GB2234015A - Surge suppressor - Google Patents

Abstract

A surge suppressor for dampening undesired pressure surges in a fluid handling system comprises a tubular elastomeric diaphragm (72) disposed in a hollow chamber (62) of a housing to separate the chamber into two isolated zones, one being exposed to the fluid exhibiting undesired pressure surges and the other being pressurized with a compressible fluid such as nitrogen. The diaphragm (72) is supported on a baffle (78) provided with longitudinally spaced and radially extending slots (80) with interposed annular grooves (82). <IMAGE>

Description

SURGE SUPPRESSOR This invention relates generally to devices for reducing pressure pulsations in fluid handling systems and more particularly to a new design of such a pulsation dampener whereby the life of the diaphragm used therein is extended and the overall complexity of the device is reduce.

Various forms of surge suppressors or pulsation dampeners are known in the art. In general, they comprise a rigid housing defining a cavity containing a partition made from an elastomeric material which seals one portion of the cavity from the other. Provision is made to allow the working fluid subject to pressure surges to enter one compartment while the other compartment is pressurized with a compressible fluid. Typical prior art arrangements are shown in US Patents 4,186,776; 4,603,711 and 4,201,246. Each of the devices depicted in those patens suffers from a common defect.Specifically, the elastomeric diaphragm used to separate the working fluid from the pressurized chamber is subjected to repeated flexing and folding proximate the location where the diaphragm is secured to the housing or where the diaphragm is designed to invert upon shifts in pressure on opposed sides of the diaphragm. When it is considered that such pulsation dampeners or surge suppressors are intended to be used with positive displacement fluid pumps operating at high speeds and at elevated pressures, the rapid flexures of the diaphragm, including reverse bending thereof, at the above-mentioned wear points results in premature failure.

The prior art also addresses various ways of attempting to deal with this problem. For example, the bladder or diaphragm may be reinforced or contoured so as to bend or invert in a specific fashion intended to reduce the radius of curvature of the diaphragm at the point of inversion. For example, in US-4 186 776, the diaphragm is provided with an annular lip 22c for controlling the bending of the diaphragm and the diaphragm is provided with a bridging disk 34 to preclude the diaphragm from becoming extruded into the inlet when the pressure in the chamber 14 excess the pressure in the chamber 24. Notwithstanding the provision of these features, the planar diaphragm is still subjected to significant flexures which result in molecular heating due to friction and relatively rapid failure, thus requiring frequent replacement.Also, frictional rubbing and attendant heating of the diaphragm occurs due to contact between the diaphragm on its surrounding housing.

It is the purpose of the present invention to obviate these problems while creating a surge suppressor which not only exhibits an extended mean-time-betweenfailure, but which is more simple in its construction than prior art systems, thus reducing its overall cost and simplifying repair when they do become necessary.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a surge suppressor which includes a housing defining a cavity. Disposed in the cavity is a rigid baffle member which is generally tubular in its geometry and which is coaxially aligned with the housingrs inlet opening through which the fluid subject to undesired pressure surges passes. The tubular wall portion of the rigid baffle includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially extending slots through which the working fluid may flow. Surrounding the baffle, yet contained within the cavity of the housing is a generally tubular bladder member formed from an elastomeric material. The bladder is sealed at its opposed ends between the baffle member and the housing, the bladder acting as a barrier isolating the working fluid from a pressurized portion of the chamber containing a compressible fluid, such as nitrogen.

The pressurized chamber filled with the pressurizing gas typically exhibits a pressure approximately one-half that of the working pressure of the fluid being pumped or otherwise handled. When pressure surges occur in the system, the tubular walls of the diaphragm bulge and contract, but because of the presence of the baffle, the diaphragm does not invert or fold anytime during its working cyle. Furthermore, the bladder does not rub against the housing. This results in much less wear to the diaphragm and provides a pulsation dampener exhibiting a much longer working life than known prior art systems.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the active surface area of the tubular diaphragm in the present invention can be made substantially greater for a given size housing than when the flat bladder of the prior art is used, thus allowing for a more compact design.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved surge suppressor for fluid handling systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a surge suppressor of the type including an elastomeric diaphragm, but where the diaphragm is configured and supported so as not to fold or wrinkle during its operating cycle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pulsation dampener which is inexpensive to manufacture and which exhibits a significantly extended mean-timebetween-failure parameter than known prior art devices designed for a similar purpose.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a pulsation dampener having a generally tubular outer housing defining a cavity containing a concentrically disposed internal baffle and a surrounding tubular shaped diaphragm whereby the diaphragm is supported by the baffle when the pressure of the working fluid is low compared to the pressure maintained in the chamber or compartment filled with the pressurizing gas.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

The cross-sectional view of Figure 1 illustrates a pulsation dampener according to the present invention disposed in-line in the fluid handling system. The surge suppressor in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 1 includes a generally tubular housing 60 formed from a rigid, non-expandable metal or plastic defining a cavity 62 therein. The housing body 60 is somewhat elongated and is provided with a first internally threaded bore 64 at a first (distal) end 66 thereof and an opening at a second (proximal) end 68 thereof. Extending through the side wall of the tubular body 60 is a second internally threaded bore 69 into which is fitted an inflation check valve 70. The outlet of the check valve 70 communicates with the cavity 62.

Coaxially disposed within the cavity 62 is a tubular bladder member 72 which, too, is formed from a suitable elastomeric material, such as Buna-N (Registered Trademark) having a predetermined durometer and elastic properties. The tubular diaphragm 72 has an outwardly extended flange 74 at its proximal end and fitted about this flange is a clamping ring 76.

Inserted through the clamping ring 76 and through the tubular body 60 of the housing is a generally tubular baffle member 78. Spaced longitudinally along the tubular baffle member are radially extending slots 80 which extend completely through the side wall of the tubular baffle. Formed inwardly from the exterior surface of the tubular baffle 78 and generally disposed between each of the radial slits 80 are annular grooves 82.

The distal end 84 of the baffle 78 is equipped with external threads adapted to mate with the internal thread 64 of the housing allowing the baffle member to be screwed into the housing. It may also be noted that the tubular baffle -member is provided with a shoulder 86 which is arranged to cooperate with an internally directed flange 88 integrally formed on the distal end portion of the tubular bladder or diaphragm member 72.

Thus, when the baffle member 78 is firmly screwed into position, the opposed ends 74 and 88 of the tubular bladder 72 are captured between the housing 60 and the baffle member, thus providing a fluid tight seal at each end thereof.

The pulsation dampener or surge suppressor of Figure 1 is arranged to be disposed in a serial flow path in the fluid handling system with which it is to be used. For example, the proximal end 90 of the surge suppressor 10 may be threaded onto the outlet port of a positive displacement pump (not shown) while the distal end 84 thereof may be coupled to a fluid receiving device, such as a valve-controlled outlet sprayer device, or the like.

Once the portion of the chamber or cavity 52 surrounding the exterior wall of the diaphragm 72 is pressurized with a compressible fluid, and the pump is turned on, the working fluid being pumped will flow through the inlet end 90 of the surge suppressor 10 and through the longitudinally spaced, radially extending slots 80 to cooperate with the interior surface of the diaphragm 72.

The radial grooves 82 are provided to spread the pressurized fluid over the entire interior surface of the diaphragm or bladder 72. When the outlet device is suddenly shut off, a pressure surge occurs tending to swell the tubular bladder 72 against the counteracting pressure ~ exerted by the compressible fluid on the opposite side of the bladder.

It is apparent from the drawing of Figure 1 that the baffle member 78 supports the diaphragm when the pressure of the working fluid is less than the pressure of the gas contained within the annular cavity and that when the working pressure of the fluid being handled exceeds the gas pressure, the diaphragm will bulge, but cannot wrinkle, invert or rub against the housing or the baffle.

This prolongs the life of the diaphragm significantly when compared to prior art designs.

Claims (7)

1. A surge suppressor for suppressing undesired pressure surges in a fluid handling system, comprising: (a) a housing defining a cavity; (b) a rigid baffle member disposed in said cavity and having a tubular wall portion generally coaxially aligned with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said tubular wall portion including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially extending slots formed through said wall portion; (c) a tubular bladder member formed from an elastomeric material coaxially disposed about said baffle member and forming a fluid tight seal proximate each end of said tubular bladder member with said baffle member and said housing to effectively divide said cavity into two chambers, one chamber being exposed to said fluid subject to said undesired pressure surges; and (d) means for pressurizing the other chamber with a compressible fluid to a predetermined pressure.

2. The surge suppressor as in Claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a rigid, non-expansible, elongated body defining said cavity and having a first internally threaded bore at a first end thereof, an opening at a second end thereof and a second internally threaded bore extending through a side wall of said elongated body.

3. The surge suppressor as in Claim 2 and further including an inflation, in-line check valve screwed into said second internally threaded bore.

4. The surge suppressor as in Claim 2 wherein said rigid baffle member comprises an elongated tubular body of a rigid, non-expansible material defining said wall portion and of a length greater than the length of said elongated body of said housing and of an outside dimension capable of fitting through said opening at said second end of said elongated body of said housing and into said cavity, one end of said tubular body of said baffle member being externally threaded so as to be received by said first internally threaded bore in said body of said housing.

5. The surge suppressor as in Claim 4 wherein said tubular bladder member coaxially surrounds a portion of said tubular body member of said baffle member within said cavity and has first and second integrally formed end flange segments which become squeezed in sealing relation with said housing and with said rigid baffle member when said externally threaded end of said baffle is screwed into said first internally threaded bore of said body of said housing.

6. The surge suppressor as in Claim 5 and further including a clamping ring surrounding one of said first and second flanges with the other end of said bladder being wedged between said baffle member and said body of said housing.

7. The surge suppressor of Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.