U.S. patent application number 14/155269 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-08 for valve assembly for a pump.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tien-Tsai Tseng. Invention is credited to Tien-Tsai Tseng.
Application Number | 20140127064 14/155269 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50622539 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140127064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng; Tien-Tsai |
May 8, 2014 |
Valve Assembly for a Pump
Abstract
A pump includes a bottle, an air-pumping device, a cover, a
valve assembly and a buoyant. The air-pumping device is operable to
pump air out of the bottle and therefore pump liquid into the
bottle. The cover includes an opening and a channel. The bottle is
in communication with the exterior thereof via the opening and in
communication with the air-pumping device via the channel when the
cover is attached to the bottle and the air-pumping device. The
valve assembly is movable in the bottle between a first position
for releasing the channel as the pump is in an upright position and
a second position for blocking the channel as the pump is in a
tilted position. The buoyant floats on the liquid in the bottle and
moves the valve assembly into the second position as the bottle is
almost full of the liquid in the upright position.
Inventors: |
Tseng; Tien-Tsai; (TAICHUNG,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tseng; Tien-Tsai |
TAICHUNG |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
50622539 |
Appl. No.: |
14/155269 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13153457 |
Jun 5, 2011 |
|
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|
14155269 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
417/507 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 53/10 20130101;
F16N 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/507 |
International
Class: |
F04B 53/10 20060101
F04B053/10 |
Claims
1. A pump including: a bottle; an air-pumping device for pumping
air out of the bottle and therefore pumping liquid into the bottle;
a cover including an opening and a channel, wherein the bottle is
in communication with the exterior thereof via the opening and in
communication with the air-pumping device via the channel when the
cover is attached to the bottle and the air-pumping device; a valve
assembly movable in the bottle between a first position for
releasing the channel as the pump is in an upright position and a
second position for blocking the channel as the pump is in a tilted
position; and a buoyant for floating on the liquid in the bottle
and moving the valve assembly into the second position as the
bottle is almost full of the liquid in the upright position.
2. The pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve assembly
includes a valve movably placed in the bottle to block the channel
as the valve assembly is in the second position.
3. The pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a
ball.
4. The pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a
tablet.
5. The pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a
rod.
6. The pump in accordance with claim 5, wherein the valve includes
at least one rounded end.
7. The pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is a
cone.
8. The pump in accordance with claim 7, wherein the rod includes a
rounded, smaller end and a flat, larger end.
9. The pump in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve assembly
includes a tubular guiding element attached to the cover so that
the tubular guiding element extends toward the cover as the tubular
guiding element extends upward, wherein the valve is quickly moves
in the tubular guiding element into the second position to block
the channel before the liquid is poured from the pump through the
opening.
10. The pump in accordance with claim 9, wherein the valve assembly
includes an annular sealing element fit in the channel, wherein the
valve abuts the annular sealing element to block the channel in the
second position of the valve assembly.
11. The pump in accordance with claim 9, wherein the valve assembly
includes a plate formed at an upper end of the tubular guiding
element and attached to the cover.
12. The pump in accordance with claim 9, wherein the valve assembly
includes a pusher formed with an upper section movably inserted in
the tubular guiding element to contact the valve and a lower
section placed out of the tubular guiding element to contact the
buoyant.
13. The pump in accordance with claim 12, wherein the valve
assembly includes a screw inserted in the upper section of the
pusher, wherein the tubular guiding element includes at least one
slot for receiving at least one end of the screw.
14. The pump in accordance with claim 12, wherein the valve
assembly includes a pin inserted in the upper section of the
pusher, wherein the tubular guiding element includes at least one
slot for receiving at least one end of the pin.
15. The pump in accordance with claim 12, wherein the valve
assembly includes a pin inserted in the upper section of the
pusher, wherein the tubular guiding element includes at least one
groove for receiving at least one end of the pin.
16. The pump in accordance with claim 15, wherein the valve
assembly includes a C-clip fit in the tubular guiding element to
keep the end of the pin in the groove.
17. The pump in accordance with claim 12, wherein the valve
assembly includes a pin transversely inserted in the tubular
guiding element, wherein the upper section of the pusher includes
at least one slot for receiving the pin.
18. The pump in accordance with claim 10, wherein there is a sharp
angle between the upper and lower sections of the pusher.
19. The pump in accordance with claim 10, wherein the valve
assembly includes at least one weight placed between the valve and
the pusher.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] The present invention is a continuation-in-part application
of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/153,457 of which the entire
disclosure is incorporated herein.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a pump and, more
particularly, to a valve assembly for a pump.
[0004] 2. Related Prior Art
[0005] As discussed in application Ser. No. 13/153,457 referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2, there is inevitably leak of the used oil 15 from the
pump 30 through the channel 43 of the upper cover 40 because the
channel 43 is released from the valve 18 when the used oil 15 is
pulled from the pump 30.
[0006] As discussed in application Ser. No. 13/153,457 referring to
FIGS. 3 to 19, the inverted-position leak-preventing device is
expected to avoid any leak of used oil 15 from the pump 30. The
operation of the inverted-position leak-preventing device is
sometimes not fast enough to avoid leak of the used oil 15 from the
pump 30.
[0007] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide a pump that effectively prevents leak.
[0009] To achieve the foregoing objective, the pump includes a
bottle, an air-pumping device, a cover, a valve assembly and a
buoyant. The air-pumping device is operable to pump air out of the
bottle and therefore pump liquid into the bottle. The cover
includes an opening and a channel. The bottle is in communication
with the exterior thereof via the opening and in communication with
the air-pumping device via the channel when the cover is attached
to the bottle and the air-pumping device. The valve assembly is
movable in the bottle between a first position for releasing the
channel as the pump is in an upright position and a second position
for blocking the channel as the pump is in a tilted position. The
buoyant floats on the liquid in the bottle and moves the valve
assembly into the second position as the bottle is almost full of
the liquid in the upright position.
[0010] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present
invention will be apparent from the following description referring
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention will be described via detailed
illustration of several embodiments referring to the drawings
wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a pump with a valve assembly
in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the valve assembly shown in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly
illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the valve assembly
shown in FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve
assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve
assembly in accordance with the third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a valve of a valve assembly
in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a valve of a valve assembly
in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a tubular guiding element and
a pusher of a valve assembly in accordance with the sixth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tubular guiding element
and a pusher of a valve assembly in accordance with the seventh
embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a cut-away view of a tubular guiding element and
a pusher of a valve assembly in accordance with the eighth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a cut-away view of a tubular guiding element and
a pusher of a valve assembly in accordance with the ninth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve
assembly in accordance with the tenth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a valve
assembly in accordance with the eleventh embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a pump with
the valve assembly shown FIG. 1; and
[0027] FIG. 16 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a pump with
the valve assembly shown FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 through 4, a pump 30 includes a bottle
31, an air-pumping device and a valve assembly 90 according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The air-pumping
device is used to pump air out of the bottle 31 to pump liquid 15
such as used oil into the bottle 31. The valve assembly 90 prevents
leak of the liquid 15 from the bottle 31 when the bottle 31 is
tilted or inverted.
[0029] The bottle 31 is formed with a lower open end and an upper
open end. A lower cover 33 is attached to the lower open end of the
bottle 31. An annular buoyant 13 is movably placed in the bottle
31.
[0030] The air-pumping unit includes a cylinder 50, a flexible
piston 53, a rod 52 and a handle 51. The cylinder 50 is located in
the bottle 31. The cylinder 50 is inserted through the annular
buoyant 13. A lower end of the cylinder 50 is in contact with the
lower cover 33 so that the space in the cylinder 50 is separated
from the space in the bottle 31. A check valve assembly 34 is
located in an aperture made in the lower cover 33 so that the check
valve assembly 34 is located in the cylinder 50.
[0031] The flexible piston 53 is movably located in the cylinder
50. The flexible piston 53 is attached to an end of the rod 52
while the handle 51 is connected to an opposite end of the rod
52.
[0032] An upper cover 40 is formed with a handle 41, an opening 42,
a channel 43 and a bore 46. The opening 42 is separated from the
channel 43 while the bore 46 is in communication with the channel
43. The channel 43 includes an end closed by a plug 45. A safety
valve 44 is placed in an upper end of the bore 46. The upper cover
40 further includes an annular rib that extends around the bore
46.
[0033] The upper cover 40 is placed on the bottle 31 and the
cylinder 50. The space in the bottle 31 is only in communication
with the space in cylinder 50 via the channel 43.
[0034] The valve assembly 90 includes an annular sealing element
91, a tubular guiding element 84, a plate 86, a valve 70, two
weights 78 and a pusher 74. The annular sealing element 91 is fit
in a lower open end of the bore 46.
[0035] The tubular guiding element 84 extends from the plate 86 in
a slant manner, i.e., there is a slant relation between an axis
along which the channel in the tubular guiding element 84 extends
and a plane in which the plate 86 extends. The tubular guiding
element 84 inherently includes a channel 89. The tubular guiding
element 84 includes a longitudinal slot 85.
[0036] The plate 86 is made with adequate thickness so that an
annular groove 87 can be made therein. The plate 86 includes an
annular rib 88 in communication with the tubular guiding element
84. The annular groove 87 extends around the annular rib 88.
[0037] The plate 86 is attached to the upper cover 40. The annular
groove 87 receives the annular rib of the upper cover 40. The
annular rib 88 is inserted in the annular rib of the upper cover
40. The channel 89 is in communication with the bore 46. The
channel 89 extends toward the opening 42 as it extends upward.
[0038] The bore 46 extends along an axis L1 that extends vertically
when the pump 30 is placed in an upright position. The tubular
guiding element 84 extends along an axis L2. There is a sharp angle
.theta. between the axes L1 and L2. The angle .theta. is not
0.degree., i.e., the axes L1 and L2 do not coincide.
[0039] The valve 70 and the weights 78 are movably placed in the
tubular guiding element 84. The valve 70 is in the form of a ball,
and so are the weights 78. Hence, the valve 70 and the weights 78
can roll smoothly in the tubular guiding element 84.
[0040] The pusher 74 includes an upper section 75 and a lower
section 76. There is a sharp angle between the upper section 75 of
the pusher 74 and the lower section 76. The upper section 75 of the
pusher 74 is movably inserted in the tubular guiding element 84. A
screw 77 is driven in the upper section 75 of the pusher 74 via the
slot 85 to keep the pusher 74 connected to the tubular guiding
element 84. The lower section 76 of the pusher 74 is located out of
the tubular guiding element 84 and intended to contact the annular
buoyant 13.
[0041] In operation, the pump 30 is located in an upright position.
A plug (not shown) is fit in the opening 42. A hose (not shown) is
inserted through the plug. An end of the hose is located in the
space in the bottle 31 while another end of the hose is submerged
in liquid 15 contained in an oil pan. The flexible piston 53 is
reciprocated in the cylinder 50 to pump air out of the space of the
cylinder 50 and hence out of the space of the bottle 31. Some of
the liquid 15 is hence pumped from the oil pan into the space in
the bottle 31.
[0042] When the space in the bottle 31 is almost full of the liquid
15, the bore 46 and hence the channel 43 are blocked by the valve
70, which are pushed by the pusher 74, which is lifted by the
annular buoyant 13, which floats on the liquid 15 that is contained
in the bottle 31. Thus, no more liquid 15 can be pumped into the
space in the bottle 31.
[0043] To pour the liquid 15 from the pump 30, the plug is removed
from the opening 42, and the pump 30 is tilted or inverted. Due to
the way in which the tubular guiding element 84 extends, the valve
70 rolls quickly in the tubular guiding element 84 to the annular
sealing element 91 to abut the annular sealing element 91 to block
the bore 46 and therefore the channel 43 before the liquid 15
reaches the opening 42. There is no leak of the liquid 15 from the
pump 30 through the channel 43. That is, the liquid 15 only leaves
the pump 30 via the opening 42.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, there is a valve assembly in accordance
with the second embodiment of the present invention. The second
embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the valve 70 is
in the form of a capsule and so is each of the weights 78. That is,
the valve 70 is a short rod formed with two rounded ends, and so is
each of the weights 78.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, there is a valve assembly in accordance
with the third embodiment of the present invention. The third
embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the valve 70 is
in the form of a tablet and so is each of the weights 78. Such a
tablet is made with a diameter larger than thickness.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, there is a valve assembly in accordance
with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth
embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the valve 70 is
in the form of a rod that includes two flat ends.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 8, there is a valve assembly in accordance
with the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth
embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the valve 70 is
in the form of a cone with a smaller, rounded end and a larger,
flat end.
[0048] To achieve identical pressure for blocking the bore 46, the
valve 70 can be replaced by a larger ball while the weights 78 are
saved in another embodiment. However, several small balls are
better than a large ball for involving a smaller and less expensive
valve assembly.
[0049] To achieve identical pressure for blocking the bore 46, the
valve 70 can be replaced by a plunger while the weights 78 are
saved in still another embodiment. However, several balls are
better than a plunger for involving less friction on the internal
face of the tubular guiding element 84 and smoother movement.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 9, there is a valve assembly in accordance
with the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth
embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except including a
circular pin 93 instead of the screw 77.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 10, there is a valve assembly in
accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
The seventh embodiment is like the first embodiment except
including a square pin 94 instead of the circular pin 93.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 11, there is a valve assembly in
accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The
eighth embodiment is like the sixth embodiment except several
things. At first, the tubular guiding element 84 includes two
grooves 96 instead of the slots 85. The grooves 96 receive two ends
of the pin 93. Secondly, a C-clip 99 is fit used to keep the ends
of the pin 93 in the grooves 96. Thirdly, the pusher 74 is a
circular element.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 12, there is a valve assembly in
accordance with the ninth embodiment of the present invention. The
ninth embodiment is identical to the eighth embodiment except three
things. At first, the grooves 96 are saved. Secondly, the upper
section 75 of the pusher 74 includes a slot 97. The pin 93 is
inserted through the slot 97. The ends of the pin 93 are driven in
the tubular guiding element 84. Thirdly, the C-clip 99 is
saved.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 13, there is a valve assembly in
accordance with the tenth embodiment of the present invention. The
tenth embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the
pusher 74 is made with a rectilinear configuration. Only a lower
end of the pusher 74 is placed out of the tubular guiding element
84 when the pusher 74 is fully lifted by the annular buoyant 13,
which floats on the liquid 15.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 14, there is a valve assembly in
accordance with the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.
The eleventh embodiment is like the first embodiment except that
the upper cover 40 and the plate 86 are made one.
[0056] The valve assembly 90 can be used in another pump with
reference to FIG. 15. This pump does not include the air-pumping
unit shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. This pump includes a joint 54
formed on the upper cover 40. The joint 54 can be connected to an
air compressor via a hose for example.
[0057] The valve assembly 90 can be used in another pump with
reference to FIG. 16. This pump does not include the air-pumping
unit shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. This pump includes a joint 55
formed on the upper cover 40. The joint 55 can be connected to an
air compressor via a hose for example.
[0058] The present invention has been described via the detailed
illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can
derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment
shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the
claims.
* * * * *