Trebor International, Inc.

Matthew J Stillings

Troy Jesse Orr

Ricky B Steck

Michael R Dunn

David Kingsbury

A fiber optic system for detecting a stroke of a pump, the fiber optic system including a first fiber optic line configured for directing light onto a portion of the pump that moves during the stroke of the pump. The system further includes a second fiber optic line configured for receiving light that has been transmitted from the first fiber optic line and reflected by the portion of the pump, wherein receipt of the light by the second fiber optic line occurs at a specified point during the stroke of the pump. The moving portion of the pump may be the diaphragm, the reciprocating portion, or any other part of the pump that cycles at regular intervals as the pump operates.

Fiber optic system for detecting pump cycles

A pump for ultra-pure fluids comprises a flexible diaphragm separating a fluid chamber from an air chamber. The diaphragm creates an airtight seal between the fluid chamber and the air chamber. Any leak from the fluid chamber into the air chamber is detected by a fiber optic system comprising an element and two optical fibers that are disposed such that light is detected by the second optical fiber only when the element is not in contact with liquid. A second fiber optic system can also be used to determine the stroke of an oscillating member by disposing the fiber optic lines at an angle calculated to reflect light off of the oscillating member when the member arrives at a predetermined location. The fiber optics are adapted to be resistant to corrosion, non-igniting, and non-contaminating.

Fiber optics systems for high purity pump diagnostics

A pump for ultra-pure fluids comprises a flexible diaphragm separating a fluid chamber from an air chamber. The diaphragm creates an airtight seal between the fluid chamber and the air chamber when a self-centering and trapezoidal shaped wedge compressively forces the diaphragm into a trapezoidal shaped perimeter cavity surrounding the chambers. Any leak from the fluid chamber into the air chamber is detected by a fiber optic system comprising two optical fibers that are disposed at an angle that is calculated to enable light to pass between the fibers only in the presence of a liquid having a predetermined index of refraction. The fiber optic system can also be used to determine the stroke of the pump by disposing the fiber optic lines at an angle calculated to reflect light off of the oscillating diaphragm when the diaphragm arrives at a predetermined location.

Free-diaphragm pump

A pump for ultra-pure fluids, such as hot, de-ionized water, processing acids, and the like, such as those used in the semiconductor processing industries, is designed to operate at greater than 10 and often 30 or 50 million cycles without failure, and to be failclean. A diaphragm pump maintains a free diaphragm, supported in a contoured chamber for driving and being driven by a piston, able to move radially, rather than absorbing misalignment or distortions. A self-energizing, self-centering, trapezoidal seal captures a constant-thickness diaphragm between a head and body forming the chamber of the pump, separating a body portion and a head portion. An oriented, calendered, multi-layered chlorofluorocarbon diaphragm may be the same material chemically as the body, head, or both. Non-reactive pilots control an operating (motive) fluid, detecting the end-of-stroke whether near the head or near the body. An integrated base controller for the operating fluid supports the apparatus, has a quick exhaust for dumping external-controller air overboard after use, and a bias disk to provide precise, digital, spool positioning within an operational range of pressure differentials. The heads may connect to the body by slip rings, so heads remain registered. Cantilevered portions of the head may absorb secondary creep and provide continued spring loading using exclusively non-reactive materials, no metals, and no elastomers, as a failclean system.

A burst disk assembly relies on a brittle material as the burst disk. Conventional manufacturing tolerances are suitable with the mounting assembly. Flatness and collinearly are achieved by an alignment adapter interfacing between an anvil and the burst disk, on the low-pressure side thereof. A seal, typically thinner than the alignment adapter, is held against the high-pressure side face of the burst disk by a pilot or loader face. All materials are ultra-pure, high-temperature tolerant, and non-reactive. Thin films over metal are not used. Reliable, repeatable, predicable burst pressures have been achieved without resort to highly specialized manufacturing processes. Ceramics and crystalline materials may serve as a burst disk, and quartz has been shown effective. Various grades of fluorocarbon materials have been found to provide suitable coatings, fixtures, and seals. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene forms a suitable seal. Slightly expanded PTFE such as that sold under the brand-name 'Gylon.TM.' has provided suitable alignment adapters.

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

Matthew J Stillings