Pumps – Three or more cylinders arranged in parallel – radial – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-14
2001-01-30
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Three or more cylinders arranged in parallel, radial, or...
C417S270000, C417S225000, C417S493000, C417S498000, C091S499000, C092S071000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179574
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a fluid transfer apparatus for handling high pressure fluids, and different uses. The fluid transfer apparatus may be incorporated into a fluid pump, a fluid-driven motor, a fluid distribution valve, or another device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Axial piston pumps useful for hydraulic applications are well known in the art. These pumps are characterized by the presence of multiple pistons positioned axially with respect to each other. The axially-positioned pistons oscillate linearly in conjunction with sets of check valves, to pressurize fluid. In one family of axial piston pumps, the oscillating pistons are situated in a rotating drum and are in contact with a swash plate or wobbler disk that has a slanted face for imparting sliding piston motions. The check valves are generally in the form of a stationary disk having slots to serve as in-out fluid passages. In another family of axial-piston pumps, the multiple pistons are situated in a stationary cylinder while a rotating cam disk having a slanted face is in contact with the pistons to impart oscillating motions. In both cases, return springs are generally used to provide the piston return forces.
In rotating-cam pumps, separate inlet and outlet check valves in the form of balls and poppets are often used. U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,495 issued to Orshansky teaches a dual-cam axial-piston pump of this type. The outlet check valve of this type of pump is easy to manage, requiring a simple one-way valve at the bottom of each piston cavity. The inlet check valve of this family of pumps, on the other hand, is more difficult to configure. Orshansky discloses the use of another set of pistons purely for the valving purpose.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,260, issued to Vincze, discloses a cam-driven axial piston pump which utilizes ball check valves at the inlet and outlet of each piston cavity. A six-piston pump of this design, for instance, has six inlet ball check valves and six outlet ball check valves.
In any pump, the design of the check valves is an integral part of the pump design. A pump cannot function without good check valves. The reverse process of converting linear oscillatory motion of multiple, axially positioned pistons to the rotatory motion of a shaft is also very common. This is the essence of fluid-powered motors. In such motors, the potential energy stored in pressurized fluids is released by pushing a set of axially-positioned pistons to rotate a shaft through a cam disk having a slanted face. In some cases, the device capable of generating shaft power is also a pump. Orshansky teaches an axial-piston pump that can function as a motor simply by reversing the role of the fluid. The pump disclosed in Vincze is not reversible, and cannot function as a motor due to the check valves involved.
Reversible pump-motor devices are rather rare and their capability is not even in the two different functions. There are many other fluid-powered motors that are simpler and less expensive than axial-piston motors. Therefore, axial-piston motors must possess unique capabilities in order to be viable in the marketplace. This is also true for axial-piston pumps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a fluid transfer apparatus for handling high pressure fluids, and various uses of the apparatus. The apparatus can be used as a pump, a fluid powered motor, a fluid distribution device, or another fluid transfer device.
The apparatus of the invention may transfer rotational motion of a shaft, to oscillatory motion of pistons or plungers affecting process fluids such as oil, water, gases, and other liquids. In this case, the invention accomplishes the pressurization of fluids so that kinetic energy input is converted to potential energy stored in a fluid.
The apparatus of the invention may also perform the reverse, by transferring the oscillatory motion of pistons or plungers to the rotational motion of a shaft. In this case, the invention uses pressurized fluids to drive the pistons. In other words, potential energy stored in a fluid is converted to kinetic energy.
The fluid transfer apparatus includes a device for transmitting torque, a rotary device associated with the device for transmitting torque, a plurality of oscillating pistons engaging the rotary device, a housing for the pistons, and channels associated with the pistons and housing for effecting the transfer of fluid from a first location to a second location as the pistons oscillate. The apparatus also includes an oscillator which ensures that the pistons will oscillate with a phase shift between them.
The fluid transfer apparatus of the invention employs a combination of linear and rotary motions to drive the set of multiple pistons or plungers. The multiple pistons or plungers may oscillate axially, but in a rotating sequence, at a prescribed oscillating frequency and rotational speed. The rotational sequence may be obtained by arranging the pistons in a circular fashion, at equal distances. Then, the pistons can be axially oscillated at the same frequency, but with a constant phase shift between adjacent circumferentially-spaced pistons.
The channels associated with the pistons and surrounding housing effect the transfer of fluid from the first location to the second location. The channels are arranged, and the motion of the pistons is synchronized, lo effect a substantially continuous fluid transfer accompanied by a pressurization or depressurization of fluid.
With the foregoing in mind, one feature and advantage of this invention is to provide a unique pump for raising the pressure of fluids such as gas or liquids by converting the shaft power of an engine or motor to the stored potential energy of a pressurized fluid.
Another feature and advantage of this invention is to provide a unique fluid-powered motor that is capable of converting the potential energy contained in a pressurized liquid or compressed gas to kinetic energy in the form of shaft power.
A furer feature and advantage of this invention is to utilize this unique energy-conservation process to perform various useful work, such as distribution of fluid flow and fluid pressure intensification.
The foregoing and other features and advantage of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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Jetec Company
Pauley Petersen Kinne & Fejer
Pwu Jeffrey
Walberg Teresa
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