AU619447B2

AU619447B2 - Water pumping system using compressed air

Info

Publication number: AU619447B2
Application number: AU76658/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ferenc Kocsis
Original assignee: JONES JAMES STEPHEN; JONES LYNETTE JOY
Current assignee: JONES JAMES STEPHEN; JONES LYNETTE JOY
Priority date: 1986-08-06
Filing date: 1987-08-06
Publication date: 1992-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-06
Also published as: AU7665887A

Description

This form iust be accompanied by either a provisional specification (Form 9 and true copy) or by a complete specification (Form 10 end true copy).

These sections are to be cornpleted only where ap'plicable..

C J. Tw~upi. tommnwcalih Govenmment Primer yr N..

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A UO A XA LIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIIC-A

(ORIGINAL)

6 19447 FO-)R OFFICE USE: Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Acceiu ed: Published: Priority: Class R lated Art: 04, t .1

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Name of Applicant(s): FEREPNC KOCSIS Address of Applicant(s): Lot 15 Chapman Valley Road, Waggrakine, Western Australia Australia, 6530.

4Actual Invcnitor(s), FERENC KOCSIS Kelvin Lord Co., 4 Douro Place, WEST PERTH, Address for Service: Western Austra ,ia 6005.

Comrplete Specification for the invention entitled: "WATER PUMPING SYSTEM USING COMPRESSED AIR".

The followin6 sta-teme.t is af PiiU description of this invention, including the beV~ 4lethod of performing it known to me! us ii i F t C C t 2 The present invention relates to a pump apparatus and in particular to pump apparatus for pumping water using compressed air.

Conventional pumps for pumping water from wells, bores and the like using compressed air are typically of complex structure. Compressed air is generally pumped into the pump from the surface and acts on water which has entered the pump from the well or bore. This compressed air eventually builds up pressure and forces an amount of water 10 into a delivery pipe (which extends to the surface). This requires an air compressor of large capacity to be used because the air pressure must be sufficient to force water int the bottom of the delivery pipe, the delivery pipe itself being filled with water. However, once this has occurred, prior art pumps require that this compressed air be removed from the pump in a separate venting stage of the pumping cycle. This separate venting stage is necessary to allow a further supply of water to enter the pump from the well or bore.

The present invention seeks to provide a puLnp apparatus which can operate with less energy consumption and without a s irate venting stage.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided pump apparatus comprising: a de&lvery -4e.li i -channel means; qnr 4 air chamber means having air inlet means such that air is continuously and freely injectable into said air chamber means, said air chamber means being in fluid communication with said delivery chaniel means; 14 A'lff Ynl-: -2a valve means located at a lower region of said pmpa- CAaAA-e( rveins :aaratuo to, in use, allow water to enter said pump apparatus; wherein, compressed air is continuously and freely injectable through said air inlet means into said air chamber means to raise the pressure therein such that water in said pump apparatus is forced into and lifted u. said delivery channel means by said compressed air without said pLump apparatus comprising separate venting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of pumping water using a pump Sapparatus comprising: injecting compressed air continuously and freely intoAair chamber means; allowing water to enter said pump apparatus via valve means provided at a lower region of said pump apparatus until said valve means is closed by the pressure of the injected compressed air; raising the pressure in said air chamber means by said injected compressed air such that said water in said pump apparatus is forced into and lifted up a delivery channel means of said pump apparatus by said compressed air without said, method comprising 4 separate venting s qe.

The present invention 4 1l now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a pump apparatus in t,' I II 3 accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a pump apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a ystem to control the compression and decompression of the air chamber of the pump apparatus shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the valve housing of the pump apparatus of 10 the present invention; Figure 5 shows another system to control the compression and decompression of the air chamber of the pump apparatus shown in Figure 2.

In the drawings the same reference numerals are used to depict the same features appearing in different figures.

'In Figure 1, there is shown a pump apparatus 10 for pumping water using compressed air. The side walls of a well in which the pump apparatus 10 is located are shown at 12.

The pump apparatus 10 comprises an air chamber 14 of generally annular shape, surrounding a delivery channel 16. At the top of the air chamber 14 there is located an air inlet 18. The delivery channel 16 may conveniently be LA in the form of a pipe or conduit. The delivery channel 16 extends from the lower region of the pump apparatus 10 to ground level.

A valve housing 20 is located in the lower region of the pump apparatus 10, preferably in the delivery channel 16.

Figure 4 shows the valve housing The valve housing 20 comprises an upper lift valve 22 and a

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lower lift valve 24.

The upper lift valve 22 comprises a valve member 26 and a valve seat 28 on which the valve 26 may seat. The lift valve 24 comprises a valve member 30 and a valve seat 32 on which the valve member 30 may seat. The valve seat-' 28 and 32 may be formed integral with the inside wall of valve housing 20. This is best seen in Figure 4.

The valve housing 20 has ports 34, intermediate the upper lift valve 22 and the .ower lift valve 24. The valve housing 20 further has O-rings 36 on its outer surface 1 which seal against the internal walls 38 of the delivery ,f channel 16. The O-rings 36 are located above and below the ports 34.

Ports 40 are provided between the air chamber 14 and the valve housing 20. The ports 40 coincide in positional .t f relation with the ports 34 of the valve housing Accordingly, -ir and water may pass between the air chamber 14 and the delivery pipe 16, via the ports 40 and 34, when the upper lift valve 22 is open.

In use, the pump apparatus 10 is suspended from ground level to below the water line, eg, in a well.

When the pump apparatus 10 is first lowered into the water in the well, the water forces the valve members 30 and 26 off their respective valve, seats 32 and 28 thereby opening the valves 24 and 22, respectively. In this way, water enters the valve housing 20, air chamber 14 and delivery channel 16 via the lower lift valve 24 and the upper lift valve 22 so that the water level in the pump apparatus is substantially equal to the external water level in the i well. Thus, water would be contained in the air chamber 14, valve housing 20 and in the delivery channel 16 above the upper lift valve 22.

To commence the pumping cycle, air is pumped by a compressor (not shown) into the air chamber 14 through the air inlet 18, by way of attached hose 42. The compressor used need only be of low energy capacity.

Initially, the compressed air from the compressor would not be of a sufficienty high pressure in the air chamber 14 to St*" 10 be able to open the upper lift valve 22 because of the pressure of the weight of the water above the upper lift t valve 22 in the delivery channel 16. However, when sufficient air pressure has built up in the air chamber 14, the downward pressure exerted by the weight of the water above the upper lift valve 22 is equalized and exceeded and f the valve 22 is forced open, ie. in the valve member 26 is lifted off its seat 28.

K' The pressure of the compressed air keeps the lower lift valve 24 closed, by pushing the valve member 30 against its t'20 valve seat 32. This is the compression stage of the cycle.

The compressed air then forces the water out of the air chamber 14, through the ports 40 and 34, through the open upper lift valve 22 and into the delivery channel 16.

by 44,e- air The water is then pushed up the delivery channel 16Ato a discharge point at ground level. This causes the pressure above the upper lift valve 22 to be greater than the pressure below it, and closes the upper lift valve 22.

Simultaneously, with the water being forced up the delivery channel 16, the pressure in the air chamber 14 drops to

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A4S 6 below the pressure of the water outside the pump apparatus Thus, water is again able to enter the valve housing and the air chamber 14 from the bottom of the pump apparatus 10, via the lower lift valve 24.

This is the decompression stage of the cycle.

The cycle described above is then repeated.

At all stages of the cycle, some air and water will always remain above the upper lift valve 22.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in j r 10 Figure 2. Figure 2 shows a pump apparatus 50 wherein the t t r t r delivery channel 16 has a portion 52 of enlarged diameter S located above the air chamber 14. The portion 52 has a water escape port 54 and a floating valve 56.

The floating valve 56 has an air escape 58.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 operates in a generally similar manner to the embodiment of Figure 1. The modifications made to the operation of the pump j apparatus 50, due to the presence of the portion 52, are hereinafter described.

When sufficient compressed air has built up in the air chamber 14, the upper lift valve 22 is opened. At this stage the floating valve 56 is located at the bottom of the portion 52. If the amount of compressed air available is not sufficient to raise the water up the delivery channel 1,6, the water will simply be circulated from the pump apparatus 50 back into the water source via the water escape port 54.

Once sufficieht compressed air is available, it will be trapped inside the cavity 55 of floating ialve 56 causing it to rise and block off the water escape port 54. A continuing supply of air will ensure that the floating valve 56 remains in the raised position.

The presence of the air escape port 58 in the floating valve 56 is to ensure that the floating valve 56 is not raised when only a relatively small amount of compressed air is available. The air escape port. 58 is of such size that, once sufficient compressed air is available, it will not prevent the floating valve 56 from remaining in the I. 10 raised position.

I ft I When the amount of compressed air is available, diminishes, S: the floating valve 36 will descend to the lower part of the j II portion 52, allowing water to exit via the water escape port 54.

The cycle described anove is then repeated.

The pump apparatus 1,0/50 of the present invention, unlike prior art pumps, does not require any separate venting (of the compressed air). This is because the compressed air goes up tihe delivery channel 16 with water as it forces the water up the delivery channel 16 to the surface. Thus, there is no separate venting arrangement required in the pump apparatus 10/50. This can be readily seen in Figures 1 and 2 where no separate vonting tube, pipe, etc (as are used in prior art pumps) is provided for the air chamber 14. This system also permits the upper lift valve 22 to be omitted if desired without materially affecting the operation of the pump apparatus 10/50.

In connection with the embodiment of Figure 2, two alternative systems may be provided to control the 7a compression and decompression in the air chamber 14. These two systems are shown in Figures 3 and 5, respectively. In Figure 3, there is schematically shown a system suitable for use in a situation when a compressor is available.

The compressor 60 is connected to a small air tank 62 which is, in turn, connected to a valve arrangement 64.

The operation of the valve arrangement 64 is controlled by a cam 66 and cam follower 68 of a reduction gear. A hose 42 leads to the air inlet 18 of the air chamber 14. The 10 valve arrangement 64 controls the feed of compressed air to the air chamber 14.

*i 2U j^1 j r M Due to the cam 66, the valve arrangement 64 has two modes of operation.

In the first mode of operation (open), the valve arrangement 64 allows air, from the compressor 60, to pass therethrough. The air is then passed down into the air chamber 14, via the hose 42 such that the water may be lifted up the delivery channel 16. This is the compression stage of ,he cycle.

In the second mode of operation (closed), the cam 66 has 1 0 moved and accordingly the air is not permitted to pass down r r to the air chamber 14 but instead is vented with the remaining air from the air chamber 14. As the pressure in the air chamber 14 is now reduced (since air is vented therefrom) the outside water pressure is greater. This then allows water to enter into the valve housing 20 and the air chamber 14 via the lower lift valve 24. This is the decompression stage of the cycle.

In Figure 5, there is schematically shown a system suitable for use in a situation when a compressor is not available.

Accordingly, in Figure 5 there is shown a windmill having a rod 72 arranged to move up and down with the rotation of the windmill vanes 74.

M The windmill 70 is connected to a bellows 76. The bellows 76 has a one way valve 78.

A hose 42 leads to the air chamber 14. The bellows 76 controls the supply of compressed air to the air chamber 14.

The up and down movement of the windmill rod 72 causes the bellows 76 to alternately contract and expand.

__ir ii illY~--~--i 9 When the bellows 76 contracts, air in the bellows 76 is forced out via an outlet 80 and down the hose 42 into the air chamber 14 such that water may be lifted up the delivery channel 16.

This is the compression stage of the cycle.

When the bellows 76 expands, air is sucked into it via the one way valve 78. At the same time, water is again drawn into the valve housing 20 and air chamber 14 via the lower lift valve 24, as the pressure in the air chamber 14 is now 10 reduced. This is the decompression stage of the cycle.

o Tne bellows system of Figure 5 is particularly suitable to S the situation where the air chamber 14 is of low volume.

t t t The embodiment of Figure 1 is particularly suited to situations where there is a continuous supply of compressed air, and is suitable for use in depths of up to 100 feet.

t The embodiment of Figure 2 is especially appropriate in situations where tle supply of compressed air is powered by a variable energy source, eg, by solar power or wind power (windmill), and is suitable for use in depths of over 100 feet.

The pump apparatus of the present invention may be used to obtain water from a variety of sources, eg. bores, dams, d c wells, ponds and rivers.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

1. Pump apparatus comprisingt g d,(We rr EeI*- channel means; A air chamber means having air inlet means such that air is continuously and freely injectable into said air chamber means, said air chamber means being in fluid communication with said delivery channel means; valve means located at a lower region of said PI&%9 ,5a~.a4 to, in use, allow water to enter said pump apparatus; wherein, compressed air is continuously and freely injectable through said air inlet means into said air chamber means to raise the pressure therein such that water in said pump apparatus is forced into and lifted up said delivecy channel means by said compressed air without sd id pump apparatus comprising separate venting means.

2. Pump apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air chamber means and said valve means are each provided with port means such that said air chamber means and said valve means are in fluid communication via said port means,

3. Punip apparatus according to claim I or Z, wherei -aid air chamber means surrounds said delivery channe) said valve means located in said delivory cihnr(a-

4. Pump apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, Whvii r if valve means is provided with seal means located above and below said port means of said air chamber means and said valve means such that said seal means seal againvt the internal wall of said delivery channel m-ans- Pump apparatus according to any one o! claims I t.u t, I t iv 1 1 wherein said valve means comprises a valve housing having an upper valve and a lower valve, said Jower valve arranged to open to allow water, in use, to enter said pump apparatus and to be closed, in use, by said compressed air when said upper valve is opened to permit said compressed air to enter said delivery channel means and said upper valve arranged to be closed when said lower valve is opened to again allow entry of said water. P a rt according to any one af claims 1 to wherein floating valve means and aperture means are provided in said delivery channel means such at only when sufficient compressed air is availab said floating valve means closes off said apertu means such that said water may then be lifted spaid delivery channel by said compressed a

7. Pp apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said -flati- -vg-ae-faans *i pr-ev4det- w-ie--pertUre--ean. Si. A method of pumping water using a pump apparatus comprising, injecting compressed air continuously and freely into~air chamber means; allowing water to enter said pump apparatus via valve means provided at a lower region of said pump apparatus until said valve means is closed by the pressure of the injected compressed air; raising the pressure in said air chamber means by said injected compressed air rch that said water in said pump apparatus is forced into and lifted up a delivery channel means of said pump apparatus by said compressed air without :h.f H^ 12 said method comprising separate venting 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein after said compressed air has lifted said water up said delivery channel means water is again able to enter said pump apparatus via said valve means for pumping. 1 Pump apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. j 9 Pump apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described i 10 with reference to Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. 101f. A method of pumping water using a pump apparatus tilt substantially as hereinbefore de3cribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED SEPTEMBER 23 1991 FERENC KOCSIS By his Patent Attorneys KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA