GB1565878A

GB1565878A - Method for regulating the flow capacity of a positive displacement pump and a device for carrying out the same

Info

Publication number: GB1565878A
Application number: GB2773577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Akers Mek Verksted AS
Current assignee: Akers Mek Verksted AS
Priority date: 1977-07-01
Filing date: 1977-07-01
Publication date: 1980-04-23

Description

(54) METHOD FOR REGULATING THE FLOW CAPACITY OF A POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP, AND A DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE SAME (71) We, A/S AKERS MEK. VERK STED, a Norwegian Body Corporate, of Munkedamsveien 45, Oslo 2, Norway do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and the following statement: This invention relates to a method for regulating the flow capacity of a positive displacement pump provided with automatic intake and discharge valves, in which the intake valve(s) is (are) kept in the open position during a variable proportion of the working stroke of the pump, and a device for carrying out the method.

Piston pumps, or positive displacement pumps, as they are also called, are employed in several fields in industry and technology where high delivery pressure is required. Such pumps are usually provided with automatic valves, i.e. the intake and discharge valves are opened by the diminished pressure and increased pressure respectively formed in the pump cylinder during the reciprocal movement of the piston.

Since the quantity of liquid displaced by the piston of a piston pump during its working stroke is only to a small extent dependent upon the working conditions of the pump, the working pace of the pump, e.g. its shaft speed, must usually be adjustable if it is desired to vary the quantity of liquid delivered from a given pump. In the case of small pumps, especially for the injection of fuel into diesel engines, a known method of regulating the delivery of the pump is to keep the intake valve open during part of the working stroke of the piston so that some of the liquid drawn into the pump cylinder is returned to the intake duct during the working stroke. This can be achieved, for example, by allowing the intake valve to consist of an aperture in the pump cylinder wall which is closed by the pump piston at a given point of time during the working stroke.The closing time can be varied by turning the piston, a cavity in its side wall being arranged so that at the rear it is limited by a surface at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the piston. During the forward movement of the piston liquid will thus flow out through the inlet aperture via the said cavity until its sloping surface has passed the inlet aperture, so that a corresponding proportion of the piston's pumping movement is ineffective. In this system the piston must be rotatably arranged in the cylinder and rotation of the piston should preferably be controllable from the outside while the pump is running. Moreover, close tolerances are required between piston and cylinder wall in order to achieve sufficient sealing of the intake aperture, and the cavity in the piston makes it impossible to employ sealing piston rings.This system is therefore unsuitable for large piston pumps and for the pumping of liquids with poor lubricating properties.

Another quantity regulation system is known in small pumps, in which the inlet aperture is closed by a moveable valve body.

In these pumps a valve body is caused to open after the pump piston has completed part of its forward movement so that the contents of the pump cylinder are returned to the inlet duct during the remaining part of the piston stroke. The valve body is moved by a mechanical lifting device which is operated by a variable cam mechanism of relatively complex design. In view of the fact that the valve body has to be moved against the full pressure differential of the pump the lifting mechanism must be capable of exerting considerable force, which implies costly production and considerable exposure to wear. In addition the system requires a relatively large amount of energy.

In drilling for natural resources such as, e.g. oil and gas, drilling mud is pumped down through the hollow drill pipe for the purpose of cooling and cleaning the crown and to carry drilling spoil out of the borehole. The drilling mud must often be supplied at very high pressures, and the flow required varies during the drilling operation. Large piston pumps are used for this drilling mud injection, their delivery being regulated by varying the pace of the pump, i.e. its shaft speed.

Where drilling is carried out in a marine environment, e.g. from a floating platform installation, it is usual to use direct current motors tq drive the drilling mud pumps in order to be able to vary the pump shaft speed.

A direct current motor necessitates highly complicated and sensitive control equipment which requires a great deal of maintenance and a large stock of spares. Besides being costly, the direct current motor and its equipment require considerable space and it is of great weight, thus undesirably affecting the payload of the platform.

The purpose of this invention is thus to provide a method for regulating the flow capacity of a piston pump of the type mentioned by way of inuoduction, which permits the use of a lighter, less expensive and more rugged alternating current motor for the operation of the pump, while at the same time wholly or partly eliminating the disadvantages of known pumps. Furthermore, it is the purpose of the invention to provide a device to carry out the method.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for regulating the flow capacity of a positive displacement pump fitted with automatic intake and discharge valves, in which the intake valve(s) is (are) held open during a variable proportion of the working stroke of the pump piston, wherein the quantity of liquid flowing out through on open intake valve during the working stroke of the pump piston is caused to affect a piston connected with the intake valve in such a way that the valve is moved towards the closed position, and wherein the distance through which the piston must be moved in order to bring the intake valve to its closed position is regulated, thus regulating the said quantity of liquid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for affecting the method wherein the piston connected with the intake valve is arranged to slide in a cylindrical sleeve whose wall is provided with perforations, the sleeve being arranged in the intake duct of the pump such that the medium flowing through said sleeve to the pump cylinder must pass through the perforations of the sleeve wall on at least one side of the piston, means being provided for closing or opening a portion of the perforations as desired.

Preferably, the said means comprise a cylindrical part which partially surrounds the sleeve, the sleeve and the cylindrical part being moveably arranged relative to one another.

The device may include a spring arranged to move the piston in the closing direction of the intake valve.

The connection between the intake valve and the piston may be flexible.

For the better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. la, ib, ic, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a, 3b, 3c, diagramatically illustrate the working of a piston pump according to the invention, set for maximum, minimum and medium delivery respectively.

Fig. 4 shows in greater detail a cross section through the intake part of a somewhat modi fied pump according to the invention, the section being taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section along the line V-V in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6a, 6b, 6c, shows part of the device according to the invention in vertical elevation, partly sectional side elevation and folded out respectively.

The pump shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a pump cylinder 1 with a pump piston 2 moveable therein, connected with a rotating crankshaft 3 by means of a piston rod 4. In the pump cylinder there are arranged an intake valve 5 and a discharge valve 6 which by means of valve springs 7 and 8 seek to close apertures between the pump cylinder and an intake duct 9 and discharge duct 10 respectively. The valves 5 and 6 act auto matically, they open if they are exposed to a pressure differential exceeding the pressures exerted by the valve springs 7 and 8 respectively.

A cylindrical part 11 is arranged in the intake duct adjacent to the pump cylinder, said part 11 containing a closely fitting rotatably arranged sleeve 12 which can be rotated from outside by means of a shaft 13. The interior of the sleeve 12 also forms a cylinder, in which a sliding valve piston 14 is arranged.

Between the valve piston and the pump cylinder there is a valve piston spring 15.

Centrally in the valve piston 14 there is a through-running guide for the valve stem 16 of the intake valve 5. The previously mentioned valve spring 7 of the intake valve is disposed between the valve piston 14 and the lower end of the valve stem 16 and forms a flexible connection between the intake valve and the valve piston.

A by-pass duct 17 is arranged at the side of the cylindrical part 11. That part of the wall of cylinder 11 which is adjacent to the by-pass duct 17 is provided with perforations, and the same applies to the wall of the cylindrical sleeve 12. The perforations of the sleeve 12 are so arranged that they can be brought into register with the perforations of the cylinder 11 over a large or small area by turning the sleeve 12. As shown in Fig. 1 a-e the perforations of sleeve 12 coincide with the perforations of cylinder 11 throughout their length.

Fig. la shows the piston on its backward intake stroke. This creates a vacuum in the pump cylinder 1 which causes intake valve 5 to open against the pressure of the valve spring 7, so that liquid can flow as shown by arrows from the intake duct 9 into the sleeve 12 at the underside of the valve piston 14, thence through the perforations into the bypass duct 17 and on through the perforations into the sleeve 12 on the upper side of the valve piston 14, finally ending in pump cylinder 1.

Fig. ib shows the pump piston 2 in its rearmost position. In this condition there is no longer a vacuum in the pump cylinder 1, and intake valve 5 will therefore close under the pressure of valve spring 7.

Fig. lc shows the pump piston on its forward pumping stroke This movement creates increased pressure in pump cylinder 1, opening discharge valve 6 against the effect of the valve spring 8 so that liquid can flow into the discharge duct 10.

Fig 2 a-e shows the pump according to the invention set for zero delivery.

In this case the cylindrical sleeve 12 is so set by means of the shaft 13 that the perforation of the sleeve 12 and the cylinder 11 do not coincide for a substantial proportion of their perforated surfaces, i.e. there is no connection between the cavity in the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the by-pass duct 17.

Fig. 2a shows the pump piston 2 on its backward suction stroke. This creates a lower pressure in the pump cylinder 1 than in the intake duct 9, and this pressure differential causes valve piston 14 and intake valve 5 to move upwards while liquid flows into the pump cylinder 1 from the upper side of the valve piston 14. At the same time liquid flows from the intake duct 9 into the cylindrical sleeve 12 on the underside of the valve piston 14. Since there is no connection between the cavity in the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the by-pass duct 17 on the underside of the valve piston 14 no movement of liquid can take place from the underside to the overside of valve piston 14.

Fig. 2b shows pump piston 2 in its rearmost position. Valve piston 14 is kept in its upper position by the pressure differential between the intake duct 9 and the pump cylinder 1 against the pressure of the valve piston spring 15. The intake valve 5 is here in its maximum open position. It will be seen that in this position too there is no connection between the lower side and the upper side of the valve piston 14.

Fig. 2c shows the pump piston 2 on its forward pumping stroke. On this stroke liquid flows from the pump cylinder 1 out through the intake valve aperture into the cavity in the cylindrical sleeve 12 on the upper side of the valve piston 14. The valve piston moves downwards under the pressure of valve piston spring 15 and at its underside it forces liquid from the cavity in cylindrical sleeve 12 out into intake duct 9. The movement of the valve piston 14 also causes gradual closing of the intake valve 5, and when the pump piston 2 has reached top dead centre, i.e.

the end of its pumping stroke, the valve piston and intake valve will have assumed the position shown in Fig. 1b and lc. Thus the intake valve 5 only closes when pump piston 2 reaches top dead centre.

Fig. 3a-e shows the pump according to the invention, adjusted to delivery slightly less than 50% of full capacity.

This adjustment is effected by turning the shaft 13 so that the perforations of the cylindrical sleeve 12 coincide with the perforations of the by-pass valve 17 for a part of the area of the inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve which valve piston 14 can pass.

Fig. 3a shows pump piston 2 on its backward suction stroke. Liquid flows into the pump cylinder 1 from the space in the cylinder sleeve 12 on the upper side of valve piston 14 through the open intake valve 5, while valve piston 14 moves upwards against the pressure of valve piston spring 15. At the same time liquid flows from intake duct 9 into the space in the cylindrical sleeve 12 on the underside of valve piston 14. No liquid has as yet passed from the underside to the upper side of valve piston 14 via by-pass duct 17.

Fig. 3b shows the pump according to the invention at the time when pump piston 2 has moved so far back on its suction stroke that the underside of valve piston 14 has uncovered coinciding apertures in the wall of the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the by-pass duct 17. During the remainder of the suction stroke the valve piston 14 will remain by and large stationary, while liquid flows as shown by the arrow from intake duct 9 to pump cylinder 1 via the cylindrical sleeve 12 and by-pass duct 17.

As soon as the pump piston passes the bottom dead centre and commences its forward pumping stroke the valve piston 14 will move downwards and close the coinciding apertures on its underside in the wall of che cylindrical sleeve 12 and the by-pass duct 17 due to the pressure of the valve piston spring 15 and the liquid flowing out through the open intake valve 5. Valve piston 14 and intake valve 5 will continue to move downwards during the forward pumping stroke of the pump piston until intake valve 5 closes as valve piston 14 reaches its lower position.

This position is shown in Fig. lb, lc and 3c. Thereupon discharge valve 6 will open and liquid will flow out into discharge duct 10 during the remainder of the pump piston's pumping stroke. The liquid thereby flowing out into the discharge duct will be approximately equal to the quantity which during the suction stroke flowed past valve piston 14 via by-pass duct 17, and this is thus the net delivery per stroke of the pump.

Fig. 4 shows in greater detail a modified embodiment of the intake part of a pump according to the invention The reference numbers are the same as those of corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 3.

This embodiment deviates from the preceding embodiment in that the valve stem 16 here is in fixed connection with the valve piston 14 while intake valve 5 is arranged to slide on valve stem 16 between a fixed collar 18 on the valve stem and a similarly fixed end flange 19. Intake valve spring 7 is arranged between end flange 19 and intake valve 5 and seeks to move the latter towards collar 18.

Upon upward movement of valve piston 14 the collar 18 will lift intake valve 5 from its seat so that it opens. When valve piston 14 remains at rest in its lower position at 100% delivery an underpressure in pump cylinder 1 in relation to intake duct 9 will cause intake valve 5 to open against the pressure of valve spring 7.

Shaft 13 for regulation of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is here provided with an actuating arm 20 which may be connected with corresponding actuating arms on further cylinders which the pump may include.

The cylindrical part 11, wherein sleeve 12 is rotably arranged, is here provided with 2 large cavities which form the by-pass duct 17.

This is more clearly shown in Fig. 5 which shows a cross section along the line V-V in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 similarly shows how, by turning sleeve 12, perforations 21 in its wall can be closed.

Fig 6a shows the cylindrical sleeve 12 seen from below. Fig. 6b shows the sleeve seen from the side, partly in section and Fig.

6c shows the side wall of the sleeve, folded out. This clearly shows how perforations 21 are arranged in order to afford valve piston 14 a variable stroke by turning sleeve 12 in relation to the cylindrical part 11.

From the preceding embodiment it will appear that the invention provides a pump of the type mentioned by way of introduction, whose delivery can be continuously regulated by relatively simple means, utilising che movement of the pumped medium in the intake duct, and without the expenditure of large, energy-wasting internal or external forces.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A method for regulating the flow cap acity of a positive displacement pump fitted with automatic intake and discharge valves, in which the intake valve(s) is (are) held open during a variable proportion of the working stroke of the pump piston, wherein the quantity of liquid flowing out through an open intake valve during the working stroke of the pump piston is caused to affect a piston connected with the intake valve in such a way that the valve is moved towards the closed position, and wherein the distance through which the piston must be moved in order to bring the intake valve to its closed position is regulated, thus regulating the said quantity of liquid.

2. A device for effecting the method accord ing to claim 1, wherein the piston connected with the intake valve is arranged to slide in a cylindrical sleeve whose wall is provided with perforations, the sleeve being arranged in the intake duct of the pump such that the medium flowing through said sleeve to the pump cylinder must pass through the perfor ations of the sleeve wall on at least one side of the piston, means being provided for closing or opening a portion of the perforations as desired.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said means comprise a cylindrical part which partially surrounds the sleeve, the sleeve and the cylindrical part being moveably

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Claims

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during the remainder of the pump piston's pumping stroke. The liquid thereby flowing out into the discharge duct will be approximately equal to the quantity which during the suction stroke flowed past valve piston 14 via by-pass duct 17, and this is thus the net delivery per stroke of the pump.

Fig. 4 shows in greater detail a modified embodiment of the intake part of a pump according to the invention The reference numbers are the same as those of corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 3.

This embodiment deviates from the preceding embodiment in that the valve stem 16 here is in fixed connection with the valve piston 14 while intake valve 5 is arranged to slide on valve stem 16 between a fixed collar 18 on the valve stem and a similarly fixed end flange 19. Intake valve spring 7 is arranged between end flange 19 and intake valve 5 and seeks to move the latter towards collar 18.

Upon upward movement of valve piston 14 the collar 18 will lift intake valve 5 from its seat so that it opens. When valve piston 14 remains at rest in its lower position at 100% delivery an underpressure in pump cylinder 1 in relation to intake duct 9 will cause intake valve 5 to open against the pressure of valve spring 7.

Shaft 13 for regulation of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is here provided with an actuating arm 20 which may be connected with corresponding actuating arms on further cylinders which the pump may include.

The cylindrical part 11, wherein sleeve 12 is rotably arranged, is here provided with 2 large cavities which form the by-pass duct 17.

This is more clearly shown in Fig. 5 which shows a cross section along the line V-V in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 similarly shows how, by turning sleeve 12, perforations 21 in its wall can be closed.

Fig 6a shows the cylindrical sleeve 12 seen from below. Fig. 6b shows the sleeve seen from the side, partly in section and Fig.

6c shows the side wall of the sleeve, folded out. This clearly shows how perforations 21 are arranged in order to afford valve piston

14 a variable stroke by turning sleeve 12 in relation to the cylindrical part 11.

From the preceding embodiment it will appear that the invention provides a pump of the type mentioned by way of introduction, whose delivery can be continuously regulated by relatively simple means, utilising che movement of the pumped medium in the intake duct, and without the expenditure of large, energy-wasting internal or external forces.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A method for regulating the flow cap acity of a positive displacement pump fitted with automatic intake and discharge valves, in which the intake valve(s) is (are) held open during a variable proportion of the working stroke of the pump piston, wherein the quantity of liquid flowing out through an open intake valve during the working stroke of the pump piston is caused to affect a piston connected with the intake valve in such a way that the valve is moved towards the closed position, and wherein the distance through which the piston must be moved in order to bring the intake valve to its closed position is regulated, thus regulating the said quantity of liquid.
2. A device for effecting the method accord ing to claim 1, wherein the piston connected with the intake valve is arranged to slide in a cylindrical sleeve whose wall is provided with perforations, the sleeve being arranged in the intake duct of the pump such that the medium flowing through said sleeve to the pump cylinder must pass through the perfor ations of the sleeve wall on at least one side of the piston, means being provided for closing or opening a portion of the perforations as desired.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said means comprise a cylindrical part which partially surrounds the sleeve, the sleeve and the cylindrical part being moveably

arranged relative to one another.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 and including a spring arranged to move the piston in the closing direction of the intake valve.
5. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the connection between the intake valve and the piston is flexible.
6. A method of regulating the flow capacity of a displacement pump substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. A device for regulating the flow capacity of a displacement pump substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.