1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid pumps and, more particularly, to fluid ejector pumps having a flow passage containing a shaped deflector causing turbulent mixing of fluid flowing through the flow passage.
2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art
Fluid pumps in which air is mixed with water have been proposed. Such pumps sometimes employ deflectors within flow passages of the pumps to create alterations in fluid flow through the flow passages as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 121,376 to Jamison, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 524,268 to Walten et al, U.S. Pat. No. 1,810,131 to Daily, U.S. Pat. No. 2,011,224 to Kobiolke et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,234,631 to Göhre, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,513,417 and 2,569,683 to Lindsay, U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,812 to Elvidge et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,923 to Ii, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,688 to Grindley, and by U.S. patent application Publication No. US 2002/0148913 A1 to Horn. Fluid pumps having deflectors within their flow passages as well as ports at which suction is produced are represented by the Lindsay patents, the Daily patent, the Kobiolke et al patent, the Göhre patent, the Elvidge et al patent, the li patent, the Grindley patent, and by U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,625 B1 to Sertier and U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,696 to Wilkinson. The Göhre patent and the Grindley patent relate to pumps for extinguishing fires, and the Lindsay patents relate to portable pumps. U.S. Pat. No. 2,391,306 to Gregg and the Grindley patent disclose pumps utilizing Venturi tubes. Prior fluid pumps in which deflectors are used to alter fluid flow through the pumps have various disadvantages including inadequate flow rates, unsuitable pressures, inferior mixing, insufficient turbulence, undesirable recoil, structural and operational complexity, and lack of cost effectiveness.
The need remains for an improved fluid ejector pump in which air is turbulently mixed with water flowing through a flow passage through the pump containing a deflector which produces greater flow rates and greater mixing of water and air, enhanced discharge of atomized or air-entrained water, and greater suction at a suction inlet of the pump. A need further exists for a fluid ejector pump in which air and water are mixed during pressurized fluid flow through the pump while reducing back pressure and recoil. There is also a need for an economical fluid ejector pump of structural and operational simplicity providing an enhanced discharge of atomized or air-entrained water at a discharge outlet of the pump and enhanced vacuum at an air or suction inlet of the pump useful for many various applications including fire extinguishment applications with or without a fire suppression foam additive, irrigation applications, vacuum applications, vertical and non-vertical pumping applications, aqua, shrimp or fish farming applications, aeration applications, pesticide applications, drying applications, and injection molding applications, for example.
The present invention is generally characterized in a fluid ejector pump having a longitudinally extending flow passage with a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end opposite the fluid inlet end. The fluid inlet end includes a Venturi tube inlet having a relative larger diameter entry opening for being supplied with pressurized fluid, such as water, and a relatively smaller diameter exit opening within the flow passage. A suction or air inlet comprising one or more air entry ports communicates with the flow passage adjacent the exit opening of the Venturi tube inlet. Water discharged into the flow passage from the exit opening of the Venturi tube inlet is mixed with air entering the flow passage through the suction inlet. A shaped deflector is located in the flow passage spaced upstream of the exit opening of the Venturi tube inlet and in axial alignment with the Venturi tube inlet. The deflector comprises a downstream end of convex or partial spherical configuration spaced upstream from the exit opening of the Venturi tube inlet, a cylindrical intermediate section extending from the downstream end in the upstream direction and an upstream section of frustoconical configuration extending from the intermediate section in the upstream direction. The upstream section is of increasing cross-sectional or diametric size in the upstream direction. The flow passage defines an annular gap or space around and along the deflector, the annular gap being defined between the exterior of the deflector and the internal surface of the wall forming the flow passage. A plurality of struts extend radially outwardly from the deflector into engagement with the wall of the flow passage to center the deflector in the flow passage.
In one embodiment, the deflector has a lumen extending entirely therethrough in axial alignment with the lumen of the Venturi tube inlet, with an entry hole at the downstream end and an exit hole at the upstream section. The lumen comprises a downstream lumen segment of uniform diameter extending from the entry hole to an upstream lumen segment. The upstream lumen segment is continuously increasing in diametric size from the downstream lumen segment to the exit hole of the deflector. In a preferred embodiment, the upstream section extends outwardly from the intermediate section at an angle of about 13 degrees. Water containing air flows upstream from the Venturi tube inlet and encounters the deflector, causing some of the fluid to enter the deflector lumen and some of the fluid to flow along the annular space between the deflector and the wall of the flow passage. The acceleration of the fluid flowing upstream in the flow passage along the annular space is increased due to the upward angle of the upstream section of the deflector. The fluid flowing through the deflector lumen is discharged into a mixing region of the flow passage from the exit opening of the deflector, and a high-low mixing effect is producing in the mixing region of the flow passage for greater mixing and turbulence of the fluid while the vacuum or suction at the suction inlet is increased. The fluid is discharged from the outlet end of the flow passage as atomized or air-entrained water.
In another embodiment, the deflector is solid without a lumen extending therethrough and has a relatively longer intermediate section and a relatively shorter upstream section extending outwardly in the upstream direction at about a 45 degree angle from the intermediate section. As the fluid flowing through the flow passage encounters the deflector, a highly unstable vortex is created and turbulence increases. Natural Bernoulli eddies are produced in the fluid and greater suction is produced at the suction inlet.
The fluid pumps of the present invention overcome the disadvantages of prior fluid pumps utilizing flow altering deflectors. The fluid pumps of the present invention enhance turbulent mixing of air and water flowing through the pumps, create a high-low mixing effect of fluid flowing through the flow passage of the pumps, create greater turbulence in the fluid flowing through the flow passage of the pumps, increase vacuum or suction produced at a suction inlet of the pumps by which air enters the flow passage of the pumps and is turbulently mixed with water flowing through the flow passage, create a natural air break in the flow passage of the pumps, provide greater flow rates through the pumps, and provide structural and operational simplicity for economical use in many diverse applications utilizing atomized or air-entrained fluid discharged from the pumps and/or utilizing a vacuum created at the suction inlet of the pumps.
Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like or similar parts in each of the drawing figures are identified by the same reference numerals.
A fluid ejector pump 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in
The Venturi tube inlet 20 may be formed integrally, unitarily or monolithically as a single part or may be formed of multiple parts assembled together in any suitable manner. In the case of body 12, the Venturi tube inlet 20 is formed of multiple parts and comprises a Venturi tube member 21 and a cylindrical sleeve 23 mounted on a downstream end of the Venturi tube member 21. The downstream end of the Venturi tube member 21 terminates within the sleeve 23, which defines the entry opening 22 at the flow passage inlet end 16. The Venturi tube member 21 is a hollow member including a tapered section 25 disposed between a first or downstream cylindrical section 27 and a second or upstream cylindrical section 29. The first cylindrical section 27, which is partly disposed in sleeve 23, extends longitudinally from the downstream end of the Venturi tube member 21 to the widest end of the tapered section 25. The tapered section 25 extends from the first cylindrical section 27 with an inward taper to the second cylindrical section 29. The second cylindrical section 29 extends from the tapered section 25 to the exit opening 24. The flow channel defined by Venturi tube inlet 20 has tapering diameter portion 26 within tapered section 25, a first or downstream uniform diameter portion within first cylindrical section 27 and sleeve 23, and a second or upstream uniform diameter portion within second cylindrical section 29. The first uniform diameter portion of the flow channel is of the first diameter and extends from the entry opening 22 of sleeve 23 to the widest end of the tapering diameter portion 26 of the flow channel. The second uniform diameter portion of the flow channel is of the second diameter and extends from the narrowest end of the tapering diameter portion 26 to the exit opening 24. The tapering diameter portion is of considerably greater length than the second uniform diameter portion and, in the Venturi tube inlet 20, the first uniform diameter portion is of greater length than the tapering diameter portion.
The body 12 comprises a suction or air inlet 28 having at least one air entry port 30 communicating with the flow passage 14. The suction inlet 28 may be formed as a tubular extension of body 12 perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 15. The air entry port 30 is located adjacent the exit opening 24 of the Venturi tube inlet 20 and is aligned with the exit opening 24 in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 15. The suction inlet 28 for body 12 is formed by part of a T-shaped pipe having a longitudinal segment 31 and a transverse segment 33 extending perpendicularly from one side of the longitudinal segment. A downstream end of the longitudinal segment 31 fits over the tapered section 25 of the Venturi tube member 21 and is secured thereto with the downstream end of the longitudinal segment 31 adjacent the junction at which the first cylindrical section 27 of the Venturi tube member meets the widest end of the tapered section 25. An upstream end of the longitudinal segment 31 receives one end of a tubular transition member 35 which extends in the upstream direction from the upstream end of the longitudinal segment. The longitudinal segment 31 thusly defines a portion of the flow passage 14 through body 12. The transverse segment 33 extends perpendicularly from one side of the longitudinal segment 31 and is located between the upstream and downstream ends of the longitudinal segment. The transverse segment 33 defines the air entry port 30 therethrough in communication with the portion of flow passage 14 defined by the longitudinal segment 31. The exit opening 24 of the Venturi tube inlet 20 is disposed in the flow passage 14 in alignment with the air entry port 30 defined by transverse segment 33 and is located slightly upstream of a center axis of the transverse segment 33 perpendicular to central longitudinal axis 15. The Venturi tube inlet 20 may be fixedly secured to the longitudinal segment 31 in any suitable manner or may be removably secured to the longitudinal segment. The Venturi tube inlet 20 may be formed as part of the longitudinal segment 31.
The opposite end of transition member 35 is received in the downstream end of a tubular outlet member 37 of body 12. The upstream end of the outlet member 37 defines the outlet end 18 of body 12 and flow passage 14. The wall thickness of transition member 35 is less than the wall thickness of the longitudinal segment 31 and is less than the wall thickness of the outlet member 37. The wall of the longitudinal segment 31 at its upstream end and the wall of the outlet member 37 at its downstream end are respectively recessed along their interior surfaces to accommodate the wall thickness of the transition member 35 such that the flow passage 14 is of uniform diameter from air entry port 30 to the outlet end 18.
A shaped deflector 32 is located and secured within flow passage 14 upstream of the Venturi tube inlet 20 and the air entry port 30. The deflector 32 is coaxial with the central longitudinal axis 15. The deflector 32 is best shown in
The deflector 32 may be hollow, with a lumen 44 extending entirely therethrough. The lumen 44 has an entry hole 46 at the downstream end 34 coaxial with the exit opening 24 of Venturi tube inlet 20 and has an outlet hole 48 at the end of the upstream section 38 coaxial with the entry hole 46. The lumen 44 comprises a cylindrical downstream lumen segment extending in the upstream direction from the entry hole 46 to a frustoconical upstream lumen segment extending in the upstream direction from the downstream lumen segment to the outlet hole 48. Accordingly, the downstream lumen segment is of uniform circular cross-section having a uniform diameter from the entry hole 46 to the upstream lumen segment. The upstream lumen segment is of continuously and uniformly increasing circular cross-section of continuously and uniformly increasing diameter from the downstream lumen segment to the outlet hole 48. In one preferred embodiment, the downstream lumen segment has a diameter of or substantially of 0.400 inch and the outlet hole 48 has a diameter of or substantially of 0.800 inch. A discharge opening or outlet 50 for the fluid ejector pump 10 at outlet end 18 is located upstream of the outlet hole 48 of the deflector 32 such that a mixing region 51 of flow passage 14 is defined between outlet hole 48 and discharge opening 50. In a preferred embodiment, the length of mixing region 51 corresponding to the distance from outlet hole 48 to discharge opening 50 is or is substantially 2.35 inches. The external surface of deflector 32 defining the upstream section 38 extends angularly outwardly from the external surface of the deflector defining the intermediate section 36, and the external surface of the upstream section 38 extends angularly outwardly from the external surface of the intermediate section 36 at an angle A as shown in
Water flowing upstream through the flow passage 14 from the Venturi tube inlet 20 is combined with and contains air which enters the flow passage 14 through the suction inlet 28. As this fluid flows upstream, it encounters the deflector 32, causing some of the fluid to enter the deflector lumen 44 and some of the fluid to flow along the annular space of the flow passage 14 between the interior surface of the body 12 and the external surface of the deflector. The acceleration of the fluid flowing upstream in the flow passage 14 along the annular space is increased due to the upward angle of the upstream section 38 of the deflector 32, and the fluid flow is also increased. The fluid flowing through the deflector lumen 44 is discharged into the flow passage 14 from the outlet hole 48 of the deflector, and a high-low mixing effect is produced in the fluid within the mixing region 51 of the flow passage for greater mixing and turbulence. The deflector 32 causes decreased fluid pressure and creates a unique flow mixing pattern and greater flow rates while reducing back pressure. Fluid exiting the outlet hole 48 of the deflector 32 has rifling striations to create greater turbulence. In addition, suction or vacuum at the suction inlet 28 is increased. The fluid is discharged from the outlet 50 of the fluid ejector pump as atomized or air-entrained water.
A modified fluid ejector pump according to the present invention is shown at 110 in
Another modified fluid ejector pump according to the present invention is illustrated at 210 in
An additional fluid ejector pump according to the present invention is illustrated at 310 in
Water discharged from Venturi tube inlet 320, which is similar to Venturi tube inlets 20 and 220, is combined with air entering through the suction inlet 328, which comprises air entry openings 330. As this fluid continues to flow upstream through the flow passage 314, it encounters the deflector 332. The flow is separated by the deflector 332 and a highly unstable vortex is created in the fluid. Greater turbulence is imparted to the fluid flow causing natural Bernoulli eddies which produce greater mixing of the fluid and greater suction at the air entry openings 330 of suction inlet 328. The mixture of air into the jet stream of water causes a natural air break to eliminate recoil felt at the handle 352. Less motive force is required for fluid flow through the flow passage 314 while eliminating undesirable backflow pressure. The fluid is discharged from a discharge outlet 357 of hood 354 as finely atomized or air-entrained water.
The fluid ejector pump 310 is particularly useful as a fire nozzle, and a fire hose can be coupled with the housing 353. The atomized or air-entrained water significantly reduces the thermal swing of a fire allowing a fire to be extinguished faster due to the water bursting to cold steam. Consequently, a fire is suffocated faster utilizing less water for greater effectiveness. If desired, a fire-suppressing biodegradable foam can be added to the fluid flowing through the flow passage 314.
Another body 412 for the fluid ejector pumps according to the present invention is illustrated at 412 in
The fluid ejector pumps of the present invention can be used in many various applications including as a pump for irrigation for increased discharge flow using less energy, as a vacuum scrubber for high dust environments in woodworking, coal-dust retention, airborne glass particles or paint-spraying booths using the vacuum created by the suction inlet to draw airborne particles into a fluid bypass trap and enable the particles to be concentrated into a holding or containment area, as a relay pump to maintain water pressure between fire trucks, as a vertical pump to move water vertically such as in high-rise buildings to maintain pressure to upper floors, as a pump for aqua, shrimp and/or fish farming to oxygenate or aerate a body of water, and as a pump for pesticides allowing pesticides to be sprayed from a sprinkler system in hard to access areas.
The fluid ejector pumps can accept extreme high pressure fluid flows without a recoil effect. The size of the Venturi tube inlet can be varied to increase or decrease total flow output. The fluid ejector pumps may include click-stop water adjustments and flow meter labeling. The fluid ejector pumps may be made from materials selected to reduce weight.
Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all subject matter discussed above or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative only and not be taken in a limiting sense.
This application claims priority from prior provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/469,355 filed May 9, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60469355 | May 2003 | US |