Cited
US2907346A
Cited
US2931386A
Cited
US3092144A
Cited
US3426999A
Cited
US3415275A
Cited
US3511472A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |