U.S. patent application number 14/533918 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-05 for pneumatically-operated fluid pump with amplified fluid pressure, and related methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is SIMMONS DEVELOPMENT, LLC. Invention is credited to Tom M. Simmons.
Application Number | 20160123313 14/533918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55852175 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160123313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simmons; Tom M. |
May 5, 2016 |
PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED FLUID PUMP WITH AMPLIFIED FLUID PRESSURE,
AND RELATED METHODS
Abstract
A fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid. The fluid pump
including, a pump body, a first cavity within the pump body, a
second cavity within the pump body, a flexible member, an
incompressible fluid, a subject fluid chamber, and a piston. Piston
may include a piston head and an elongated piston shaft. The piston
may be configured to amplify a first pressure experienced on a
first side of the piston head and exerted by a pressurized drive
fluid to a second pressure experienced on an end surface of the
elongated piston shaft and exerted on the incompressible fluid
within the flexible member. The subject fluid may in turn be
pressurized to a third pressure substantially equal to the second
pressure.
Inventors: |
Simmons; Tom M.; (Kamas,
UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SIMMONS DEVELOPMENT, LLC |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55852175 |
Appl. No.: |
14/533918 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/53 ;
417/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 43/0054 20130101;
F04B 45/02 20130101; F04B 43/067 20130101; F04B 9/133 20130101;
F04B 43/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 9/135 20060101
F04B009/135 |
Claims
1. A fluid pump for pumping a subject fluid, the fluid pump
comprising: a pump body; a first cavity within the pump body; a
second cavity within the pump body; a piston shaft hole extending
from the first cavity to the second cavity; a flexible member
disposed within the second cavity, the flexible member comprising a
tubular body having a first closed end and a second open end
opposite the first closed end, the second open end being proximate
the piston shaft hole, the flexible member configured to extend and
retract within the second cavity during operation of the fluid
pump; an incompressible fluid chamber defined within the second
cavity on a first side of the flexible member; an incompressible
fluid disposed within the incompressible fluid chamber; a subject
fluid chamber defined within the second cavity on a second side of
the flexible member, the flexible member configured to increase and
decrease a volume of the subject fluid chamber; and a piston
comprising: a piston head having a first side and an opposite
second side, the first side of the piston head having a first
surface area, the piston head movable within the first cavity; and
an elongated piston shaft extending from the second side of the
piston head and at least partially into the piston shaft hole,
wherein the elongated piston shaft has an end surface opposite the
piston head, the end surface having a second surface area smaller
than the first surface area of the first side of the piston
head.
2. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to
amplify a first pressure experienced on the first surface area of
the first side of the piston head to a second pressure experienced
by the second surface area of the end surface of the elongated
piston shaft.
3. The fluid pump of claim 2, wherein the elongated piston shaft of
the piston is configured to pressurize the incompressible fluid to
a third pressure substantially equal to the second pressure
experienced by the second surface area of the end surface of the
elongated piston shaft.
4. The fluid pump of claim 3, wherein the flexible member is
configured to pressurize the subject fluid disposed within the
subject fluid chamber to a fourth pressure substantially equal to
the third pressure of the incompressible fluid.
5. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first pressure
experienced on the first surface area of the first side of the
piston head and the fourth pressure of the subject fluid is at
least more than 1.
6. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first pressure
experienced on the first surface area of the first side of the
piston head and the fourth pressure of the subject fluid is at
least 3.
7. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first pressure
experienced on the first surface area of the first side of the
piston head and the fourth pressure of the subject fluid is at
least 6.
8. The fluid pump of claim 1, further comprising: a first drive
fluid chamber located between the first side of the piston head of
the piston and a first cavity interior surface of the first cavity;
and a second drive fluid chamber located between the second side of
the piston head of the piston and the first cavity interior surface
of the first cavity.
9. The fluid pump of claim 8, further comprising: a first drive
fluid inlet extending through the pump body to the first drive
fluid chamber; a second drive fluid inlet extending through the
pump body to the second drive fluid chamber; a subject fluid inlet
extending through the pump body to the subject fluid chamber; and a
subject fluid outlet extending through the pump body to the subject
fluid chamber.
10. A pump body for pumping a subject fluid, the pump body
comprising: a flexible member disposed within the pump body, the
flexible member comprising a tubular body having a first closed end
and a second open end opposite the first closed end, the flexible
member containing an incompressible fluid; and a piston comprising:
a piston head having a first side and an opposite second side; and
an elongated piston shaft extending from the second side of the
piston head, the elongated piston shaft having an end surface on a
distal end of the elongated piston shaft opposite the piston head,
and wherein the piston is configured such that a ratio of a first
pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head and a
second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated
piston shaft is at least more than 1.
11. The pump body of claim 10, wherein a first surface area of the
first side of the piston head is larger than a second surface area
of the end surface of the elongated piston shaft.
12. The pump body of claim 10, wherein the ratio of the first
pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head and the
second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated
piston shaft is at least 3.
13. The pump body of claim 10, wherein the ratio of the first
pressure experienced by the first side of the piston head and the
second pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated
piston shaft is at least 6.
14. The pump body of claim 10, wherein a fourth pressure
experienced by the subject fluid is at least substantially equal to
third pressure experienced by the incompressible fluid, and wherein
the third pressure is at least substantially equal to the second
pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston
shaft.
15. A method of pressurizing and pumping a subject fluid, the
method comprising: inputting a pressurized drive fluid into a first
drive fluid chamber of a first cavity of a pump body, wherein the
pressurized drive fluid is input on a first side of a piston head
of a piston, the pressurized drive fluid exerting a first pressure
on the first side of the piston head; moving the piston along an
axial length of the first cavity of the pump body; exerting a
second pressure on an incompressible fluid within an interior of a
flexible member, wherein the second pressure is exerted on the
incompressible fluid with an end surface of an elongated piston
shaft extending from a second side of the piston head of the
piston; pressurizing the incompressible fluid to a third pressure
higher than the first pressure with the elongated piston shaft of
the piston and substantially equal to the second pressure;
pressurizing the subject fluid within a subject fluid chamber that
least partially surrounds the flexible member to a fourth pressure
higher than the first pressure and at least substantially equal to
the third pressure.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: extending the
flexible member; decreasing a volume of the subject fluid chamber
in the pump body; and dispensing at least some of the subject fluid
out of the subject fluid chamber through a subject fluid outlet in
the pump body.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: inputting the
pressurized drive fluid into a second drive fluid chamber of the
first cavity of the pump body, wherein the pressurized drive fluid
is input on the second side of the piston head of the piston;
pulling at least some of the incompressible fluid out of the
interior of the flexible member with the elongated piston shaft of
the piston; retracting the flexible member; increasing the volume
of the subject fluid chamber; and drawing at least some subject
fluid into the subject fluid chamber through a subject fluid inlet
in the pump body.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein pressurizing the subject fluid
to a fourth pressure comprises pressurizing the subject fluid to
the fourth pressure that is at least 2 times the first pressure
experienced by the first side of the piston head.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein pressurizing the subject fluid
to a fourth pressure comprises pressurizing the subject fluid to
the fourth pressure that is at least 4 times the first pressure
experienced by the first side of the piston head.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein pressurizing the subject fluid
to a fourth pressure comprises pressurizing the subject fluid to
the fourth pressure that is at least 6 times the first pressure
experienced by the first side of the piston head.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to
positive displacement devices. More particularly, embodiments of
the present disclosure relate to pneumatically-operated fluid pumps
and related methods.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Reciprocating fluid pumps are used in many industries.
Reciprocating fluid pumps generally include two at least one fluid
chamber in a pump body. A reciprocating piston or shaft is driven
back and forth within the pump body. One or more flexible members
may be connected to the reciprocating piston or shaft. As the
reciprocating piston moves in one direction, the movement of the
flexible members results in subject fluid being drawn into a
subject fluid chamber. As the reciprocating piston moves in the
opposite direction, the movement of the flexible members results in
fluid being expelled from the subject fluid chamber. A subject
fluid inlet and a subject fluid outlet may be provided in fluid
communication with the subject fluid chamber. Check valves may be
provided at the subject fluid inlet and outlet of subject fluid
chamber to ensure that fluid can only flow into the subject fluid
chamber through the subject fluid inlet, and fluid can only flow
out of the of the subject fluid chamber through the subject fluid
outlet.
[0003] Conventional reciprocating fluid pumps operate by moving the
reciprocating piston back and forth within the pump body. Moving
the reciprocating piston from one direction to the other may be
accomplished by using a shuttle valve, which provides drive fluid
(e.g., pressurized air) to a first drive fluid chamber and moving
the reciprocating piston in a first direction and then providing
the drive fluid to a second drive fluid chamber and moving the
reciprocating piston in a second opposite direction.
[0004] Examples of reciprocating fluid pumps and components thereof
are disclosed in, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,506, which
issued Sep. 24, 1996 to Simmons et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,707,
which issued Apr. 13, 1999 to Simmons et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,106,246, which issued Aug. 22, 2000 to Steck et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 6,295,918, which issued Oct. 2, 2001 to Simmons et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,685,443, which issued Feb. 3, 2004 to Simmons et al.;
and U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,309, which issued Dec. 2, 2008 to Simmons
et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,484, which issued Jan. 28, 2014 to
Simmons et al. The disclosure of each of these patents and patent
application is respectively incorporated herein in its entirety by
this reference.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a fluid
pump for pumping a subject fluid. The fluid pump may include a pump
body, a first cavity within the pump body, a second cavity within
the pump body, a piston shaft hole extending from the first cavity
to the second cavity, and a flexible member disposed within the
second cavity. The flexible member may include a tubular body
having a first closed end and a second open end opposite the first
closed end, the second open end being proximate the piston shaft
hole. The fluid pump may include an incompressible fluid chamber
defined within the second cavity on a first side of the flexible
member. The incompressible fluid chamber may include an
incompressible fluid disposed therein. The fluid pump may further
include a subject fluid chamber between a second cavity interior
surface of the second cavity and an exterior surface of the
flexible member. The flexible member may be configured to increase
and decrease a volume of the subject fluid chamber. The fluid pump
may further include a piston. The piston may include a piston head
having a first side and an opposite second side. The first side of
the piston head may have a first surface area. The piston head may
be movable within the first cavity. The piston may further include
an elongated piston shaft extending from the second side of the
piston head and at least partially into the piston shaft hole. The
elongated piston shaft may have an end surface opposite the piston
head. The end surface may have a second surface area smaller than
the first surface area of the first side of the piston head.
[0006] In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a
pump body for pumping a subject fluid. The pump body may include a
flexible member disposed within the pump body. The flexible member
may include a tubular body having a first closed end and a second
open end opposite the first closed end. The flexible member may
further contain an at least substantially incompressible fluid. The
pump body may further include a piston. The piston may include a
piston head having a first side and an opposite second side, and an
elongated piston shaft extending from the second side of the piston
head. The elongated piston shaft may have an end surface on a
distal end of the elongated piston shaft opposite the piston head.
The piston may be configured such that a ratio of a first pressure
experienced by the first side of the piston head and a second
pressure experienced by the end surface of the elongated piston
shaft is at least more than 1.
[0007] Yet further embodiments of the present disclosure include
methods of pressurizing and pumping a subject fluid. In some
embodiments, a method of the present disclosure may include
inputting a pressurized drive fluid into a first drive fluid
chamber of a first cavity of a pump body. The pressurized drive
fluid may be input on a first side of a piston head of a piston.
The pressurized drive fluid may exert a first pressure on the first
side of the piston head. The method may further include moving the
piston along an axial length of the first cavity of the pump body
and exerting a second pressure on an incompressible fluid within an
interior of a flexible member. The second pressure may be exerted
on the incompressible fluid with an end surface of an elongated
piston shaft extending from a second side of the piston head of the
piston. The method may include pressurizing the incompressible
fluid to a third pressure higher than the first pressure with the
elongated piston shaft of the piston. The third pressure may be
substantially equal to the second pressure. The method may also
include pressurizing the subject fluid within a subject fluid
chamber that least partially surrounds the flexible member to a
fourth pressure higher than the first pressure and at least
substantially equal to the second pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a pneumatically
operated fluid pump according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is cross-sectional side view of the fluid pump of
FIG. 1, showing vectors representing forces exerted on various
parts of the fluid pump.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow chart demonstrating a method of
pressurizing a subject fluid while pumping the subject fluid.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a pump system
including a plurality of pneumatically operated fluid pumps as
shown in FIG. 1 operably connected in parallel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be
actual views of any particular fluid pump 100 or component thereof,
but are merely idealized representations that are used to describe
embodiments of the disclosure.
[0013] 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.
[0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure include fluid pumps
that include at least one drive fluid chamber, at least one subject
fluid chamber, an incompressible fluid, a piston, and a flexible
member for pressurizing a subject fluid to a pressure higher than a
pressure to which a pressurized drive fluid is pressurized while
pumping the subject fluid.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a pneumatically
operated fluid pump according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. A fluid pump 100 is configured to pump a subject fluid,
such as, for example, a liquid (e.g., water, oil, acid, etc.) or
gas, using a pressurized drive fluid such as, for example,
compressed gas (e.g., air). Thus, in some embodiments, the fluid
pump 100 may comprise a pneumatically operated liquid pump.
Furthermore, as described in further detail below, the fluid pump
100 may comprise a reciprocating pump in which the piston and
flexible member cycle back and forth in a reciprocating manner
during operation of the fluid pump 100.
[0016] The fluid pump 100 may include a pump body 102. The pump
body 102 may comprise two or more components that are assembled
together to form the pump body 102. The pump body 102 may comprise
one or more of metals (including alloys), ceramics, polymers (e.g.,
PEEK, TEFLON, etc.), and composite materials. The pump body 102 may
include therein a first cavity 104, a second cavity 106, a piston
118, and a flexible member 142. The first cavity 104 may have a
first cavity interior surface 108, which may at least partially
define a first drive fluid chamber 110 and a second drive fluid
chamber 112. The second cavity 106 may have a second cavity
interior surface 114, which may at least partially define a subject
fluid chamber 116. The piston 118 may be positioned with the pump
body 102. The piston 118 may have a piston head 120 and an
elongated piston shaft 122 extending from the piston head 120. The
piston head 120 and elongated piston shaft 122 may have a generally
cylindrical shape. An outer diameter of the piston head 120 may be
greater than an outer diameter of the elongated piston shaft 122.
The piston 118 may be slidable back and forth (in the left and
right directions from the perspective of FIG. 1) within the pump
body 102 and may extend between the first cavity 104 and second
cavity 106. The piston head 120 of the piston 118 may be disposed
within the first cavity 104 and between the first drive fluid
chamber 110 and the second drive fluid chamber 112.
[0017] The piston head 120 may have a first side 124, an opposite
second side 126, and a cylindrical peripheral surface 128 extending
from the first side 124 to the second side 126. The first side 124
of the piston head 120 may at least partially define the first
drive fluid chamber 110. The second side 126 may at least partially
define the second drive fluid chamber 112. The piston head 120 may
include at least one annular seal cavity 130 formed along a
circumference of the cylindrical peripheral surface 128 and between
the first side 124 and the second side 126. The at least one
annular seal cavity 130 may have at least one annular seal 132
(e.g., an O-ring seal) disposed therein. The elongated piston shaft
122 of the piston 118 may include a distal end 133 opposite the
piston head 120 (the term "distal" meaning distal to the piston
head 120). The distal end 133 may have an end surface 134. The
first side 124 of the piston head 120 may have a first surface area
SA1 (FIG. 2). The end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft 122
may have a second surface area SA2 (FIG. 2). The pump body 102 may
include a piston shaft hole 136 extending between the first cavity
104 and the second cavity 106. The piston shaft hole 136 may
include a plurality of annular shaft seals 140 disposed along an
interior surface 138 of the piston shaft hole 136 to provide a
fluid-tight seal between the first cavity 104 and the second cavity
106 along the interface between the piston shaft hole 136 and the
elongated piston shaft 122.
[0018] The flexible member 142 may be disposed at least partially
within the second cavity 106. The flexible member 142 may comprise
one or more of a bellows plunger, diaphragm, or any other known
flexible member that can extend and retract. The flexible member
142 may divide the second cavity 106 into the subject fluid chamber
116 and an incompressible fluid chamber 156. The incompressible
fluid chamber 156 may be at least partially disposed within an
interior 144 of the flexible member 142. For example, the flexible
member 142 may have an exterior surface 146 and an interior surface
148. The exterior surface 146 of the flexible member 142 may at
least partially define the subject fluid chamber 116 while the
interior surface 148 of the flexible member 142 may at least
partially define the incompressible fluid chamber 156. A
substantially incompressible fluid 176 may be disposed within the
incompressible fluid chamber 156. In some embodiments, the
incompressible fluid 176 may also be disposed within the piston
shaft hole 136.
[0019] The flexible member 142 may comprise a tubular body 150
having a first closed end 152 and an opposite, second open end 154.
The first closed end 152 may include a plunger head 158 integrally
formed with or otherwise coupled to the tubular body 150. In other
words, in some embodiments, the plunger head 158 may be formed
integrally with the tubular body 150, and in other embodiments, the
plunger head 158 may be formed separately from the tubular body 150
and attached to the first closed end 152 of the tubular body 150.
For example, the plunger head 158 may be attached to the tubular
body 150 using an adhesive, a fastener (e.g., bolts and screws),
heat sealing (e.g., melt bonding), or with some other known means,
as well as combinations thereof. The plunger head 158 may include a
recess 160 on an interior side of the plunger head 158. At least
one flexible member seal 162 may be provided between the pump body
102 and the flexible member 142. For example, a peripheral edge of
the flexible member 142 at the second open end 154 thereof may be
attached to the pump body 102 and a fluid tight seal may be provide
between the pump body 102 and the flexible member 142. In some
embodiments, the elongated piston shaft 122 of the piston 118 may
extend from the piston head 120, through the piston shaft hole 136,
through the second open end 154 of the flexible member 142, and
into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 within the
incompressible fluid chamber 156. In other embodiments, the
elongated piston shaft 122 of the piston 118 may extend from the
piston head 120 and partially into the piston shaft hole 136. In
other words, the elongated piston shaft 122 may not extend into the
interior 144 of the flexible member 142. Furthermore, the distal
end 133 of the elongated piston shaft 122 may not enter into the
interior 144 of the flexible member 142 during operation of the
fluid pump 100; rather, the elongated piston shaft 122 may push and
pull at least some incompressible fluid 176 in and out of the
flexible member 142. For example, the elongated piston shaft may
pull liquid out of the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 and
into the piston shaft hole 136 when retracting the flexible member
142 and may push liquid out of the piston shaft hole 136 and into
the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 when extending the
flexible member 142. For purposes of the current application, in
some embodiments, the elongated piston shaft 122 will be described
as entering into and withdrawing from the interior 144 of the
flexible member 142 during operation of the fluid pump 100.
However, it is understood that the elongated piston shaft 122 may
not enter into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 during
operation of the fluid pump 100.
[0020] The incompressible fluid 176 (e.g., oil or water-based
liquids) may be disposed within the incompressible fluid chamber
156 within the interior 144 of the flexible member 142. The
flexible member 142 may be formed of and comprise a flexible
polymer material (e.g., an elastomer, a thermoplastic material, or
a fluoropolymer). The flexible member 142 may include one or more
extending features 164 that enable the tubular body 150 of the
bellow plungers to be longitudinally extended and compressed as the
fluid pump 100 is cycled. For example, the extending features 164
may include accordion style bends or folds that enable the tubular
body 150 of the flexible member 142 to extend and retract back and
forth in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the horizontal direction
from the perspective of FIG. 1) during operation of the fluid pump
100.
[0021] A subject fluid inlet 166 may be provided in the pump body
102 that leads into the subject fluid chamber 116 through the pump
body 102. A subject fluid inlet check valve 168 may be provided
proximate the subject fluid inlet 166 to ensure that subject fluid
is capable of flowing into the subject fluid chamber 116 through
the subject fluid inlet 166, but incapable of flowing out from the
subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid inlet 166. A
subject fluid outlet 170 may be provided in the pump body 102 that
leads out from the subject fluid chamber 116 through the pump body
102. A subject fluid outlet check valve 174 may be provided
proximate the subject fluid outlet 170 to ensure that subject fluid
is capable of flowing out from the subject fluid chamber 116
through the subject fluid outlet 170, but is incapable of flowing
into the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet
170.
[0022] A first drive fluid inlet 171 may be provided in the pump
body 102 that leads into the first drive fluid chamber 110 through
the pump body 102, and a second drive fluid inlet 172 may be
provided in the pump body 102 that leads into the second drive
fluid chamber 112. The first and second drive fluid inlets 171, 172
may have threaded portions for accepting a drive fluid hose or
tubing (as depicted in FIG. 4). At least one vent may be provided
in the pump body that leads into the first and second drive fluid
chambers 110, 112.
[0023] To facilitate a complete understanding of the operation of
the fluid pump 100, a complete pumping cycle of the fluid pump 100
(including a leftward stroke and a rightward stroke of the piston
118, from the perspective show in FIG.1) is described below.
[0024] A rightward stroke of a cycle of the pump body 102 assembly
begins by inputting pressurized drive fluid into the second drive
fluid chamber 112 through the second drive fluid inlet 172, which
urges the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to the right (from the
perspective of FIG. 1). The pressurized drive fluid may be input
using a shuttle valve arrangement. For example, pressurized drive
fluid may be input using a shuttle valve arrangement as described
in in U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,118 to Grgurich et al., issued Oct. 22,
1996, or U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,377 to Hung, issued Jan. 11, 2000, the
disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. As
the piston head 120 moves to the right, the elongated piston shaft
122 may be pulled to the right. Furthermore, by moving the piston
head 120 of the piston 118 to the right, a volume of the second
drive fluid chamber 112 may increase, and a volume of the first
drive fluid chamber 110 may decrease. As the volume of the first
drive fluid chamber 110 decreases, drive fluid present within the
first drive fluid chamber 110 may be vented out from the pump body
102 through the first drive fluid inlet 171 and/or at least one
valve.
[0025] During the rightward stroke, in some embodiments, the
elongated piston shaft 122, the distal end of which may be disposed
within the interior 144 of the flexible member 142, may be at least
partially withdrawn from the incompressible fluid chamber 156. As
discussed above, in other embodiments, the distal end 133 end the
elongated piston shaft 122 may not be disposed within the interior
of the flexible member 142 and may pull at least some of the
incompressible fluid out of the interior 144 of the flexible member
142 and into the piston shaft hole 136. Withdrawal of at least some
of the incompressible fluid 176 from the incompressible fluid
chamber 156 causes the flexible member 142 to retract and move to
the right (from the perspective of FIG. 1) during the rightward
stroke of the piston 118. As the flexible member 142 refracts, the
plunger head 158 of the flexible member 142 moves to the right
(from the perspective of FIG. 1). Refraction of the flexible member
142 and movement of the plunger head 158 to the right increases a
volume of the subject fluid chamber 116, which causes subject fluid
to be drawn through the subject fluid inlet 166 and into the
subject fluid chamber 116. Furthermore, increasing the volume of
the subject fluid chamber 116 may cause the subject fluid inlet
check valve 168 to open, which may allow subject fluid to flow into
the subject fluid chamber 116 and may cause the subject fluid
outlet check valve 174 to close, which may prevent any subject
fluid that may have been already been dispensed from the subject
fluid chamber 116 from being drawn back into the subject fluid
chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet 170.
[0026] In some embodiments, the piston 118 may be moved to the
right until the flexible member 142 is fully refracted. By fully
refracting the flexible member 142, a maximum volume of the subject
fluid chamber 116 may be achieved, which may assist in maximizing
an amount of subject fluid pumped through the pump body 102 during
a single cycle. In other embodiments, the flexible member 142 may
not be fully retracted during a cycle but may be only partially
extended. How much the flexible member 142 retracts during a cycle
of the fluid pump 100 may be adjusted as desired.
[0027] Upon completing the rightward stroke of the piston 118, a
leftward stroke begins by inputting pressurized drive fluid into
the first drive fluid chamber 110, which urges the piston head 120
of the piston 118 to the left (from the perspective of FIG. 1). As
discussed above, pressurized drive fluid may be input using a
shuttle valve arrangement. As the piston head 120 moves to the
left, the elongated piston shaft 122 may be pushed to the left. By
moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to the left, a volume
of the second drive fluid chamber 112 may decrease, and a volume of
the first drive fluid chamber 110 may increase. As the volume of
the second drive fluid chamber 112 decreases, drive fluid present
within the second drive fluid chamber 112 may be vented out from
the pump body 102 through the second drive fluid inlet 172 and/or
at least one vent.
[0028] During the leftward stroke, in some embodiments, the distal
end of the elongated piston shaft 122 inserted into or farther into
the incompressible fluid chamber 156. As discussed above, in other
embodiments, the elongated piston shaft 122 may not be inserted
into the incompressible fluid chamber 156 and may push at least
some incompressible fluid 176 into the incompressible fluid chamber
156 from the piston shaft hole 136. As the elongated piston shaft
122 moves into the incompressible fluid chamber 156, or pushes at
least some incompressible fluid 176 into the incompressible fluid
chamber 156, the elongated piston shaft 122 displaces at least some
of the incompressible fluid 176 disposed within the incompressible
fluid chamber 156, which generates pressure therein as the
incompressible fluid 176 pushes against the interior surface 148 of
the flexible member 142. The pressurization of the incompressible
fluid 176 within the incompressible fluid chamber 156 causes the
flexible member 142 to extend. As the flexible member 142 extends,
the plunger head 158 of the flexible member 142 moves to the left
(from the perspective of FIG. 1) within the second cavity 106.
[0029] Extension of the flexible member 142 causes subject fluid to
be dispensed out of the subject fluid chamber 116 through the
subject fluid outlet 170 responsive to the decrease in the volume
of the subject fluid chamber 116. Furthermore, dispensing subject
fluid out of the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject
fluid outlet 170 may cause the subject fluid inlet check valve 168
to close, which may prevent any subject fluid from being dispensed
out of the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid
inlet 166 and may cause the subject fluid outlet check valve 174 to
open, which may allow subject fluid to be dispensed out of the
subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet 170. In
some embodiments, the flexible member 142 may be extended until the
flexible member 142 substantially fills the second cavity 106 and
dispenses substantially all of the subject matter fluid out of the
subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet 170. In
other embodiments, the flexible member 142 may be only partially
extended and may dispense only a portion of the subject fluid out
of the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet
170.
[0030] By fully extending the flexible member 142, a maximum amount
of subject fluid may be pumped out from the pump body 102 during a
single cycle. How much the flexible member 142 extends during a
cycle of the fluid pump 100 may be adjusted as desired. The piston
118 may be moved to the left until the piston 118 is in a starting
position of the rightward stroke, thereby completing one full cycle
of the fluid pump 100, at which point, a new cycle begins. This
reciprocating action may be continued, which may result in at least
substantially continuous flow of the subject fluid through the
fluid pump 100.
[0031] Thus, to drive the pumping action of the fluid pump 100, the
first drive fluid chamber 110 and the second drive fluid chamber
112 may be pressurized in an alternating manner to cause the piston
118, elongated piston shaft 122, and flexible member 142 to
reciprocate back and forth within the pump body 102, as discussed
above. For example, the fluid pump 100 may use the shuttle valve
arrangement to facilitate pressuring the first and second drive
fluid chambers 110, 112 in an alternating manner. The cycle
discussed above is not intended to indicate an order of operations
of the fluid pump 100. It is understood that the pumping action of
the fluid pump 100 may be started with the piston 118 at any
position.
[0032] FIG. 2 is cross-sectional side view of the fluid pump 100 of
FIG. 1, showing vectors representing forces exerted on various
parts of the fluid pump 100 during a pumping cycle of the fluid
pump 100.The fluid pump 100 may pressurize the subject fluid to a
pressure higher than a pressure to which the pressurized drive
fluid is pressurized. For example, in some embodiments, during a
leftward stroke, the pressurized drive fluid may be pressurized to
a first pressure in the first drive fluid chamber 110. The first
pressure of the pressurized drive fluid, as depicted in FIG. 2 as
vectors P.sub.1, may be exerted on the first surface area SA1 of
the first side 124 of the piston head 120. During the leftward
stroke, the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft 122 of
may exert a second pressure, as depicted in FIG. 2 as vectors
P.sub.2, on the incompressible fluid 176 within the incompressible
fluid chamber 156 within flexible member 142. In some embodiments,
a force exerted on the first surface area SA1 of the first side 124
of the piston head 120 may be substantially equal to a force
exerted by the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft 122 on
the incompressible fluid 176. Furthermore because pressure is equal
to force per area (P=F/A) and because the second surface area SA2
of the end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft 122 may be
smaller than the first surface area SA1 of the first side 124 of
the piston 118, the second pressure P.sub.2 may be larger than the
first pressure P.sub.1. Thus, the incompressible fluid 176 may be
subject and pressurized to the second pressure P.sub.2, which may
be higher than the first pressure P.sub.1 of the pressurized drive
fluid. Put another way, the piston 118 may be configured to amplify
the first pressure P.sub.1 experienced on the first side 124 of the
piston head 120 to the second pressure P.sub.2 experienced by the
end surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft 122. Pressuring the
incompressible fluid 176 to the second pressure, may cause a third
pressure, as depicted in FIG. 2 as vectors P.sub.3, to be exerted
on the interior surface 148 of the flexible member 142.
[0033] In some embodiments, the third pressure P.sub.3 exerted by
the incompressible fluid 176 on the interior surface 148 of the
flexible member 142 is substantially equal to a fourth pressure, as
depicted in FIG. 2 as vectors P.sub.4, exerted by the exterior
surface 146 on the subject fluid within the subject fluid chamber
116. Furthermore, a third surface area of the interior surface 148
of the flexible member 142 and a fourth surface area of the
exterior surface 146 of the flexible member 142 may be
substantially equal. Therefore, a the third pressure P.sub.3
exerted on the third surface area of the interior surface 148 of
the flexible member 142 may be substantially equal to the fourth
pressure P.sub.4 exerted on the subject fluid by the exterior
surface 146 of the flexible member 142. Thus, the subject fluid may
be subject and pressurized to the fourth pressure P.sub.4
substantially equal to the second pressure P.sub.2 of the
incompressible fluid 176. Accordingly, the subject fluid may be
pressurized to the fourth pressure P.sub.4, which may be higher
than the first pressure P.sub.1 of the pressurized drive fluid. In
some embodiments, the subject fluid may experience a fourth
pressure P.sub.4 that is at least two times the first pressure
P.sub.1 experienced by the pressurized drive fluid. In other
embodiments, the subject fluid may experience a fourth pressure
P.sub.4 that is at least four times the first pressure P.sub.1
experienced by the pressurized drive fluid. In yet other
embodiments, the subject fluid may experience a fourth pressure
P.sub.4 that is at least six times the first pressure P.sub.1
experienced by the pressurized drive fluid.
[0034] A ratio of the first surface area SA1 of the first side 124
of the piston head 120 to the second surface area SA2 of the end
surface 134 of the elongated piston shaft 122 may be adjusted to
achieve different increases in pressure. Subject fluids having
increased pressure may be used when performing tasks, such as,
generating a spray of the subject liquid.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow chart demonstrating a method 300
of pressurizing a subject fluid while pumping the subject fluid. An
embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method 300 of
pressuring a subject fluid while pumping the subject fluid using
the fluid pump 100 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the
method 300 may include action 301 of inputting pressurized drive
fluid into the first drive fluid chamber 110. The pressurized drive
fluid may be pressurized to a first pressure and may be input into
the first drive fluid chamber 110 through the first drive fluid
inlet 171. The pressurized drive fluid may comprise compressed gas
(e.g., air). The method 300 may also include action 302 of moving
the piston 118 along an axial length of the first cavity 104 in a
first direction with the pressurized drive fluid. In some
embodiments, the first direction may be to the left along an axial
length of the first cavity 104 (from perspective of FIG. 1). Moving
the piston 118 to the left may also include moving the elongated
piston shaft 122 of the piston 118 to the left. The method 300 may
also include action 304 of increasing a volume of the first drive
fluid chamber 110 while decreasing a volume of the second drive
fluid chamber 112. The volume of the first drive fluid chamber 110
may be increased by moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to
the left (from perspective of FIG. 1).
[0036] The method 300 may further include action 306 of
pressurizing the incompressible fluid 176 to a second pressure,
which may be higher than the first pressure to which the
pressurized drive fluid is pressurized. The incompressible fluid
176 may be pressurized to the second pressure by pushing the
elongated piston shaft 122 into the interior 144 of the flexible
member 142 with the piston 118 the piston head 120. The first
surface area SA1 of the first side 124 of the piston head 120 may
be larger than the second surface area SA2 of the end surface 134
of the elongated piston shaft 122, which may result in the
incompressible fluid 176 being subject to the second pressure which
is higher than the first pressure to which the pressurized drive
fluid is pressurized.
[0037] The method 300 may include action 308 of extending the
flexible member 142 to at least partially fill the second cavity
106. In some embodiments, the flexible member 142 may be extended
by inserting the elongated piston shaft 122 at least partially into
the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 and displacing at least
some of the incompressible fluid 176 disposed in the interior 144
of the flexible member 142. In other embodiments, the flexible
member 142 may be extended by pushing at least some incompressible
fluid 176 from the piston shaft hole 136 and into the
incompressible fluid chamber 156 with the elongated piston shaft
122. In other words, by inserting the elongated piston shaft 122
into the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 or by pushing at
least some incompressible fluid 176 into the interior 144 of the
flexible member 142, an internal volume of the flexible member 142
is increased, which may cause the flexible member 142 to extend to
accommodate a larger internal volume. In some embodiments, the
amount the flexible member 142 extends during a cycle of the fluid
pump 100 may be adjusted by adjusting a distance traveled by the
piston 118 during the leftward stroke within the pump body 102. The
distance traveled by the piston 118 during the leftward stroke may
be adjusted by inputting more or less pressurized drive fluid into
the first drive fluid chamber 110.
[0038] The method 300 may also include action 310 of pressuring the
subject fluid to a fourth pressure substantially equal to the
second pressure to which the incompressible fluid 176 is
pressurized and higher than the first pressure to which the
pressurized drive fluid is pressurized. The subject fluid may be
pressurized by the incompressible fluid 176. As discussed above,
the third surface area of the interior surface 148 of the flexible
member 142 may be substantially equal to the fourth surface area of
the exterior surface 146 of the flexible member 142. Furthermore,
the third pressure exerted by the incompressible fluid 176 on the
interior surface 148 of the flexible member 142 may be transferred
with about a 1:1 ratio by the exterior surface 146 to the subject
fluid. Furthermore, because the third and fourth surface areas are
substantially equal, the fourth pressure experienced by the subject
fluid may be substantially equal to the third pressure exerted by
the incompressible fluid 176. Thus, the subject fluid may be
pressurized to the fourth pressure substantially equal to the
second pressure to which the incompressible fluid 176 is
pressurized. Furthermore, as discussed above in regard to action
306, because the second pressure of the incompressible fluid 176 is
higher than the first pressure of the pressurized drive fluid, the
fourth pressure of the subject fluid may be higher than the first
pressure of the pressurized drive fluid. In some embodiments, the
method 300 includes pressurizing the subject fluid to a fourth
pressure that is at least two times higher than the first pressure
of the pressurized drive fluid. In other embodiments, the method
300 includes pressurizing the subject fluid to a fourth pressure
that is at least four times higher than the first pressure of the
pressurized drive fluid. In yet other embodiments, the method 300
includes pressurizing the subject fluid to a fourth pressure that
is at least six times higher than the first pressure of the
pressurized drive fluid.
[0039] The method 300 may include action 312 of dispensing at least
some subject fluid out of the subject fluid chamber 116 thought the
subject fluid outlet 170. Extending the flexible member 142 and at
least partially filling the second cavity 106 with the flexible
member 142 may dispense the subject fluid out of the subject fluid
chamber 116. Furthermore, extending the flexible member 142 may
decrease the volume of the subject fluid chamber 116 and may
dispense some subject fluid out of the subject fluid chamber 116
through the subject fluid outlet 170. Moreover, dispensing subject
fluid out of the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject
fluid outlet 170 may cause the subject fluid inlet check valve 168
to close, which may prevent any subject fluid from being dispensed
out of the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid
inlet 166. Dispensing subject fluid out of the subject fluid
chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet 170 may also cause the
subject fluid outlet check valve 174 to open, which may allow
subject fluid to be pushed out of the subject fluid chamber 116
through the subject fluid outlet 170. In some embodiments,
substantially all of the subject fluid may be dispensed out of the
subject fluid chamber 116. In other embodiments, only a portion of
the subject fluid may be dispensed out the subject fluid chamber
116.
[0040] The method 300 may further include action 314 of inputting
pressurized drive fluid into the second drive fluid chamber 112 to
initiate a rightward stroke. As discussed above, the pressurized
drive fluid may be input using a shuttle valve arrangement. The
pressurized drive fluid may be input through the second drive fluid
inlet 172. The method 300 may include an action 316 of moving the
piston 118 along an axial length of the first cavity 104 in a
second direction with the pressurized drive fluid. In some
embodiments, the second direction may be to the right along an
axial length of the first cavity (from the perspective of FIG. 1).
Moving the piston 118 to the right may also include moving the
elongated piston shaft 122 to the right. The method 300 may also
include an action 318 of increasing a volume of the second drive
fluid chamber 112 while decreasing a volume of the first drive
fluid chamber 110. The volume of the second drive fluid chamber 112
may be increased by moving the piston head 120 of the piston 118 to
the right (from the perspective of FIG. 1) within the first cavity
104.
[0041] The method 300 may include action 320 of retracting the
flexible member 142. In some embodiments, the flexible member 142
may be retracted by withdrawing the elongated piston shaft 122 at
least partially out of the interior 144 of the flexible member 142.
In other embodiments, the flexible member 142 may be refracted by
pulling at least some incompressible fluid 176 out of the interior
144 of the flexible member 142 with the elongated piston shaft. In
other words, by withdrawing the elongated piston shaft 122 out of
the interior 144 of the flexible member 142 or by pulling at least
some incompressible fluid 176 out of the interior 144 of the
flexible member 142, the internal volume of the flexible member 142
is decreased causing the flexible member 142 to retract to
accommodate a smaller internal volume. Retracting the flexible
member 142 may increase a volume of the subject fluid chamber 116,
which may initiate action 322 of drawing subject fluid into the
subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid inlet 166. By
drawing subject fluid into the subject fluid chamber 116 through
the subject fluid inlet 166 the subject fluid inlet check valve 168
may be caused to open, which may allow subject fluid to be drawn
into the subject fluid chamber 116 through the subject fluid inlet
166. Furthermore, dispensing subject fluid out of the subject fluid
chamber 116 through the subject fluid outlet 170 may cause the
subject fluid outlet check valve 174 to close, which may prevent
subject fluid that has already be dispensed from the subject fluid
chamber 116 from being drawn back into to the subject fluid chamber
116 through the subject fluid outlet 170.
[0042] The above discussed method 300 of pressuring a subject fluid
and pumping the subject fluid may be repeated to perform a
reciprocating action. This reciprocating action may be continued,
which may result in at least substantially continuous flow of the
subject fluid through the fluid pump 100.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a pump system
including a plurality of pneumatically operated fluid pumps fluid
pumps as shown in FIG. 1 operably connected in parallel. In some
embodiments, a plurality of fluid pumps may be connected together
in a parallel with a first subject fluid tube 480 connecting the
subject fluid outlet 470 of a first fluid pump 400 with the subject
fluid outlet 472 of a second fluid pump 401. Furthermore, the first
subject fluid tube 480 may connect the subject fluid outlet 470 of
the first fluid pump 400 and the subject fluid outlet 472 of the
second fluid pump 401 to a first common source 473. The plurality
of pumps may further be connected in parallel with a second subject
fluid tube 481 connecting a subject fluid inlet 475 of the first
fluid pump 400 with a subject fluid inlet 471 of the second fluid
pump 401. The second subject fluid tube 481 may also connect the
subject fluid inlet 475 of the first fluid pump 400 and the subject
fluid inlet 471 to a second common source 474. Placing multiple
fluid pumps in parallel may allow for maintaining a stable pressure
in the subject fluid while pumping the subject fluid.
[0044] The example embodiments of the disclosure described above do
not limit the scope of the invention, since these embodiments are
merely examples of embodiments of the invention, which is defined
by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of
this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the disclosure, in
addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternate
useful combinations of the elements described, will become apparent
to those skilled in the art from the description. Such
modifications and embodiments are also intended to fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *