RECIPROCATING VOLUME PUMP

Abstract

A pump for moving liquid into and out of a fixed volume chamber through acceleration of the liquid to create a liquid pressure differential within the pump. The pump includes a fixed volume chamber having a first end and second end. A suction directional valve is connected to the first end of the fixed volume chamber and a discharge directional valve is connected to the second end of the fixed volume chamber. A power source is attached to the pump volume and moves the pump volume in a reciprocating motion. An acceleration of the reciprocating motion generates a force of liquid mass within the fixed volume chamber that overcomes the suction and discharge directional valves, allowing liquid mass into the fixed volume chamber and dispelling liquid mass from the fixed volume chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pumps, and, more specifically, to a pump system for moving liquid into and out of a chamber through acceleration of the liquid.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pumps move substances by some type of driving mechanism, i.e., mechanical action. Power to drive the driving mechanism may be derived from energy sources such as manual work (e.g., a hand crank) or electricity, for example. A basic type of pump is a positive displacement pump. Generally, positive displacement pumps operate between two valves, a discharge valve and a suction valve. As the pump operates, liquid enters the pump through the suction valve and through action by a driving mechanism, an amount of liquid is dispelled through the discharge valve.

Reciprocating pumps are a type of positive displacement pump that use a driving mechanism to change liquid volume in a chamber between two valves in order to create a pressure differential that forces liquid through the valves (into the chamber and out of the chamber). Specifically, reciprocating pumps typically use a driving mechanism such as a plunger, piston, or diaphragm (or any other type of flexible membrane) to create a pressure differential that pulls in liquid (through the suction valve) and dispels liquid (through the discharge valve). In traditional reciprocating pumps, it is required to have the drive mechanism act directly on a liquid contained in a chamber, changing the physical volume of the chamber. Pneumatics, hydraulics, or electricity, for example, is required to move the plunger or piston through the liquid contained in the chamber, changing the physical volume of the chamber. Similarly, hydraulics or air mechanisms, for example, are required to flex portions of a diaphragm to cause the physical volume change of the liquid chamber, creating a liquid pressure differential to moves the liquid through its intended directional valves. Thus, in current reciprocating pumps, the drive mechanism (e.g., piston or plunger) requires some form of sealing or specific design to eliminate or prevent liquid from entering the atmosphere outside the pump. Also, the drive mechanism extends into the chamber, potentially contaminating the liquid (or eroding the drive mechanism), or the chamber is constantly experiencing a pattern of distortion. As a result, the drive mechanism, seals, and the chamber of traditional reciprocating pumps are subject to wear and tear that can be exacerbated by the type of liquid passing through the pump.

There is, therefore, a continued need for a reciprocating pump that does not have a drive mechanism that extends into the chamber, requires seals, or that distorts the chamber.

Description of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific patents/publications/products are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section or elsewhere in this disclosure, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed patents/publications/products are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed patents/publications/products may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent that specific patents/publications/products are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section and/or throughout the application, the descriptions/disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated by reference into this document in their respective entirety(ies).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reciprocating pump.

In an aspect, a pump is provided comprising a chamber of fixed volume having a first end and second end, and sized, shaped and adapted to contain a mass of liquid; a suction directional valve connected to the first end of the chamber; a discharge directional valve connected to the second end of the chamber; a selectively actuable power source attached to the pump, wherein the power source, when actuated, moves the pump in a reciprocating motion.

In an embodiment, the fixed volume chamber extends along a longitudinal axis

In an embodiment, the reciprocating motion is linear along the longitudinal axis.

In another aspect, a pump is provided comprising a chamber of fixed volume, having a first end and a second end, and sized, shaped and adapted to contain a mass of liquid therein; a first liquid conduit of first predetermined length positioned in liquid communication with the fixed volume chamber and adjacent the first end thereof, the first liquid conduit having a first conduit first end and a first conduit second end, a first suction directional valve connected to the first conduit first end, and a first discharge directional valve connected to the first conduit second end; a second liquid conduit of second predetermined length positioned in liquid communication with the fixed volume chamber and adjacent the second end thereof, the second liquid conduit having a second conduit first end and a second conduit second end, a second suction directional valve connected to the second conduit first end, and a second discharge directional valve connected to the second conduit second end; a selectively actuable power source attached to the pump, wherein the power source, when actuated, moves the pump in a reciprocating motion causing acceleration of the mass of liquid within the fixed volume chamber.

In an embodiment, the chamber of fixed volume extends along a first longitudinal axis

In an embodiment, the reciprocating motion is linear along the first longitudinal axis.

In an embodiment, the first suction directional valve and the second suction directional valve are each positioned on one side of the first longitudinal axis, and the first discharge directional valve and the second discharge directional valve are each positioned on the opposite side of the first longitudinal axis.

In an embodiment, the first liquid conduit extends along a second longitudinal axis that is transverse to the first longitudinal axis.

In an embodiment, the second liquid conduit extends along a third longitudinal axis that is transverse to the first longitudinal axis.

In an embodiment, the first liquid conduit and second liquid conduit are each positioned relative to the fixed volume chamber such that they intersect with the chamber at their respective midpoints along their first and second predetermined lengths, respectively.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for pumping a liquid using a pump having a chamber of fixed volume, a first suction directional valve connected to the chamber at a first end thereof, a first discharge directional valve connected the chamber at a second end thereof, and a power source connected to the pump for imparting reciprocating motion thereto, the method comprising filling the fixed volume chamber with a mass of liquid; and actuating the power source to impart reciprocating motion to the fixed volume chamber, whereby the reciprocating motion accelerates the mass of liquid within the fixed volume chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematic representation of a pump in a first configuration, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematic representation of the pump in a second configuration, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematic representation of a double acting pump in a first configuration, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematic representation of the double acting pump in a second configuration, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 1-2 cross-sectional views schematic representations of a pump 10 having a pump of fixed volume, in first and second configurations, according to an embodiment. The pump 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a suction directional valve 12, discharge directional valve 14, and a chamber of fixed volume 16. The fixed volume chamber 16 is elongated along axis A-A and comprised of a container, volume, or receptacle for holding liquid. The fixed volume chamber 16 is connected between the pair of directional valves 12, 14. A first end of the fixed volume chamber 16 is connected to a suction directional valve 12 and a second end of the fixed volume chamber 16 is connected to a discharge directional valve 14. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the suction directional valve 12 is on the left and the discharge directional valve 14 is on the right. As shown, the fixed volume chamber 16 can only be opened at either end (at the directional valves) and is designed to hold a liquid mass therein.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed volume chamber 16 does not have a driving mechanism such as a plunger or piston that extends into the chamber, nor does it have a seal to prevent external leakage or a feature for distorting the fixed volume chamber. Instead, liquid flow into and out of the fixed volume chamber 16 depends on pressure differential of the liquid contained therein. Specifically, according to Newton's Second Law, Force=Mass×Acceleration, or F=MA. Thus, as a mass of liquid is accelerated, its force increases. As applied to the pump 10, the acceleration of the liquid mass within the fixed volume chamber 16 can be increased such that the liquid mass applies a greater pressure differential against the directional valves 12, 14, as explained in detail below.

First, a liquid mass within the pump 10 is subject to reciprocating motion along axis A-A. As used herein, the phrase “reciprocating motion” can mean a repetitive up-and-down or back-and-forth linear motion, or some form of non-linear motion such as elliptical, although the non-linear motion will be less efficient than the linear motion. With the pump in the first configuration shown in FIG. 1, the pump volume is moved in a back-and-forth motion along a central longitudinal axis A-A extending through the fixed volume chamber 16, forward toward the discharge directional valve 14 and back toward the suction directional valve 12. This reciprocating motion of the pump 10 can be produced by any source of power 18, such as an electric or pneumatic motor, or a pneumatic cylinder, for example. Such a source of power can be attached anywhere along the pump, at the directional valves, the chamber, or to some other feature attached thereto. During this reciprocating motion, liquid mass within the fixed volume chamber 16 is maintained between the discharge directional valve 14 and the suction directional valve 12, both in closed positions, as shown in FIG. 1.

While the pump 10 (and the liquid mass) is experiencing the reciprocating motion, the liquid within the fixed volume chamber 16 is accelerated. Due to the acceleration, the liquid mass generates a force. At the end of the stroke, pump 10 stops momentarily before beginning its stroke in the opposite direction. When pump 10 stops, the liquid force in fixed volume chamber 16 is imparted onto the liquid discharge directional valve 14. With sufficient acceleration, the force is strong enough to overcome the force holding the discharge directional valve 14 in a closed position. When the force of the liquid mass overcomes the holding force of the discharge directional valve 14, the liquid mass exits the fixed volume chamber and is “pumped” through the discharge directional valve 14 in the open position. When the discharge directional valve 14 is in the open position, the pump 10 is in the second configuration shown in FIG. 2.

Simultaneously, the liquid mass exiting through the discharge directional valve 14 located at the second end of fixed volume chamber 16, will create a void at the first end of the fixed volume chamber 16, near the suction directional valve 12. The void is physically at a lower pressure as compared to the liquid pressure “upstream,” of the suction directional valve 12. The lower pressure void in the fixed volume chamber 16 allows the suction directional valve 12 to move to an open position and the higher liquid pressure upstream of the suction directional valve 12 flows through the suction directional valve and fills the low pressure void in the fixed volume chamber 16, as shown in the second configuration of the pump in FIG. 2. This accelerated reciprocating motion is repeated, and the liquid mass continues to be pumped into the fixed volume chamber 16 through the suction directional valve 12 and out of the fixed volume chamber 16 through the discharge directional valve 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Through out the pumping process, chamber 16 does not change its physical volume.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, cross-sectional views schematic representations of a double action pump 100 in first and second configurations are shown, according to an embodiment. The operation of the double action pump 100 is the same as that of pump 10, except for there being two liquid suction directional valves 102, 104, and two liquid discharge directional valves 106, 108, instead of just one at each end of the fixed volume chamber as with pump 10. In this arrangement, the fixed volume chamber 110 extends along a longitudinal axis B-B between two opposing ends, wherein suction directional valve 102 and discharge directional valve 106 are positioned at opposite ends of a liquid conduit 112 that extends transverse to axis B-B and is in liquid communication with fixed volume chamber 110 and intersecting at the first end of fixed volume chamber 110 at about the midpoint of its length, while suction directional valve 104 and discharge directional valve 108 are positioned at opposite ends of a liquid conduit 114 that extends transverse to axis B-B and parallel to conduit 112 and is in liquid communication with fixed volume chamber 110 and intersecting the second end of fixed volume chamber 110 at about the midpoint of its length.

The same physics based upon Newton's second law of motion as explained in regard to pump 10, also serves to drive pump 100. As shown in FIG. 3, upon actuation of the power source 18, reciprocating motion is imparted to pump 100. The liquid mass contained therein fixed volume chamber 110, conduit 112 and conduit 114 are accelerated in the same direction. The liquid accelerates towards the second end of fixed volume chamber 110. Due to the acceleration, the liquid mass generates a force. At the end of this stroke, pump 100 momentarily stops before reversing its direction. The liquid force created in fixed volume chamber 110, conduit 112 and conduit 114 will impart a force on suction directional valve 104 and discharge directional valve 108. The force will hold suction directional valve 104 closed and open discharge directional valve 108. Allowing liquid to be pumped through discharge directional valve 108. Simultaneously, a low-pressure void will be developed in conduit 112 connected to the first end of fixed volume chamber 110. The low-pressure void will be acting on discharge directional valve 106 and suction directional valve 102. The low-pressure void will hold discharge directional valve 106 closed and allow higher pressure liquid up stream of suction directional valve 102 to flow through suction directional valve 102 and fill the low-pressure void.

Power source 18 will continue its motion and stroke pump 100 in the opposite direction toward the first end of fixed volume chamber 110 as shown in FIG. 4. The liquid mass contained therein fixed volume chamber 110, conduit 112 and conduit 114 are accelerated towards the first end of fixed volume chamber 110. Due to the acceleration, the liquid mass generates a force. At the end of this stroke, pump 100 momentarily stops before reversing its direction again. The liquid force created in fixed volume chamber 110, conduit 112 and conduit 114 will impart a force on suction directional valve 102 and discharge directional valve 106. The force will hold suction directional valve 102 closed and open discharge directional valve 106. Allowing liquid to be pumped through discharge directional valve 106. Simultaneously, a low-pressure void will develop in conduit 114 connected to the second end of fixed volume chamber 110. The low-pressure void will be acting on discharge directional valve 108 and suction directional valve 104. The low-pressure void will hold discharge directional valve 108 closed and allow higher pressure liquid up stream of suction directional valve 104 to flow through suction directional valve 104 and fill the low-pressure void.

The reciprocation and acceleration of the mass of liquid within the fixed volume chamber 110, conduit 112 and conduit 114, creates a liquid pressure differential in pump 100, that alternates the opening and closing of the suction directional valves and discharge directional valves.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as, “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of method or an element of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of one or more aspects of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand one or more aspects of the present invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A pump, comprising: a. a fixed volume chamber having a first end and second end, and sized, shaped and adapted to contain a mass of liquid;b. a suction directional valve connected to the first end of the fixed volume chamber;c. a discharge directional valve connected to the second end of the fixed volume chamber;d. a selectively actuable power source attached to the pump; ande. wherein the power source, when actuated, moves the pump in a reciprocating motion.

2. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the fixed volume chamber extends along a longitudinal axis

3. The pump according to claim 2, wherein the reciprocating motion is linear along the longitudinal axis.

4. A pump, comprising: a. a fixed volume chamber having a first end and a second end, and sized, shaped and adapted to contain a mass of liquid therein;b. a first fluid conduit of first predetermined length positioned in fluid communication with the fixed volume chamber and adjacent the first end thereof, the first fluid conduit having a first conduit first end and a first conduit second end, a first suction directional valve connected to the first conduit first end, and a first discharge directional valve connected to the first conduit second end;c. a second fluid conduit of second predetermined length positioned in fluid communication with the fixed volume chamber and adjacent the second end thereof, the second fluid conduit having a second conduit first end and a second conduit second end, a second suction directional valve connected to the second conduit first end, and a second discharge directional valve connected to the second conduit second end;d. a selectively actuable power source attached to the pump; ande. wherein the power source, when actuated, moves the pump in a reciprocating motion causing acceleration of the mass of fluid within the fixed volume chamber.

5. The pump according to claim 4, wherein the fixed volume chamber extends along a first longitudinal axis.

6. The pump according to claim 5, wherein the reciprocating motion is linear along the first longitudinal axis.

7. The pump according to claim 5, wherein the first suction directional valve and the second suction directional valve are each positioned on one side of the first longitudinal axis, and the first discharge directional valve and the second discharge directional valve are each positioned on the opposite side of the first longitudinal axis.

8. The pump according to claim 4, wherein the first fluid conduit extends along a second longitudinal axis that is transverse to the first longitudinal axis.

9. The pump according to claim 4, wherein the second fluid conduit extends along a third longitudinal axis that is transverse to the first longitudinal axis.

10. The pump according to claim 4, wherein the first fluid conduit and second fluid conduit are each positioned relative to the fixed volume chamber such that they intersect with the fixed volume chamber at their respective midpoints along their first and second predetermined lengths, respectively.

11. A method for pumping a fluid using a pump having a fixed volume chamber, a first suction directional valve connected to the fixed volume chamber at a first end thereof, a first discharge directional valve connected the fixed volume chamber at a second end thereof, and a power source connected to the pump for imparting reciprocating motion thereto, the method comprising: a. filling the fixed volume chamber with a mass of fluid; andb. actuating the power source to impart reciprocating motion to the fixed volume chamber, whereby the reciprocating motion accelerates the mass of fluid within the fixed volume chamber.