Claims
- 1. A diaphragm actuator comprising:
- a first fluid pressure chamber having a first fluid inlet/outlet port and defined in part by a first diaphragm positioned in a first diaphragm plane, said first diaphragm being moveable away from said first fluid pressure chamber in a first direction in response to fluid pressure in said first pressure chamber;
- a second fluid pressure chamber having a second fluid inlet/outlet port and defined in part by a second diaphragm positioned in a second diaphragm plane, said second diaphragm being moveable away from said second fluid pressure chamber in a second direction in response to fluid pressure in said second pressure chamber;
- said first and second fluid pressure chambers being oriented such that said first and second diaphragms are substantially parallel to one another and said first direction and said second direction are opposite to one another;
- an actuator arm assembly engaging said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm and extending to a force receiving point outside the actuator, said force receiving point lying on a line extending through said first and second fluid pressure chambers and being perpendicular to said first and second diaphragm planes.
- 2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said first and second diaphragms each include a pressure chamber side and a piston side, said actuator including a first piston housing adjacent to said piston side of said first diaphragm, said first piston housing including a first piston opening extending therethrough, said actuator further including a second piston housing adjacent to said piston side of said second diaphragm, said second piston housing including a second piston opening extending therethrough.
- 3. The actuator of claim 2 including a first pressure chamber housing having said first fluid pressure chamber formed therein and a second pressure chamber housing having said second fluid pressure chamber formed therein.
- 4. The actuator of claim 3 wherein said first diaphragm is positioned between said first pressure chamber housing and said first piston housing to form a first diaphragm seal with said first pressure chamber housing and wherein said second diaphragm is positioned between said second pressure chamber housing and said second piston housing to form a second diaphragm seal with said second pressure chamber housing.
- 5. The actuator of claim 4 wherein said first and second fluid pressure chambers are free of any openings or seals other than said first and second fluid inlet/outlet ports and said first and second diaphragm seals.
- 6. The actuator of claim 2 wherein said actuator arm assembly includes a piston member positioned in said first and second piston openings and engaging said first and second diaphragms.
- 7. The actuator of claim 6 wherein said first piston includes first and second piston portions positioned in said first and second piston openings, respectively, and wherein and said first piston portion and said first piston opening have cross-sectional dimensions and configurations approximating one another to permit laterally constrained movement in a direction generally parallel to said first diaphragm plane, but free sliding movement in a direction generally perpendicular to said first diaphragm plane and wherein said second piston portion and said second piston opening have cross-sectional dimensions and configurations approximating one another to permit laterally constrained movement in a direction generally parallel to said second diaphragm plane, but free sliding movement in a direction generally perpendicular to said second diaphragm plane.
- 8. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said actuator arm assembly includes a yoke member moveable with and engaging said piston member.
- 9. A multi-diaphragm actuator comprising:
- a first diaphragm actuator comprising:
- a first port housing having a first diaphragm receiving surface and at least one fluid pressure cavity formed therein, said at least one fluid pressure cavity including a fluid inlet/outlet port;
- a first piston housing having a piston opening extending through said first piston housing and aligned with said at least one fluid pressure cavity of said first port housing;
- a first diaphragm positioned between said first port housing and said first piston housing;
- a second diaphragm actuator comprising:
- a second port housing having a second diaphragm receiving surface and at least one fluid pressure cavity formed therein, said at least one fluid pressure cavity including a fluid inlet/outlet port;
- a second piston housing having a piston opening extending through said second piston housing and aligned with said at least one fluid pressure cavity of said second port housing;
- a second diaphragm positioned between said second port housing and said
- second piston housing;
- said first and second diaphragm actuators being oriented such that said first and second diaphragms are substantially parallel to one another and said piston openings of said first and second piston housings are aligned with one another; and
- an actuator arm assembly comprising a piston member positioned in said piston openings of said first and second piston housings and engaging said first and second diaphragms.
- 10. The actuator of claim 9 including:
- a third diaphragm actuator comprising:
- a third port housing having a third diaphragm receiving surface and at least one fluid pressure cavity formed therein, said at least one fluid pressure cavity including a fluid inlet/outlet port;
- a third piston housing having a piston opening extending through said third piston housing and aligned with said at least one fluid pressure cavity of said third port housing;
- a third diaphragm positioned between said third port housing and said third piston housing;
- a fourth diaphragm actuator comprising:
- a fourth port housing having a fourth diaphragm receiving surface and at least one fluid pressure cavity formed therein, said at least one fluid pressure cavity including a fluid inlet/outlet port;
- a fourth piston housing having a piston opening extending through said fourth piston housing and aligned with at least one fluid pressure cavity of said fourth post housing;
- a fourth diaphragm positioned between said fourth port housing and said fourth piston housing;
- said third and fourth diaphragm actuators being oriented such that said third and fourth diaphragms are substantially parallel to one another and to said first and second diaphragms and said piston openings of said third and fourth piston housings are aligned with one another; and
- a second actuator arm assembly comprising a piston member positioned in said piston openings of said third and fourth piston housings and engaging said third and fourth diaphragms.
- 11. The actuator of claim 10 wherein said second and third port housings comprise a single combined port housing having a pair of spaced planar surfaces comprising said second and third diaphragm receiving surfaces.
- 12. The actuator of claim 11 wherein said second actuator arm assembly includes a second actuator arm connected with said piston member in said piston openings of said third and fourth piston housings.
- 13. The actuator of claim 9 wherein said actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm connected with said piston member.
- 14. The actuator of claim 13 wherein said actautor arm has opposite ends and is connected with said piston member at a point between said opposite ends.
- 15. The actuator of claim 14 wherein said actuator arm assembly includes a yoke having a pair of side arms connected with said opposite ends of said actuator arm.
- 16. The actuator of claim 15 wherein said yoke includes a connection member connected with said pair of side arms.
- 17. The actuator of claim 9 wherein said fluid pressure cavities in said first and second port housings have a generally annular configuration and a center portion.
- 18. The actuator of claim 17 wherein said actuator arm assembly includes an actuator rod connected with said piston member and extending through said center portion.
- 19. The actuator of claim 9 wherein each of said first and second port housings has a plurality of fluid pressure cavities formed therein.
- 20. The actuator of claim 10 wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth port housings has a plurality of fluid pressure cavities formed therein.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/068,531 filed Dec. 22, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
901674 |
May 1982 |
SUX |
513977 |
Oct 1939 |
GBX |
631186 |
Oct 1949 |
GBX |
1323108 |
Jul 1973 |
GBX |