U.S. patent number 3,687,580 [Application Number 05/040,543] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-29 for apparatus capable of use as a pump or a motor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Griffiths Fuel Injection (Development) Limited. Invention is credited to Kenneth Griffiths.
United States Patent |
3,687,580 |
Griffiths |
August 29, 1972 |
APPARATUS CAPABLE OF USE AS A PUMP OR A MOTOR
Abstract
There is disclosed hereinafter an apparatus which may be used as
a pump, particularly suitable for fuel injection, or as a fluid
driven motor. The apparatus comprises at least one flexible
diaphragm which defines with a supporting part thereof a chamber
for receiving fluid, and a compression element which is operatively
connected to a rotary shaft and moves with an oscillatory action
normal to the diaphragm, and bears on the diaphragm, to compress
the chamber intermittently so that fluid in the chamber in
pressurized and leaves the chamber with a pulse-like action.
Inventors: |
Griffiths; Kenneth (Walsall,
EN) |
Assignee: |
Griffiths Fuel Injection
(Development) Limited (Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent,
EN)
|
Family
ID: |
26258951 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/040,543 |
Filed: |
May 26, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
May 31, 1969 [GB] |
|
|
27,685/69 |
Jun 27, 1969 [GB] |
|
|
32,556/69 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
418/45;
417/476 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B
43/0072 (20130101); F03C 7/00 (20130101); F04B
43/123 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F04B
43/12 (20060101); F04B 43/00 (20060101); F03C
5/00 (20060101); F03C 5/02 (20060101); F01c
005/00 (); F04b 043/08 (); F04b 043/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;418/45 ;417/476,477
;92/132 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Freeh; William L.
Assistant Examiner: Gluck; Richard E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus capable of use as a pump or as a motor comprising:
a housing having a cylindrical inner surface;
a rotary shaft journalled in said housing axially of said inner
surface;
eccentric means rotatable with said shaft;
a cylindrical compression member mounted on said eccentric means
within said housing;
restraining means secured to said housing and engaged with said
compression member to prevent said member from rotating with said
eccentric means but to allow said compression member, by the rotary
action of said eccentric means, to oscillate relative to the
rotational axis of said shaft;
a closed-ended tubular member having a flexible supporting part and
a flexible diaphragm of thinner section than said supporting part,
which said supporting part and diaphragm together define an arcuate
closed fluid-receiving chamber which extends through an arc of
substantially less than 360.degree., said supporting part having a
fluid entry therein which opens into said chamber radially through
said supporting part at one end thereof and a fluid outlet which
opens into said chamber radially through said supporting part at
the opposite end thereof, and said tubular member being mounted by
said supporting part on said inner surface circumferentially
thereof and directly opposite the periphery of said compression
member with said chamber extending arcuately adjacent part of the
periphery of said compression member and said diaphragm being
towards, and lying on a circle centered on, the rotational axis of
said rotary shaft, said circle being of a diameter substantially
equal to the diameter of said compression member;
and a normally closed pulse valve at said fluid outlet adapted to
open when subjected to fluid pressure above a predetermined
value,
the construction and arrangement being such that in use as said
compression member oscillates its periphery bears intermittently on
said diaphragm and urges said diaphragm resiliently towards said
supporting part to cause said chamber to be compressed
progressively from said fluid entry to said fluid outlet, and
thereby to cause the pressure of fluid in said chamber to be
increased to a level which opens said pulse valve and the fluid
flows under pressure out of said chamber, and such that during each
cycle of oscillating motion of said compression member there is a
phase in which said chamber is not compressed by said member and
said pulse valve is closed, the flow of fluid out of said chamber
in consequence being intermittent and pulse-like.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member
comprises an arcuate pad of flexible material which forms said
supporting part and is provided with said fluid entry and outlet,
and on an inner circumferential surface of said pad a thin-walled,
hollow protruberance which extends along a substantial part of the
length of said inner circumferential surface and which forms said
diaphragm, the interior of said protruberance forming said
chamber.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member
comprises an annular pad of flexible material which forms said
supporting part and is provided with said fluid entry and outlet,
and on an inner circumferential surface of said pad a thin-walled,
hollow protruberance which extends along said inner circumferential
surface and which forms said diaphragm, the interior of said
protruberance forming said chamber.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said diaphragm, and hence
said chamber, tapers towards one end.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of
said diaphragms, and hence a plurality of said chambers, disposed
at angularly spaced intervals around said compression member which
as it oscillates bears in turn on said diaphragms to compress their
associated chambers.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of
said diaphragms, and hence a plurality of said chambers, and a
plurality of said compression members, there being at least one of
said diaphragms positioned adjacent the periphery of each said
compression member.
7. Apparatus capable of use as a pump or as a motor comprising:
a housing having a cylindrical inner surface;
a rotary shaft journalled in said housing axially of said inner
surface;
eccentric means rotatable with said shaft;
a cylindrical compression member mounted on said eccentric means
within said housing;
restraining means secured to said housing and engaged with said
compression member to prevent said member from rotating with said
eccentric means but to allow said compression member, by the rotary
action of said eccentric means, to oscillate relative to the
rotational axis of said shaft;
a closed-ended tubular member having a flexible supporting part and
a flexible diaphragm of thinner section than said supporting part,
which said supporting part and diaphragm together define an
arcuate, closed fluid-receiving chamber which extends through an
arc of substantially less than 360.degree., said supporting part
having a fluid entry therein which opens into said chamber radially
through said supporting part at one end thereof and a fluid outlet
which opens into said chamber radially through said supporting part
at the opposite end thereof;
a normally closed pulse valve at said fluid outlet adapted to open
when subjected to fluid pressure above a predetermined value;
a movable member mounted in said housing opposite the periphery of
said compression member for movement towards and away from the
rotational axis of said rotary shaft, which said movable member
forms part of said inner surface and on which said movable member
said tubular member is mounted by said supporting part directly
opposite the periphery of said compression member, with said
chamber extending arcuately adjacent part of the periphery of said
compression member and said diaphragm being towards, and lying on a
circle centred on, the rotational axis of said rotary shaft, said
circle being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of
said compression member,
and means for moving said movable member towards and away from the
rotational axis of said rotary shaft thereby to cause said tubular
member to be moved towards and away from said compression member,
the construction and arrangement being such that in use as said
compression member oscillates its periphery bears intermittently on
said diaphragm and urges said diaphragm resiliently towards said
supporting part to cause said chamber to be compressed
progressively from said fluid entry to said fluid outlet, and
thereby to cause the pressure of fluid in said chamber to be
increased to a level which opens said pulse valve and the fluid
flows under pressure out of said chamber, and such that during each
cycle of oscillatory motion of said compression member there is a
phase in which said chamber is not compressed by said member and
said pulse valve is closed, the flow of liquid out of said chamber
in consequence being intermittent and pulse-like, the extent by
which said chamber is compressed being adjustable by varying the
position of said movable member, and thus of said tubular member,
relative to the rotational axis of said rotary shaft.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said movable member is an
arcuate shoe pivoted to said housing adjacent one end of said shoe
for angular movement towards and away from said rotational axis of
said rotary shaft, and said means for moving said movable member
comprising a cam engageable with said movable member.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said movable member is an
arcuate shoe having integral therewith parallel tubular bosses, and
wherein fixed parallel pegs are engaged in said bosses, and said
bosses are slidable along said pegs such that said movable member
can be moved linearly towards and away from said rotational axis of
said rotary shaft.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus capable of use as a pump for
imparting energy to fluids, or as a fluid-driven motor.
An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus capable
of use as a pump or a motor comprising at least one flexible
diaphragm which defines with a diaphragm-supporting part a chamber
for receiving fluid, and compressing means operable connected to a
rotary shaft and movable with substantially oscillatory action
normal to the diaphragm so as to bear on the diaphragm to compress
the chamber intermittently and thereby cause fluid supplied to the
chamber in use to be pressurized in the chamber.
The apparatus may be used with gaseous and liquid fluids. Where the
apparatus is used as a pump fluid will normally be supplied
continually to the chamber at a predetermined pressure. The
intermittent compressing of the chamber by the compression means
causes the fluid to be pressurized in the chamber and to be
propelled out of the chamber under pressure with a pulse-like
action. There may be just one diaphragm, and hence just one
chamber, or there may be a plurality of diaphragms. When the
apparatus is used as a pump, the rotary shaft operates the
compressing means. Where the apparatus is used as a motor it will
usually be necessary to have at least two diaphragms and hence two
chambers, which are successively operated upon by the compression
means, in order to avoid dead spots in the operation of the motor.
Fluid is supplied continually to each chamber under pressure and
the build up of pressure in the chamber due to compression of the
chamber by the compression means causes movement of the compression
means which is transferred to the rotary shaft to rotate the shaft.
The fluid again leaves the chamber with a pulse-like action.
Normally the chamber defined by the diaphragm and supporting part
will be elongated, with fluid being supplied to the chamber near
one end, and leaving the chamber at or near its opposite end. The
chamber thus defined extends arcuately about, and usually
substantially concentrically with, the axis of the rotary shaft.
The chamber may taper towards one end.
The diaphragm may be a separate flexible membrane member secured
and sealed to the supporting part. In such an arrangement the
diaphragm may be of suitable rubber, synthetic rubber, plastics
material or even possibly of metal having the required flexibility.
It is preferred, however, because sealing problems are then
avoided, that the diaphragm is formed integrally with the
supporting part. It may for example be formed by a wall, or part of
a wall, of a flexible tubular member, the remainder of which member
constitutes the supporting part for the diaphragm. A tubular member
may be provided in which the diaphragm is formed by a thin-walled,
hollow, elongated, protruberance on one surface of a pad of
flexible material which forms the supporting part, the interior of
the protruberance forming the chamber for the fluid. A flexible,
preferably strong, wear-resistant plastics material is suitable for
the tubular member, although rubber and synthetic rubber may
possibly be used as alternative materials, provided that they have
sufficient strength and resistance to wear. The diaphragm-forming
part of the tubular member is on the inner circumferential side of
the tubular member. Fluid inlet and outlet passages leading
respectively to and from the chamber open to the outer
circumferential side of the tubular member through the supporting
part where connection is made to fluid supply and discharge pipes.
The tubular member has sealed ends, and the inlet and outlet
passages are provided near the ends.
It is preferred that the supporting part, whether it is formed
integrally with the diaphragm or not, is flexible in order that it
will absorb some of the shock loads resulting from the compressing
engagements of the compression means with the diaphragm, which
might otherwise cause choking of fluid in the chamber.
It is an essential requirement of the apparatus in accordance with
the present invention that the compression means bears on the
diaphragm to compress the chamber by movement of the compression
means normal to the diaphragm. Hence there is no rolling or sliding
contact between the compression means and the diaphragm, and
therefore there is little or no friction between them so that wear
on the diaphragm is minimized.
The compression means may comprise a disc or annulus which is
mounted on but restrained from rotation with an eccentric rotatable
with the rotary shaft, so that, because of the eccentric, the disc
or annulus moves relative to the axis of the shaft with an
oscillatory action and its periphery progressively describes a
circle of larger diameter than that of the disc or annulus, and as
it does so it bears on the diaphragm causing the chamber to be
progressively compressed from its inlet end to its outlet end, with
the result that fluid in the chamber is forced to flow along the
chamber to the outlet. In the case of the apparatus being used as a
pump the pressure of the fluid increases as it is forced to flow
along the chamber. It will be appreciated that although the chamber
is progressively compressed from its inlet end to its outlet end,
this is effected by the disc's bearing on the diaphragm to apply
pressure only in a direction substantially normal to the surface of
the diaphragm, and not by a rolling action. Where there is more
than one diaphragm they may be disposed at angularly spaced
intervals around a single disc or annulus which bears on the
diaphragms in turn to compress their associated chambers, or
alternatively there may be two or more discs or annuli each of
which is arranged to co-operate with one or more diaphragms.
If desired, means may be provided for varying the extent by which
fluid in the chamber will be pressurized.
There are various uses to which the apparatus may be put. One
application for which the apparatus when used as a pump is
particularly suitable is for fuel injection in motor vehicles. It
may be applied to single and multi-cylinder engines.
Embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the invention which
take the form of fuel injection pumps for single cylinder internal
combustion engines, will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-section through one form of fuel injection
pump,
FIG. 2 is a partly exploded axial section through the pump taken on
line 2--2 of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a cross-section through a further form of fuel injection
pump which is adjustable,
FIG. 4 is a cross-section through another adjustable form of fuel
injection pump,
FIG. 5 is a small partly sectioned front view of a modified form of
integral diaphragm and support part which may be used in the pump
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
FIG. 6 is a partly sectioned perspective view of a modified form of
integral diaphragm and support part which may be used in the pump
shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 is a cross-section through a modified form of the fuel
injection pump shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings,
and
FIG. 8 is a further modified form of the pump shown in FIGS. 1 and
2.
The fuel injection pump shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings has a cylindrical housing 10 having a peripheral wall 11
and an annular back wall 12 formed with a central,
rearwardly-directed, axial sleeve portion 13. A circular cover
plate 14, which seats at its periphery on the forward edge of the
peripheral wall 11, closes the front of the housing 10.
In the sleeve 13 is a bearing 15 in which is journalled a shaft
portion 16 of an eccentric 17 disposed in the housing 10. In this
instance the sleeve 13 is arranged to be received into a socket 18
of complementary diameter formed in a casing 19, FIG. 2, of an
internal combustion engine. When the sleeve 13 is received into the
socket 18 the rear face of the back wall 12 of the housing 10 lies
flush against the engine casing 19. At its outer end 20 the shaft
16 of the eccentric 17 is squared and engages in a complementary
socket 21 in the end of a drive shaft 22 which may for example be
driven by the cam-shaft drive of the engine, or by the crank shaft
drive, or any other suitable part of the engine.
Fitted to the eccentric 17 within the housing 10 is a bearing 23 on
which is centrally mounted a metal disc 24 of somewhat smaller
diameter than the internal diameter of the peripheral wall 11 of
the housing. In the periphery of the disc 24 there is a notch 25 of
elongated rectangular shape which extends radially of the disc.
Engaged in this notch 25 is a square-section block 26 having
co-axial journals 27 at its opposite ends which are received into
bearing sockets 27' and 27" in the back wall 12 of the housing 10
and the inner plate 14 respectively. The block 26 and its journals
27 may be formed as a moulding in a suitable plastics material
having self-lubricating qualities. The width of the notch 25 is
only slightly larger than that of the block 26 but the depth of the
notch 25, that is the dimension of the notch measured radially of
the disc 24, is appreciably greater than the dimension of the block
26 measured in the same direction. The engagement of the block 26
in the notch 25 restrains the disc 24 from rotating with the
eccentric 17, and hence with the drive shaft 22, but allows the
disc to move relative to the axis of the shaft under the action of
the eccentric so that the periphery of the disc progressively
describes a circle of larger diameter than that of the disc.
Inside the housing 10 a tubular member 28 is secured against the
internal surface of the peripheral wall 11. The tubular member 28
extends arcuately through approximately 300.degree. along the
peripheral wall 11 and the radially innermost surface of the
tubular member lies on a circle of diameter approximately equal to
the diameter of the disc. The tubular member 28 is of regular oval
cross-section with sealed ends 29, and it forms a composite
diaphragm 30 and support 31 for the diaphragm; the diaphragm 30
being formed by the radially innermost wall portion of the tubular
member, and the support 31 being formed by the radially outermost
wall portion, the opposite side walls portions defining the rounded
ends of the oval cross-section of the tubular member, and the
sealed ends 29 of the tubular member. The tubular member 28 is
formed from flexible, strong, wear-resistant synthetic plastics
material, such as for example VITON (Trade Mark), which is moulded
to shape. The interior of the tubular member 28 forms a closed
chamber 32. The sealed ends 29 of the tubular member 28 are
disposed at the side of the housing 10 nearest to the block 26 and
they lie on opposite sides of, at equal distances from, a notional
line extending radially of the disc 24 through the axis of the
journals 27 of the block. Formed integrally with the radially
outermost wall portion of the tubular member 28 near to each of the
sealed ends 29 is a tubular spigot portion 33, 34 the bore of which
opens into the chamber 32. The one spigot portion 33 provides an
inlet to the chamber 32 and the other spigot portion 34 provides an
outlet from the chamber. The spigot portions 33 and 34 respectively
communicate with the bores of internally screw-threaded bosses 35
and 36 formed on the exterior of the peripheral wall 11 of the
housing 10. Connected to that boss 35 with the bore of which the
inlet spigot 33 communicates is a non-return valve 37 of known type
and connected in turn to the non-return valve 37 is a fuel supply
pipe 38. Connected to the other boss 36, with the bore of which the
outlet spigot 34 communicates, is a normally closed pulse-valve 39,
also of known type, to which is connected a fuel discharge pipe 40
leading to a fuel control and injector, not shown.
The cover plate 14 is secured in place by means of screws 41 the
shanks of which extend through plain, countersunk holes 42 in the
cover plate, through holes 43 in the disc 24 and through plain
holes 44 in the back wall 12 of the housing 10, and are screwed
into tapped holes 80 in the engine casing 19. The holes 43 in the
disc 24 are sufficiently larger in diameter than the shanks of the
screws 41 to allow for the movement of the disc with the eccentric
17 without interference from the screws.
In use fuel is continually supplied at a constant pre-determined
pressure to the chamber 32 by way of the fuel supply pipe 38,
non-return valve 37 and inlet spigot 33. Because of the action of
the eccentric 17 rotating with the drive shaft 22, the periphery of
the disc 24 engages with the diaphragm part 30 of the tubular
member 28 and causes the chamber 32 to be progressively compressed
from its inlet end to its outlet end, with the result that fluid in
the chamber is forced to flow along the chamber to the outlet
spigot 34. The pressure of the fluid in the chamber increases as it
is forced to flow along the chamber. The pressure of the fluid
opens the pulse-valve 39 so that the fluid can pass out of the
chamber, with a pulse-like action, by way of the outlet spigot 34
and to the discharge pipe 40. When the disc moves out of engagement
with the diaphragm, and hence the chamber 32 is uncompressed and
the fuel in the chamber returns to its normal, pre-determined,
pressure, the pulse-valve 39 closes.
The resilience of the tubular member absorbs some of the shock load
resulting from the compressing engagement of the disc 24 with the
diaphragm part 30, and thereby avoids the possibility of fuel
choking in the chamber 32.
Instead of the tubular member 28 described and illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2, an annular pad 45 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 5,
which is moulded from flexible, strong, wear-resistant plastics
material. Formed on the inner circumferential surface of the pad 45
is a thin-walled, hollow, protruberance 46 which extends along a
substantial part of the circumferential length of the inner surface
of the pad. This protruberance 46 constitutes a diaphragm and the
pad constitutes an integral support for the diaphragm. The interior
of the protruberance 46 forms a chamber 47. A fuel inlet 48 and a
fuel outlet 49 opening respectively into and from opposite ends of
the chamber 47, extend from the outer circumferential surface of
the pad 45 for connection to fuel supply and discharge pipes
respectively. The pad 45 need not necessarily be a complete
annulus.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the fuel injection pump again
has a housing 10 which is of basically similar form to the housing
10 of the last described embodiment except that part of the
peripheral wall 11 is removed leaving an opening 50 at one side of
the housing. Fitted in this opening 50 is an arcuate shoe 51 an
inner surface 52 of which forms in effect a continuation of the
inner surface of the peripheral wall of the housing 10. The shoe 51
has an integral lug 53 near one end by which it is arranged to be
pivoted to a suitable fixed mounting so that the shoe can be swung
angularly about the pivot towards and away from the axis of the
housing 10.
Secured on the inner surface 52 of the shoe 51 is an oblong,
similarly arcuately curved, moulded tubular member 54 which is
generally similar to the tubular member 28 of the first described
embodiment except that it is shorter; the innermost wall portion of
the tubular member forming a diaphragm 55 and the remainder of the
member forming in effect a support 56 for the diaphragm. This
tubular member 54 also has sealed ends 57, and, on its outer
surface 58, a tubular inlet spigot 59 the bore of which opens to
one end of a chamber 60 defined by the interior of the tubular
member 54, and a tubular outlet spigot 61 the bore of which opens
to the opposite end of the chamber 60. The inlet spigot 59
communicates with the bore of an internally threaded boss 62 on the
outer surface 58 of the shoe 51 at the end of the shoe remote from
the lug 53, to which boss 62 on a non-return valve 63 is connected,
to which in turn a fuel supply pipe 64 is connected. The outlet
spigot 61 communicates with the bore of an internally threaded boss
65 at the opposite end of the shoe 51 to which boss a normally
closed pulse-valve 66 is connected. A fuel discharge pipe 67 is
connected to the pulse-valve 66.
On the outer surface 58 of the shoe intermediate the lug 53 and the
boss 62 is a raised bearing surface 68 which is engaged by a cam 69
pivoted to a suitable fixed mounting, not shown, and which is
conveniently controlled by an accelerator of the vehicle to which
the pump is fitted in use. Actuation of the cam 69 causes the shoe
to swing towards the axis of the housing 10. The shoe may normally
be urged in the direction away from the axis of the housing by
spring loading, not shown.
The rest of the pump shown in FIG. 3 is similar to the pump of the
first described embodiment and the eccentric, disc and block are
identified by the same reference numerals as those used in the
previous embodiment for these parts. The disc 24 is operated as
before.
Under the action of the eccentric 17 a portion of the periphery of
the disc 24 is caused to move into contact with the diaphragm 55
once in every revolution of the eccentric. At low idling speeds of
the engine the peripheral portion of the disc 24 engages and
presses on the diaphragm 55 only near the inlet end of the chamber
60 and causes just that end portion of the chamber to be
compressed. As the chamber 60 is compressed fuel is forced from
that end portion of the chamber into the remaining un-compressed
portion of the chamber, with the result that the pressure of the
fuel in the chamber is increased and the fuel is urged to leave the
chamber by way of the outlet spigot 61. The increased pressure of
the fuel opens the pulse valve 66 so that the fuel can pass to the
discharge pipe 67. When the disc 24 moves out of compressing
engagement with the diaphragm 55 and the chamber returns to its
normal state so that the fuel return to its normal, pre-determined
pressure, the pulse valve 66 closes. Upon turning the cam 69 so
that the shoe 51 is swung towards the disc the area of the
diaphragm 55 which the disc engages is increased, and therefore
more of the chamber is caused to be compressed. This of course
increases the pressure of the fuel in the un-compressed portion of
the chamber and increases the velocity of the flow of the fuel out
of the chamber.
In FIG. 4 an alternative arrangement is shown for varying the
extent by which fuel in the chamber is pressurized. The fuel
injection pump is generally similar to that illustrated by FIG. 3
of the drawings, and the corresponding parts of the pump are
identified by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 3.
The difference between the two forms of pump lies in the fact that
in the arrangement of FIG. 4 the shoe 63 is not pivotally movable
but instead is linearly movable towards and away from the disc 24.
In this instance there are formed integrally on the outer surface
58 of the shoe 63 two parallel, tubular bosses 70, one being
positioned near to the inlet boss 62, and the other being
positioned near to the outlet boss 65. These tubular bosses 70 are
engaged by fixing pegs 71. The bosses 70 are slidable along the
pegs 71. A cam, not shown, such as the cam 69 in the last described
embodiment, may act on the outer surface 58 to cause the shoe, and
hence the diaphragm part 55 of the tubular member 54, to be moved
linearly of the pegs 71 towards and away from the disc 24 to vary
the area of the diaphragm which is engaged by the disc and thereby
vary the extent by which the chamber 60 is compressed so as to
alter the pressure of the fuel as required. The movement of the
shoe 63 relative to the pegs 71 may be effected in other convenient
ways, as will be appreciated. Again, the shoe 63 may normally be
spring-loaded away from the disc 24.
Instead of the tubular member 54 provided in the pumps illustrated
by FIGS. 3 and 4, an arcuate pad 72, as shown in FIG. 6, may be
used. The pad 72 is moulded from flexible, strong, wear-resistant
plastics material, such as for example VITON (Trade Mark). It has
formed on its inner surface a thin-walled, hollow, protruberance 73
which extends almost the full length of the pad 72. This
protruberance 73 constitutes a diaphragm and the pad 72 constitutes
an integral support for the diaphragm. The interior of the
protruberance 73 forms a chamber 74. As illustrated the
protruberance 73, and thus the chamber 74, tapers towards one end.
A fuel inlet 75 opens into the larger end of the chamber 74 and a
fuel outlet 76 opens from the narrower end of the chamber. The
inlet 75 and outlet 76 extend from the outer surface of the pad 72
for connection to the inlet boss 62 and outlet boss 65
respectively. The protruberance 73 may be untapered if desired. In
some circumstances it may be better for the protruberance 73, and
thus the chamber 74, to taper from the fuel outlet end to the fuel
inlet end of the pad, or to be un-tapered.
The pumps described are for use with single cylinder engines. They
are primarily intended for use on motorcycles, but they could
possibly be used on other motor vehicles as well.
It will be understood that the pumps described may be adapted
readily for use with multicylinder engines. For example for a two
cylinder engine the first described pump illustrated by FIGS. 1 and
2 of the accompanying drawings may be modified as shown in FIG. 7,
so as to include two tubular members 28, instead of one, which are
secured at angularly spaced positions adjacent the internal surface
of the peripheral wall 11 of the housing 10 so that as the disc
oscillates when the eccentric 17 is rotated its periphery bears in
turn on the tubular members 28 to compress their associated
chambers. As before each tubular member 28 has an inlet spigot 33
and an outlet spigot 34 connected respectively to a non-return
valve 37 and a normally-closed pulse valve 39. Alternatively the
pump may be modified as shown in FIG. 8. In this further modified
form there are again two tubular members 28 but they are secured
side-by-side to the internal surface of the peripheral wall 11 of
the housing 10, and there are two similar discs 24 which are
mounted on separate eccentrics 17 carried by the shaft portion 16
and are restrained, as before, from rotation with the eccentrics 17
by a common block 26. There is one tubular member 28 positioned
opposite the periphery of each disc 24 so that as the disc
oscillates it bears on the tubular member to compress the
associated chamber. The discs are so arranged that when the chamber
of one tubular member 28 is being compressed the chamber of the
other tubular member is uncompressed.
It has been found that numerous advantages may be obtained from
apparatus in accordance with the present invention when used as a
pump for fuel injection. For example extremely accurate metering of
fuel is possible with resultant consistency in output and
efficiency. Also efficient air/fuel mixing can be achieved with
consequent economical advantages, and high performance can be
obtained from engines with which the pump is used, and high torque
with low r.p.m. Furthermore, engines with which such a pump has
been used have been found to give a very clean exhaust.
It will be understood that apparatus of the form described above
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings could be readily
modified to convert them for use as motors.
* * * * *