Figuer 1 (Left Stroke)

The air valve direct pressurized air to the back side of diaphragm A. The compressed air is applied directly to the liquid column separated by elastomeric diaphragm acts as a separation membrane between the compressed air and liquid balancing the load and removing mechanical stress form the diaphragm. The compressed air moves the diaphragm away from the center block of pump. The opposite diaphragm is pulled in by the shaft connected to the pressurized diaphragm. Diaphragm B is on its suction stoke; air behind the diaphragm has been forced out of the atmosphere through the exhaust port of the pump. The movement of diaphragm B toward the center block of the pump cerates a vacuum within chamber. B Atmospheric pressure forces fluid into the inlet manifold forcing the inset valve ball off its seat. Liquid is free to move past the inlet valve ball and fill the liquid chamber (see shaded area)

Figure 2 (Mid Stroke)

When the pressurized diaphragm, diaphragm A, reaches the limit of its discharge stroke, the air valve redirects pressurized air to the back side of diaphragm B. The pressurized air forces diaphragm B away from the center block while pulling diaphragm A to the center block. Diaphragm B is now on its discharge stroke. Diaphragm B forces the inlet valve ball on its seat due the hydraulic forces developed in the liquid chamber and manifold of the pump. These same hydraulic forces lift the discharge valve ball of its seat, while the opposite discharge valve ball is forced onto its seat, forcing fluid to flow through the pump discharge. The movement of diaphragm A toward the center block of the pump creates the vacuum within the liquid chamber A. Atmospheric pressure forces fluid into the inlet manifold of the pump. The inlet valve ball is forced of its seat allowing the fluid being pumped to fill the liquid chamber.

Figure 3 (Right Stroke)

At completion of the stroke, the air valve again redirects air to the back side of diaphragm A, which starts diaphragm B on its exhausts stroke. As the pump reaches its original starting point, each diaphragm has gone one exhaust and one discharge stroke. This constitutes one complete pumping cycle. The pump may take several cycles to completely prime depending on the conditions of the application. The PRICE diaphragm pump is an air-operated, positive displacement, self-priming pump. These drawings show the flow pattern through the pump upon its initial stroke. It is assumed the pump has on fluid in it prior to its initial stroke.