GB1427723A - Method and apparatus for pumping fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

1427723 Rotary sprengel pumps MICRO-D Ltd 15 June 1973 [16 March 1972] 12252/72 Heading F1C A method of pumping fluids comprises continually forming U-tube manometers to replace U-tube manometers being continually destroyed to maintain in existence a series of inter-connected U-tube manometers opposing a head of fluid. The pump shown comprises a helically coiled tube 5 supported on a cylinder 1 carried by a hollow shaft 2 which is rotated by a handle 11. For approximately half of each revolution, the open end of the coil 5 dips into a body of water, while for the remainder of each revolution, the open end is above the water level. Consequently, the lower part of each turn of the coil contains water while the upper part contains air, whereby the air is pumped along the coil by a succession of U-tube manometers of water. The discharge end of the coil is connected at 7 to a radial pipe 8 leading to the hollow shaft 2, whence the water and air are discharged via a rotary seal 9 to a stationary pipe 10 or directly to a rotating pipe. The coil may be self-supporting or may comprise several layers or be of helical or beehive form, or may be replaced by a conduit following the form of a coil but integral with the supporting structure. Changes in radial distance from the axis of rotation are compensated for by changes in the cross-sectional area of the tube, whereby the volume per degree of air remains substantially constant. The cross-sectional area may be reduced over a region at approximately one-third of the overall length from the intake end. The pump may comprise several stages, some of the liquid being removed in a separation chamber between stages to compensate for the reduction of volume of the gas during compression. Fluid discharged by the pump or removed between stages may be used to drive a hydraulic or air motor or a turbine which assists in driving the pump. The intake to the coil need not be at atmospheric pressure. Both intake and discharge may take place at annular or circular chambers situated at either end of the coil. The tube or other conduit may be a flexible coil running over two or more rollers rather than revolving about a single axis.