Patent Publication Number: US-11655811-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for mounting a diaphragm of a pump

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/190,645 filed May 19, 2021, and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A DIAPHRAGM OF A PUMP” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the assembly of pumps. More specifically, this disclosure relates to seating and sealing diaphragms of a double diaphragm pump. 
     In a double diaphragm pump, in which the diaphragms are directly or indirectly mechanically linked to flex and pump out of phase, one diaphragm will be in the pumping stroke and the other will be in the suction stroke. If the drive is unpowered, such as when not receiving pressurized driving air, then the diaphragms will equalize, causing the drive to sit in a centered position in which both diaphragms are slightly flexed. The diaphragm naturally wants to assume a non-flexed state, but an un-flexed diaphragm can be hard to seal against the diaphragm mount. In some cases, the diaphragm pump cannot be powered (e.g., pneumatically) to move the diaphragms to the appropriate positions for mounting and sealing because the diaphragms are not both sealed. In some examples, a blocker plate can be installed to direct the incoming air to only a drive chamber associated with the sealed diaphragm. Such a configuration requires at least partial disassembly of the pump to mount the plate for diaphragm mounting and then again to dismount the plate for pump operation. The diaphragm can also be mounted by physically forcing the second diaphragm into position, such as by large C-clamps. Such a mounting process is physically demanding and time intensive. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of mounting diaphragms to a pump includes reducing a pressure in a first pumping chamber defined by a first diaphragm and a first cover, the first cover mounted to a center section of the pump such that the first diaphragm is clamped between the first cover and the center section; drawing the first diaphragm in a first direction into the first pumping chamber by the reduced pressure to draw a second diaphragm linked to the first diaphragm in the first direction and place the second diaphragm in a mounting position relative to the center section; and mounting a second cover to the center section such that the second diaphragm is clamped between the second cover and the center section. 
     According to an additional or alternative aspect of the present disclosure, a method of mounting diaphragms of a pump includes mounting a first diaphragm on the pump; mounting a first cover to a center section of the pump to form a first chamber with the first diaphragm and the first cover; developing a partial vacuum within the first chamber, development of the partial vacuum moving a connector by the first diaphragm to move a second diaphragm to engage the second diaphragm with a receiver of the pump; and mounting a second cover to the receiver to secure the second diaphragm to the pump. 
     According to another additional or alternative aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for mounting a diaphragm of a pump includes a first cap configured to seal with a first neck of a housing cover of the pump; a second cap configured to seal with a second neck of the housing cover of the pump; and a fitting supported by the first cap, the fitting configured to allow airflow through the first cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is an isometric partially exploded view of a pump assembly. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a side elevation partially exploded view of the pump assembly of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  2 A  is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly of  FIG.  1 A  in a first state. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly of  FIG.  2 A  in a second state. 
         FIG.  2 C  is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly of  FIG.  2 A  in a third state. 
         FIG.  3 A  is an isometric view of the pump assembly of  FIG.  2 A  in the first state. 
         FIG.  3 B  is an isometric view of the pump assembly of  FIG.  2 A  in the third state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure concerns double diaphragm pumps. In particular, this disclosure concerns a system and method for seating and sealing a diaphragm on a double diaphragm pump. In double diaphragm pumps, the diaphragms are directly or indirectly mechanically linked to flex and pump out of phase, such that one diaphragm will be in the pumping stroke and the other will be in the suction stroke. A first one of the diaphragms can be positioned with its sealing bead in a groove associated with a center section of the pump and a cover is mounted to clamp the bead between the cover and center section. Positioning the first diaphragm causes the mechanically linked second diaphragm to shift axially outward away from the center section due to the first diaphragm being in a resting, unflexed state. The mounted diaphragm naturally wants to assume a non-flexed state, biasing the second diaphragm axially outward. To seat the second diaphragm, the pressure is reduced in the sealed pumping chamber formed by the first diaphragm and the first cover, such as by applying a vacuum generator to that chamber. The reduction in pressure draws the first diaphragm axially into the pumping chamber. Drawing the first diaphragm into the pumping chamber also draws the second diaphragm toward the center section because of the mechanical linkage between the two diaphragms. The bead of the second diaphragm seats in a groove on the center section and a second cover can be secured to the center section to sealingly mount the second diaphragm. 
       FIG.  1 A  is an isometric partially exploded view of pump assembly  10  and mounting kit  12 .  FIG.  1 B  is a side elevation partially exploded view of pump assembly  10  and mounting kit  12 .  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  will be discussed together. Vacuum source  14  is shown schematically in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . Pump assembly  10  includes center section  16 ; covers  18   a ,  18   b ; diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  (only diaphragm  20   b  shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B ); shaft  22 ; and cover clamps  24   a ,  24   b . Center section includes receivers  26   a ,  26   b  and center housing  28 . Covers  18   a ,  18   b  respectively include inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  and outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b . Mounting kit  12  includes caps  34   a ,  34   b  and cap clamps  36   a .  36   b . Cap  34   a  includes fitting  38 . 
     Pump assembly  10  includes two nearly identical sides that respectively include diaphragm  20   a  and diaphragm  20   b . Each side includes a cover  18   a ,  18   b , which covers  18   a ,  18   b  can also be referred to as housing covers. Covers  18   a ,  18   b  and diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  define pumping chambers  40   a ,  40   b  ( FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ) through which the process fluid is pumped by the pump assembly  10 . Specifically, the process fluid is drawn from upstream through inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  and driven downstream through outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b  by reciprocation of diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b.    
     Diaphragm  20   a  is clamped between housing cover  18   a  and center section  16 . Diaphragm  20   b  is similarly clamped between housing cover  18   b  and center section  16 . More specifically, diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  are clamped between housing covers  18   a ,  18   b  and receivers  26   a ,  26   b  of center section  16 . Center section  16  can also be referred to as a body of the pump assembly  10 . It is understood that receivers  26   a ,  26   b  can be formed separately from or integrally with a center housing  28  of center section  16 . In the example shown, cover clamps  24   a ,  24   b  secure covers  18   a ,  18   b  to center section  16 . It is understood, however, that covers  18   a ,  18   b  can be secured to center section  16  in any desired manner, such as by fasteners (e.g., bolts), among other options. 
     Inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  allow pumped fluid to flow into pumping chambers  40   a ,  40   b , respectively. In some examples, inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  are connected to a common inlet manifold (not shown) such that each side of pump assembly  10  receives an inflow from a common upstream flow. Outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b  provide the pumped fluid downstream out of the pumping chambers  40   a ,  40   b . In some examples, outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b  are connected to a common outlet manifold such that the flows from both sides of the pump assembly  10  combine downstream of the pumping chambers  40   a ,  40   b  to form a common downstream flow. Inlet checks can be disposed in the inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  to prevent retrograde flow out of the pump assembly  10  through the inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b . Outlet checks can be disposed in the outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b  to prevent retrograde flow into the pump assembly  10  through outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b . For example, inlet checks and outlet checks can be formed as ball valves. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , during assembly of pump assembly  10  a first cover  18   a  is initially mounted to center section  16  to secure the first diaphragm  20   a  between cover  18   a  and center section  16 . Cap  34   a  is mounted to a first one of the inlet neck  30   a  and the outlet neck  32   a  of the cover  18   a  that is first mounted to the center section  16 . Cap  34   b  is mounted to a second one of the inlet neck  30   a  and outlet neck  32   a  that cover  18   a  is not mounted to. In the example shown, cap  34   a  is mounted to outlet neck  32   a  and cap  34   b  is mounted to inlet neck  30   a . Mounting cap  34   a  to outlet neck  32   a  facilitates operation of the mounting kit  12  when the inlet checks and outlet checks are already installed on pump assembly  10 . 
     Cap  34   a  seals outlet neck  32   a  to provide a fluid-tight seal at outlet neck  32 . Cap  34   b  seals inlet neck  30  to provide a fluid-tight seal at inlet neck  30 . In the example shown, caps  34   a ,  34   b  are secured to cover  18   a  by cap clamps  36   a .  36   b , respectively. While caps  34   a ,  34   b  are shown as mounted by way of cap clamps  36   a .  36   b , it is understood that caps  34   a ,  34   b  can be mounted and secured to cover  18   a  in any desired manner. For example, outlet neck  32   a  can include threading and cap  34   a  can be a threaded disk that threads into the threading of outlet neck  32   a . Similarly, cap  34   b  can be a threaded disk that threads into the threading of inlet neck  30   a.    
     While cap  34   b  is a plug that blocks and seals the inlet neck  30   a , cap  34   a  includes one or more apertures for removing air from within cover  18   a  to develop a partial vacuum within the cover  18   a . Cap  34   b  can be formed by a disk that plugs the neck that the cap  34   b  is mounted on to form an airtight seal and prevent flow through that neck. In some examples, cap  34   b  does not include any apertures through which air can flow. Fitting  38  is mounted to the disk forming cap  34   a  such that the only passage for flow from within cover  18   a  is through fitting  38 . Also shown in  FIG.  1 A  is vacuum source  14 . Vacuum source  14  can be a pump (e.g., a compressor) that can develop a vacuum or a source of air which can cause air to exit from the pumping chamber  40   a  within the housing cover  18   a . In some examples, fitting  38  can be configured to connect to a hose extending from vacuum source  14  and vacuum source  14  can be configured as a vacuum pump that draws air from the pumping chamber  40   a . In other examples, fitting  38  can be a vacuum generator that itself draws air from the pumping chamber  40   a , such as via the venturi effect and air flowing into and out of the fitting  38 . In such an example, vacuum source  14  can that be an air compressor that drives compressed air to the fitting  38  to cause the vacuum generator formed by fitting  38  to draw the air out of the pumping chamber within cover  18   a . In the case of a vacuum being generated by venturi effect, pressurized air flows through a first port on the fitting  38 , passed an aperture that leads to a chamber within the housing cover  18 , and out to a second port on the fitting  38 . In each example discussed, a vacuum generator draws air from the pumping chamber  40   a  to reduce the pressure within that pumping chamber  40   a . A partial vacuum is created in the pumping chamber  40   a  to draw diaphragm  20   a  in the first axial direction AD 1 , which draws diaphragm  20   b  in the first axial direction AD 1  by the mechanical link between diaphragm  20   a  and diaphragm  20   b.    
     The reduced pressure in the pumping chamber  40   a  draws diaphragm  20   a  in first axial direction AD 1 , drawing diaphragm  20   b  in the first axial direction AD 1  due to the mechanical link between diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  that is formed by shaft  22 . Diaphragm  20   b  is drawn into a seated position on receiver  26   b . The housing cover  18   b  can then be positioned on center section  16  to clamp the outer edge of diaphragm  20   b  between receiver  26   b  and housing cover  18   b . Housing cover  18   b  is fixed to center section  16  to securely clamp the edge of the diaphragm  20   b  between housing cover  18   b  and receiver  26   b . In the example shown, cover clamp  24   b  is secured on pump assembly  10  to fix housing cover  18   b  to center section  16 . It is understood, however, that housing cover  18   b  can be fixed to center section  16  in any desired manner, such as by fasteners (e.g., bolts) extending through housing cover  18   b  into receiver  26   b  or through receiver  26   b  into housing cover  18   b.    
     Mounting kit  12  provides significant advantages. Mounting kit  12  facilitates easy mounting of the second diaphragm, diaphragm  20   b  in the example discussed, by drawing air out of the already formed pumping chamber. Caps  34   a ,  34   b  are easily and quickly mounted to housing cover  18   a  and then air is drawn out of housing cover  18   a  to draw diaphragm  20   b  towards center section  16  for mounting due to the mechanical connection between diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b . Mounting kit  12  does not require any disassembly of components of pump assembly  10  to route air or otherwise bias the diaphragm  20   a  to shift diaphragm  20   b . Mounting kit  12  does not require large C-clamps or other mechanical components to try and bias and align the second diaphragm  20   b  for mounting. Mounting kit  12  facilitates easy mounting of the diaphragm  20   b . Mounting kit  12  requires few components and can be quickly and easily applied to pump assembly  10  to mount the diaphragms. Pump assembly  10  can be placed in operation by simply removing mounting kit  12  after mounting the second diaphragm  20   b  and connecting inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  to receive fluid from an upstream location and connecting outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b  to provide fluid to a downstream location. The user does not need to disassemble components of pump assembly  10 , such as air routing components, that can be easily damaged or misplaced in order to route air to an interior chamber and bias diaphragm  20   a . Instead, the mounting kit  12  is separate from the operating components of pump assembly  10  such that the interior components of pump assembly  10  can remain in an operational configuration throughout the mounting process. 
       FIG.  2 A  is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly  10  of  FIG.  1 A  in a first state.  FIG.  2 B  is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly  10  of  FIG.  2 A  in a second state.  FIG.  2 C  is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly  10  of  FIG.  2 A  in a third state. Pump assembly  10  includes center section  16 ; covers  18   a ,  18   b ; diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b ; and shaft  22 . Receivers  26   a ,  26   b  and center housing  28  of center section  16  are shown. Covers  18   a ,  18   b  respectively include inlet necks  30   a ,  30   b  and outlet necks  32   a ,  32   b . Receivers  26   a ,  26   b  respectively include receiver grooves  42   a ,  42   b . Covers  18   a ,  18   b  respectively include cover grooves  44   a ,  44   b . Diaphragm  20   a  includes membrane  46   a  and plates  48   a . Bead  50   a  is formed at a circumferential edge of membrane  46   a . Diaphragm  20   b  includes membrane  46   b  and plates  48   b . Bead  50   b  is formed at a circumferential edge of membrane  46   b . Mounting kit  12  is shown and includes caps  34   a ,  34   b  and cap clamps  36   a .  36   b . Cap  34   a  includes fitting  38 . 
     Covers  18   a ,  18   b  are mounted to center section  16  to clamp diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  between covers  18   a ,  18   b  and center section  16 . Center section  16  includes receiver  26   a  on a first axial side of center housing  28  and receiver  26   b  on a second, opposite axial side of center housing  28 . In the example shown, receivers  26   a ,  26   b  are mounted to center housing  28  by fasteners, though it is understood that pump assembly  10  can be formed in any desired manner, such as with receivers  26   a ,  26   b  integrally formed with center housing  28  or clamped to center housing  28 . 
     Receiver grooves  42   a ,  42   b  are formed on receivers  26   a ,  26   b , respectively. Cover grooves  44   a ,  44   b  are formed on covers  18   a ,  18   b , respectively. Receiver groove  42   a  opposes cover groove  44   a  and bead  50   a  is clamped therebetween. Bead  50   a  is formed as an enlargement at the outer circumferential edge of diaphragm  20   a . Bead  50   a  can be formed as a continuous bulge extending annularly about the outer edge of the membrane  46   a  or can be formed as a series of bulges disposed annularly about the outer edge of membrane  46   a . Bead  50   a  is captured in receiver groove  42   a  and cover groove  44   a  to form a fluid tight seal therebetween. 
     Receiver groove  42   b  opposes cover groove  44   b  and bead  50   b  is clamped therebetween. Bead  50   b  is formed as an enlargement at the outer circumferential edge of diaphragm  20   b . Bead  50   b  can be formed as a continuous bulge extending annularly about the outer edge of the membrane  46   b  or can be formed as a series of bulges disposed annularly about the outer edge of membrane  46   b . Bead  50   b  is captured in receiver groove  42   b  and cover groove  44   b  to form a fluid tight seal therebetween. 
     Diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  are connected to each other by shaft  22  extending therebetween. Shaft  22  can also be referred to as a connector as shaft  22  mechanically links diaphragm  20   a  and diaphragm  20   b . Diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  are connected to opposite ends of shaft  22  by fasteners extending into shaft  22 . Shaft  22  extends through center housing  28  to connect to diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b.    
     In the example shown, diaphragm  20   a  is formed by plates  48   a  disposed on opposite sides of membrane  46   a . Membrane  46   a  extends radially outward from plates  48   a , relative to a reciprocation axis of diaphragm  20   a  and is clamped between receiver  26   a  and cover  18   a . In the example shown, diaphragm  20   b  is formed similar to diaphragm  20   a  and includes plates  48   b  disposed on opposite sides of membrane  46   b . Membrane  46   b  extends radially outward from plates  48   b , relative to a reciprocation axis of diaphragm  20   b , and is clamped between receiver  26   b  and cover  18   b . It is understood that diaphragm  20   b  can be configured differently from diaphragm  20   a  in other examples. In the example shown, diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  are disposed coaxially on pump axis PA and are configured to reciprocate along pump axis PA during operation to pump the process fluid through pumping chambers  40   a ,  40   b . As such, the reciprocation axes of diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  are coaxial with the pump axis PA. 
     Pumping chamber  40   a  is formed within housing cover  18   a  and at least partially defined by diaphragm  20   a . Process fluid is pumped through pumping chamber  40   a  by reciprocation of diaphragm  20   a . The pumped material enters pumping chamber  40  through inlet neck  30   a  and exits pumping chamber  40   a  through outlet neck  32   a . Check valves (not shown) are disposed in inlet neck  30   a  to prevent retrograde flow out of pumping chamber  40   a  and in outlet neck  32   a  to prevent retrograde flow into pumping chamber  40   a . A ball of the outlet check of outlet neck  32   a  is shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C . Air chamber  52   a  is disposed on an opposite side of diaphragm  20   a  from pumping chamber  40   a . Air chamber  52   a  is formed within center section and, in the example shown, is at least partially defined by diaphragm  20   a  and receiver  26   a . During operation, compressed air is provided to air chamber  52   a  to drive diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  in the first axial direction AD 1 . 
     Pumping chamber  40   b  is formed within housing cover  18   b  and at least partially defined by diaphragm  20   b . Process fluid is pumped through pumping chamber  40   b  by reciprocation of diaphragm  20   b . The pumped material enters pumping chamber  40  through inlet neck  30   b  and exits pumping chamber  40   b  through outlet neck  32   b . Check valves (not shown) are disposed in inlet neck  30   b  to prevent retrograde flow out of pumping chamber  40   b  and in outlet neck  32   b  to prevent retrograde flow into pumping chamber  40   b . Air chamber  52   b  is disposed on an opposite side of diaphragm  20   b  from pumping chamber  40   b . Air chamber  52   b  is formed within center section and, in the example shown, is at least partially defined by diaphragm  20   b  and receiver  26   b . During operation, compressed air is provided to air chamber  52   b  to drive diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  in the second axial direction AD 2 . 
     A valve, such as a shuttle assembly (not shown), is configured to alternatingly direct air to air chambers  52   a ,  52   b . Compressed air is directed to air chamber  52   a  and vented from air chamber  52   b  to drive diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  in first axial direction AD 1 . Compressed air is directed to air chamber  52   b  and vented from air chamber  52   a  to drive diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  in second axial direction AD 2 . 
     During assembly, diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  are connected to shaft  22 , such as by fasteners that thread into shaft  22 . Diaphragm  20   a  is positioned such that bead  50   a  is disposed in receiver groove  42   a . Cover  18   a  is connected to receiver  26   a  such that bead  50   a  is captured within receiver groove  42   a  and cover groove  44   a . Cover  18   a  is fixed to receiver  26   a , by cover clamp  24   a  in the example shown. The first diaphragm mounted, which is diaphragm  20   a  in the example discussed, can typically be installed without any specialized tools. Diaphragm  20   a  naturally wants to assume a non-flexed state, which biases diaphragm  20   b  in second axial direction AD 2  and away from receiver  26   b.    
     In the first state shown in  FIG.  2 A , cover  18   a  is fixed to receiver  26   a  and diaphragm  20   a  is clamped between cover  18   a  and receiver  26   a . Diaphragm  20   b  is spaced from receiver  26   b  and needs to be shifted in first axial direction AD 1  for mounting. Mounting kit  12  is assembled on pump assembly  10  and operated to place diaphragm  20   b  in a desired position for mounting. 
     Cap  34   a  is mounted to outlet neck  32   a  in the example shown. Mounting cap  34   a  to outlet neck  32   a  allows the mounting procedure to proceed even when the check valves are already assembled to inlet neck  30   a  and outlet neck  32   a . The inlet check valve is removed from inlet neck  30   a  if cap  34   a  is mounted to inlet neck  30   a.    
     The disk of cap  34   a  is sealingly mounted to outlet neck  32   a  such that air can flow out of pumping chamber  40   a  only through cap  34   a , and specifically through fitting  38  mounted to the disk of cap  34   a . In the example shown, cap  34   a  is secured to outlet neck  32   a  by cap clamp  36   a . As discussed above, while cap  34   a  is shown as clamped to cover  18   a , cap  34   a  can be secured to cover  18   a  in any desired manner, such as by interfaced threading, among other options. Fitting  38  projects from cap  34   a  and is fluidly connected to the pumping chamber  40   a  within cover  18   a.    
     Cap  34   b  is mounted to the opposite one of inlet neck  30   a  and outlet neck  32   a  from cap  34   a . In the example shown, cap  34   b  is mounted to inlet neck  30   a . The disk of cap  34   b  is sealingly mounted to inlet neck  30   a . In the example shown, cap  34   b  is secured to inlet neck  30   a  by cap clamp  36   b . As discussed above, while cap  34   b  is shown as clamped to cover  18   a , cap  34   b  can be secured to cover  18   a  in any desired manner, such as by interfaced threading, among other options. With cap  34   b  mounted to inlet neck  30   a  and cap  34   a  mounted to outlet neck  32   a , pumping chamber  40   a  is a sealed cavity and air can exit only through fitting  38  of cap  34   a.    
     A vacuum source, such as vacuum source  14  ( FIG.  1 A ), is connected to mounting kit  12  at fitting  38 . For example, a hose that extends from the vacuum source can be connected to fitting  38 . The vacuum source is powered, causing air to be drawn out of pumping chamber  40   a  through fitting  38 . Drawing air out of the pumping chamber  40   a  lowers the pressure within the pumping chamber  40   a , which reduced pressure pulls the diaphragm  20   a  in the first axial direction AD 1 . Pulling the diaphragm  20   a  in the first axial direction also pulls shaft  22  in the first axial direction AD 1  due to the fixation of diaphragm  20   a  to shaft  22 . Shaft  22  is also fixed to diaphragm  20   b  such that pulling diaphragm  20   a  in the first axial direction AD 1  also pulls diaphragm  20   b  in the first axial direction AD 1 . Diaphragm  20   b  displaces in the first axial direction AD 1  and is pulled against the receiver  26   b.    
     The displacement flexes both of the diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b , overcoming any resisting elastic forces and allowing the bead  50   b  of the diaphragm  20   b  to press against the receiver  26   b  and seat within receiver groove  42   b . Such displacement places the pump assembly  10  in the second state shown in  FIG.  2 B . 
     With pump assembly  10   b  in the state shown in  FIG.  2 B , the housing cover  18   b  can be placed against the diaphragm  20   b  and secured to receiver  26   b . Once the diaphragm  20   b  is in place, the housing cover  18   b  can be mounted on the center housing  28 . In the example shown, housing cover  18   b  is mounted by clamping with cover clamp  24   b . The bead  50   b  of diaphragm  20   b  is clamped within receiver groove  42   b  and cover groove  44   b  to mount and seal the diaphragm  20   b . Pump assembly  10  is thus placed in the third, assembled state shown in  FIG.  2 C . Mounting kit  12  can be removed from cover  18   a  and inlet and outlet manifolds can be mounted to covers  18   a ,  18   b  to connect pump assembly  10  within a pumping system. The vacuum source can be deactivated and the pumping chamber  40   a  can be returned to atmospheric pressure after the second diaphragm  20   b  is mounted. 
     Use of the vacuum mounting kit  12  facilitates easy mounting and sealing of a diaphragm without operating the pump assembly  10  with pneumatic or other type of power, other than that provided by the vacuum source. As such, only the pumping chamber  40   a  is at a pressure other than atmospheric, while the normally pneumatically pressurized air chambers  52   a ,  52   b  within the center section  16  are not pressurized. Without the mounting kit  12 , the diaphragm  20   b  must be moved into place by hand to overcome the elastic force generated by the diaphragm  20   a  which can be difficult to keep in place while attempting to finalize the seal in securing the cover  18   b  to the center section  16  with cover clamp  24   b . Diaphragm  20   b  could also be moved into place by disassembling delicate components of pump assembly  10 , installing air directing components within the pump assembly  10  to pressurize only the air chamber  52   a , uninstalling those directing components, and reassembling the delicate air directing components of pump assembly  10 , which risks damage to those delicate components of pump assembly  10  and, because the components are removed, creates a risk of misplacing of losing components of pump assembly  10 . Disassembly is also time consuming and requires a skilled operator to ensure that components are reassembled correctly to operate the pump. 
     The reduced pressure in pumping chamber  40   a  provides a quick and efficient way to position diaphragm  20   b  at a desired location to facilitate assembly and mounting of housing cover  18 . The pump assembly  10  can quickly be placed into operation after assembling housing cover  18  to center section  16  without requiring disassembly and reassembly of other components of pump assembly  10 . In addition, a single mounting kit  12  can be configured for use on different pump assemblies having different configurations. Mounting kit  12  thereby provides an efficient and effective system for mounting diaphragms across a wide array of diaphragm pump configurations. 
       FIG.  3 A  is an isometric view of pump assembly  10  in the first state shown in  FIG.  2 A .  FIG.  3 B  is an isometric view of pump assembly  10  in the second state shown in  FIG.  2 B .  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  will be discussed together. As shown in  FIG.  3 A , diaphragm  20   b  is initially spaced from receiver  26   b  and must be shifted towards receiver  26   b  to seal against and mount to receiver  26   b . Mounting kit  12  is assembled to pump assembly  10 . Specifically, mounting kit  12  is mounted to cover  18   a  that is assembled to center section  16 . A vacuum source, which can be a vacuum pump, source of compressed air, or other component configured to draw air from the pumping chamber, is connected to fitting  38 , such as by a hose. The vacuum source can draw the air directly from the pumping chamber, in examples where the vacuum source is a vacuum pump, or can provide a flow of compressed air to fitting  38  and fitting  38  can be configured as a vacuum generator that draws the air from the pumping chamber. For example, fitting  38  can draw the air from the pumping chamber by the venturi effect in response to the compressed air flowing to the fitting  38 . 
     Air is drawn out of the pumping chamber  40   a  (shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ) through fitting  38 . The reduced pressure in the pumping chamber causes the diaphragm  20   a  (shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ) to shift in first axial direction AD 1 , which draws diaphragm  20   b  in first axial direction AD 1  due to the mechanical connection between the diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b , which mechanical connection is formed by shaft  22 . Diaphragm  20   b  shifts to the mounting position on receiver  26   b , as shown in  FIG.  3 B . In the state shown in  FIG.  3 B , the reduced pressure continues to be generated inside of the cover  18   a . The reduced pressure maintains the diaphragm  20   b  in the desired position on receiver  26   b  for mounting of the cover  18   b  (shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 2 C ) and clamping of diaphragm  20   b  between cover  18   b  and receiver  26   b . The reduced pressure maintaining the diaphragm  20   b  in the desired mounting position allows the user to fix cover  18   b  on the center section  16  without concern about the diaphragm  20   b  unseating or being misaligned. The cover  18   b  can be mounted in any desired manner, such as by a clamp (e.g., cover clamp  24   b  (best seen in  FIG.  1 B )) or fasteners (e.g., bolts), among other options. After mounting cover  18   b , diaphragm  20   b  is secured for pumping. The vacuum source can be deactivated and mounting kit  12  removed from cover  18   a . Pump assembly  10  is then ready for connection to an upstream fluid source and downstream fluid destination for pumping operation. 
     Mounting kit  12  and the method of mounting the diaphragms to assemble pump assembly  10  provides significant advantages. Mounting kit  12  can be assembled to pump assembly  10  and removed from pump assembly  10  without requiring disassembly of other components of pump assembly  10 . Mounting kit  12  thereby reduces the time required to mount both diaphragms  20   a ,  20   b  to pump assembly  10 . Reducing the pressure within the cover  18   a  draws the opposite diaphragm  20   b  into a seated position and maintains the diaphragm  20   b  in the seated position while the user assembles cover  18   b  to center section  16   b . Such a configuration provides a simple mounting procedure that requires less time and effort than physically pushing and holding the diaphragm  20   b  into the seating position or charging an air chamber. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.