US1726584A - of chicago - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 19.29. r I M PERSONS 1,726,584

BELLOWS CONSTRUCTION Filed May 10, 1924 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE M. PERSONS, OF CHICAGO,`ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOB TO COOK ELECTRIC COM- PANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BELLOWS CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 1U,

My invention relates broadly to bellows construction which has particular application to elastic piston pumps which effect the intake and discharge by the contraction and expansion of the piston. Although I shall refer throughout the present case to this particular adaptation of my invention, it is to be understood that my invention has broader application and may be used wherever bellows lo are needed for any purpose.

One aim of my invention is to provide an improved form of bellows construction having a life greatly in excess of bellows heretofore known.

The wall of an elastic piston in the above type of pump is usually in the form of an elastic membrane or bellows. The material of the wall undergoes alternating deformations at each'stroke of the piston, which action causes the material to become fatigued and hardened, and after a certain duration of operation, rupture of the piston is produced. This crystallization of the material which inevitably appears, causes a shorter life in the piston, and is a considerable annoyance in practice.

An object of my invention is to construct the wall of the piston in such a manner that the deflection of the membrane or bellows,

and consequently the resultant strain, is placed upon a portion where practically no crystallization will occur. I accomplish this feature by dividing the bellows into separately formed sections, the edges of which are bent in opposite directions to` interlock alternately with the sections disposed above and below each section.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple construction, which, in addition to overcoming the difficulties of the prior art,

mav also be cheaply manufactured and be exceedingly eflicient in its operation.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art how to practice and construct my invention, I

shall now describe an embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a transverse cross sectional view of a pump embodying my invention and illustrating a driving connection therefor in conventional form;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the piston therein;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of another section 1924. Serial No. 712,177.

which cooperates with the first section for building up the fiexible wall of the piston;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5 5 of Fig, 3; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through Several of these sections in inverted position to illustrate the manner of assembling the same.

The pump 1, as shown in Fig. 1 and which I have chosen to illustrate my invention in one of its preferred forms, comprises an open cylinder 2 which is closed at its open end by means of a suitable plate 3. In this plate 3 the intake and the outlet valves (not shown) are disposed in any suitable manner, depending, of course, on the use to which this pump 1s put.

I/Vithin cylinder 2 a diaphragm piston member 4 is adapted to actuate. The Wall of piston member 4 is preferably in the form of an elastic membrane o r bellows and is built up of a plurality of units 5, each of which comprises an upper and a lower section 6 and 7, respectively. The circumferential upper edge of piston 4 is rigidly attached to plate 3, and consequently, the piston at this end is held againstmovement.

The present application is a continuation of my copen'ding application, Serial No. 641,669, filed May 26, 1923, in so far as the disclosure ofthe elastic pump in my copending application is concerned. In this prior application, a rigid connection with a piston is illustrated, thereby causing the piston to assume a slight transverse movement, aswell as a longitudinal movement when actuated. The advantage of this form of drive is apparent. It permits a closer association of the driving elements and allows the piston to be used in a place where a flexible joint between the piston rod and the piston itself would be prohibited. In the present case, this rigid connection comprises a piston rod 8 extending through an aperture 9 and into the interior of piston 4, rigidly connecting at l0 to plate 11, which forms the head of the piston. Connecting rod 8 pivotally connects to an eccentric 12 disposed on a worm gear 13. Worm gear 18 is driven by a worm 14, which may be carried on a motor shaft 15, or any other suitable shaft. From this description it will be seen that the drive by which piston 4 is driven is simple and the parts of the same may be assembled in compact relation.

As before mentioned, the piston 4 is constructed to resemble a bellows. This bellows is built up by the units 5, and consequently, the piston 4 maybe conveniently made in any desired length without the additional ex'- pensc of different machines or tools. Units 5 are of standard construction and may be carried in stock to permit the construction of pistons of any desired size. Each unit comprises the sections 6 and 7, which in blank form comprise aperturedsheet metal plates or rings. rlhe sections are preferably stamped in two operations..` ln Fig. 3, the upper section is illustrated as provided with an inner circumferential upstanding flange 17 which is joined to the flat horizontal portion 18 by a curved portion 19. At the outer edge the material of the section isturned upwardly slightly at 2O and then over and downwardly again to result in a circumferential flange 21 and a circumferential groove or gutter 22. rllhe lower section 7 may be formed with an outer circumferential upstanding flange 24, the edge of which is adapted to enter the gutter 22 in -the upper section 6.

The inner edge of section 7 may be provided with a downwardly extending flange 25, which permits the formation of a groove or gutter 26. ',lhe flange 25 is preferably curved away from the fiat horizon tal portion 27 at a smaller' angle 'than the flange 24. Acurved portion 28, which joins the flange 24 and horizontal portion 27 of section 7, forms the pointabout which the inner part of section 7 may flex. The sameis true with respect to the curved portion 19 oflthe upper section. Here the 'outer part of section 6 is allowed to flex about the curved portion 19. The purpose of this arrangement will be presently described. ln `assembling ' sections 6 and 7 the flange 24 of the lower section is adapted to enter the circumferential gutter 22 of the upper section 5, which the flange 17 of the up per section is adapted to enter the circum-V ferential gutter at 26 of the lower section 7 of the preceding unit 5.

ln llig. 6 l have illustrated the method of assembling the sections 6v and 7. The upper section 7 is first inverted and solder 30 is poured in the circumferential gutter 26. rlhe lower section 6 is also then inverted and superimposed upon section 7 so that flange 17 will enter the solder 30 and seat within the gutter 26. Solder is then poured in gutter 22 of sect-ion 6 and the next lower secvrigidly united. I wish to point out when flanges 17 and 24 enter gutters 26 and 22, respectively, there is a tendency for 'the sol` der to rise on the interior walls of the sec- 4 without escaping to the interior of cylinder 'I 2. As before set out, this construction of the bellows tends to prevent hardening orcrystallization of the metal, and consequently, the life of the bellows is greatly prolonged. lt is to be remembered that if the metal crystallizes, cracks through which the lubricant may leak are apt to appear. The construction illustrated permits the bellows to be made of any size without additional expense in the form of extra machinery or tools and besides provides a more durable arrangement without sacrificing in the flexibility of the piston wall. On the contrary, the bellows wall has a greater flexibility and the joints are not weakened by the transverse movement of the bellows which results from the rigid connection 10 with thc piston rod 8. l find that the diaphragm piston member4 will function with greater efliciency when assembled of the sections 6 and 7 in the manner disclosed than when the wall is made integral and corrugated, as was heretofore done in the prior art.

While have disclosed the present invention embodied in a piston, it is to be understood that the bellows shown in the drawings may be used wherever desired and for any purpose, without departing from the scope of this invention.

`Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items` of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bellows construction of the type described having its side wall divided into a plurality of sectional parts, each of which is fastened to the sect-ions above and below by a circumferential edge engagement, said engagement comprising a gutter in one of the engaging sections and a cooperating fla-nge on the other engaging section.

v2. A bellows construction of the type described having its side wall divided into a plurality of sectional parts, each of which engages the sections above and below, said engagement comprising a gutter in one of the engaging sections and a cooperating flange on the other engaging section.

3. A bellows construction of the type described having its side wail divided into a plurality of sectional parts. each of which is fastened to the sections above and below, and is provided with a solder filled gutter lill) for the reception of a flange on one of the adjacent sections.

4. An expansible tube comprising a plurality of annular metallic disks arranged in pairs and secured successively to each other, the disks of each pair being provided with gutters, located alternately, substantially at the peripheries and substantially at the interior edges, to receive a flange on the adjacent disk of the same pair or flanges on the disks of adjacent pairs, said gutters receiv ing molten solder into which said flanges are inserted during the assembly, said molten solder rising on the walls of said flanges when inserted, forming a substantial hermetic union between the disks when the solder hardens, said gutters and said flanges being arranged or formed on said disks so as to practically eliminate deflection and prevent crystallization of the metal at or near the union of said disks.

5. An eXpansible tube comprising a plurality of annular metallic disks arranged in pairs and secured successively to each other, each of said disks being provided with a gutter and an upturned flange, located alternately either' substantially at the periphery or substantially at the interior edge, the gutters and flanges of the disks of each pair and of adjoining pairs being alternately located so as to engage the flange of a disk in the gut-ter of an adjacent disk, and means for hermetically uniting the union formed by the engagement of the respective flanges and gutters.

6. An expansible tube comprising a plurality of annular metallic disks arranged in pairs and secured successively to each other, each of said disks being provided with a downturned gutter and an upturned flange, located alternately, either substantially at the periphery or substantially at the interior edge, the gutters and flanges extending from the main plane of said disks at a substantial angle by means of curved portions integral' therewith, the curved portions adjacent said flanges being curved slightly greater than the curved portions adjacent said gutters, preferably to permit the bending movement of said disks to occur mainly at these portions of greater curve, said upturned flanges entering said downturned gutters, solder for holding said flanges in said gutters, the union formed being free of bending strains resulting from said bending movement, the formation of said portions of greater curve at a point between said flanges and the main plane of said disks tending to minimize all crystallizing effects upon said disks due to said bending movement.

7. An eXpansible element comprising a plurality of annular metallic disks arranged in pairs and secured successively to each other to form a fluid tight seal, said disks being provided at their peripheries and at their interior edges with means for forming a seam between the adjacent disks, said disks each having a curved portion, alternately located, either at the periphery or the inner edge to increase the flexibility and to localize the bending movement of each disk substantially at said curved portion, thereby preventing a bending strain where said disks are joined and minimizing the crystallization of the metal elsewhere in said disks.

8. An expansible element comprising a plurality of annular metallic disks arranged in pairs and secured successively to each other, said disks being provided at their peripheries and at their interior edges with means for forming a union between the adjacent disks, said disks each having a portion tending to increase the flexibility and to minimize the crystallization of said disks, and to prevent any bending movement or bending strain at or near said disks where united by said means.

9. A bellows construction having its wall divided into a plurality of sectional parts, and means for uniting said sectional parts together in a manner to prevent weakening of the wall at the union as the result of repeated flexing of said sectional parts.

10. A bellows construction divided into a plurality of sectional parts so united with each other as to prevent weakening of the material at the union.

11. A bellows construction divided into sectional parts and secured successively to each other, said parts each being of cup formation and having a flat portion with the edges thereof turned so mounted as to confine the deflection of each part to its flat por tion.

12. An article of manufacture comprising bellows sections, each section being of cup formation having a flat portion provided with side walls of cylindrical or conical shape so mounted as to stiden said walls and confine the deflection of each section to its flat portion.

13. A bellows construction comprising a plurality of sections arranged in nested rela tion and having the inner and outer edges thereof provided with upstanding flanges adapted to be joined to the flanges of adjacent sections.

14. A bellows construction comprising a plurality of sections provided with inner and outer flanges, all being arranged substantially in the same general direction, said sections being nested one within the other and the flanges of one section joining the flanges of adjacent sections.

15. A bellows construction comprising a plurality of sect-ions, flanges formed on the inner and outer edges of said sections and arranged to permit said sections to nest one within the other, the flanges of each section joining the flanges of adjacent sections disposed above and below.

16. A bellows Construction comprising alternating sections, one having an inner gutter and an outer iange, and the other have ing an outer gutter and an inner flange, and means tor fastening the alternating iianges in the alternating gutters.

1'?. An expansible and Collapsible eleinent Comprising sectional parte which are joined at their periphery by a gutter on one of the sections and a Cooperating flange on the other sect-ion.

18. An expansible and collapsible elenient comprising sectional parte which are joined together by a gutter on one ot said sections and a peripheral flange on the other section.

19. An eXpansible and Collapsible element comprising sectional parts secured to each other, each flexible section having a flat por tion with the edges thereof turned in the saine direction whereby to @online the deflection to said flat portion.

20. An expansible and collapsible element Comprising a flexible sectional part secured to an adjacent sectional part, said flexible section having a peripheral ange secured in a gutter in said adjacent section.

21. An expansible and collapsible element comprising sectional parts jointed together at their peripheries by a soldered joint, said joint comprising a gutter in one section, solder in said gutter, and the edge et the other section extending into said gutter and iinbedded in the solder. 4

22. An expansible and collapsible eleinent comprising sectional parts oined together at their peripheries by a soldered joint, said joint comprising an open top gutter in one section, solder in said gutter, and the peripheral edge oit the other section extending into said gutter and imbedded in the solder.

23. An expansible and Collapsible eleinent comprising sectional parts joined together at their peripheries by a soldered joint, said joint eoi'nprising a V-shaped gutter, solder in the gutter, and the peripheral edge ot the other section seated in said gutter and inibedded in the solder.

24C. An expansible and collapsible element comprising sectional parts joined together at their peripheries by a soldered joint, said joint comprising a gutter in one section, solder in said gutter, the peripheral edge of the other section extending into said gutter and embedded in the sold-er, the solder rising up- Wardly of the side faces ot the imbedded edge.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my naine.

LAWRENCE M. PERSONS.

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