Patent Application
20180230979
The present invention relates generally to reciprocating pumps, and more specifically to reciprocating pumps having a transmission.
Electrically driven reciprocating pumps are well known in the art. They generally have an electric motor connected to a gear box which, in turn, is connected to a mechanism in the pump that converts the rotational motion into reciprocating motion. Depending on the potential output of the electric motor and the torque required for the pumping operation, a gearbox may be needed. For instance, a gearbox may permit a high speed, low torque input of an electric motor to be converted into a low speed high torque output for the pump.
Such a gearbox generally uses gears in a heavy, large, cast gearbox assembly, with the gears requiring constant lubrication. The gearbox needs to be large because the step down in speed from the shaft of the electric motor to the pump shaft is significant, in the range of 10:1 to 90:1. This requires multiple sets of gears of varying sizes to achieve the speed reduction. The very heavy and large assembly not only creates packaging issues, but also introduces maintenance concerns. For instance, the oil in such a gear box deteriorates over time. As a result, the gearbox oil must be monitored and serviced periodically.
Another problem with such typical gearboxes is adjusting output speed. The most common way to adjust output speed is to use a variable speed drive (VSD) to control the motor speed. This is functional, but forces the motor to operate off its peak efficiency when run at slower speeds. Combined with the fixed gear ratio in the gearbox, this limits the range of speeds at which the pump can operate. The VSD also may cause problems by inducing harmonic distortions in the electrical circuit it is tied into, it can create heat that needs to be dissipated, and which can be expensive. One potential solution is to remove the VSD altogether and to use a transmission between the motor and the pump. This would allow the motor to rotate at an efficient speed, but turning the gearbox into a transmission with multiple gear ratios would multiply the number of gears used as well as the size, weight and cost, creating still further disadvantages.
A traditional prior art one-way clutch transmission removes all the gears and requirements for heavy parts as well as adding the ability continuously change gear ratios. This allows the output speed of the transmission to be very accurately set without changing the motor speed. The drawback is that this type of transmission utilizes a significant number of linkages to achieve the same output as a geared transmission. All the linkages in the transmission transmit forces through pivoting joints that need to be lubricated and will ultimately need to be replaced.
The present invention addresses shortcomings in the prior art by providing an inexpensive, relatively maintenance free, transmission that is integrated into a reciprocating pump without using gears.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by example one-way clutch transmissions that are integrated into reciprocating pump assemblies of the present disclosure. The example transmissions can utilize lubricated and sealed bearings and one-way clutches that generally remove the need for maintenance. A perfectly continuous rotation of the driven shaft is not required in a pump, so a greatly simplified version of a one-way clutch transmission may be utilized. This simplified version dramatically reduces the number of parts and pivot joints relative to a traditional one-way clutch transmission. The utilization of lightweight parts also produces a significantly lighter transmission than the prior art gearboxes and remove the need to use a VSD.
In a first aspect, the disclosure provides a reciprocating pump and transmission assembly having a one-way clutch. The assembly includes a reciprocating pumping element, a rotatable input shaft, an eccentric drive member connected to the input shaft, a drive arm rotatably connected at a first end to the eccentric drive member, a drive link having a first end connected to a second end of the drive arm, a rotatable driven shaft spaced apart a first distance from the rotatable input shaft, and a driven arm rotatably connected to the rotatable driven shaft by a one-way clutch and connected to a second end of the drive link. The rotation of the input shaft at a first rotational speed rotates the eccentric drive member, and rotation of the eccentric drive member then imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive arm, wherein the reciprocating motion of the drive arm drives the drive link and driven arm which incrementally advances the one-way clutch so as to rotate the driven shaft at a second rotational speed that is slower than a first rotational speed of the input shaft.
In one example embodiment, the amount of eccentricity in the eccentric member can be adjusted, so as to change the stroke length of the drive arm. The input shaft speed is fixed, so a change is stroke length results in a change in output speed of the pump. In another embodiment the stroke length is changed by a linkage with an adjustable pivot.
Independently of how the stroke length is adjusted the oscillating motion of the drive arm is translated into rotational motion via a one-way clutch. The clutch allows torque to be transmitted in one direction; as the drive arm pulls, torque is transmitted to the driven shaft, but when it pushes, the clutch free spins back to the top of the stroke. This results in incremental advancement of the driven shaft. The driven shaft now is operating at a low speed but with a high torque and is used to drive a mechanism, such as a Scotch Yoke, that drives the reciprocating pumping element. It will be appreciated that the driving force could alternatively be transmitted when pushing as opposed to when pulling.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and provided for the purpose of explanation only, and are not restrictive of the subject matter claimed. Further features and objects of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the appended claims.
In describing the preferred example embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein:
It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale. While some mechanical details of the example reciprocating pump and transmission assemblies having a one-way clutch, including details of fastening means and other plan and section views of the particular components, may not have been shown, such details are considered to be within the comprehension of those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should be understood that the present disclosure and claims are not limited to the preferred embodiments illustrated.
Referring generally to
For instance,
This reciprocating motion drives the drive link 7 and driven arm 11 which incrementally advances the one-way clutch 13 so as to rotate driven shaft 10 at a second rotational speed that is slower than the first rotational speed of the input shaft 3.
In this embodiment the driven shaft 10 is a crankshaft that drives a Scotch Yoke mechanism 16. A pair of diaphragm shafts 17 extended from either side of the Scotch yoke 16 and each is connected to a reciprocating pumping element 2, such as a diaphragm. The rotation of the driven shaft 10 creates the reciprocating motion via the Scotch Yoke 16, which effectively drives the pump.
Another feature of this embodiment is that the rotational position of the eccentric drive member 4 can be set relative to input shaft 3 to select different amounts of eccentricity. As may be seen from
In the first embodiment shown, the first end 8 of the drive link 7 is fixedly connected to the second end 9 of the drive arm 5 and the second end 15 of the drive link 7 is fixedly connected to the second end 14 of the driven arm 11. The drive link 7 is constructed of a semi-rigid, yet somewhat flexible steel cable. During a first pulling part of the stroke, the cable is in tension and transmits torque to the driven shaft 10, but during a second part of the stroke, the steel cable of the drive link 7 is in compression pushing the driven arm 11 back to the start of the stroke. This is possible because the one-way clutch 13 does not resist the second part of the stroke, allowing the steel cable of the drive link 7 to reset it. The flexibility of the semi-rigid drive link 7 in this embodiment allows the transmission to function without the need for the extent of rotatable connections between parts that are present in prior art assemblies. This reduces wear and increases overall reliability of the transmission. It will be appreciated that the components could be configured to transmit the torque when pushing, instead of when pulling. Also, it will be appreciated that the semi-rigid drive link of this first example could be replaced by components utilizing a rigid drive link and a pivot axis, such as are shown and discussed with respect to the second example herein.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing operative components of the first example reciprocating pump and transmission assembly having a one-way clutch 1 can be employed in an example pump that may include a base 40, a transmission housing 41, at least one pumping chamber 42, at least one inlet 43 and at least one inlet conduit 44 extending between the at least one inlet 43 and the at least one pumping chamber 42, and at least one outlet 45 and at least one outlet conduit 46 extending between the at least one pumping chamber 42 and the at least one outlet 46.
Turning to
The second example reciprocating pump and transmission assembly having a one-way clutch 101 further includes a control link 128 having a first end 129 pivotally connected to the drive arm 105 at the first pivot 127 and a second end 130 pivotally connected at a second pivot 131 to a movable control pivot 132 spaced apart a second distance from the rotatable input shaft 103. The rotation of the rotatable input shaft 103 at a first rotational speed rotates the eccentric drive member 104 and imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive link 107 and driven arm 111.
This reciprocating motion drives the drive link 107 and driven arm 111, which incrementally advances the one-way clutch 113, so as to rotate driven shaft 110 at a second rotational speed that is slower than the first rotational speed of the input shaft 103. The difference between the first and second rotational speeds is determined by the second distance between the spaced apart movable control pivot 132 and the rotatable input shaft 103 and by respective effective lengths of the drive arm 105, control link 128, drive link 107 and driven arm 111.
In this second example embodiment the eccentric drive member 104, the drive arm 105, the one-way clutch 113, the control link 128, the drive link 107, and the driven arm 111 collectively form a set of drive components, and the reciprocating pump further comprises two of these sets of drive components. Furthermore, each set of drive components has individual different driving phases spaced 180° apart that are complementary to the other set of drive components. The plurality of sets of drive components together provide multiple incrementally advancing inputs to the driven shaft 110. It will be appreciated that a plurality of sets of drive components may enable smoother incremental operation, and there may be two or more sets of drive components. It also will be appreciated that, as with the rotatable input shaft 3 of the first example, the rotatable input shaft 103 of the second example may be driven by a prime mover 120, such as an electric motor, or other engine.
The second example reciprocating pump and transmission assembly having a one-way clutch 101 further includes a worm gear 133 that is connected to the movable control pivot 132 and is used to move the movable control pivot 132 linearly from the second distance between the spaced apart movable control pivot 132 and the rotatable input shaft 103 to a third distance between the spaced apart movable control pivot 132 and the rotatable input shaft 103. This changing of the second distance between the movable control pivot 132 and the rotatable input shaft 103 changes the ratio of the first rotational speed of the rotatable input shaft 103 to the second rotational speed of the driven shaft 110 by moving the location of the second pivot. The ability to change the ratio is continuous and as such, a user has precise control of the final pump reciprocating speed.
In this example embodiment, the driven shaft 110 is a crankshaft that drives a Scotch Yoke mechanism 134. A pair of diaphragm shafts 117 extend from either side of the yoke mechanism 134 and connect to the reciprocating pumping elements 102, in the form of diaphragms. The rotation of the driven shaft 110 creates the reciprocating motion via the Scotch Yoke mechanism 134, which causes the pumping action.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing operative components of the second example reciprocating pump and transmission assembly having a one-way clutch 101 can be employed in an example pump that may include a base 140, a transmission housing 141, at least one pumping chamber 142, at least one inlet 143 and at least one inlet conduit 144 extending between the at least one inlet 143 and the at least one pumping chamber 142, and at least one outlet 145 and at least one outlet conduit 146 extending between the at least one pumping chamber 142 and the at least one outlet 146.
Turning to
There is a control link 228 having a first end 229 pivotally connected to the drive arm 205 at the first pivot 227 and pivotally connected at a second pivot 231 to a fixed control pivot 232 spaced apart a second distance from the rotatable input shaft 203. The rotation of the rotatable input shaft 203 at a first rotational speed rotates the eccentric drive member 204 and imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive arm 205 and control link 228. This reciprocating motion drives the drive link 207 and driven arm 211 which incrementally advances the one-way clutch 213 so as to rotate driven shaft 210 at a second rotational speed that is slower than the first rotational speed of the input shaft 203. The difference between the first and second rotational speeds is determined by the second distance between the spaced apart fixed control pivot 232 and the rotatable input shaft 203 and by respective effective lengths of the drive arm 205, control link 228, drive link 207 and driven arm 211.
The driven shaft 210 then rotates a cam 235, and a cam follower 236 is biased by a biasing member 237 against the cam 235, with the biasing member 237 in the form of a spring. The cam follower 236 is rotatably connected to the pumping element 202 in the form of a piston. When the cam 235 rotates it forces the piston 202 from an original position into its compression stroke. The biasing member 237 then retracts the piston 202 back to the original position, and the stroke then repeats. The pump 201 is shown schematically within a transmission housing 241, and would be powered by a prime mover, such as the electric motor used in one of the previous examples, or other engine.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing operative components of the third reciprocating pump and transmission assembly having a one-way clutch 201 can be employed in an example pump that may include a base 240, a transmission housing 241, at least one pumping chamber 242, at least one inlet 243 and at least one inlet conduit 244 extending between the at least one inlet 243 and the at least one pumping chamber 242, and at least one outlet 245 and at least one outlet conduit 246 extending between the at least one pumping chamber 242 and the at least one outlet 246.
From the above disclosure, it will be apparent that reciprocating pump and transmission assemblies having a one-way clutch that are constructed in accordance with this disclosure may include a number of structural aspects that provide advantages over conventional pump and transmission constructions, depending upon the specific design chosen.
It will be appreciated that reciprocating pump and transmission assemblies having a one-way clutch may be embodied in various configurations with respect to the type of pump, as well as various configurations relating to the drive arm, drive link and driven arm. Any variety of suitable materials of construction, configurations, shapes and sizes for the components and methods of connecting the components may be utilized to meet the particular needs and requirements of an end user. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in the design and construction of such reciprocating pumps and transmission assemblies having a one-way clutch without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter, and that the claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein.
