Westinghouse Air Brake Company

Howard D Huss

Lawrence R Streitman

William G Greenaway

Eldon S Eady

James Varney

The present invention provides a diaphragm for use in pump applications in which at least a predetermined portion of such diaphragm is in contact with such outer piston which would tend to abrade such diaphragm. Such diaphragm is formed from at least one layer of a preselected flexible material. Such diaphragm comprises an outer bead like portion for securing the diaphragm to a pump housing. There is a annular flexure portion having a first end and a second end, such first end and such second end being generally flat and an arcuate shaped middle portion formed contiguously with the first end and the second end. Such first end is formed contiguously with the outer bead like portion. Such annular flexure portion has a substantially uniform first predetermined thickness. An enlarged bulbous portion is formed contiguously with the second end and extends around an inner periphery thereof. Such enlarged bulbous portion has a predetermined configuration. Such diaphragm has an enlarged section formed as a protrusion that extends outwardly from an outer surface of the generally flat second end. Such enlarged section is formed contiguously with the enlarged bulbous portion and extends around an outer periphery thereof. The enlarged section causes the second end to be thicker than such first predetermined thickness. Further, there is a generally flat center portion that is formed contiguously with the enlarged bulbous portion and extends around an inner periphery thereof.

Extended wear pump diaphragm

The present invention provides a lightweight sleeve and spool arrangement for use in certain pumps. Such lightweight sleeve and spool arrangement comprises a sleeve having a predetermined number of apertures and having a predetermined interior diameter. The sleeve is formed from a first predetermined plastic material selected from a group consisting of nylons, acetals, polysulfones, polyesters, polyetherimides and polyamide-imines. There is also a spool that has a predetermined configuration and a predetermined exterior diameter. Such predetermined exterior diameter being about 0.0005 inches smaller than the predetermined interior diameter of such sleeve. The spool is formed from a second predetermined plastic material selected from a group consisting of nylons, acetals, polysulfones, polyesters, polyetherimides and polyamide-imines.

Lightweight sleeve and spool arrangement for use in diaphragm pumps

The present invention provides an improved diaphragm which will substantially resist detrimental abrasive wear. Such diaphragm being used in certain applications in which at least a portion of such diaphragm moves relative to and is in contact with a nonflexing surface which would tend to abrade and excessively wear such diaphragm. Such diaphragm includes at least one layer of a flexible material. Such at least one layer of such flexible material being selected from a group consisting of EPDM, nitrites, neoprene, fluoroelastomers and various mixtures thereof. This layer of such flexible material has a first predetermined thickness. Such diaphragm further has at least a portion of such at least one layer of such flexible material disposed at least adjacent such nonflexing surface. This portion of the diaphragm has a second predetermined thickness. The second predetermined thickness being greater than such first predetermined thickness. The at least a portion of such at least one layer of flexible material is disposed at least adjacent such nonflexing surface and has such second predetermined thickness positioned on a predetermined side of such diaphragm. Such diaphragm also includes an aperture, having a predetermined diameter, formed through and substantially in a diametric center of such at least one layer of a flexible material and such at least a portion of such at least one layer of such flexible material having such second predetermined thickness.

Abrasion resistant diaphragm

A method of forming a rubber seal containing a metal insert where a transfer mold having a cavity is provided with a post and a plurality of upwardly extending arcuated bosses on the base of the cavity. A metallic insert is disposed on the bosses and a flowable rubber material forced into the mold cavity and envelopes the metallic insert to form the rubber ring seal. The rubber seal produced has a plurality of spaced, aligned arcuate grooves in a flat planar surface of the base extending inwardly towards the embedded metallic insert.

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Westmoreland City, PA, United States of America

Howard D Huss