pressure/vacuum generator

Details pressure/vacuum generator pressure/vacuum generator

1999-03-22

2001-05-01

Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)

Pumps

One fluid pumped by contact or entrainment with another

Liquid pumped by supplying or exhausting gaseous motive...

C417S182000, C417S182500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224345

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to the field of fluid systems, and more particularly, to systems that require the use of both a pressure source and a vacuum source.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In many fluid systems, there is a need to have both a pressure source (e.g., a pump) as well as a vacuum source (e.g., vacuum pump, vacuum generator, etc.). For example, in fluid recovery systems or fluid transfer systems, there is a need to collect a fluid from a first location (e.g., a main fluid system, a first fluid system, a fluid collection point) and move the fluid into a reservoir and then to evacuate the fluid from that reservoir either back to the main fluid system (i.e., a recovery system) or to a second fluid system (i.e., a transfer system). To accomplish this, a vacuum source draws the fluid into the reservoir and then a pressure source drives it out of the reservoir.
The following U.S. patents are various types of fluid systems using pressure sources and vacuum sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,400,651 (Marsh) discloses a liquid elevating system. A summary of the Marsh system
2
is shown in FIG.
1
. The Marsh system
2
uses a shuttle valve
4
between an air supply
6
, a reservoir
8
and a pressure inlet (P) of a vacuum generator
10
, as well as an air-operated valve
12
between the reservoir
8
and a vacuum inlet (V) of the vacuum generator
10
. A reservoir inlet check valve
16
and a reservoir outlet check valve
14
are also used. A float mechanism
20
inside the reservoir
8
controls the shuttle valve
4
.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,522,077 (Wahl) discloses a tank truck. A summary of the pumping system
34
used in the Wahl truck is shown in FIG.
2
. The pumping system
34
uses a pump (P, driven by a motor
36
) to draw a vacuum on a reservoir
38
to pull liquid in, and a mechanical screw
40
coupled to another motor
42
to pump it out. Manually-operated input
44
and output
46
valves are also used, as well as an air inlet check valve
48
. The system
34
is manually-operated.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,664,911 (Thompson) discloses a portable vacuum and pressure liquid tank truck. A summary of the pumping system
18
of the truck is shown in FIG.
3
. The pumping system
18
uses a pump
20
(driven by a motor, M) to draw a vacuum or pressurize a reservoir
22
; a separator
24
with a float valve
26
keeps fluid from getting into the pump
20
. The pump
20
action (vacuum, or pressure) is based on the position of a valve
28
that is manually controlled. Manually-operated input
30
and output
32
valves are also used.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,315,611 (Thompson) discloses a portable vacuum and pressure liquid tank truck, and uses a pumping system similar to the pumping system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,664,911 (Thompson) but adds an air bleeder to the system. The bleeder line draws air into the tank along with the liquid during the vacuum stage, thus eliminating foam. During the pressure stage, pressurized air is mixed with the liquid in the tank, making it easier to pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,610 (Breckner) discloses a frail material slurry pump system
50
. A summary of the Breckner system
50
is shown in FIG.
4
. This system
50
uses a vacuum pump
52
(driven by a motor M) and combination valving (V
P1
-V
P3
, V
V1
-V
V3
,BV
I
and BV
O
) to pull a vacuum on a reservoir
56
and uses a compressor (not shown, but forms a part of the air supply) with the combination valving (V
P1
-V
P3
, V
V1
-V
V3
, BV
I
and BV
O
) to pressurize the reservoir
56
. The BV
I
and BV
O
valves are a bladder type to prevent damage to the frail material being pumped. This combination valving (V
P1
-V
P3
with V
V1
-V
V3
) controls the inlet BV
I
and outlet BV
O
bladder valves of the reservoir
56
.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,461 (Laempe) discloses an apparatus for metering flowable materials in sand core making machines. A summary of the pumping system
58
used therein is shown in FIG.
5
. The pumping system
58
works in a similar manner to the Marsh system
2
(
FIG. 1
) but includes two shut-off valves,
60
and
62
, going into a vacuum generator
64
, whereby the shut-off valve
60
is coupled to the pressure port (P) of the vacuum generator
64
and the shut-off valve
62
is coupled to the vacuum port (V) of the vacuum generator
64
. In order to pressurize a reservoir
66
, the pumping system
58
uses a third shutoff valve
68
(for dividing the air supply, while closing the upper shut-off valve
60
). Reservoir inlet
70
and outlet
72
check valves are also used with the reservoir
66
.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,144 (French) discloses an air-operated pump system
76
. A summary of this pump system
76
is shown in FIG.
6
. The system
76
primarily uses gravity to draw liquid in, whereby a vaccum (V) is available as an option to assist gravity. The system
76
utilizes two sources of air pressure: a main air supply
78
and an auxiliary air supply
80
, the latter of which is fed to a reservoir
84
via flow restrictor
82
. Two poppet valves
86
and
88
are used. An air-operated three-way valve
90
is controlled by the poppet valves
86
and
88
. A quick-exhaust valve
92
is coupled between the three-way valve
90
and the reservoir
84
. Inlet
94
and outlet
96
check valves are also used with the reservoir
84
.
However, none of these references teach or suggest controlling the exhaust port of a vacuum generator for creating both a pressure source and a vacuum source.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an invention that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, and a method for an apparatus, that can act as both a pressure source and a vacuum source.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, and a method for an apparatus, that can act as both a pressure source and a vacuum source while utilizing a minimum number of components.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide any liquid or gas system/method with an apparatus, and a method for an apparatus, that can act as both a pressure source and a vacuum source.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide fluid recovery/transfer systems that utilize a minimum number of components.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide fluid recovery/transfer systems that are less prone to problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the instant invention are achieved by providing, in a system requiring both a pressure source and a vacuum source, an improvement comprising: (a) a lumen (e.g., a Venturi tube) for conveying an air stream from an upstream port of the lumen toward a downstream port of the lumen wherein the lumen includes an orifice in the surface of the lumen located between the upstream port and the downstream port and wherein the upstream port is coupled to an air pressure source (e.g., 70-150 psi air supply); (b) a valve coupled in fluid communication with the downstream port for opening and closing off the downstream port; and (c) the orifice pulling a vacuum whenever the valve is open and the orifice generating a positive pressure whenever the valve is closed.
These and other objects of the instant invention are also achieved by providing, in a system for recovering or transferring fluid from a first location to a second location, an improvement comprising: (a) a lumen (e.g., a Venturi tube) for conveying an air stream from an upstream port of the lumen toward a downstream port of the lumen wherein the lumen includes an orifice in the surface of the lumen located between the upstream port and the downstream port and wherein the upstream port is coupled to an air pressure source (e.g., 70-150 psi air supply); (b) a valve coupled in fluid communication with the downstream port for opening and closing off the downstream port; (c) a reservoir having a first port coupled in fluid communication to the orifice; and (d) wherein the orifice pulls a vacuum in the reservoir for drawing fluid from the

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