Pumps – Motor driven – Fluid motor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-26
2002-09-17
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Motor driven
Fluid motor
C417S118000, C417S131000, C417S137000, C417S472000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450784
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to pumps for groundwater sampling and the like, and, more particularly, to automated air-operated pumps with removable cartridges and improved manifold attachment mechanisms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There does exist many types of submersible pumps for groundwater sampling and other uses.
FIG. 1
shows, generally at
10
, a typical prior-art configuration. Since devices of this kind are inserted down well holes, the unit consists of an outer cylindrical pump body
2
, typically constructed of stainless steel. The body includes a lower inlet end
4
and an upper outlet end
6
. An internal cylindrical bladder
8
, typically constructed of Teflon, partitions the interior of the pump body
2
into a gas-carrying section
11
, and a fluid-carrying section
12
within the bladder
8
.
A tube
14
having, perforations
16
, is generally positioned within the fluid-carrying section
12
, as shown. A lower check valve
20
is provided at the lower inlet end
4
to permit groundwater or like fluids to pass through the lower end
4
and into the tube
14
and fluid-carrying chamber
12
through perforations
16
. The check valve
20
also prevents the fluid from backflowing through the lower inlet
4
. An upper check valve
22
allows fluid from the fluid-carrying chamber
12
to be discharged through the upper end
6
by passing through apertures
16
and into the tube
14
. The upper check valve
22
also prevents the fluid from backflowing down into the pump interior.
Above ground, a controller
30
is provided having a conduit
32
in pneumatic communication with the gas-carrying section
11
within the pump body
2
. The apparatus operates by pressurizing and venting the gas within the chamber
11
, thereby compressing and expanding the bladder
8
, which is quite flexible, thereby forcing fluid within the chamber
12
out the upper end
6
through tube
14
by way of apertures
16
. More particularly, when the pump body is submerged, ground water or other fluid flows into the chamber
12
through tube
14
having apertures
16
through the lower end
4
, bypassing check valve
20
due to natural hydrostatic pressure.
When an actuating gas such as compressed air is driven through conduit
32
and into the gas-carrying section
11
, the bladder
8
is compressed and the lower check valve
20
is forced against the opening
4
, thereby forcing the fluid contained within the fluid-carrying section upwardly and out through the upper opening
6
, displacing check valve
22
in its path. The gas-carrying chamber
11
is then vented at ground level through controller
30
, permitting a fresh charge of ground water to again fill the fluid-carrying chamber
12
and tube
14
through perforations
16
, at which time another cycle may be started by compressing the bladder
8
.
Although a single controller
30
may be configured to control a multiplicity of similar pumps, the timing sequences for each pump must be optimized and stored to ensure the most efficient operation for each sampling station. The timing/cycling means within the controller therefore typically includes a 3-way valve associated with each pump to which it is connected. The 3-way valve is alternatively actuated and de-actuated to produce a pulsating flow to the bladder of each pump, wherein a compressed gas is applied via each conduit
32
, on which the 3-way valve changes state, enabling the gas contained within chamber
11
to be vented to atmosphere. The controller
30
must therefore include electronic, pneumatic or mechanical timing devices associated with each 3-way valve, in each pump, to ensure proper operation thereof.
Pumps of the type just described are used in a variety of applications, including the continuous collection of gasoline and other hazardous materials from aquifers, as well as occasional groundwater sampling. There is also a need for pumps used for more infrequent sampling, using a device sometimes referred to as a “bailor.” Originally, such devices assumed the form of a polyethylene or Teflon tube having a bottom end with a check ball. The device was lowered into a well, allowing liquid to trickle past the check ball until the tube was filled and the check ball was seated. The device was then removed form the well, the sample removed, and the rest of the device discarded.
By EPA mandate, the bailing process must remove three times the volume of a well before a sample is taken. This means that if the volume of the well is 50 gallons, 150 bailing operations must be taken prior to taking the actual sample. The time-consuming nature of this process led to the development of continuously cycling sampling pumps of the type described with reference to FIG.
1
. Even with these, however, the apparatus is expensive, and the bladder must be removed, typically requiring a meticulous dismantling of the pump body. The need therefore remains for an economical pump capable of repetitive sampling. Ideally, such a pump would include some form of collection cartridge that is easily removable, allowing the pump to be used for more infrequent sampling applications, including bailing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention resides in an air-operated pump for groundwater sampling and other applications, including a removable cartridge coupled to a manifold configured to receive air-inlet and fluid-discharge tubes from an above-ground location. A submersible pump according to the invention includes a pump body having a fluid inlet port, an air-supply port and a fluid-discharge port. The removable cartridge is disposed within the pump body. The removable cartridge may be in the form of a bellows or bladder, and may be removably attachable to the manifold portion of the pump body through a press fitting.
As in previous designs, the cartridge is operable between a refill state, wherein fluid is drawn into the pump body through the fluid inlet port, and a discharge state wherein fluid is forced out of the pump body through the fluid-discharge port. In contrast to prior implementations, however, the pump body features a manifold with fittings enabling the air-inlet and fluid-discharge tubes to be respectively inserted and sealed into the air-inlet and fluid-discharge ports.
In the preferred embodiment, the fittings are such that the associated tubes cannot be removed without modification. For example, the fittings may include a grab plate associated with one or both of the air-inlet and fluid-discharge ports. Each grab plate includes an aperture with finned serrations such that through proper sizing of the plate features and associated tubing, the tube(s) may be inserted and sealed through appropriate compression. Such compression may be provided through the construction of an upper cover, preferably provided with a two-stage bayonet mount, or the fittings may include a compression adapter with one or more sets of O-rings associated with one or both of the air-inlet and fluid-discharge ports.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2564198 (1951-08-01), Elkins
patent: 3113455 (1963-12-01), Sloan et al.
patent: 4669554 (1987-06-01), Cordry
patent: 4717473 (1988-01-01), Burge et al.
patent: 4807707 (1989-02-01), Handley et al.
patent: 4943210 (1990-07-01), Bailey, Jr. et al.
patent: 4974674 (1990-12-01), Wells
patent: 5027902 (1991-07-01), Dickinson et al.
patent: 5099920 (1992-03-01), Warburton et al.
patent: 5238060 (1993-08-01), Niehaus et al.
patent: 5293934 (1994-03-01), Burge
patent: 5708220 (1998-01-01), Burge
patent: 6206657 (2001-03-01), Newcomer
patent: 6224343 (2001-05-01), Newcomer
Gifford Krass Groh Sprinkle Anderson & Citkowski PC
Patel Vinod D.
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
Air-operated pumps with removable cartridges and improved... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Air-operated pumps with removable cartridges and improved..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Air-operated pumps with removable cartridges and improved... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2881660