GB782105A - Apparatus for conveying gases or liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

782,105. Rotary pumps. SCHAURTE, P. Nov. 15, 1954 [Nov. 16, 1953], No. 33069/54. Class 110 (2). A rotary pump for conveying liquids and gases by compression of a flexible diaphragm has a housing 1 in which is formed an annular groove 2 covered by the diaphragm 4. The groove 2 in cross-section has an arc-shaped central part joining two outer curved portions at points of inflexion, the radius of the central arc being equal to or less than the combined thickness of the diaphragm and the radius of balls 3 mounted for travel along the groove in a cage 5. A disc 6 connected by a driving pin 8 to a rotatable shaft 7 bears against the balls 3 to cause rotation of the balls and the cage. Spring means 10 bearing against a disc 11 holds the disc 6 in contact with the balls and to prevent slip between the balls and the disc, the contacting surface of the disc is preferably covered with material similar to the diaphragm 4. The disc 11 is rotatably mounted in the housing cover 12 by means of a bearing 13 through which passes the shaft 7 mounted in bearings 14 and 15, protected by caps 16, 16<SP>1</SP> respectively. A lug 21 depending from the diaphragm separates the inlet 24 from the outlet 25, the inlet and outlet communicating with channels 26, 27 respectively leading from the groove 2. Sockets at the outer ends of the ports 24, 25 are threaded to receive conduit pipes. Thus, as the disc 6 is rotated, the balls 3 are caused to rotate about horizontal axes compressing the diaphragm and so partitioning the groove 2 into three chambers carrying the fluid from the inlet 24 to the outlet 25. To prevent knocking, a compensating slot 31, 32, providing communication between the two sides of the lug 21, may be formed in the groove 2. The device may be used as a flow meter using the pressure of the incoming fluid to rotate the balls 3 and hence drive the shaft 7, the shaft being coupled to suitable registering mechanism. Instead of the lug 21, the groove 2 may be partitioned as in Fig. 5, by using a bolt 33 to draw the diaphragm locally into the groove. Instead of the cage 6, the balls may be held in recesses in a plate 36, Fig. 6, by an outer ring 37. The diaphragm 4 may be reinforced by an elastic insert such as one or more endless wires or by synthetic fibrous material. The resilient means 10 is so chosen as to limit the pressure acting on the fluid. If this pressure is exceeded the disc 6 may be shifted axially and so actuate control means to stop the drive. Means may be provided for adjusting the tension of the spring 10 during operation of the device. To prevent the diaphragm being forced upward between the balls 3, tapered rollers 39, Fig. 9, may be placed between the balls. The rollers 39 are held in position by a bell-shaped member 40, which may be positively driven by the shaft 7<SP>1</SP> and is coupled to the disc 6<SP>1</SP> by pins 8. A common cage 44 houses the balls 3 and the rollers 39. The rollers may have a central spherical bulge.