U.S. patent application number 13/891451 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-13 for fluid pump system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Caterpillar Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is CATERPILLAR INC.. Invention is credited to David E. Hackett.
Application Number | 20140334947 13/891451 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51787656 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140334947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hackett; David E. |
November 13, 2014 |
FLUID PUMP SYSTEM
Abstract
A fluid pump system for a fluid delivery system is disclosed.
The fluid pump system includes a drive cylinder and a drive piston
slidably disposed in the drive cylinder. A drive rod including a
crowned end is connected to the drive piston. The fluid system
further includes a pump cylinder and a pump piston slidably
disposed in the pump cylinder. A pump rod including a crowned end
is connected to the pump piston. The drive rod and the pump rod are
configured to be detachably coupled to each other, wherein the
crowned end of the drive rod cooperates with the crowned end of the
pump rod.
Inventors: |
Hackett; David E.;
(Washington, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CATERPILLAR INC. |
Peoria |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Caterpillar Inc.
Peoria
IL
|
Family ID: |
51787656 |
Appl. No.: |
13/891451 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/214 ;
92/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 23/02 20130101;
F04B 39/14 20130101; F04B 9/105 20130101; F04B 41/02 20130101; F04B
37/08 20130101; F04B 9/1053 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/214 ;
92/140 |
International
Class: |
F04B 41/02 20060101
F04B041/02; F04B 39/14 20060101 F04B039/14 |
Claims
1. A fluid pump system for a fluid delivery system comprising: a
drive cylinder and a drive piston slidably disposed in the drive
cylinder, a drive rod including a crowned end is connected to the
drive cylinder; a pump cylinder and a pump piston slidably disposed
in the pump cylinder, the pump rod including a crowned end is
connected to the pump cylinder; and the drive rod and the pump rod
configured to be detachably coupled to each other, wherein the
crowned end of the drive rod cooperates with the crowned end of the
pump rod.
2. The fluid pump system of claim 1, wherein a connector is
configured to detachably couple the drive rod and the pump rod.
3. The fluid pump system of claim 1, wherein each of the crowned
ends includes a convex outer surface having a predetermined
radius.
4. The fluid pump system of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of at
least one of the drive rod and the pump rod includes a recess.
5. The fluid pump system of claim 4, wherein the recess provided on
the distal portion of at least one of the drive rod and the pump
rod is configured to cooperate with a tongue of the connector.
6. The fluid pump system of claim 1, wherein a sleeve is configured
to attach the drive cylinder with the pump cylinder, the sleeve
including a guide disposed about the drive cylinder and the pump
cylinder.
7. The fluid pump system of claim 6, wherein the sleeve includes a
flange configured to be fastened to an end cap of at least one of
the drive cylinder and the pump cylinder.
8. The fluid pump system of claim 6, wherein the sleeve defines the
guide configured to provide a path for translational motion of the
connector.
9. A fluid delivery system comprising: a tank for storing a fluid;
a fluid pump system configured to pressurize the fluid received
from the tank, the fluid pump system comprising: a drive cylinder
and a drive piston slidably disposed in the drive cylinder, a drive
rod including a crowned end is connected to the drive cylinder; a
pump cylinder and a pump piston slidably disposed in the pump
cylinder, the pump rod including a crowned end is connected to the
pump cylinder; and the drive rod and the pump rod configured to be
detachably coupled to each other, wherein the crowned end of the
drive rod cooperates with the crowned end of the pump rod.
10. The fluid delivery system of claim 9, wherein a connector is
configured to detachably couple the drive rod and the pump rod.
11. The fluid delivery system of claim 9, wherein each of the
crowned ends includes a convex outer surface having a predetermined
radius.
12. The fluid delivery system of claim 9, wherein a distal portion
of at least one of the drive rod and the pump rod includes a
recess.
13. The fluid delivery system of claim 12, wherein the recess
provided on the distal portion of at least one of the drive rod and
the pump rod is configured to cooperate with a tongue of the
connector.
14. The fluid delivery system of claim 9, wherein a sleeve is
configured to attach the drive cylinder and the pump cylinder, the
sleeve including a guide disposed about the drive cylinder and the
pump cylinder.
15. The fluid delivery system of claim 14, wherein the sleeve is
configured to be fastened to an end cap of at least one of the
drive cylinder and the pump cylinder.
16. The fluid delivery system of claim 14, wherein the sleeve
defines the guide configured to provide a path for translational
motion of the connector.
17. A load transfer arrangement for a fluid pump system comprising:
a drive rod having a crowned end; a pump rod having a crowned end;
and a connector configured to detachably couple the drive rod and
the pump rod, wherein the crowned end of the drive rod is adjacent
to the crowned end of the pump rod.
18. The load transfer arrangement of claim 17, wherein each of the
crowned ends includes a convex outer surface having a predetermined
radius.
19. The load transfer arrangement of claim 17, wherein a distal
portion of at least one of the drive rod and the pump rod includes
a recess.
20. The load transfer arrangement of claim 19, wherein the recess
provided on the distal portion of at least one of the drive rod and
the pump rod is configured to cooperate with a tongue of the
connector.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fluid pump system, and
more particularly to the fluid pump system having a drive cylinder
and a pump cylinder.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A fluid pump system for cryogenic applications includes a
pump cylinder and a drive cylinder adapted to power the pump
cylinder. A single rod connects a drive piston of the drive
cylinder and a pump piston of the pump cylinder. A pressurized
fluid received from a fluid source pushes the drive piston
connected with the rod which further drives the pump piston of the
pump cylinder. The pump piston further pressurizes and pumps a
cryogenic fluid to a storage or usage site.
[0003] For example, PCT Published Application No. WO9711273A1
relates to a pumping system for transferring fluid from a source to
a storage or usage point against a head pressure and without the
need for a power source at the fluid source. The pumping system
includes a reciprocating drive means controlled by a valve means
connected to a pressure supply. The drive means drives a driven
means in fluid communication with a fluid source and adapted to
pump the fluid source to a storage or usage site. The ratio of
volumes of drive to driven means is adjustable to enable efficient
use of the pump at different supply pressures and for different
volume or pressure output requirements.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a fluid pump
system for a fluid delivery system. The fluid pump system includes
a drive cylinder and a drive piston connected with a drive rod
slidably disposed in the drive cylinder. A drive rod is connected
to the drive piston includes a crowned end. The fluid system
further includes a pump cylinder and a pump piston slidably
disposed in the pump cylinder. A pump rod is connected to the pump
piston and includes a crowned end. The drive rod and the pump rod
are configured to be detachably coupled to each other, wherein the
crowned end of the drive rod cooperates with the crowned end of the
pump rod.
[0005] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a fluid
delivery system. The fluid delivery system includes a tank for
storing a fluid. A fluid pump system is configured to pressurize
the fluid received from the tank. The fluid pump system includes a
drive cylinder and a drive piston connected with a drive rod
slidably disposed in the drive cylinder. A drive rod is connected
to the drive piston includes a crowned end. The fluid system
further includes a pump cylinder and a pump piston slidably
disposed in the pump cylinder. A pump rod is connected to the pump
piston and includes a crowned end. The drive rod and the pump rod
are configured to be detachably coupled to each other, wherein the
crowned end of the drive rod cooperates with the crowned end of the
pump rod.
[0006] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a load
transfer arrangement for a fluid pump system. The load transfer
arrangement includes a drive rod, a pump rod and each of the drive
rod and the pump rod include a crowned end of a convex outer
surface having a predetermined radius. A connector is configured to
detachably couple the drive rod and the pump rod and the crowned
end of the drive rod is adjacent to the crowned end of the pump
rod. Further, a distal portion of at least one of the drive rod and
the pump rod includes a recess configured to cooperate with a
tongue of the connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a fluid delivery system,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a drive
cylinder and a pump cylinder of a fluid pump system; and
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a load transfer
arrangement of the fluid pump system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments
or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. Generally, corresponding or similar reference numbers
will be used, when possible, to refer to the same or corresponding
parts.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a fluid delivery system
100, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The fluid
delivery system 100 includes a reservoir 102 to store a fluid, such
as, but not limited to, a cryogenic fluid and a fluid pump system
104 configured to pressurize the fluid stored in the reservoir 102.
The fluid pump system 104 is configured to supply the pressurized
fluid to an accumulator 106 or other storage or supply devices for
use thereof. The fluid pump system 104 includes a drive cylinder
108 and a drive piston 110 slidably disposed in the drive cylinder
108. Further, drive rod 112 is connected to the drive piston 110.
The drive piston 110 may define a first chamber 114 and a second
chamber 116 in the drive cylinder 108. Further, the fluid pump
system 104 includes a pump cylinder 118 and a pump piston 120
slidably disposed in the pump cylinder 118. Further, a pump rod 122
is connected to the pump piston 120. The pump piston 120 may
further define a first chamber 124 and a second chamber 126 in the
pump cylinder 118.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a pump
130 may supply hydraulic fluid to the drive cylinder 108. In
alternative embodiments, the drive cylinder 108 may be driven by
any alternative sources, but not limited to, pneumatically driven
pumps. The pump 130 may be a variable displacement pump of any
well-known construction and type, such as, a gear pump, a rotary
vane pump, a screw pump, an axial piston pump or a radial piston
pump. The pump 130 is configured to pressurize a fluid received
from a tank 132 and supply the pressurized fluid to the drive
cylinder 108 via a control valve 134. In an aspect of the present
disclosure, the control valve 134 may be a directional control
valve to start, stop or change the flow of the pressurized fluid
from the tank 132 to the drive cylinder 108. The control valve 134
may be a solenoid operated valve which selectively controls a flow
of pressurized fluid from the pump 130 into an inlet port 136
provided in the first chamber 124 of the drive cylinder 108 and
from an outlet port 138 provided in the second chamber 126 of the
drive cylinder 108 to the tank 132. Moreover, a controller (not
shown) may be configured to output a signal to the control valve
134 to control the flow of the fluid back and forth the pump 130 to
the drive cylinder 108.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the
fluid received from the reservoir 102 is received into a port 140
provided in the first chamber 124 of the pump cylinder 118 via a
first check valve 142. The first check valve 142 is configured to
allow the fluid in a single direction as indicated from the
reservoir 102 to the pump cylinder 118 via a fluid line 144. The
pressurized fluid received from the control valve 134 is configured
to push the drive piston 110 connected with the drive rod 112. The
drive rod 112 is further configured to push the pump rod 122
connected with the pump piston 120. The movement of the pump rod
122 is configured to pressurize the fluid received from the
reservoir 102 in the first chamber 124 of the pump cylinder 118.
Further, the pressurized fluid may be configured to flow into an
accumulator 106 via a second check valve 146. The second check
valve 146 is configured to allow the pressurized fluid in a single
direction as indicated from the pump cylinder 118 to the
accumulator 106 via the fluid line 144. In an aspect of the present
disclosure, the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 are configured
to be detachably coupled to each other by a connector 128, which is
further explained in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the drive
cylinder 108 and the pump cylinder 118 of the fluid pump system 104
of FIG. 1. The drive cylinder 108 may include a first end 148
closed by a head cap 150 and a second end 152 may be adapted to
receive an end cap 154. The end cap 154 provided on the drive
cylinder 108 may be sealingly engaged with an inner wall 156 of the
drive cylinder 108. In an embodiment, the inner wall 156 of the
drive cylinder 108 may include threads for engagement with
complementary threads provided on the end cap 154. Moreover, a seal
groove 158 may also be provided along an outer surface 160 of the
end cap 154, and a seal 162 may be provided therein for ensuring a
sealing engagement between the end cap 154 and the inner wall 156
of the drive cylinder 108. In an aspect of the present disclosure,
a groove 164 may be provided on an internal wall 172 of the end cap
154. Further, a bearing 174 may be seated in the groove 164. The
bearing 174 may be of any type of rod end bearings, such as, but
not limited to, spherical rod bearings. The bearings 174 may be
made of material, such as, but not limited to, brass, bronze, iron,
or steel and often plated with zinc or chromium. Additionally,
grooves 166, 168, 170 may be provided along the internal wall 172
of the end cap 154 for seating a buffer seal 176, a rod seal 178,
and a wiper seal 180, respectively. The configuration explained
above for the drive cylinder 108 is similar and applicable to the
pump cylinder 118.
[0015] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the end caps 154 of
the drive cylinder 108 and the pump cylinder 118 may include an
opening 182 therein, such as a longitudinal through bore, to
slidably receive the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122,
respectively. The fluid pump system 104 may further include a load
transfer arrangement 184. The load transfer arrangement 184
includes the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122, and each of the
drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 are provided with a first
crowned end 186 and a second crowned end 187. Further, the crowned
ends 186, 187 may be provided at distal ends of the drive rod 112
and the pump rod 122. The crowned ends 186, 187 may include a
convex or spherical shape having a predetermined radius. Although
the crowned ends 186, 187 is shown as a convex shape in the present
disclosure, a person ordinarily skilled in the art may understand
that the distal ends of the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 may
have alternate shapes, such as, but not limited to, semispherical
or hemispherical. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the
crowned ends 186, 187 of the pump rod 122 and the drive rod 112 are
disposed adjacent to each other. Further, the crowned ends 186, 187
are configured to provide a clearance for mild translational or
angular misalignment of the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122.
[0016] In an aspect of the present disclosure, a distal portion 188
of each of the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 may include a
recess 190. The recess 190 provided on the distal portion 188 of
the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 may be configured to receive
the connector 128. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the
connector 128 may be a cylindrical connector. As shown in FIG. 3,
the connector 128 is a split connector and is configured with a
generally "C" shaped cross section. Further, the connector 128 may
include a pair of axially spaced tongues 192 extending inward. The
tongues 192 of the connector 128 is further configured to cooperate
with the recess 190 provided on the distal portion 188 of the drive
rod 112 and the pump rod 122. The tongues 192 received in the
recess 190 are configured to detachably couple the pump rod 122
with the drive rod 112. Although the connector 128 is shown as a
single connecting member in the present disclosure, those skilled
in the art may understand that one or more connectors with multiple
projections or tongues and may be made of thin spring metal or from
a plastic material without deviating from the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0017] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the load transfer
arrangement 184 may further include a sleeve 194 configured to
attach the drive cylinder 108 with the pump cylinder 118. The
sleeve 194 may include a tubular member of a first half sleeve and
a second half sleeve. Flanges 196 may be provided on ends of the
sleeve 194 and may be configured to be fastened to the end cap 154
of at least one of the drive cylinder 108 and the pump cylinder
118. The flange 196 may be fastened to the end cap 154 of the drive
cylinder 108 and the pump cylinder 118 by a mechanical fastener
200, such as, but not limited to, bolting. As illustrated in FIG.
3, the sleeve 194 may include a guide 198 centrally disposed about
the drive cylinder 108 and the pump cylinder 118 along an axis. The
guide 198 provided on the sleeve 194 is configured to provide a
path for a translational motion of the connector 128.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0018] The industrial applicability of the fluid pump system for a
fluid delivery system described herein will be readily appreciated
from the foregoing discussion. Typically, a fluid pump system
consists of a pump cylinder which is hydraulically powered by a
drive cylinder. Further, the drive cylinder including a drive
piston and the pump cylinder including a pump piston are connected
by a single rod. The usage of single rod may result in stressing of
sealing members. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the fluid
pump system 104 uses separate rods including the drive rod 112
connected with the drive piston 110 and the pump rod 122 connected
with the pump piston 120. The drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122
may be assembled separately and further can be detachably coupled
by the connector 128. Further, the fluid pump system 104 may be
applicable to various pump configurations, such as not, but not
limited to, LNG pumps.
[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, during a pushing movement
of the drive rod 112 on the pump rod 122, the crowned ends 186, 187
of the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 cooperate with each other
providing a clearance for mild translational or angular
misalignment. Further, the bearings 174 provided on the end caps
154 of the drive cylinder 108 and the pump cylinder 118 may absorb
the load during translation or angular misalignment of the drive
rod 112 and the pump rod 122. These load absorption of the bearings
174 may reduce stress on the buffer seal 176, the rod seal 178, and
the wiper seal 180 or other sealing elements provided along the
inner wall 172 of the end caps 154 of the drive cylinder 108 and
the pump cylinder 118 and may provide improved seal operating
environments through tighter clearances. Further, during a pulling
movement of the drive piston 110 on the pump rod 122, the connector
128 may be in the loaded condition and the tongues 192 provided on
the recess 190 of the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 may hold
the drive rod 112 and the pump rod 122 together.
[0020] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the flange 196
attaching the drive cylinder 108 and pump cylinder 118 may allow
the pulling and pushing movements of the drive rod 112 and the push
rod 122 along an axis X-X'. Further, the flange 196 defines the
guide 198, as shown in FIG. 3 which may allow the translation
motion of the connector 128.
[0021] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed method of
assembling fuel pump on the engine without departing from the scope
of the disclosure. Other embodiments of the present disclosure will
be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the
specification and practice of the system disclosed herein. It is
intended that the specification and examples be considered as
exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated
by the following claims and their equivalents.
[0022] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of
illustration, various modifications or variations may be made
without deviating from the spirit or scope of inventive features
claimed herein. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled
in the art from consideration of the specification and figures and
practice of the arrangements disclosed herein. It is intended that
the specification and disclosed examples be considered as exemplary
only, with a true inventive scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *