Improvements in Diaphragms.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Diaphragms.
I, PHILIPP HERMANN ROSENKRANZ, of 22, Sedanstrasse, Hanover, in the Empire
of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
Diaphragms are employed for many purposes in practical work and more
particularly in connection with machines and consist of plates or sheets of
comparatively small thickness and of a yielding or elastic material suitable for
the particular purpose for which they are to be employed. For instance,
diaphragms are often used in place of pistons in connection with valves as, for
example in pressure regulators for steam, water, carbonic acid, air, etc., in which
regulators the diaphragm has for object to effect the closing of the passage of the
steam, water, etc., when it is subjected to a predetermined pressure on one face.
In so called diaphragm-pumps or diaphragm water-meters and in other apparatus
the diaphragm serves directly as a piston, in certain valves the stuffing-box is
replaced by a diaphragm and in many cases the said diaphragm is used
directly for making a joint, as for instance in india-rubber cocks.
Diaphragms are, when made of metal such as brass, copper, or steel, for the
most part provided with ring shaped or circular corrugations for the purpose of
increasing the extent of their movement. Yet even diaphragms having these
corrugations possess the disadvantage that their movement is very slight and
moreover they fracture at the corrugations, after having been in use for a short
time, in consequence of the repeated movement or alteration of form. Diaphragms
made of india-rubber, which are employed both with straight and with curved
surfaces, only allow of a comparatively small movement. Such diaphragms are
often employed in combination with metal plates laid upon them, which metal
plates transmit the movement of the diaphragm to other parts such for instance
as lever valves, auxiliary valves, etc. Between the edges of these plates and the
box or case the diaphragm is subjected to injurious action.
The movement
increases at this part very considerably and in many cases the diaphragm does not
return to its original position. It also very commonly occurs that the india-
rubber plate is held fast at the said part. In all cases, however, the diaphragm
very soon loses its elasticity.
These disadvantages are not present in the diaphragm forming the subject of
the present invention. My diaphragm can be caused to move through a
considerable distance and possesses a high efficiency. It can be made from any
yielding material but is preferably formed of india-rubber, leather, varnished silk
or the like and is provided with spaces or chambers of suitable shapes. In one
form of my diaphragm the said spaces or chambers are circular in form so that
there remains a central solid portion in which a hole is provided for the purpose
of connecting the diaphragm with metal plates by means of bolts or the like.
The diaphragm is held between two flanges which are so curved inwards against
the box or case that the space extends into the space between the flanges in such

page_text: a manner that the diaphragm conforms to the shape of the curve of the flanges
whereby when any movement of the same occurs no sharp bend takes place.
The spaces or chambers which are filled with air, cause the diaphragm after
employment to return to its original position. The permissible movement of my
diaphragm is, however, considerably greater than that of ordinary india-rubber
sheets and its durability is also considerably higher.
When the diaphragm is operated by steam and is composed of india-rubber it
is necessary to cool it with water or any other suitable material. The water is
preferably by means of a water sealed pipe, filled into the space in which the steam
would otherwise come in contact with the india-rubber diaphragm.
The space or chamber instead of being filled with ordinary air can be filled
with any other suitable gas or liquid for instance, glycerine, water, mercury, etc.
The filling material can also, if desirable, be filled in under high pressure.
In a modified form of my diaphragm the central solid portion of the same is
dispensed with so that a single continuous space or chamber is provided. The
space or chamber instead of having in plan a circular form can be, according to
the use to which the diaphragm is to be put, oval or polygonal in shape. The
space or chamber can be formed with circular or helical corrugations or it can be
divided up by partitions which may be for instance radial.
In connection with air vessels several of my cushion diaphragms may be
employed superposed upon one another. Such an arrangement possesses the
advantage that a permanent yielding mass is present in the air chamber. This
is of great importance because, as is well known, the air in the air chambers
contains or is soaked with water and contracts with time.
The above described cushion diaphragm can find extensive use, more particularly
for all purposes in which ordinary diaphragms are used for instance in hydrants,
meters, valves and the like. In many cases, for instance when employing india-
rubber screw down valves it is advantageous to form the cushion diaphragm of
two parts and to provide washers between the surfaces which would otherwise be
in contact with one another.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Diaphragms.
I, PHILIPP HERMANN ROSENKRANZ, of 22, Sedanstrasse, Hanover, in the Empire
of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Diaphragms are employed for many purposes in practical work and more
particularly in connection with machines and consist of plates or sheets of
comparatively small thickness and of a yielding or elastic material suitable for
the particular purpose for which they are to be employed. For instance,
diaphragms are often used in place of pistons in connection with valves as, for
example in pressure regulators for steami, water, carbonic acid, air, etc., in which
regulators the diaphragm has for object to effect the closing of the passage of the
steam, water, etc., when it is subjected to a predetermined pressure on one face.
In so called diaphragm-pumps or diaphragm water-meters and in other apparatus
the diaphragm serves directly as a piston, in certain valves the stuffing-box is

page_text: replaced by a
diaphragm and in many cases the said diaphragm is used
directly for making a joint, as for instance in india-rubber cocks.
Diaphragms, when made of metal such as brass, copper, or steel, are for the
most part provided with ring shaped or circular corrugations for the purpose of
increasing the extent of their movement. Yet even diaphragms having these
corrugations possess the disadvantage that the extent of their movement is very
slight and furthermore such diaphragms. fracture at the corrugations, after having
been in use for a short time, in consequence of the repeated movement or
alteration of form. Diaphragms made of india-rubber, which are employed both
with straight and with curved surfaces, only allow of a comparatively small
movement. Such diaphragms are often employed in combination with metal
plates laid upon them, which metal plates transmit the movement of the diaphragm
to other parts such for instance as lever valves, auxiliary valves, etc. Between the
edges of these plates and the box or case the diaphragm is injuriously affected.
The movement increases at this part very considerably and in many cases the
diaphragm does not return to its original position. It also very commonly occurs
that the india-rubber plate is held fast at the said part and in all cases, the
diaphragm very soon loses its elasticity.
These disadvantages are obviated in the diaphragm forming the subject of this
invention. My diaphragm can move through a considerable distance and
possesses a high efficiency. It can be made from any yielding material but is
preferably formed of india-rubber, leather, varnished silk or the like and is
provided with spaces or chambers of suitable shapes as hereinafter described.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Figure 1 is a cross section of a diaphragm made according to my invention and
shewn fitted in a casing.
Figure 1 is a plan thereof drawn to a smaller scale.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of a modified form of my diaphragm.
Figure 3 is a similar view of another construction of diaphragm.
Figure 3 is a plan drawn to a smaller scale of a slightly different construction.
Figure 4 is a cross section of a further modification; and,
Figure 5 is a section of a tap having a diaphragm made according to my
invention.
In the form of my diaphragm shewn in Figures 1 and 1^ the space or chamber H
is circular in form so that there remains a central solid portion in which a hole a
is provided for the purpose of connecting the diaphragm to metal plates by means
of bolts or the like. The diaphragm is held between two flanges f,f which are
so curved inwards against the box or case that the space H extends, as shewn at p,
into the space between the flanges f,f that is to say, beyond the line o-o in such
a manner that the diaphragm conforms to the shape of the curve of the flanges
whereby when any movement of the same occurs no sharp bend takes place.
The space or chamber H which is filled with air, causes the diaphragm after
employment to return to its original position. The permissible movement of my
diaphragm is, however, considerably greater than that of ordinary india-rubber
sheets and its durability is also considerably higher.
When the diaphragm is operated by steam and is composed of india-rubber it
is necessary to cool it with water or any other suitable material. The water is
filled, preferably by means of a water sealed pipe, into the space in which the
steam would otherwise come into direct contact with the india-rubber diaphragm.
The space or chamber H instead of being filled with ordinary air can be filled
with any other suitable gas or liquid for instance, glycerine, water, mercury, etc.
The filling material can also, if desirable, be filled in under high pressure.
In the modified form of my diaphragm shewn in Figure 2 the central solid
portion of the same is dispensed with so that a single-continuous space or
chamber H is provided. The space or chamber H instead of having in plan a
circular form can be, according to the use to which the diaphragm is to be put,

page_text: oval or polygonal in shape. The space or chamber H can be formed with circular
or helical corrugations as shewn in Figure 3 or it can be divided up by partitions
which may be for instance radial as shewn in Figure 3*.
In connection with the air chambers of pumps or fire engines or the like several
of my cushion diaphragms may be employed superposed upon one another. Such
an arrangement (shewn in Figure 4) possesses the advantage that a permanent
yielding mass is present in the air chamber. This is of great importance because,
as is well known, the air in the air chambers is carried or sucked away by the
water and is gradually lost.
The above described cushion diaphragm can find extensive use, more particularly
for all purposes in which ordinary diaphragms are used for instance in hydrants,
meters, valves and the like. In many cases, for instance in that of india-rubber
screw-down valves as shewn in Figure 5 it is advantageous to form the cushion
diaphragm of two parts and to provide washers M and M¹ between the surfaces
which would otherwise be in contact with one another.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Diaphragms having in their thickness one or more spaces filled with air, gas
or a suitable liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved diaphragms herein before described and illustrated respectively
in Figures 1 and 1^; 2; 3; 3^; 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 18th day of August. 1897.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.