Pumps – Motor driven – Fluid motor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-04-03
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Motor driven
Fluid motor
C417S342000, C417S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210131
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fluid driven reciprocating apparatus, particularly to a fluid intensifier, and more particularly to a fluid driven reciprocating apparatus having a double acting power chamber with connected signal rods functioning as high pressure pistons or to transmit reciprocating mechanical power.
In industry, high pressure fluid, which includes air, water, and hydraulic fluid, has many application. For example, delivering fluid at a high pressure is often accomplished with an intensifier, which is a reciprocating fluid device having one or more large pistons connected to one or more small pistons. Intensifiers are powered by a low pressure fluid, such as compressed air or running water. Intensifiers can operate at any flow rate and still maintain their high pressure output, whereas this would be difficult to achieve with a high pressure pump driven by an electric motor, for example.
One common arrangement for an intensifier is one large double-acting low pressure power cylinder containing a piston which has a rod protruding from each face which are each connected to a small piston within a high pressure pumping cylinder. These prior art intensifiers generally have a single 4-way valve which switches both ends of the power chamber between intake and exhaust. The 4-way valve is controlled by one or two small pilot valves which are actuated by the main piston when it reaches either end of its stroke. These prior art intensifiers are relatively complicated.
One example of a market which can benefit from low cost intensifiers are homes having remote water supplies and no cheap source of electricity to pump water to the homes. If, for example, the homes are located on a hill and the water supply is running water in a stream bed at a lower elevation, intensifiers are commonly used to lift the water from the stream bed to a storage tank for the homes. In such instances, the intensifier is located at a lower elevation than the stream bed and is connected via a short pipe having its inlet located in the stream bed (e.g. to provide 10 meters of head water) which can pump water up the hill (e.g. 100 meters above the intensifier). Such commercial intensifiers are known in the art, as exemplified by the High Lifter Water Pump, Real Goods, 1991 Sourcebook, page 219, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,895 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,794. Other applications for fluid intensifiers include hydraulic and pneumatic applications, as well as for pressure amplifiers and booster pumps.
The present invention involves a fluid intensifier which is of a less complicated structure, and this in view of its simpler construction is lower in cost when compared to the existing commercial units. The present invention is a fluid driven reciprocating apparatus having a single double acting power chamber having a double acting piston which is connected to signal rods which also function as high pressure pistons or to transmit mechanical power. Optionally, only one rod may be used as a pump or power transmitter. When used as an intensifier the signal rods, which each include a pair of spaced seals or sealable members between which is located a vent, in addition to being high pressure pistons, provide a dual use as valve switching mechanisms, thereby replacing the conventionally used pilot valves. The double acting power chamber utilizes two separate intake-exhaust valves controlled by movement of the signal rods. The high pressure section of the apparatus includes two sets of inlet-outlet valves, and by the use of the vents controlled by the signal rods, the driving fluid and driven fluid can't mix.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid intensifier.
A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid driven reciprocating apparatus having signal rods, that can function as a fluid intensifier or as a mechanical power transmitter.
A further object of the invention is to provide a double acting fluid driven apparatus having a double acting piston with connected signal rods which perform a switching function for intake-exhaust valves for the double acting piston, thereby eliminating separate pilot valves.
Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid driven reciprocating apparatus which includes a double acting piston controlled by a pair of intake-exhaust valves, and to which are connected a pair of signal rods which may function as high pressure fluid pistons and serve to control the intake-exhaust valves.
Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid intensifier or mechanical power transmitter which eliminates conventional 4-way valves and pilot valves, thus simplifying the construction and reducing the costs compared to conventional fluid intensifiers.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. The invention involves a fluid driven reciprocating apparatus having a double acting power chamber with connected opposed signal rods serving as high pressure pistons or for power transmission, and which eliminates the conventional pilot valves for the double acting power chamber. The dual use of the signal rods for valve switching and as high pressure pistons, for example, results in an intensifier which is simpler in construction and lower in cost compared to existing fluid intensifiers. The invention may use the opposite rods as signal rods, but use only of the rods as a pump or power rod. The double acting power chamber is controlled by a pair of intake-exhaust valves switched by the signal rods and thereby replaces the complex prior art 4-way valves.
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Carnahan L. E.
Fastovsky Leonid
The Regents of the University of California
Thompson Alan H.
Walberg Teresa
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