FI20185765A1 - Liquid pump - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid pump, which comprises a float pool (10), a fill channel (11) and a fill valve (12) for filling the float pool (10) with liquid; a discharge duct (13) and a discharge valve (14) for emptying the floating basin (10) on liquid; a float element (15) arranged to float in the liquid of the float pool (10); a piston pump (18), wherein a piston (17) moves the liquid; a transfer means (16) connected to the float element (15) for transmitting the vertical movement of the float element outside the float pool (10); and the transfer means (16) is connected to move the piston (17) of the piston pump (18) outside the floating basin (10). The float element (15) controls the filling valve (12) to close and the drain valve (14) to open when the float basin (10) is filled. The float element (15) also controls the fill valve (12) to open and the drain valve (14) to close when the float basin (10) is emptied.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to fluid transfer systems. In particular, the invention relates to a liquid pump utilizing the potential energy of a liquid storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that liquid, for example water, can be transferred by means of water wheels, pumps or other liquid transfer systems. Usually, the driving force of the fluid transfer system is produced by an external energy-using device. Devices that utilize the potential energy of water are useful in environments where the natural pool also has a natural drainage channel. Many fluid transfer systems are complex and require regular maintenance.

The Finnish utility model 2862 presents a fluid transfer system that utilizes the potential energy of water by lowering water into a vertically movable basin. Below the pool is a piston pump, on the piston of which the weight of the pool is fed. As the pool fills with water, the weight of the pool causes the lower piston to move downward and get the water moving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to eliminate or at least alleviate the above-mentioned drawbacks. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a liquid pump which utilizes the potential energy of a liquid.

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The liquid pump according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in claim 1. The liquid pump comprises a floating pool, a filling channel and a filling valve for filling the floating pool with liquid. The filling channel can be connected, for example, to a water tank or a basin, the surface of which is higher than the liquid pump 5. Examples of a pool are lakes, rivers or rapids. The tank can be a purpose-built, potential energy storage fluid. The liquid may be water or some other liquid suitable for storing potential energy. The liquid pump includes a drain channel and a drain valve to drain the float pool of liquid. The discharge channel leads to a discharge basin where the height of the liquid surface is lower than the float pool. In addition, the liquid pump includes a float adapted to float in the fluid of the float pool and a piston pump in which the piston moves the liquid. According to the invention, the pump comprises transfer means connected to the float for transferring the vertical movement of the float outside the float basin. The transfer means is connected to move the piston of the piston pump outside the floating pool. In an inflatable float pool, the buoyancy on the float lifts the transfer means upward. In an emptying float pool, the weight of the float pushes the transfer medium down.

In one exemplary embodiment, the float includes means for filling the float with liquid when the float is filled with liquid and means for draining the float from the liquid when the float is empty. The internal volume of the float can be utilized by varying either the upward acting lift or the downward acting weight. When the float is empty, the controlled valve is closed and the float pool is filled with water. In these 25 states, the buoyancy of the float is at its maximum.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transfer means is a vertical rod attached to the float and adapted to move in a reciprocating motion with the float. In an exemplary embodiment, the transfer means is a rod leading upwards from the float pool, which is attached to the float and adapted to move vertically with the float.

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In one exemplary embodiment, the float pool includes a bushing to transmit the movement of the vertical rod below the float and the vertical rod is connected to the piston of the piston pump.

In one exemplary embodiment, the float directs the fill valve to close and the drain valve to open when the float pool is full. The float directs the fill valve to open and the drain valve to close when the float pool is empty.

The liquid pump is feasible on a large scale. With the potential energy contained in the liquid, the liquid can be moved above its initial level.

By means of a suitable pipe or duct arrangement, the liquid pump is suitable, for example, for an irrigation system. The liquid pump can be used, for example, to provide a water reservoir above the original water level. The liquid pump can be implemented pollution-free, completely autonomous and almost maintenance-free.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention will be described in detail by means of application examples with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1a schematically shows an example of an application of a liquid pump in the first state;

Figure 1b schematically shows an application of a liquid pump in a second state;

Figure 2 schematically shows an example of an application with an alternative transmission means; and Figure 3 schematically shows an example of an application.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1a schematically shows an application example of a liquid pump according to the invention, in which the floating pool 10 is filled, and Fig. 1b the same pool when the floating pool 10 is empty. In the liquid pump, the floating pool 10 is arranged to operate between the two spaces.

The floating pool 10 is arranged so that a liquid, for example water, can be led to it from the external water reservoir via the filling channel 11. The free-flowing water is regulated by the filling valve 12. When the filling valve 12 is open, the floating basin 10 is filled with water. In one example, the external water reservoir is a lake, river, or similar natural water reservoir. The water surface 22 of the floating pool 10 is lower than the surface of the external water reservoir. The float pool 10 can be emptied along the drain channel 13. The drain channel 13 is lower than the surface of the external water reservoir. This can be done, for example, inland with a sufficiently long water supply arrangement. The draining of the floating pool 10 can be adjusted by means of a drain valve 14. The operation of the filling valve 11 and the drain valve 14 can be arranged automatically, for example by connecting the valves to monitor the movement of the float 15.

In one embodiment, the float 15 is shaped to close and open the filling valve 11 and the drain valve 14, for example by covering and opening the valves in a manner known from two-stroke engines. The float 15 can direct the filling valve 11 to close and the drain valve 14 to open when the float pool 10 is full. Correspondingly, the float 15 can direct the filling valve 11 to open and the drain valve 14 to close when the float pool 10 has been emptied.

The float 15 is adapted to float in the liquid accumulated in the float basin 10, for example in water. The alternating emptying and filling of the floating basin 10 causes a vertical movement of the water surface 22 followed by the float 15. Connected to the float 15 are transfer means 16 for transferring vertical movement outside the float basin 10. The transfer means 16 in this example is a vertical rod; alternatively it may be a lever, a chain or

20185765 prh 14-09-2018 other mechanical structure that transmits movement outside the float pool 10. The transfer means 16 may be supported by a bearing. The float pool 10 may include a sealed bushing to transmit movement of the vertical bar 16 below the float pool 10, the vertical bar 16 being connected to the piston 17 of the piston pump 18.

The transfer means 16 is connected to a piston pump 18, where the piston 17 moves the liquid. A variety of prior art piston pumps 18 can be connected to the fluid pump. In one example, the piston 17 moves vertically in the cylinder 20. The inlet valve 21 allows fluid to fill the cylinder 20 as the piston 17 and float 15 move upward. The inlet valve 21 closes as the piston 17 and the float 15 move downwards, whereby the outlet valve 13 opens. In one application, the inlet valve 21 is a non-return valve.

The float 15 pushes the piston 17 downwards by gravity. The mass of the float 15, the transfer means 16 and the piston 17 form a pressure which can be calculated from the downward force divided by the area of the piston 17 relative to the cylinder 20. When the pressure exceeds the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid pumped by the piston pump 18, the liquid pump raises the liquid storage of the liquid higher. The float 15 is adapted to be heavy enough so that the mass of the float 15 is sufficient to lift the liquid through the outlet valve 19 into the outlet channel and further into utilization. The mass of the float 15 generates pressure through the outlet valve 19 into the outlet duct. Correspondingly, the buoyancy of the float 15 is sufficient to lift the piston 17 in the cylinder 20. The float basin 10 and the float 15 can be dimensioned so that the pressure through the outlet valve 19 rises to a usable level sufficiently large compared to the height difference

In one embodiment, the rising piston creates a vacuum in the cylinder 20 that opens the inlet valve 21. In one embodiment, the inlet passage has a pressure that opens the inlet valve 21 as the piston 17 rises. In one application, the inlet channel of the inlet valve 21 is connected to the same liquid reservoir as the filling channel 11 of the float 10. In one embodiment, the liquid pump is used to transfer

20185765 prh 14-09- 2018 some other liquid utilizing the potential energy of the liquid storage connected to the inlet channel; for example, by pumping oil through the flow of lake water.

Figure 2 schematically shows an example of an application in which the transfer means 16 is implemented in an alternative way. In this example, the transfer means is arranged as a rod which transfers the vertical movement of the float 15 from above the float basin 10 to the piston 17. In this example, the float basin is not provided with a passage for the transfer means 16. The transfer means 16 may be a vertical rod or other structure. The piston pump 18 may be located above the float basin 10, whereby, for example, the vacuum generated in the cylinder 20 sucks the liquid through the inlet valve 21 into the piston pump 18.

Figure 3 schematically shows an example of an application in which the float 15 comprises means 31 for filling the float 15 with liquid when the float 10 is filled with liquid and means 31 for emptying the float 15 with liquid when the float 10 is empty. The figure shows only a part of the liquid pump of the floating basin 10. The internal volume of the float 15 can be utilized by varying either the upward acting lift or the downward acting weight. The means 31 for filling and / or emptying the float 15 include, for example, a controllable valve. When the float pool 10 is full, the controllable valve 31 is opened and the float 15 is allowed to sink at least partially filled with liquid in the float pool 10, in some applications to the bottom of the float pool 10. When the float 15 is sufficiently filled with liquid, the controllable valve 31 is closed and the drain valve 14 is opened. Thus, the total mass of the float 15 in the empty float pool 10 includes the liquid inside it and the force weighing the piston 17 is greater. When the piston 17 is in its extreme position, the float 15 at the bottom of the float basin 10 and the float basin 10 are emptied, the controllable valve 31 is opened and the liquid is allowed to drain from inside the float 15.

The invention is not limited to the application examples presented above, but many modifications are possible while remaining within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Claims (5)

STANDARD A fluid pump comprising: a float pool (10), a fill channel (11) and a fill valve (12) for filling a float pool (10) with liquid; a drain passage (13) and a drain valve (14) for draining the float pool (10) from the liquid; a float (15) adapted to float in the liquid of the float pool (10); and a piston pump (18), wherein the piston (17) moves the fluid; characterized in that the pump includes transfer means (16) connected to the float (15) for transferring the vertical movement of the float outside the float basin (10); and the transfer means (16) is connected to move the piston (17) of the piston pump (18) outside the float basin (10). Liquid pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the float (15) comprises means for filling the float (15) with liquid when the float (10) is filled with liquid and means for emptying the float (15) with liquid when the float (10) is empty. A liquid pump according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the transfer means (16) is a vertical rod attached to the float (15) and adapted to move vertically with the float (15). A liquid pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the buoyancy tank (10) comprises a bushing for transmitting the movement of the vertical bar below the floatation pool (10) and the vertical bar is connected to the piston (17) of the piston pump (18). Liquid pump according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the float (15) directs the filling valve (12) to close and the drain valve (14) to open when the floating pool (10) is filled; and a float (15) directs the filling valve (12) to open and the drain valve 5 (14) to close when the float pool (10) is empty.