U.S. patent number 3,929,399 [Application Number 05/476,673] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-30 for method and apparatus for pumping a liquid and compressing a gas.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Compump Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to David Aronson.
United States Patent |
3,929,399 |
Aronson |
December 30, 1975 |
Method and apparatus for pumping a liquid and compressing a gas
Abstract
The method and apparatus for pumping liquid and compressing a
gas which includes the utilization of a pump, a compressor and a
reservoir with the liquid and gas circuits being interconnected so
that the pump handles a two-phase fluid for delivery to the
reservoir with the two-phase fluid consisting of liquid from a
supply and gas and liquid fed back from the reservoir to maintain a
liquid level therein. Gas is fed to the compressor from a supply
and also selectively from the area of reservoir above said liquid
level to maintain a selected gas pressure therein and liquid and
gas from the compressor are separated with the liquid being fed
back to the pump.
Inventors: |
Aronson; David (Upper
Montclair, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Compump Systems, Inc. (Newark,
NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23892791 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/476,673 |
Filed: |
June 5, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/54; 417/204;
137/209; 417/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B
19/06 (20130101); F04B 23/10 (20130101); F04B
53/1037 (20130101); F04B 23/02 (20130101); F04B
23/12 (20130101); Y10T 137/3127 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F04B
19/06 (20060101); F04B 23/10 (20060101); F04B
19/00 (20060101); F04B 23/02 (20060101); F04B
23/00 (20060101); F04B 53/10 (20060101); F04B
023/10 (); H01V 001/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;417/199,201,204,54,295
;137/207.5,209,206 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Freeh; William L.
Assistant Examiner: LaPointe; G. P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Geoffrey, Jr.; Eugene E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for supplying a liquid to a gas-ballasted reservoir
maintained at a predetermined pressure, and for supplying a
compressed gas at a predetermined pressure, comprising a lilquid
pump having a plurality of individual inlets at successive phases
of the pumping cycle and at least one outlet, a gas compressor
having an inlet and an outlet, means including a control valve for
feeding liquid from a supply to a first inlet to said pump, a
reservoir for receiving and retaining liquid at a selected level
therein, a liquid inlet in said reservoir above said selected
level, means coupling the last said inlet to the outlet of said
pump, a first liquid outlet in said reservoir below said selected
liquid level, an opening in said reservoir above said liquid level
for the flow of gas therethrough whereby said reservoir will
contain gas above said liquid, a second liquid outlet in said
reservoir at said selected liquid level and means coupling the last
said outlet to another of said pump inlets whereby a two-phase
fluid containing both gas and liquid will be fed to said pump and
said pump outlet will contain a two-phase fluid with the gas and
liquid separating upon entering said reservoir, means supplying a
gas to the inlet of said compressor, means including a gas control
coupling said compressor to the opening in said reservoir to
control the gas pressure in said reservoir, a liquid and gas
separator coupled to the outlet of said compressor to remove liquid
which may be contained in gas flowing from the reservoir to the
compressor inlet means for feeding the liquid which may contain gas
from said separator to a pump inlet and a compressed gas outlet on
said separator.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a pressure relief valve
interconnected between said pump outlet and said first inlet.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control vavle is
operable to open in response to suction at said pump inlet.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pump includes at
least three inlets consisting of a primary inlet, a secondary inlet
and a tertiary inlet and wherein liquid from said supply is fed to
said primary inlet, the two-phase fluid from said reservoir is fed
to said secondary inlet and the liquid from said separator is fed
to said tertiary inlet.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas control
comprises a valved conduit coupling said opening with the
compressor inlet and a second valved conduit coupling said opening
with a gas supply at a selected reference pressure.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said compressor comprises
a housing having a recess therein, a slotted rotor eccentrically
positioned for rotation within said recess and vanes slidably
engaging the slots on said rotor, said compressor inlet and outlet
communicating with the space surrounding said rotor whereby gas
drawn into said space is compressed and delivered to said outlet
and wherein said pump comprises the inner portions of said vanes
and said slots which form chambers each of which increases from a
minimum volume during each rotation of the rotor, one of said
liquid inlets communicating with each of said chambers as it starts
to increase from a minimum volume, a secondary inlet communicating
with each of said chambers prior to attainment of maximum volume
and a tertiary inlet communicating with each of said chambers after
attainment of maximum volume and said liquid outlet communicates
with said chambers as they approach minimum volume.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said housing includes
said reservoir.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least part of said
reservoir is disposed below said housing.
9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said gas compressor
includes at least two ports, one communicating with the space
between said rotor and said recess at a point angularly spaced from
said gas inlet and prior to the point of maximum outward
displacement of the vanes and the other communicating with said
space at a point after said point of maximum outward displacement
of the vanes and valving means coupling the last said ports to
control the output gas pressure of said pump.
10. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein gas will leak from said
compressor to said pump during the intake of liquid thus producing
a two-phase fluid at all times within said pump and liquid leaking
into said compressor is discharged therefrom and separated and
removed from said gas by said separator.
11. Apparatus for supplying liquid at a predetermined rate and gas
at a predetermined pressure comprising a housing formed of at least
three portions secured one to the others to form a unitary
structure, the first housing portion having a recess in one face
thereof, an opening extending from the base of said recess through
said first housing section for rotatably accommodating a shaft
positioned eccentrically relative to said recess, a rotor carried
by said shaft and disposed within said recess, said rotor having
radially disposed slots slidably receiving vanes, said vanes
reciprocating within said slots during rotation of said rotor, a
second housing section having opposing faces with one face
overlying and sealed to the face of the first housing section to
close said recess, two sets of ports in said housing sections with
one set communicating with the space between said rotor and the
peripheral wall of said recess for the intake and discharge of gas
and the other set of ports communicating with the chambers formed
between the inner ends of said vanes and the bottom portions of
said slots for the intake and discharge of liquid, the third
housing portion having a face overlying the other face of said
second housing portion, the last faces being sealed one to the
other with at least one of the last said faces having a recess
therein forming a fluid reservoir, liquid and gas inlet passages in
said housing and communicating with certain of said sets of ports,
liquid and gas outlets in said housing communicating with said
reservoir and said gas discharge port and passages within said
housing connecting certain of said set of liquid ports to said
reservoir and said gas outlet port.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said housing includes a
liquid-gas separator communicating with a said gas discharge port
having a liquid outlet and a gas outlet and wherein the last said
liquid outlet is coupled with one of said other set or ports.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said gas intake and
discharge ports are carried by said one face of said second housing
portion, said second housing portion including a gas inlet
communicating with the last said intake port and said first housing
portion including a passage extending from said separator to the
face of said first housing portion and communicating with said gas
discharge port.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said set of ports
comprises first, second and third inlet ports and two outlet ports
with said first and third inlet ports and one outlet port being
formed in the base of the recess in the first housing portion and
said second inlet port and the other outlet port being formed in
said one face of said second housing portion.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said second inlet port
constitutes an opening extending between the faces of said second
housing portion and communicating with said reservoir at a point
spaced from the bottom thereof to control the liquid level in the
reservoir.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said third inlet port
communicates with the liquid outlet on said separator, said first
inlet port communicates by way of passages in the first and second
body portions with an anti-flood flow valve carried by said second
body portion and operable to open in response to suction at said
pump inlet, said third body portion includes a liquid inlet chamber
and a liquid inlet, said second body portion includes a passage
coupling said inlet chamber with said anti-flood valve, said other
outlet port comprising a passage extending through said second
housing portion and communicating with said reservoir above said
liquid level therein, and a liquid outlet communicating with said
reservoir below said liquid level.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second body
portion includes a valve coupling said gas inlet with the last said
passage.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said one face of said
second housing portion includes two gas pressure control ports and
a valve coupling said ports one to the other.
19. The method of pumping a liquid and compressing a gas to deliver
liquid at a predetermined rate and gas at a predetermined pressure
comprising the steps of feeding liquid under pressure from a supply
to a reservoir containing both liquid and gas, feeding back a two
phase fluid containing liquid and gas, from said reservoir to said
pump, the relative percentages of liquid and gas in said fed back
two phase fluid controlling the rate of liquid fed from said supply
to control and maintain a selected liquid level in said reservoir
whereby said pump processes a two-phase fluid and feeds the
two-phase fluid to said reservoir, feeding gas to said compressor
for delivery of a compressed gas, coupling said reservoir to a gas
supply and to said compressor and controlling the flow of gas into
and out of said reservoir to maintain a selected gas pressure
therein and controlling the rate of compression of said gas and
effecting delivery of said liquid and gas to the place of use.
20. The method according to claim 19 including the step of
separating gas and liquid from said compressor and feeding said
liquid to said pump at a pressure point in the pumping cycle.
21. The method according to claim 20 including the step of
interrupting the flow of liquid to said pump when the pumping
operation is terminated and feeding back pumped liquid to the pump
inlet in the event liquid pressure exceeds a selected magnitude.
Description
This invention relates to compressors and pumps and more
specifically to a novel and improved method and apparatus for
pumping a liquid and compressing a gas and effecting precise
control of the output liquid and gas pressures and at the same time
delivering substantially liquid-free gas and gas-free liquid.
Combination compressor-pump structures have been suggested
including structures utilizing vane-type devices such as disclosed
in, U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,364, issued Jan. 14, 1975 entitled
PUMP-COMPRESSOR SYSTEM; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,040, issued July
16, 1974, entitled FLOATLESS CONTROL OF LIQUID LEVEL, ESPECIALLY
USEFUL IN ATOMIZING SYSTEMS. This invention constitutes an
improvement of the devices of said applications in that it embodies
an improved structure utilizing a self-contained reservoir
cooperating with both the pump and compressor for receiving a
two-phase fluid, separating the liquid from the gas and delivering
liquid at a predetermined rate. Improved feed back controls in both
the pump and compressor systems together with regulated coupling of
the liquid and gas systems affords wholly self-contained apparatus
for delivering precise quantities of gas and liquid and is useful
among other things for supplying air and oil for heating purposes,
gases and fuels for engines and other similar applications.
Another object of the invention involves a novel and improved
compressor-pump for simultaneously pumping a liquid and compressing
a gas wherein a plurality of liquid inlet ports are provided with
at least two inlet ports being interconnected with both the gas and
liquid outlet circuits for controlling the liquid supply rate and
reprocess leakage liquid in the gas supply
Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and
improved pumping system for liquids and gases wherein the liquid
pumping means includes a plurality of inlet ports positioned at
different points of the pumping cycle for recirculation of liquids
and the coupling of the gas pumping means with the liquid pumping
means for cooperation therebetween to control liquid pressure.
Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and
improved pump compressor and reservoir combination including
interconnections therebetween for supplying controlled quantities
of gas and liquid wherein the specific rates of delivery of each
fluid can be readily adjusted to meet specific applications.
Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a
novel and improved liquid pumping and gas compressing system
wherein liquid and gas outlets are interrelated and fed back to
inlets on the pump to effect precise control of the rate of
delivery of liquid and to control the supply of liquid to the pump
to prevent flooding of the system.
A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of
a novel and improved system for deliverying a gas and a liquid at
precise rates of flow.
A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a
novel and improved pump and compressor combination.
The invention involves both an improved pump and compressor
combination contained effectively within a single housing and
including a reservoir interconnected with the pump and compressor
and a novel and improved liquid pumping and gas compressing systems
wherein said pump includes a plurality of inlets at spaced pressure
points in the pumping cycle, a reservoir for receiving both gas and
liquid and feeding both gas and liquid to one of said pump inlets
to maintain a given liquid level in the reservoir, a coupling
between said pump and compressor through said reservoir and a
coupling between the outlet of the compressor and a pump inlet for
feeding back liquid contained in the air by reason of the
inter-relationship of the pump and compressor combination and means
for regulating the feed back of gas from the reservoir to the
compressor for controlling the rate of liquid delivery
independently of the output of air pressure.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become more apparent from the following description and
accompanying drawings forming part of this application.
In the Drawings:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
pump-compressor system in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a combination pump and
compressor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pump-compressor combination shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line
4--4 thereof;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line
5--5 thereof;
FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the pump-compressor shown
in FIGS. 2 through 5 with the intermediate housing portion being
duplicated to show both sides thereof;
FIG. 7 shows a plurality of cross-sectional views of FIG. 3 taken
along the lines 7A--7A through 7G--7G thereof and illustrating gas
and liquid flow within the pump-compressor.
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the pump-compressor body portion
similar to FIG. 7C with the rotor and vanes shown in phantom;
FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the intermediate or control
portion similar to FIG. 7D showing the rotor and vanes positioned
thereon with portions of the rotor being in section;
FIGS. 10 through 12 are side and end views of a modified form of
the intermediate or control portion of the pump-compressor
combination according to the invention, and
As previously discussed, this invention involves an improved
combination pump-compressor for handling both a liquid and gas
simultaneously and to novel and improved fluid circuits
particularly useful with the combination pump and compressor.
Inasmuch as fluid leakage occurs between the pump and compressor
portions of the device the fluid circuits are arranged for the
separation of the fluids and produce an output flow of a
substantially gas-free liquid and a substantially liquid-free gas.
It will also be observed that through the control of the gas
pressure, precise liquid flows at pressures above and below
atmospheric pressure can be obtained. One form of fluid circuit in
accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and provides a
basic understanding of certain aspects of the invention.
While the pump and compressor are combined within a single body,
for convenience they are illustrated separately in FIG. 1 and
denoted by the numerals 10 and 11 respectively. The pump 10
includes three inlet ports 12, 13 and 14 and an outlet port denoted
by the numeral 15. The compressor 11 includes an inlet or suction
port 16, gas flow adjusting means 17 and an outlet 18. Inasmuch as
gas can leak into the liquid pump and vice versa leakage is
symbolized by the conduits 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are not physical
parts of the apparatus. In each of the conduits the darkened
portions show the approximate relative proportion of liquid to gas
and this applies to all illustrated conduits both actual and
symbolic.
Liquid is fed to the primary pump port 12 from a supply tank 23,
through conduit 24, anti-flood valve 25 and conduit 26. Liquid
under pressure is delivered to the discharge port 15 and thence
through conduit 27 to the reservoir 28. Since gas leaks from the
compressor to the pump two phase fluid is fed to the reservoir
where the gas and liquid are separated. Liquid is then delivered to
the reservoir outlet conduit 29 which communicates with the
reservoir at a point below the normal liquid level as illustrated.
In order to maintain the normal liquid level a feed back conduit 30
communicates with the reservoir at a point above the reservoir
outlet and as a consequence a two-phase fluid is fed through
conduit 30 to the secondary port 13 of the pump. This secondary
port communicates with the pump at a suction point in the pumping
cycle spaced from the primary port 12. Thus, the suction at the
secondary port is normally less than the suction at the primary
port and the liquid being pumped now contains gas both from leakage
and the feed back conduit 30.
The gas compressor 11 draws gas into the inlet 16 and discharges
both gas and liquid from the outlet 18 through conduit 31 to the
cyclone separator 32. Substantially liquid free gas is then
delivered to the outlet conduit 33 while a two-phase fluid is fed
through the conduit 34 to the tertiary port 14 of the pump.
Inasmuch as the pump has a two-phase fluid and the two phase fluid
in conduit 34 is under pressure it will enter the tertiary port and
contribute to the pump pressure at the outlet port 15. The pressure
of the gas delivered to the gas outlet conduit is controlled by the
flow control 17 forming part of the compressor. The gas pressure in
the reservoir 28 is controlled by a feed back flow control 35
connected to the reservoir by conduit 36 and to the inlet of the
compressor by conduit 37. A gas reference pressure applied to
control 35 through conduit 38 regulates the flow of gas to and from
the reservoir to maintain the pressure in the reservoir constant
and therefore the flow of liquid from the reservoir constant.
In the event the pressure should increase in discharge port 15,
which will also increase in conduit 27, this increase will open
relief valve 39 and permit liquid to flow into conduit 40 coupled
in parallel with conduit 26 at pump inlet port 12. Thus the
returned liquid or liquid and gas as the case may be is either
reprocessed by the pump or returned to the supply through the
anti-flood valve 25. The anti-flood valve functions to open as a
result of suction occurring upon operation of the pump and thus
prevents flow of liquid from the supply and into the system when
the pump is not operated. In the absence of the anti-flood valve,
liquid from an elevated supply tank could ultimately flood the
entire system and thus create a nuisance and hazard.
With the foregoing arrangement the rates of delivery of both liquid
and gas can be precisely and independently controlled without the
need for complicated controls, for instance, through the
utilization of multiple inlet ports which provide passive control
functions, the total time that any port may function can be varied
so that relatively large orifices can be used for metering. In the
case of the tertiary port 14, which in actual practice communicates
with the pump at a point where the volume is diminishing, liquid
can nevertheless be admitted since a two-phase fluid is being
pumped. The pressure in the reservoir can also be above or below
atmospheric pressure or at atmospheric pressure as may be desired.
For instance, if the admission of air to the control 35 is
restricted the pressure in the reservoir will be maintained below
atmospheric pressure while if the flow of air from the reservoir is
restricted the pressure will rise above atmospheric pressure.
The preferred pump and compressor for use with the system described
above is illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 9 and constitutes a novel
and improved rotary vane compressor and pump wherein the pumping
and compressing means function in the manner illustrated and
described in the aforementioned applications for patent. The
combination pump and compressor in accordance with this invention
includes a self-contained reservoir and internally arranged
conduits which affords a completely integrated, trouble-free
unit.
The combination pump-compressor is arranged in three cooperating
sections, namely, the main body 41, the intermediate or control
section 42 and the reservoir section 43. While the pump-compressor
may be used with any suitable combination of gas and liquid
depending upon the application, the illustrated apparatus is
particularly intended as an air and oil supply for an oil burner
and for convenience it will be described in terms of pumping oil
and compressing air.
The main body section 41 includes a circular recess 44 housing
rotor 45 having slots 46 (FIG. 6) slidably receiving vanes 47. The
rotor 45 is eccentrically mounted within recess 44 and is carried
by the shaft 48 which extends through an opening 48'in the body 41.
As described in the aforementioned applications for patent, air is
compressed in the space between the surface of rotor 45 and the
wall of recess 44 while oil is pumped by the vanes 47 reciprocating
in slots 46. The oil ports communicating with the vane slots are
the inlet port 58 (58'), the secondary port 49 which extends
through the control section 42, the tertiary port 50 and the outlet
port 51 as shown more clearly in FIG. 6. A second outlet port in
the form of an annular recess 52 communicates with an outlet
opening 52' and passages 54 and 55 as shown in FIG. 7B. The opening
55 opens into the top of the body 41 as shown in FIG. 6 while the
passage 55 opens into the side of the body. One of the openings may
be used for gaging the output pressure if desired while the other
would be plugged. The opening or bore 56 in the body 41 extends
downwardly and receives control valve 57 as shown in FIG. 4. This
opening intersects passage 55 which communicates with the oil pump
outlet on the high pressure side of the diaphragm 57' of valve 57.
A second passage 53 communicates with the low pressure side of the
diaphragm 57' and opens into the face 41' of the body 41 for
communication with the recess 59 in the cooperating face of control
section 42. The recess 59 in turn communicates with openings 60 and
61, the latter receiving oil from the downstream side of the
anti-flood valve 62 as will be described. Normally, this valve 57
is in the open position as illustrated in FIG. 4 to permit oil to
flow from the downstream side of the anti-flood valve 62 to the oil
inlet 58 of the pump. Excess pressure at the pump outlet 53 reacts
on diaphragm 57' of valve 57 to close it and prevent the flow of
oil from the oil supply to the pump inlet 58.
Oil from a suitable supply is fed to the pump through the inlet 63
on pump section 43 and enters the chamber 64. It then passes
through the screen 65 and into a chamber 66 formed between the
annular wall 67 and the screen 65. The annular wall 67 defines the
reservoir 68 which is partly within the section 43 and partly
within the section 42 as will be observed in FIG. 2. Oil from the
chamber 66 feeds through a passage 69 in control section 42 and
communicates with the upstream side of the anti-flood valve 62.
With this arrangement, when the pump is operated suction is applied
to passage 60 as previously described so that atmospheric air
entering the valve through passage 70 reacts on diaphragm 71 to
open the valve and permit oil to flow from passage 69 to passage
60. The valve portion 71a of the anti-flood valve is slidably
mounted on shaft 71b so that it can be displaced from its seat
either by the action of the diaphragm or by the presence of excess
pressure reflected in the conduit or passage 60. With such an
arrangement the valve 57 may be a conventional relief or pap valve
coupling passages 55 and 58' so that excess oil pressure will be
bypassed to the pump inlet and thence through the anti-flood valve
62 to the oil supply.
The oil delivered under pressure from the pump outlet passage 51 as
viewed in FIG. 6 flows through that passage which communicates with
reservoir 68 and is then discharged through the outlet 71. Oil feed
back to the pump to maintain a selected level within the reservoir
is accomplished by passage 49' extending from the reservoir through
control section 42 to form the secondary inlet to the pump.
The air supply is provided by an air inlet 72 communicating with
passage 73 and the recess 74 on the pump side of the control
section 42 as viewed in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 9. Compressed air is
delivered to the outlet recess 75 which communicates with the
passage 76 in the pump section 41 and enters the large air outlet
bore 54 which forms a cyclone separator. Thus oil which leaks into
the air compressor portion of the pump is separated from the air
and feeds into passages 77 and 78 as viewed in FIG. 7A. A passage
78 communicates with the tertiary inlet 50 to permit oil and some
air to feed into the oil supply. Communication between the air in
reservoir 68 and the air compressing circuit is effected by the
passage 79 which intersects a passage 80 extending inwardly into
the control section 41 from the rear side 81 thereof and
communicates with the air inlet passage 72. A needle valve
generally denoted by numeral 82 controls the flow of air to the
compressor inlet 73. Since a two-phase fluid consisting of oil and
air is fed to the reservoir, air pressure in the reservoir
determines the rate of delivery of oil from outlet 71. Control of
the oil delivery rate can then be controlled by needle valve 82
which recirculates air from the reservoir to the air inlet. Control
of the air outlet pressure from outlet 54 is effected by the needle
valve 83 disposed within an opening 84 in the control section 42.
This valve controls communication between passages 85 and 86 which
open into the face of control section 42 which adjoins the body
section 41 and communicates with the air compressing chamber
surrounding the rotor 45. Thus both the output air pressure as well
as the output oil pressure are readily controlled by the two needle
valves.
The combination pump-compressor described above functions in the
same manner as the system described in connection with FIG. 1
except for operation of the valve 57 as shown in FIG. 4. It is
evident, however, that the downstream side of the anti-flood valve
62 can be connected directly to the inlet 48' and that a
conventional relief valve be substituted for the valve 57 so that
excess high pressure be bled to the pump inlet as described in
connection with FIG. 1. It is also evident that various
modifications may be made in the mode of operation of the
pump-compressor circuitry to accomplish a variety of modes of
operation. For instance, other modes of air pressure control may be
used for the reservoir such as presure relief valves, the
anti-flood valve may be replaced with an electrically controlled
valve and a pressure sensitive switch actuated by the output oil
pressure so that the valve opens when the pump drive motor is
actuated and will close if excess pressure is developed in the
system. It will also be observed that by reason of the oil feed
back loops, that the pump remains primed at all times. Other modes
of control of output air pressure may also be utilized and oil can
be delivered at pressure above, at or below atmospheric
pressure.
In view of the foregoing description it is evident that the novel
and improved pump-compressor and the novel and improved fluid
circuitry provide a gas pumping and liquid compressing system that
is characterized by its efficiency, dependability, ease of
adjustment and the precise delivery of selected flows of both
liquid and gas. Moreover, liquids and gases other than oil and air
may be handled with equal facility.
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are views of a modified control section denoted
herein by the numeral 42A in order to lower the oil reservoir so
that it is below the atomozing nozzle of an oil burner when the
pump-compressor is required to supply both oil and air to the
nozzle. For this purpose the control section 42a is provided with a
depending hollow housing 90 having an oil outlet 91, a passage 92
coupling the bottom of the reservoir 68 with the reservoir 90, and
a return line 93 coupled to the recycle passage 49. In this way the
oil level in the housing 90 will be controlled in the same manner
previously described except that the new reservoir is below the
level of the nozzle.
The adjustable gas flow control 35 as shown in FIG. 1 can be
designed to maintain the gas ballast pressure in reservoir 28 at a
value slightly below ambient pressure, at ambient pressure, or
slightly above ambient pressure, when conduit 38 is open to the
ambient atmosphere. If conduit 38 is connected to the gas discharge
port 31, considerably higher gas ballast pressures can be
maintained in reservoir 28. This may necessitate a shift in the
location of tertiary port 14 in FIG. 1 (tertiary port 50 in FIG.
6). Should the ballast pressure be set higher than the gas
discharge pressure, it becomes necessary to switch the relative
positions of ports 14 and 13 (port 49 in FIG. 6) so that oil plus
some gas can drain from cyclone separator 32 into the oil suction
port, which will now be the secondary port. Oil plus some gas
overflowing from the reservoir through conduit 30 will now go to
the tertiary port 14 (50).
While only certain embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described it is apparent that alterations, changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the true scope
of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *