Patent Publication Number: US-9845795-B2

Title: Dampening apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     As known in the art, positive displacement pumps produce negative energies that severely age and damage the pump components as well as the system the pump is utilizing. In an effort to subdue these energies, gas-charged pulsation dampeners utilize the compressibility of gas to transfer the energy from the media being pumped. This is done through installing a rubber diaphragm inside a pulsation dampener and filling it with gas, specifically nitrogen gas. The inherent problem with this design is the failure of the diaphragm, which releases the compressible gas, leaving the pulsation dampener completely ineffective. As a result of this failure, a worker has to shut down the pump operations for maintenance of the pulsation dampener. 
     As discussed above, such gas-charged diaphragms have two major problems associated with their operations, the first problem is that the pre-charge needs to be adjusted to operational pressure and once diaphragm fails, the charge of gas is released and the pulsation dampener doesn&#39;t work effectively. Problems with pre-charge: if the pre-charge of gas is too high, the dampener will self-seal and doesn&#39;t work. If the pre-charge of gas is too low, the gas is compressed until it can no longer compress and without compression, it doesn&#39;t work. The second problem is with the diaphragm failure, where after the failure, all of the compressible gas escapes and the dampener doesn&#39;t work without compressible gas. 
     Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a dampening apparatus which utilizes a non-pressurized mechanism to enable dampening of a pulsating fluid. Here, since the dampening apparatus is not retaining pressure, the life of the apparatus is enhanced, and there is no sudden loss of the compressible gas allowing for extreme operational times without shut down for maintenance and repair. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The dampening apparatus disclosed herein addresses the above mentioned needs for utilizing a non-pressurized mechanism to enable dampening of a pulsating fluid. The dampening apparatus configured to dampen pulsations caused by a pulsating fluid within a pump during a pumping process comprises a cylindrical container, and one or multiple compression devices positioned within the cylindrical container. The cylindrical container comprises multiple perforations on circumferential walls, and has an opening at one end. Each compression device comprises multiple compression cavities configured to receive the pulsating fluid through the opening. The dampening apparatus is attachable on a body of the pump such that the cylindrical container is in fluid communication with an fluid side of the pump to receive the pulsating fluid into the compression cavities, therefore dampening the pulsations via the compression cavities of the compression devices. 
     In an embodiment, the dampening apparatus is positionable inside a conventional dampener after replacing a diaphragm of the conventional dampener, wherein the pulsating fluid from the fluid side of the pump is received through the opening and into the compression cavities of the layers, therefore dampening the pulsations caused by the pulsating fluid. In an embodiment, each compression device comprises multiple gas infused segments arranged in a puzzle form to define compression cavities between each adjacent gas infused segment, where each gas infused segment further comprises a compression cavity within the gas infused segment. In an embodiment, the compression cavity defined between the adjacent gas infused segments is configured as a compression channel, and the compression cavity positioned on each gas infused segment is configured as a compression chamber. 
     In an embodiment, each compression device is arranged alternately on top of each other within the cylindrical container. In an embodiment, the gas infused segments defining the compression devices are made of foam material. In an embodiment, an inert gas is infused within the foam material. In an embodiment, the foam material comprises multiple microcells containing the inert gas, where each microcell is compressible from multiple sides. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the cylindrical container of the dampening apparatus. 
         FIG. 1B  exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the cylindrical container of the dampening apparatus. 
         FIG. 1C  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the cylindrical container of the dampening apparatus. 
         FIG. 1D  exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the embodiment of the cylindrical container of the dampening apparatus in  FIG. 1C . 
         FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the dampening apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of one compression device of the dampening apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the dampening apparatus positioned inside a conventional dampener of a pump, after replacing a damaged diaphragm of the conventional dampener. 
         FIG. 5A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the cylindrical container of the dampening apparatus. 
         FIG. 5B  exemplarily illustrates a sectional view of the embodiment of the cylindrical container in  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the cylindrical container  101  of the dampening apparatus  100 ,  FIG. 1B  exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the cylindrical container  101  of the dampening apparatus  100 ,  FIG. 1C  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the cylindrical container  101  of the dampening apparatus  100 , and  FIG. 1D  exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the embodiment of the cylindrical container  101  of the dampening apparatus  100  in  FIG. 1C . As exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1B  and  FIG. 2 , the dampening apparatus  100  configured to dampen pulsations caused by a pulsating fluid, for example, air, within a pump during a pumping process comprises a cylindrical container  101 , and one or multiple compression devices  103 , for example, 1 layer as disclosed in  FIGS. 1A-1B , positioned within the cylindrical container  101 . The cylindrical container  101 , for example, a suspension bag, comprises multiple perforations  101   a  on circumferential walls  101   b , and has an opening  102  at one end. Each compression device  103  comprises multiple compression cavities  104  configured to receive the pulsating fluid through the opening  102  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , and  FIG. 4 . 
     The dampening apparatus  100  is attachable on a body of the pump such that the cylindrical container  101  is in fluid communication with an fluid side of the pump to receive the pulsating fluid into the compression cavities  104 , therefore dampening the pulsations via the compression cavities  104  of the compression devices  103  as shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B  and  FIGS. 2-3 , in an embodiment, the cylindrical container  101  comprises, for example, 8 perforations  101   a  and 1 perforations  101   a  at the center as described by  FIG. 1B . As shown in  FIGS. 1C-1D , the cylindrical container  101  comprises, for example, 8 perforations  101   a  in a first circle, second circle and third circle, and a perforations  101   a  at the center. 
     As further exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment, the dampening apparatus  100  is positioned inside a conventional dampener  401  after replacing a diaphragm of the conventional dampener  401 , where the pulsating fluid from the fluid side of the pump is received through the opening  102  and into the compression cavities  104  of the layers, therefore dampening the pulsations caused by the pulsating fluid. That is, the dampening apparatus  100  replaces the pressure-retaining diaphragm of a conventional pulsation damper  401 . The existing damaged pressure-retaining diaphragm is removed and the dampening apparatus  100  is installed in the previous position of the pressure-retaining diaphragm. The cover plate of the pulsation damper  401  is then closed to conceal the dampening apparatus  100  within the pulsation damper. 
     In an embodiment, each compression device  103  is arranged alternately on top of each other within the cylindrical container  101  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In an embodiment, the compression devices  103  are made of, for example, foam material. In an embodiment, an inert gas, for example, nitrogen, is infused within the foam material. In an embodiment, the foam material comprises multiple microcells containing the inert gas, where each microcell is compressible from multiple sides. 
       FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the dampening apparatus  100 . In an embodiment, each compression device  103  comprises multiple gas infused segments  105  arranged in a puzzle form to define compression cavities  104  between each adjacent gas infused segment  105 , where each gas infused segment  105  further comprises a compression cavity  104  within the gas infused segment  105 . In an embodiment, each compression device  103  is arranged alternately on top of each other within the cylindrical container  101 . In an embodiment, the gas infused segments  105  defining the compression devices  103  are made of, for example, foam material such as rubber foam. In an embodiment, an inert gas is infused within the foam material. 
     In an embodiment, the foam material comprises multiple microcells containing the inert gas, where each microcell is compressible from multiple sides. The dampening apparatus  100  replaces the pressure-retaining diaphragm of a conventional pulsation dampener  401  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The dampening apparatus  100  comprises the cylindrical container  101  along with the compression devices  103 . The compression devices  103  works together with gas-infused, closed-cell rubber foam pieces to mitigate the negative energies produced from the pump. Since there is no gas-retaining diaphragm and the gas is contained in the cellular foam, there is no failure from the sudden loss of gas pressure in the diaphragm allowing for continuous use without maintenance for extremely long periods of operation of the pump. 
       FIG. 3  exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of the compression device  103  of the dampening apparatus  100 . As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each gas infused segment  105  comprises compression cavities  104  defined between adjacent gas infused segments  105 , and compression cavities  104  positioned within each gas infused segment  105 . In an embodiment, the compression cavity  104  defined between the adjacent gas infused segments  105  is configured as a compression channel  106 , and the compression cavity  104  positioned on each gas infused segment  105  is configured as a compression chamber  107 . The dampening apparatus  100  is molded out of, for example, nitrile butadiene rubber or hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber. The gas infused segment  105  or the closed cell foam rubber is molded into specific shape depending on the layer position in the dampening apparatus  100 . The dampening apparatus  100  can only be installed one way as mentioned later in this description. The layers of cellular foam is designed and formed to fit into the dampening apparatus  100  in designated layers. Following the recommended layer format is imperative to the performance of the dampening apparatus  100  as a whole. 
     As for construction, each compression device  103  is positioned alternately on top of each other within the cylindrical container  101 , for example, the three layers as shown in  FIG. 2 , are positioned one after another on top of each other. The positioning is performed in a manner that each compression chamber  107  and compression channel  106  is clear to communicate in fluid communication. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the assembled dampening apparatus  100  is positioned within the casing of an existing pulsation dampener  401  of a pump after replacing the damaged diaphragm inside the existing pulsation dampener  401 . The dampening apparatus  100  is then sealed by closing the cover plate of the pulsation dampener  401  and therefore the dampening apparatus  100  is ready for operation. 
     As exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the dampening apparatus  100  allows the pulsating fluid to penetrate into the interior of the dampening apparatus  100  through the opening  102  of the cylindrical container  101  where the gas infused segments  105  or the cellular foam pieces are stored. The cellular foam pieces are designated to be put together in the form of puzzle pieces. This allows the formation of external compression channels  106  in each layer of cellular foam. There are also internal compression chambers  107  present in each gas infused segment  105  that will provide separation between layers. The compression channels  106  and the compression chambers  107  are offset from row to row allowing for the pulsating fluid to completely envelop the cellular foam pieces. Since the dampening apparatus  100  allows for penetration of the pulsating fluid inside the cylindrical container  101 , the pulsating fluid would then travel up the external compression channels  106  and the internal compression chambers  107  layer by layer until the entire cylindrical container  101  is filled. The external compression channels  106  is configured to allow compression of each cellular foam piece on one hundred percent of the vertical exterior walls. 
     As exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the internal compression chambers  107  would allow for the pulsating fluid to form a separation layer in-between each layer of cellular foam as well as an internal vertical compression chamber  107  and two horizontal compression areas, the top and bottom of each of the compression devices  103  made of foam. Since the compression channels  106  and the compression chambers  107  are offset, the pulsating fluid is forced to travel indirectly through the dampening apparatus  100  causing an energy baffling effect. This baffling effect dampens the effect of pulsations caused by the pulsating fluid. 
       FIG. 4  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the dampening apparatus  100  positioned inside a conventional dampener  401  of a pump, after replacing a damaged diaphragm of the conventional dampener  401 , for example, a positive displacement pump such as a diaphragm pump, to dampen the pulsations caused by the pulsating fluid of the pump during a pumping process. The dampening apparatus  100  is fixedly attached to a body of the pump such that the opening  102  of the cylindrical container  101  of the dampening apparatus  100  is configured to receive the pulsating fluid within the compression cavities  104  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Here, the dampening apparatus  100  positioned inside a conventional dampener  401  after replacing a damaged diaphragm of the conventional dampener  401 . The dampening apparatus  100  is positioned within a casing  402  of the conventional dampener  401 , and between an upper seal cap  403  with inlet  404  for the pumping media and a lower seal cap  405 . 
     The pulsation of the pulsating fluid, for example, air, occurs when a pumped media such as water is pumped through an inlet and outlet of the diaphragm pump, where the diaphragm of the pump is forced upward and the air on the fluid side of the pump is forced on to the body of the pump. As the air enters through inlet  404  of the conventional dampener  401  and through the opening  102  of the dampening apparatus  100 , the inert gas within the foam material of the compression devices  103  interacts with the air received within the compression cavities  104  to establish an energy baffling effect, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-2  and as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 4 , thereby dampening the effect of pulsations developed on the fluid side of the pump. 
       FIG. 5A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the cylindrical container  101  of the dampening apparatus  100 , and  FIG. 5B  exemplarily illustrates a sectional view of the embodiment of the cylindrical container  101  in  FIG. 5A . In an embodiment, the cylindrical container  101  is configured free of multiple perforations  101   a  on the circumferential walls  101   b , and comprises an opening  102  at one end. The compression devices  103  are positioned inside the cylindrical container, and each compression device  103  comprises multiple compression cavities  104  configured to receive the pulsating fluid through the opening  102 . 
     The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present concept disclosed herein. While the concept has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the concept has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the concept is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the concept extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the concept in its aspects.