US3514231A - Reciprocating pump for marine toilets - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1970 P. BELDEN 3,514,231

REGIPROCATING PUMP FOR MARINE ,,TOILETS Fi 1ed Dec. 1, 1967 Fig.

74 m 32 J 95 Fig. 2 24 78 Q WILLIAM PERRY BELDEN INVENTOR.

BY WWW ma United States Patent 3,514,231 RECIPROCATING PUMP FOR MARINE TOILETS Perry Belden, Millville, N.J.; Katherine Arnel Belden, executrix of said William Perry Belden, also known as Perry Belden, deceased Filed Dec. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 687,369 Int. Cl. F0411 19/22; E03d 1/00 US. Cl. 4l7565 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A commode water inlet supply is delivered through a reciprocating pump section, the intake and exhaust ports of the pump include a circular diaphragm valve. A ring shaped slit is formed within the body of the diaphragm valve concentric with the center thereof. A first washer is positioned against the outward surface of the intake diaphragm valve and a second washer is positioned against the inward surface of the exhaust diaphragm valve thereby rendering alternate valves operative during the intake and exhaust cycles.

The present invention relates to the field of reciprocating pumps and more particularly to a check valve as sembly for insuring eflicient operation during pump intake and exhaust cycles.

Prior art devices have utilized various check valve assemblies as well as leather washers, packing nuts or glands which tend to dry up due to environmental conditions thereby requiring frequent replacement or adjustment. Prior check valve assemblies under some conditions decrease the efliciency of the pumping operation. Accordingly, a flow rate through the pump is established which is below an optimum level. Mechanically speaking, the inefficient operation of these devices is caused by the deteriorating efliciency of the check valve structures thus permitting undesirable backflow through the pump. Moreover, prior check valve assemblies have been constructed in such a manner as to partially occlude the intake and exhaust ports which decreases the efficiency of the pump during its operation. Further, prior pump structures have been fabricated to include housings, and fittings of a material which require maintenance thereof such as frequent paintings.

In summary, the present invention includes a pump with an upper cylinder chamber containing intake and exhaust ports. Diaphragm valve members are inserted in these ports, each member including a circular slit therein. A blocking washer is positioned adjacent one surface of each diaphragm valve member so that only one valve operates at a time. The diaphragm valve members are fabricated from an inert resilient material which eliminates the deterioration thereof. Thus, these members retain a flexible state thereby preventing backflow through the check valve members. The central portion of the pump includes a cylinder which receives a piston, the latter including a piston rod having a bearing and pack ing assembly fabricated from a low friction plastic. The present pump assembly includes a housing, base and fittings made of plastic fabricated 'by precision injection molding. This plastic material eliminates frequent maintenance such as repainting of exterior surfaces. Accordingly, among the salient objects of the present invention are to provide:

A reciprocating pump for marine toilets which flushes faster and more easily and handles a relatively large quantity of water per stroke;

A reciprocating pump structure requiring a minimum of maintenance and which never needs painting, priming or lubrication;

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A check valve assembly which prevents backflow therethrough and A reciprocating pump including a piston rod bearing fabricated from a low friction plastic.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present reciprocating pump in conjunction with a marine toilet.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view along a plane passing through section 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the essential components of the pump water delivery assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention and with reference to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally denotes a commode which is supplied with a flow of water via the reciprocating pump of the present invention. The base of the commode 10 communicates with a drain pipe 12 which includes an appending attachment flange 14 usually fastened to the deck of a boat or other suitable surface by means of appropriate fasteners 16. The reciprocating pump is generally denoted by the reference numeral 18 and is supplied with water 'by a supply pipe 20, the latter including a right angle elbow joint 22 communicating at the outward end thereof with an enlarged hollow cylindrical section enclosing a shut off valve assembly of a conventional type controlled by an externally disposed valve handle 26.

A centrally apertured disk-like flange 28 appends from the outward edge portion of the cylindrical section 24, the flange including smaller apertures 29 disposed peripherally therearound. The interior of the flange 28 includes a circular recess for accommodating a washer 30. A circular diaphragm valve member 32 is positioned in an overlying relation with the inward surface of the washer 30. This valve member includes a disk-like body 34 including a circular slit 36 disposed concentric with the center of the body 34 and extending along the major portion of the periphery thereof thus leaving a connecting portion defining a hinge to enable the central portion of body 34 to swing. The central portion of the valve 32 includes an integrally formed raised ring surface 38 concentric with the center of the valve and disposed inwardly of the circular slit 36. The raised ring 38 rigidifies the valve member so as to improve the valves mechanical response to pressure forces exerted thereon. A small rectangular locating tab 40 appends from the circumferential edge of the valve in adjacent relation to connecting portion 35 and provides a means for keying the position of the valve within the pump assembly as explained hereinafter so that the central portion of the body 34 depends from the connecting portion 35 so that gravity will assist the memory characteristics of the plastic material of the body 34 to retain the central portion thereof normally adjacent the washer or valve seat 30. A centrally apertured disklike flange 42 depends from the body of the pump by means of a hollow cylindrical web member 44, one end of which is integrally connected to the body 46 of the reciprocating pump 18, the other end of the web integrally connected with the inward circular surface of the disk flange 42. A bore 50 is formed concentrically with the central portion of the flange-web structure and forms a left intake port 51 into the cylinder 52 of the pump as viewed in FIG. 2. A concentric circular recess 53 is disposed outwardly of the central bore 50 and includes a rectangularly appending recess 54 for accommodating the rectangular tab 40 on the diaphragm valve 32. The lateral- 1y outward surface of the flange 42 includes apertures 56 bored therethrough, the latter mating with the apertures 29 formed within the inlet pipe flange 28. In the assembled position, the washer 30 and the diaphragm check valve 32 are sandwiched between the confronting recessed surfaces of the flanges 28 and 42 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Suitable fasteners 57 are passed through'the communicating apertures in these flanges for holding them in abutting engagement. As will be appreciated by view ing FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a similarly constructed disk flange structure 43 appends from the body 46 of the pump on a diametrically opposite side and in axial alignment with the disk flange 42. This latter flange structure 43 includes washer and diaphragm check valve members identical with those previously mentioned. These components cooperate with a right outlet port 51, both ports being in concentric alignment.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it is seen that the pump body 46 includes a bored top surface 58, the bore extending longitudinally of the pump body 46 and receiving a plunger handle 60 therein. This handle 'includes a knob-like member 62 characterized by a convex top surface 64 and a circular planar base 66 which appends to a cylindrical shaft 68. A washer 70 is positioned in concentric underlying relation with the bottom end portion of the handle shaft 68. A threaded bore 72 is formed within the interior portion of the shaft 68 extending upwardly from the bottom end portion for receiving a piston rod. A cylindrical recess 71 is formed within the top 58 of the pump body, the central portion of said recess communicates with a cylindrical bore orienteted longitudinally through the top 58 of the pump. The base of the recess 71 includes a resilient cylindrical grommet 76, the axis of the grommet being collinear with the axis of the pump body. A circular lock washer 74 is disposed in overlying relation with the grommet, the combination of washers 70, 74 and the grommet 76 providing a means for absorbing shock upon reciprocating contact of the plunger handle 60 With the top 58 of the pump body as well as providing a pump seal. A rod 78 being threaded at the upward end thereof is concentrically disposed within the cylinder 52 of the pump. The threaded portion 80 is engaged with the threaded aperture 72 in the plunger handle 60. A washer 82 is concentrically mounted upon an intermediate length of the rod 78 and provides a mechanical stop for the upward displacement of the rod. The rod 78 serves as a piston rod for the reciprocating pump. The lower end portion of the rod 78 includes a washer 84 concentrically mounted thereon and disposed in overlying relation with a cylindrical disk 86 likewise concentrically disposed within the cylinder 52 and characterized by a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the cylinder. This disk serves as a piston for the pump. A concave recess 88 is formed within the peripheral edge of the piston. An O-ring 90 fabricated from a low friction plastic being inserted within the recess to form a tight seal between the walls of the cylinder 52 and the piston 86. A washer'92 is disposed in underlying relation with the piston 88 and maintained in an abutting relation thereto by means of a circular spring clip 94 mounted outwardly of the latter mentioned washer.

To explain the operation of the instant invention reference is made to FIG. 2 of thedrawing. In the figure, the piston is shown in the intake position. As the knob 62 is lifted, the piston compresses the fluid located in the upper portion of the chamber 52 thereby exerting a pressure upon the left intake check valve 32. However, as clearly seen from FIG. 3 of the drawing, the valve will be unable to open due to the restraining surface of washer 30 which forms a valve seat. However, the right exhaust check valve 96 is free to move outwardly because of the absence of a restraining surface on one outwardly confronting flange surface 97 which includes a central bore of sufficiently large diameter permitting passage of the central portion of the exhaust check valve 96 into the bore thereby permitting the exit of fluid therethrough and into the commode supply pipe section 102 shown in FIGURE 1.

The base portion of the pump body 46 includes a flapper valve of conventional design disposed below the piston 86 and furtherdisposed between the commode drain pipe 12 and the pump outflow pipe 106, indicated in FIG. 1 of .the drawing. The flapper valve 104 indicated diagrammatically in phantom lines in FIG. 1, cooperates with the check valves sothatduring a piston exhaust cycle, the flapper valve opens allowing drainage of the commode into 'the lower cylinder chamber 105 at the same time that water flow is directed into the commode via pipe section 102. Likewise, during an, intake cycle, the fluid drained from the commode into the lower cylinder chamber 105 is exhausted through the pipe section 106 at the same time water flow is directed into the upper cylinder chamber 52 from the water supply pipe 20. In other words, the pump cylinder may betthought of as two cooperating chambers, the upper chamber 52 including intake and exhaust ports for supplying the commode with a water supply while the lower chamber 105 includes intake and exhaust ports accomplishing the drainage of the commode. It is appreciated that the operation of the single piston 86 achieves cooperating operations in the upper and lower chambers of the cylinder.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reciprocating pump including an internally bored cylinder, a piston inserted within said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, means for selectively supplying an upper cylinder chamber with fluid, means intermediate said supplying means and said cylinder chamber for controlling the supply of flow therein, means for selectively eXhausting said fluid from said upper cylinder chamber, and means intermediate said cylinder and said exhausting means for controlling the flow of fluid thereout, each of said means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said cylinder including a circular diaphragm valve body, characterized by an arcuate slit formed through said valve body and concentric with the circumference thereof, the periphery of said slit extending substantially around an entire circumference of said body thereby forming two confronting slit ends, a portion of the diaphragm body disposed between said ends serving as a hinge for a central portion of the valve enclosed inwardly of said slit, said central portion serving as a valve flap, a small tab appending from the peripheral edge of the valve body, said central portion of said valve body including a ringlike rib. concentric with the center of said valve body and appending from both circular surfaces thereof, said means for controlling the supply flow further including a washer member disposed in an outwardly overlying relation with said valve body, said washer characterized by a central aperture therethrough, the diameter of said aperture being smaller than the diameter of said flap and wherein said means for supplying said cylinder with fluid includes a separable fitting characterized by a recessed interior surface for retaining said means for controlling the supply flow perpendicularly of said flow, said recess further including a portion for receiving said valve body tab, said recess communicating with an inward bore of larger diameter than the diameter of said flap.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for regulating the exhausting flow includes a washer memberv disposed in an inwardly overlying relation with said valve body, said Washer characterized by a central aperture therethrough, the diameter of said aperture being 6 smaller than the diameter of said flap and wherein said 289,210 11/1883 Bishop 4-90 means for exhausting said fluid from said cylinder further 338,609 3/ 1886 Nysewander 137-525.7 includes a separable fitting characterized by a recessed in- 2,336,640 12/1943 Gavin 103-153 terior surface for retaining said means for regulating the 3,154,796 11/ 1964 Bruce 4-90 exhaust flow perpendicularly of said flow, said recess fur- 5 112,060 2/1871 Marchant 103-167 ther including a portion adapted to receive said valve body tab, said recess communicating with an outward bore of FOREIGN PATENTS larger diameter than the diameter of said flap. 457,220 11/1936 Great Britain References Cited 10 HENRY F. RADUAZO, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 231,522 8/1880 Barber 137--52s.7

254,227 2/1882 Martin 137-55] 137-525.7; 4-10; 417-566

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