Cover for eccentric pushrod

Abstract

This invention is an eccentric pushrod cover device for high-volume double diaphragm pumps which provides protection of the operator from the pushrod during the operation of the pump. The eccentric pushrod cover device is comprised of a mounting plate, top plate, and face plate that are modularly assembled. The modular construction of the eccentric pushrod cover device allows for the device to be retrofitted onto existing pumps and allows for quick access to the pushrod for intermittent maintenance. It is anticipated that the elliptical slotted cutouts could vary in size and orientation.

Claims

1. An eccentric pushrod cover device for a high-volume double diaphragm pump comprising: a. a mounting plate; wherein the mounting plate provides an arch-shaped profile; wherein the mounting plate provides a plurality of mounting plate through holes; wherein the mounting plate provides a plurality of mounting plate flanges integrally formed with the mounting plate; wherein the plurality of the mounting plate flanges comprises a mounting plate top flange, a mounting plate first side flange, and a mounting plate second side flange; wherein the plurality of the mounting plate flanges provides a plurality of mounting plate flange through holes; b. a face plate; wherein the face plate provides a plurality of flanges integrally formed with the face plate; wherein the plurality of flanges of the face plate comprises a face plate top flange, a face plate first side flange, and a face plate second side flange; wherein the plurality of flanges provides a plurality of face plate flange through holes; wherein the face plate provides a plurality of slotted cutouts; c. a saddle plate; wherein the saddle plate provides a plurality of sides; wherein the plurality of sides comprises a top plate, a first side plate, and a second side plate; wherein the top plate, first side plate, and second side plate each respectively provide a first plurality of saddle plate through holes and a second plurality of saddle plate through holes; wherein the first plurality of saddle plate though holes aligns with the plurality of mounting plate flange through holes; wherein the second plurality of saddle plate through holes aligns with the plurality of face plate flange through holes; wherein the saddle plate is attached to the mounting plate; wherein the saddle plate is attached to the face plate.

2. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the first side plate and second side plate of the saddle plate are substantially parallel to each other.

3. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the first side plate and second side plate of the saddle plate are substantially orthogonal to the top plate of the saddle plate.

4. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is attached to a side of a gearbox.

5. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is attached to a side of a gearbox with a plurality of fasteners.

6. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the saddle plate is of unitary construction.

7. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is of unitary construction.

8. The eccentric pushrod cover device of claim 1, wherein the face plate is of unitary construction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an in-use isometric view of an eccentric pushrod cover device.

(2) FIG. 2 is an in-use side view of the saddle plate provide by the eccentric pushrod cover device.

(3) FIG. 3 is an in-use front view of the face plate provided by the eccentric pushrod cover device.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front view of the mounting plate provided by the eccentric pushrod cover device attached to the gearbox.

(5) FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the eccentric pushrod cover device.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the eccentric pushrod cover device.

NUMBERING REFERENCE

(7) 5Eccentric pushrod cover device 10Gearbox 11Plurality of gearbox fasteners 15Pushrod 16High-volume diaphragm 20Mounting plate 20aMounting plate top flange 20bMounting plate first side flange 20cMounting plate second side flange 21Plurality of mounting plate through holes 22aFirst plurality of saddle plate through holes 22bPlurality of mounting plate flange through holes 23aSecond plurality of saddle plate through holes 23bPlurality of face plate flange through holes 25Saddle plate 25aTop plate 25bFirst side plate 25cSecond side plate 26Plurality of saddle plate fasteners 30Face plate 30aFace plate top flange 30bFace plate first side flange 30cFace plate second side flange 31Plurality of slotted cutouts 40Outlet chamber

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an eccentric pushrod cover device 5 for a pair of eccentrically driven pushrods 15 each used to actuate a high-volume diaphragm 16 within a high-volume double diaphragm pump, hereinafter referred to as the pump. The eccentric pushrod cover device 5, hereinafter referred to as the pushrod cover 5, comprises a pair of inverted basket-shaped assemblies that each further comprise a mounting plate 20, a saddle plate 25, and a face plate 30, as shown in FIG. 5. A modular design of the pushrod cover 5 allows the face plate 30 to be detached from the saddle plate 25 without detaching the entire pushrod cover 5 from the pump. The modular design of the pushrod cover 5 additionally allows for the pushrod cover 5 to be retrofitted onto a gearbox 10 provided by the pump.

(9) The mounting plate 20 is attached directly to the gearbox 10 using a plurality of gearbox fasteners 11. The pushrod cover 5 is designed to accommodate the existing configuration of the pushrod 15 and the gearbox 10. As such, each mounting plate 20 provides an arch-shaped profile. Each mounting plate 20 comprises a plurality of mounting plate through holes 21 that are aligned with a plurality of fastener holes provided by the sides of the gearbox 10 that each mounting plate 20 attach to, as shown in FIG. 6. The mounting plate 20 provides a mounting plate top flange 20a, a mounting plate first side flange 20b, and a mounting plate second side flange 20c, as shown in FIG. 5. The mounting plate flanges 20a, 20b, 20c increase the stiffness of the mounting plate 20 and allow for the saddle plate 25 to attach and detach from the mounting plate 20. The mounting plate flanges 20a, 20b, 20c each respectively provide a plurality of mounting plate flange through holes 22b.

(10) The saddle plate 25 is comprised of a top plate 25a, a first side plate 25b, and a second side plate 25c. The saddle plate 25 provides first plurality of saddle plate through holes 22a and a second plurality of saddle plate through holes 23a, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The first plurality of saddle plate through holes 22a is provided nearest to the gearbox 10 relative to the second plurality of saddle plate through holes 23a, as shown in FIG. 6. The first plurality of saddle plate through holes 22a is positioned such that when the saddle plate 25 is installed over the mounting plate flanges 20a, 20b, and 20c they are aligned with the plurality of mounting plate flange through holes 22b. As shown in FIG. 5, the first side plate 25b and second side plate 25c are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially orthogonal to the top plate 25a. In the exemplary embodiment the top plate 25a is substantially flat, as shown in FIG. 1.

(11) The flat profile of the top plate 25a provides a secure surface to which a worker could stand or place items on while the pump 5 is not in operation. This is useful for maintenance as well as attaching and detaching a hook to the lifting bail. However, it is anticipated that the top plate 25a may be sloped or curved.

(12) The integral attachment of the first side plate 25b and second side plate 25c respectively to the top plate 25a increases the stiffness of the saddle plate 25 as well as overall stability of the pushrod cover 5. The first side plate 25b and second side plate 25c each provide a notch at the bottom corner that is nearest to the gearbox 10 as shown in FIG. 6. The notch within each of the side plates 25b, 25c are provided to accommodate the existing pump configuration that within the exemplary embodiment provides the gearbox 10 at an elevated position relative to each of the high-volume diaphragms 16. Furthermore, while the exemplary embodiment of the pushrod cover 5 does not provide a top plate 25 with slotted cutouts it is anticipated that slotted cutouts may be provided in alternative embodiments.

(13) The face plate 30 provides a plurality of face plate flanges that comprise a face plate top flange 30a, a face plate first side flange 30b, and a face plate second side flange 30c, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The face plate flanges 30a, 30b, 30c increase the stiffness of the face plate 30 and allow for the face plate 30 to attach and detach from the saddle plate 25. The face plate flanges 30a, 30b, 30c provide a plurality of face plate flange through holes 23b that align with the second plurality of saddle plate through holes 23a. The face plate 30 provides a plurality of slotted cutouts 31 that allow the pushrod 15 and components of the pump shielded by the pushrod cover 5 to be visible while the pushrod cover 5 is installed.

(14) In an exemplary embodiment of eccentric pushrod cover device 5 it is preferable that the saddle plate 25 overlap the mounting plate flanges 20a, 20b, 20c as well as the face plate flanges 30a, 30b, 30c. The modular assembly of the pushrod cover 5, and particularly the face plate 30, allows for quick access to the pushrod 15 as well as adjacent parts of the pump that are shielded by the pushrod cover 5. It is also anticipated that the plurality of slotted cutouts 31 provided by the face plate 30 allow for additional pump accessories to be retrofitted onto the face plate 30.

(15) While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.