Claims
- 1. A pneumatic actuator assembly comprising:
a housing with an internal chamber and at least a first fluid port in fluid communication with the internal chamber; a diaphragm assembly located in the internal chamber of the housing to prevent fluid communication between a first portion of the internal chamber and a second portion of the internal chamber, the first portion of the internal chamber being in fluid communication with the fluid port; wherein the diaphragm assembly has
a first diaphragm having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a second diaphragm having an outer surface and an inner surface, the second diaphragm outer surface positioned adjacent the first diaphragm inner surface; and wherein each of the first and second diaphragms has a fabric portion and has at least a portion of one of its surfaces covered with an elastomeric material, each fabric portion having at least one fabric pattern, and wherein the fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 2. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a diaphragm support mounted in the housing, the diaphragm support having a first surface contacting the inner surface of the second diaphragm.
- 3. The actuator assembly of claim 2, further comprising:
a compression spring mounted in the housing between a second surface of the diaphragm support and the housing.
- 4. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber.
- 5. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material comprises vinyl methyl silicone with enhanced heat resistance
- 6. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an adhesive to couple at least a portion of the first diaphragm to at least a portion of the second diaphragm.
- 7. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second diaphragm fabric patterns are substantially rainbow-shaped and each have at least a top, wherein the tops of the rainbow-shaped fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 8. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
at least two protrusions extending from a periphery of each diaphragm, wherein one of the protrusions on each diaphragm is shaped differently from other of the protrusions.
- 9. A diaphragm assembly, comprising:
a first diaphragm having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a second diaphragm having an outer surface and an inner surface, the second diaphragm outer surface positioned adjacent the first diaphragm inner surface, wherein each of the first and second diaphragms is made of a fabric material and has at least a portion of at least one of its surfaces covered with an elastomeric material; and wherein the fabric has at least one fabric pattern, and wherein the fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 10. The diaphragm assembly of claim 9, wherein the elastomeric material comprises vinyl methyl silicone.
- 11. The diaphragm assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastomer further comprises iron oxide powder, a heat stability additive, and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butyl peroxy) catalyst on an inert carrier.
- 12. The diaphragm assembly of claim 9, further comprising:
an adhesive coupling the first diaphragm lower surface to the second diaphragm upper surface.
- 13. The diaphragm assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second diaphragm fabric patterns are substantially rainbow-shaped and each have at least a top, and wherein the tops of the rainbow-shaped fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 14. The diaphragm assembly of claim 13, wherein each diaphragm is substantially top hat shaped.
- 15. The diaphragm assembly of claim 9, further comprising:
at least two protrusions extending from a periphery of each diaphragm, wherein one of the protrusions on each diaphragm is shaped differently from other of the protrusions.
- 16. A diaphragm assembly, comprising:
a first fabric diaphragm having a first fabric portion, the fabric portion having at least one fabric pattern therein; and a second fabric diaphragm having a second fabric portion, the fabric portion of the second diaphragm having at least one fabric pattern therein, each fabric pattern of the first diaphragm being substantially aligned with each fabric pattern of the second diaphragm.
- 17. The diaphragm assembly of claim 16, further comprising:
an elastomer covering at least a portion of each of the first and second fabric diaphragms.
- 18. The diaphragm assembly of claim 17, wherein the elastomer comprises vinyl methyl silicone.
- 19. The diaphragm assembly of claim 18, wherein the elastomer further comprises iron oxide powder, a heat stability additive, and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butyl peroxy) catalyst on an inert carrier.
- 20. The diaphragm assembly of claim 16, further comprising:
an adhesive coupling at least a portion of the first fabric diaphragm to at least a portion of the second fabric diaphragm.
- 21. The diaphragm assembly of claim 16, wherein the first and second diaphragm fabric patterns are substantially rainbow-shaped and each have at least a top, and wherein the tops of the rainbow-shaped fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 22. The diaphragm assembly of claim 16, further comprising:
at least two protrusions extending from a periphery of each diaphragm, wherein one of the protrusions on each diaphragm is shaped differently from other of the protrusions.
- 23. In an actuator having a housing assembly and a single diaphragm mounted therein, a method of modifying the actuator, comprising:
disassembling at least a portion of the housing assembly; removing the diaphragm from the housing assembly; and installing a diaphragm assembly within the housing assembly, wherein the diaphragm assembly includes at least first diaphragm and a second diaphragm positioned adjacent one another.
- 24. The method of claim 23, wherein:
the first diaphragm has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the second diaphragm has an upper surface and a lower surface, the second diaphragm upper surface positioned adjacent the first diaphragm lower surface; and each of the first and second diaphragms has a fabric portion and has at least a portion of one of its surfaces covered with an elastomeric material, the fabric having at least one fabric pattern, and wherein the fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 25. In an actuator having a housing assembly having a first diaphragm mounted therein, the first diaphragm including a fabric portion having at least one fabric pattern, a method of modifying the actuator, comprising:
disassembling at least a portion of the housing assembly; and installing at least a second diaphragm within the housing assembly and positioned adjacent the first diaphragm, the second diaphragm including a fabric portion having at least one fabric pattern, wherein the fabric patterns of the first and second diaphragms are substantially aligned with one another.
- 26. A method of aligning two or more diaphragms in a preferred orientation, comprising:
forming two or more protrusions on each diaphragm, at least one of the protrusions on each diaphragm being shaped differently from other of the protrusions; and aligning the differently shaped protrusion on one diaphragm with the differently shaped protrusion on other of the diaphragms.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/362,228, filed Mar. 6, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60362228 |
Mar 2002 |
US |