Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to reciprocating fluid pumps that include a reciprocating plunger, to components and devices for use with such pumps, and to methods of using such reciprocating fluid pumps and devices.
Reciprocating fluid pumps are used in many industries. Reciprocating fluid pumps generally include two fluid chambers in a pump body. Typically, a reciprocating piston or shaft is driven back and forth within the pump body. Conventionally, one or more plungers (e.g., diaphragms or bellows) are connected to the reciprocating piston or shaft. As the reciprocating piston moves in one direction, the movement of the plungers results in fluid being drawn into a first fluid chamber of the two fluid chambers and expelled from the second chamber. As the reciprocating piston moves in the opposite direction, the movement of the plungers results in fluid being expelled from the first chamber and drawn into the second chamber. A chamber inlet and a chamber outlet may be provided in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber, and another chamber inlet and another chamber outlet may be provided in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber. The chamber inlets to the first and second fluid chambers may be in fluid communication with a common single pump inlet, and the chamber outlets from the first and second fluid chambers may be in fluid communication with a common single pump outlet, such that fluid may be drawn into the pump through the pump inlet from a single fluid source, and fluid may be expelled from the pump through a single pump outlet. Check valves may be provided at the chamber inlet and outlet of each of the fluid chambers to ensure that fluid can only flow into the fluid chambers through the chamber inlets, and fluid can only flow out of the of the fluid chambers through the chamber outlets.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a reciprocating fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid. The reciprocating fluid pump can include a pump body, a first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, a second subject fluid chamber within the pump body, a first plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a first drive fluid chamber, the first plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, and a second plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a second drive fluid chamber, the second plunger comprising a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body. The reciprocating fluid pump may further include a first sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the first plunger, a second sensor assembly at least partially disposed within the pump body and configured to sense a position of the second plunger, and an external controller operably coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly and configured to insert drive fluid into the pump body based on sensed positions of the first plunger and the second plunger, wherein the first plunger is not structurally coupled to the second plunger, such that the first plunger and the second plunger are independently movable during operation
In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure includes a reciprocating fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid. The reciprocating fluid pump may include a pump body, a first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, a second subject fluid chamber within the pump body, a first plunger located at least partially within the pump body, the first plunger including a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, and a second plunger located at least partially within the pump body, the second plunger including a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body. The reciprocating fluid pump may further include a first drive fluid chamber at least partially defined within bellows of the first plunger, a second drive fluid chamber at least partially defined within bellows of the second plunger, a first piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the first drive fluid chamber, a second piston chamber formed within the pump body and adjacent to the second drive fluid chamber, a first piston coupled to the first plunger and extending between the first drive fluid chamber and the first piston chamber, the first piston comprising a first plurality of vents extending through the first piston and from the first drive fluid chamber to the first piston chamber, and a second piston coupled to the second plunger and extending between the second drive fluid chamber and the second piston chamber, the second piston comprising a second plurality of vents extending through the second piston and from the second drive fluid chamber to the second piston chamber.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a reciprocating fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid. The reciprocating fluid pump may include a pump body, a first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, a second subject fluid chamber within the pump body; a first plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a first drive fluid chamber, the first plunger including a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the first subject fluid chamber within the pump body, and a second plunger located at least partially within the pump body and at least partially defining a second drive fluid chamber, the second plunger including a flexible material and configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the second subject fluid chamber within the pump body. The reciprocating fluid pump may further include an external controller configured to insert drive fluid into the pump body in order to cause the first plunger and the second plunger to move through expansion and compression strokes, wherein the external controller is configured to cause the first plunger and the second plunger to at least partially overlap in timing of the expansion and compression strokes.
For a detailed understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have generally been designated with like numerals, and wherein:
The illustrations presented herein may not be, in some instances, actual views of any particular reciprocating fluid pump or component thereof, but may be merely idealized representations that are employed to describe embodiments of the present invention. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.
As used herein, any relational term, such as “first,” “second,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used for clarity and convenience in understanding the disclosure and accompanying drawings, and does not connote or depend on any specific preference or order, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.
As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one skilled in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. For example, a parameter that is substantially met may be at least about 90% met, at least about 95% met, or even at least about 99% met.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include reciprocating fluid pumps for pumping subject fluids using a pressurized drive fluid. In some embodiments, a reciprocating fluid pump may include a pump body, a first plunger, a second plunger, and an external controller. The first and second plungers may expand and compress longitudinally as the reciprocating fluid pump is cycled during operation thereof. In one or more embodiments, the first and second plungers may not be structurally connected. For instance, the first plunger and the second plunger may not be connected via an interconnecting shaft like conventional reciprocating pumps. Furthermore, a physical motion of one of the plungers does not physically affect the motion of the other plunger. In particular, the motions of the first and second plungers may be independently operated and controlled by the external controller. As a result, the external controller may cause strokes of the first and second plungers to at least partially overlap. Causing the strokes of the first and second plungers to at least partially overlap may provide advantages over conventional fluid pumps. For instance, causing the strokes of the first and second plungers to at least partially overlap may eliminate and/or reduce pulsations in subject fluid flow.
One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a reciprocating fluid pump having a restricted subject fluid outlet in comparison to a subject fluid inlet. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present disclosure include a reciprocating fluid pump having a first piston and a second piston for at least partially driving the first plunger and the second plunger of the reciprocating fluid pump. The first and second plungers may each include bellows defining a first drive fluid chamber and a second drive fluid chamber. Additionally, the first piston may include a first plurality of vents extending from first drive fluid chamber (i.e., an interior of the bellows of the first plunger) to a first piston chamber, and the second piston may include a second plurality of vents extending from second drive fluid chamber (i.e., an interior of the bellows of the second plunger). Venting the interior of the bellows of the first and second plungers to the first and second piston chambers may also provide advantages over conventional fluid pumps. For example, by allowing the bellows of the first and second plungers to vent through the plurality of vents, the reciprocating fluid pump of the present disclosure may reduce a likelihood that, during a compression stroke, the walls of the bellows of the plungers will bulge (i.e., bend outward) while compressing. Moreover, by allowing the bellows of the first and second plungers to vent through the plurality of vents, the reciprocating fluid pump of the present disclosure may reduce a likelihood that, during an expansion stroke, the walls of the bellows of the plungers will cave (i.e., bend inward) while expanding. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, by reducing and/or eliminating bulging and caving of the bellows of the plungers during compression and expansion strokes, the reciprocating fluid pump of the present disclosure may greatly reduce wear and tear on the bellows and may lead to longer life spans of the bellows. As a result, the reciprocating fluid pump of the present disclosure may reduce a needed frequency to replace the bellows and may provide cost savings in comparison to conventional reciprocating fluid pumps.
The reciprocating fluid pump 100 includes a pump body 102 that may include two or more components that may be assembled together to form the pump body 102. For example, the pump body 102 may include a center body 104, a first end piece 106 that may be attached to the center body 104 on a first side thereof, and a second end piece 108 that may be attached to the center body 104 on an opposite, second side thereof.
The reciprocating fluid pump 100 may further include a first sensor assembly 109 and a second sensor assembly 111. The first sensor assembly 109 may extend from an exterior of the reciprocating fluid pump 100 and into an interior of the first end piece 106. The second sensor assembly 111 may extend from the exterior of the reciprocating fluid pump 100 and into an interior of the second end piece 108. As is discussed in greater detail below in regard to
Referring still to
The first plunger 120 may divide the first cavity 110 into a first subject fluid chamber 126 on a first side of the first plunger 120 and a first drive fluid chamber 127 on an opposite, second side of the first plunger 120 (e.g., within a bellows of the first plunger 120). Similarly, the second plunger 122 may divide the second cavity 112 into a second subject fluid chamber 128 on a first side of the second plunger 122 and a second drive fluid chamber 129 on an opposite, second side of the second plunger 122 (e.g., within a bellows of the second plunger 122).
A peripheral edge 123 of the first plunger 120 may be attached to the pump body 102, and a fluid tight seal may be provided between the pump body 102 and the first plunger 120. Similarly, a peripheral edge 125 of the second plunger 122 may be attached to the pump body 102, and a fluid tight seal may be provided between the pump body 102 and the second plunger 122.
Furthermore, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 may include a first subject fluid inlet check valve 131, a first subject fluid outlet check valve 135, a second subject fluid inlet check valve 133, and a second subject fluid outlet check valve 137. The first subject fluid inlet check valve 131 may be provided proximate the first subject fluid inlet 130 to ensure that fluid is capable of flowing into the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid inlet 130, but incapable of flowing out from the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid inlet 130. The first subject fluid outlet check valve 135 may be provided proximate the first subject fluid outlet 134 to ensure that fluid is capable of flowing out from the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid outlet 134, but incapable of flowing into the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid outlet 134. Similarly, the second subject fluid inlet check valve 133 may be provided proximate the second subject fluid inlet 132 to ensure that fluid is capable of flowing into the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid inlet 132, but incapable of flowing out from the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid inlet 132. The second subject fluid outlet check valve 137 may be provided proximate the second subject fluid outlet 136 to ensure that fluid is capable of flowing out from the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid outlet 136, but incapable of flowing into the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid outlet 136. Each of the check valves 131, 133, 135, and 137 may include any suitable valve that allows flow in one direction and restricts flow in an opposite direction, such as, for example, a ball check valve, a diaphragm check valve, a magnet check valve, etc.
In some embodiments, the subject fluid outlet 116 of the reciprocating fluid pump 100 may be restricted in comparison to the subject fluid inlet 114 of the reciprocating fluid pump 100. For example, the subject fluid outlet 116 may have a smaller diameter in comparison to the subject fluid inlet 114. The restricted subject fluid outlet 116 may enable the reciprocating fluid pump 100 to provide a particular fluid flow out of the reciprocating fluid pump 100. For instance, in one or more embodiments, restricted subject fluid outlet 116 may enable the reciprocating fluid pump 100 to provide a reduced (e.g., slower) fluid flow in comparison to conventional reciprocating fluid pumps. Furthermore, a particular (e.g., a desired) fluid flow may be achieved by selecting a particular diameter of the subject fluid outlet 116 in comparison to the diameter of the subject fluid inlet 114.
The first piston head 148 may divide the first piston chamber 144 into a first portion 156 and a second portion 158. Additionally, the first shaft 150 may extend from the first piston head 148 on one longitudinal end and may be coupled to the first plunger 120 on a second opposite longitudinal end. The first shaft 150 may be coupled to a side of the first plunger 120 facing the first drive fluid chamber 127. For example, the first shaft 150 may extend from the first piston head 148, through a first bearing surface 159 of the first end piece 106 between the first piston chamber 144 and the first drive fluid chamber 127, and into the first plunger 120 (e.g., through a bellows of the first plunger 120 and at least partially into the first plunger 120).
The second piston head 152 may also divide the second piston chamber 146 into a first portion 160 and a second portion 162. Furthermore, the second shaft 154 may extend from the second piston head 152 on one longitudinal end and may be coupled to the second plunger 122 on a second opposite longitudinal end. The second shaft 154 may be coupled to a side of the second plunger 122 facing the second drive fluid chamber 129. For example, the second shaft 154 may extend from the second piston head 152, through a second bearing surface 163 of the second end piece 108 between the second piston chamber 146 and the second drive fluid chamber 129, and into the second plunger 122 (e.g., through a bellows of the second plunger 122 and at least partially into the second plunger 122).
Furthermore, the first shaft 150 of the first piston 140 and the second shaft 154 of the second piston 142 may not be connected via an interconnecting shaft like conventional reciprocating pumps. Put another way, the first plunger 120 may not be structurally coupled (i.e., connected) to the second plunger 122. Rather, the first and second plungers 120, 122 may be distinct from one another. For example, a physical motion of one of the plungers does not physically affect the motion of the other plunger. In particular, the motions of the first and second plungers 120, 122 may be individually operated and controlled by the external controller 170, as is discussed in further detail below. In other words, the first plunger 120 and the second plunger 122 are independently movable during operation (e.g., independently operated). As is described in further detail below in regard to
Referring still to
In some embodiments, the first sensor assembly 109 may include a first sensor portion 182 and a first target portion 184. The first sensor portion 182 may be disposed within and may extend through the first piston chamber 144. Furthermore, the first sensor portion 182 may extend at least partially into the first sensor-receiving cavity 164 of the first shaft 150 of the first piston 140. The first target portion 184 of the first sensor assembly 109 may be disposed in a base (i.e., an interior end) of the first sensor receiving cavity 164. The first sensor portion 182 may be configured to determine a proximity of the first sensor portion 182 to the first target portion 184.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the second sensor assembly 111 may include a second sensor portion 186 and a second target portion 188. The second sensor portion 186 may be disposed within and may extend through the second piston chamber 146. Furthermore, the second sensor portion 186 may extend at least partially into the second sensor receiving cavity 166 of the second shaft 154 of the second piston 142. The second target portion 188 of the second sensor assembly 111 may be disposed within a base (i.e., an interior end) of the second sensor receiving cavity 166. The second sensor portion 186 may be configured to determine a proximity of the second sensor portion 186 to the second target portion 188.
In some embodiments, the first and second sensor assemblies 109, 111 may include magnetic proximity sensors and targets. In additional embodiments, the first and second sensor assemblies 109, 111 may include inductive proximity sensors and targets. In further embodiments, the first and second sensor assemblies 109, 111 may include optical proximity sensors and targets.
In one or more embodiments, the first shaft 150 of the first piston 140 may include a first plurality of vents 168 extending from the first drive fluid chamber 127 (i.e., an interior of the bellows of the first plunger 120) to the first sensor receiving cavity 164 of the first shaft 150 of the first piston 140. For example, the first plurality of vents 168 may connect the first drive fluid chamber 127 to the first portion 156 of the first piston chamber 144. Additionally, the second shaft 154 of the second piston 142 may include a second plurality of vents 172 extending from the second drive fluid chamber 129 (i.e., an interior of the bellows of the second plunger 122) to the second sensor-receiving cavity 166 of the second shaft 154 of the second piston 142. For example, the second plurality of vents 172 may connect the second drive fluid chamber 129 to the first portion 160 of the second piston chamber 146.
The first and second pluralities of vents 168, 172 (referred to collectively as the plurality of vents) may provide advantages over conventional reciprocating fluid pumps. For example, by allowing the bellows of the first and second plungers 120, 122 to vent through the plurality of vents, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 of the present disclosure may reduce a likelihood that, during a compression stroke, the walls of the bellows of the first and second plungers 120, 122 will bulge (i.e., bend outward). Moreover, by allowing the bellows of the first and second plungers 120, 122 to vent through the plurality of vents, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 of the present disclosure may reduce a likelihood that, during an expansion stroke, the walls of the bellows of the first and second plungers 120, 122 will cave (i.e., bend inward). As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, by reducing and/or eliminating bulging and caving of the bellows of the first and second plungers 120, 122 during compression and expansion strokes, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 of the present disclosure may greatly reduce wear and tear on the bellows and may lead to longer life spans of the bellows. As a result, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 of the present disclosure may reduce a needed frequency to replace the bellows and may provide cost savings in comparison to conventional reciprocating fluid pumps.
Referring still to
Furthermore, the second end piece 108 may include a second vent 178 extending through a wall of the second end piece 108. Additionally, the second end piece 108 may also include a second drive fluid outlet 180 extending through the wall of the second end piece 108. The second vent 178 may provide a drive fluid flow path to the second portion 162 of the second piston chamber 146. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, supplying drive fluid to the second portion 162 of the second piston chamber 146 will drive the second piston 152 rightward from the perspective of
Referring to
As the first plunger 120 expands (i.e., moves through an expansion stroke) and the second plunger 122 compresses (i.e., moves through a compressions stroke), a volume of the first drive fluid chamber 127 increases, a volume of the first subject fluid chamber 126 decreases, a volume of the second subject fluid chamber 128 increases, and a volume of the second drive fluid chamber 129 decreases. As a result, subject fluid may be expelled from the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid outlet 134, and subject fluid may be drawn into the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid inlet 132. The first plunger 120 may be extended at least partially by providing pressurized drive fluid within the first drive fluid chamber 127. Furthermore, the second plunger 122 may be compressed by providing pressurized drive fluid within the second portion 162 of the second piston chamber 146.
Conversely, as the second plunger 122 expands (i.e., moves through an expansion stroke) and the first plunger 120 compresses (i.e., moves through a compression stroke), the volume of the second drive fluid chamber 129 increases, the volume of the second subject fluid chamber 128 decreases, the volume of the first subject fluid chamber 126 increases, and the volume of the first drive fluid chamber 127 decreases. As a result, subject fluid may be expelled from the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid outlet 136, and subject fluid may be drawn into the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid inlet 130. The second plunger 122 may be extended at least partially by providing pressurized drive fluid within the second drive fluid chamber 129. As is discussed in greater detail below, compression and expansion of the first and second plungers 120, 122 may be controlled by an external controller 170.
Referring to
As the first plunger 120 moves through an expansion stroke, subject fluid within the first subject fluid chamber 126 may be expelled from the first subject fluid chamber 126, through the first subject fluid outlet 134, and through the subject fluid outlet 116. As is discussed below, at least substantially at the same time, subject fluid may be drawn into the second subject fluid chamber 128 through the second subject fluid inlet 132.
After expelling the subject fluid from the first subject fluid chamber 126, in order to commence a compression stroke of the first plunger 120, the first drive fluid chamber 127 may be depressurized (e.g., vented to ambient, a reduced pressure area, or a vacuum). Additionally, pressurized drive fluid may be inserted through the first vent 174 and into the second portion 158 of the first piston chamber 144. As a result, the second portion 158 of the first piston chamber 144 may be pressurized with the pressurized drive fluid, which may cause the first plunger 120 to commence a compression stroke. Put another way, pressurizing the second portion 158 of the first piston chamber 144 and depressurizing the first portion 156 of the first piston chamber 144 (in embodiments with amplified drive fluid) and the first drive fluid chamber 127 the may cause the first plunger 120 (and the bellows of the first plunger 120) to compress.
As the first plunger 120 moves through a compression stroke, subject fluid may be drawn through the first subject fluid inlet 130 and into the first subject fluid chamber 126. As is discussed below, at least substantially at the same time, subject fluid may be expelled from the second subject fluid chamber 128 and through the second subject fluid outlet 136.
In order to commence an expansion stroke of the second plunger 122, pressurized drive fluid may be inserted through the second drive fluid inlet 192 of the second end piece 108 of the reciprocating fluid pump 100. For example, in some instances, pressurized drive fluid may be inserted through the second drive fluid inlet 192 into the second drive fluid chamber 129. In other embodiments, pressurized drive fluid may be inserted through second drive fluid inlet 192 and through the second vent 178 in order to have amplified pressure of more than 1-1 drive fluid to subject fluid 126. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, an amount of amplification would be determined by a volume of chamber 146. Regardless, the second drive fluid chamber 129 and the first portion 160 of the second piston chamber 146 may be pressurized with the pressurized drive fluid, which may cause the second plunger 122 to commence an expansion stroke. Put another way, pressurizing the second drive fluid chamber 129 and the first portion 160 of the second piston chamber 146 may cause the second plunger 122 (and the bellows of the second plunger 122) to expand.
As the second plunger 122 moves through an expansion stroke, subject fluid within the second subject fluid chamber 128 may be expelled from the second subject fluid chamber 128, through the second subject fluid outlet 136, and through the subject fluid outlet 116. As is discussed above, at least substantially at the same time, subject fluid may be drawn into the first subject fluid chamber 126 through the first subject fluid inlet 130.
After expelling the subject fluid from the second subject fluid chamber 128, in order to commence a compressions stroke of the second plunger 122, the second drive fluid chamber 129 may be depressurized (e.g., vented to ambient, a reduced pressure, or even a vacuum). Additionally, pressurized drive fluid may be inserted through the second vent 178 and into the second portion 162 of the second piston chamber 146. As a result, the second portion 162 of the second piston chamber 146 may be pressurized with the pressurized drive fluid, which may cause the second plunger 122 to commence a compression stroke. Put another way, pressurizing the second portion 158 of the first piston chamber 144 and depressurizing the first portion 160 of the second piston chamber 146 (in embodiments with amplified drive fluid) and the second drive fluid chamber 129 may cause the second plunger 122 (and the bellows of the second plunger 122) to compress.
As the second plunger 122 moves through a compression stroke, subject fluid may be drawn through the second subject fluid inlet 132 and into the second subject fluid chamber 128. As is discussed above, at least substantially at the same time, subject fluid may be expelled from the first subject fluid chamber 126 and through the first subject fluid outlet 134.
Thus, to drive the pumping action of the reciprocating fluid pump 100, the first drive fluid chamber 127 and the second drive fluid chamber 129 may be pressurized in an alternating or cyclic manner to cause the first plunger 120 and the second plunger 122 to reciprocate back and forth (e.g., move through sequential expansion and compression strokes) within the pump body 102, as discussed above.
In some embodiments, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 may comprise a shifting mechanism for shifting the flow of pressurized drive fluid back and forth between the first drive fluid chamber 127 and the second drive fluid chamber 129. In some instances, the shifting mechanism may comprise, for example, the first and second pistons 140, 142 and a shuttle valve. For example, the reciprocating fluid pump 100 may include a shuttle valve assembly as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/228,934, to Simmons et al., filed Sep. 9, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
Referring to
In one or more embodiments, the external controller 170 may be operably coupled to the first sensor assembly 109 and the second sensor assembly 111 of the reciprocating fluid pump 100. As mentioned above, the first sensor assembly 109 may be disposed within the first end piece 106 of the reciprocating fluid pump 100, and the second sensor assembly 111 may be disposed within the second end piece 108 of the reciprocating fluid pump 100. Furthermore, as discussed above, the first and second sensor portions of the first and second sensor assemblies 109, 111 are configured to determine proximities of the first and second sensor portions to the first and second target portions, respectively.
Based on the determined proximity of the first sensor portion 182 to the first target portion 184 and the determined proximity of the second sensor portion 186 to the second target portion 188, the external controller 170 may operate the expansion and compression strokes of the first plunger 120 and the second plunger 122. For example, during a pumping action of the reciprocating fluid pump 100, the external controller 170 may utilize the first and second sensor assemblies 109, 111 to sense the ends of expansion and compression strokes of the first plunger 120 and the second plunger 122. For instance, when the external controller 170 senses (via the first sensor assembly 109) that the first sensor portion 182 of the first sensor assembly 109 is in most proximate position relative to the first target portion 184 of the first sensor assembly 109, the external controller 170 may determine that the first plunger 120 is at an end of a compression stroke. Furthermore, based on determining that the first plunger 120 is at an end of a compression stroke, the external controller 170 can cause the second portion 158 of the first piston chamber 144 to be depressurized and can cause pressurized drive fluid to be inserted into the first drive fluid chamber 127 in order to commence an expansion stroke of the first plunger 120.
Conversely, when the external controller 170 senses (via the first sensor assembly 109) that the first sensor portion 182 of the first sensor assembly 109 in a least proximate (i.e., most distant) position relative to the first target portion 184 of the first sensor assembly 109, the external controller 170 may determine that the first plunger 120 is at an end of an expansion stroke, the external controller 170 can cause the first drive fluid chamber 127 to be depressurized and can cause pressurized drive fluid to be inserted into the second portion 158 of the first piston chamber 144 to commence an compression stroke of the first plunger 120. Furthermore, the external controller 170 may utilize the second sensor assembly 111 in a similar manner to move the second plunger 122 through expansion and compression strokes.
As noted above, the external controller 170 may be used to overlap the timing of the strokes (i.e., compression strokes and/or expansion strokes) of the first plunger 120 and the second plunger 122 to reduce and/or eliminate undesired pulsations in fluid flow. Such operation is further described with reference to
Referring to
From time t1 to time t2, both the first drive fluid chamber 127 and the second drive fluid chamber 129 may be at the elevated pressure P1. At time t2, the first drive fluid chamber 127 may be depressurized to reduced pressure P0. At time t3, the first drive fluid chamber 127 may be pressurized to elevated pressure P1. From time t3 to time t4, both the first drive fluid chamber 127 and the second drive fluid chamber 129 may be at the elevated pressure P1. At time t4, the second drive fluid chamber 129 may be depressurized to reduced pressure P0. At time t4, the second drive fluid chamber 129 may be pressurized to elevated pressure P1. The time period extending from time t1 to time t5 represents one complete cycle of the second plunger 122. At time t6, the first drive fluid chamber 127 may again be depressurized to the reduced pressure P0. The time period extending from time t2 to time t6 represents one complete cycle of the first plunger 120.
Furthermore, as shown in
Although the reciprocating fluid pump 100 of
The embodiments of the disclosure described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the disclosure, which is encompassed by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, various modifications of the disclosure, in addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternative useful combinations of the elements described, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Such modifications and embodiments also fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents.