GB2080433A

GB2080433A - Pressure surge pumping device

Info

Publication number: GB2080433A
Application number: GB8023059A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-15
Filing date: 1980-07-15
Publication date: 1982-02-03
Also published as: GB2080433B

Abstract

A pump has: a chamber (5) with an inlet (3) and outlet (6), the inlet (3) being connected to a supply (2) of pressurised liquid; a valve (4) in the inlet (3); and a motorised mechanism (12, 13, 14) for periodically opening and closing the valve (4) so that pressure surges are formed in the liquid supplied to the inlet (3), the surges forcing liquid into the chamber (5) as the valve (4) is opened, the liquid entering the chamber (5) compressing gas contained therein and then being forced out of the outlet (6) as the gas expands. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pumps This invention relates to pumps.

According to the present invention there is provided a pump comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being arranged to receive a supply of liquid under pressure; valve means in said inlet, and means for periodically opening and closing said valve means, the arrangement being such that, in use, pressure surges are created in the liquid supplied to said inlet as a result of the periodic closing of said valve means, said surges forcing liquid into said chamber as said valve means is periodically opened, the liquid entering said chamber compressing gas contained therein and being forced out of said outlet as said gas expands.

In one embodiment the pump includes an impeller for supplying said liquid under pressure to said inlet. In another embodiment said inlet is connected to a source of liquid under pressure.

Preferably said means for periodically opening and closing said valve means comprises a motor and a piston connected between said motor and said valve means, the arrangement being such that, in use, said motor causes reciprocation of said piston, said valve means thereby being periodically opened and closed. The pump may include control means for controlling operation of said motor thereby to control the rate of opening and closing of said valve means.

Preferably the pump includes a one-way valve in said outlet.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a fluid-electric apparatus comprising: a first reservoir and a second reservoir; a turbine arranged to be driven by liquid flowing from said first reservoir to said second reservoir; a generator driven by said turbine for generating electricity; and at least one pump as recited above for returning liquid from said second reservoir to said first reservoir.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of a pump according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cut away side view of the pump of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a fluid-electric apparatus including a pump according to this invention; and Figure 4 is a cut away plane view of the fluidelectric apparatus of Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows a pump indicated generally at 1 connected to a liquid supply pipe 2. The supply pipe 2 is connected to a valve box 3 which in turn is connected to an inlet of an air chamber 5, a delivery valve 4 (see Figure 2) being provided to open and close said inlet periodically, for example, at a rate of 200 times per minute. A delivery pipe 6 is connected to an outlet of the air chamber 5, a one-way valve 7 being provided in said outlet.

Figure 1 shows a motor 8 attached to the valve box 3. The motor 8 drives an impeller 9 located in the valve box (see Figure 2), the impeller driving water in the valve box 3 towards the delivery valve 4. The valve box 3 has automatic air vents 10, Figure 1 shows a motor 11 which rotates a wheel 1 2 connected by a shaft 13 to a piston 14 (see Figure 2). The motor 11 together with the shaft 13 and the piston 1 4 open and close the delivery valve 4. The motor 11 is controlled by a monitor 1 5 thereby to control the rate of opening and closing of the delivery valve 4.

As shown in Figure 2 the delivery valve 4 is connected to the piston 14 which is sleeved through a watertight housing 1 6 in the side of the air chamber 5. The piston 14 is supported by a stand 1 7 and is reciprocated by the movement of the shaft 13 as the motor 11 rotates the wheel 1 2. The reciprocation of the piston 14 causes the valve 4 to periodically open and close. A spring 18, threaded over the piston 14, acts between the stand 17 and the valve 4. This spring 1 8 urges the delivery valve 4 to a closed position.

The operation of the pump will now be explained. A liquid, for example water, entering the valve box 3 from the supply pipe 2 is impelled by the impeller 9 towards the delivery valve 4.

When the delivery valve 4 is suddenly closed a pressure surge is creased in the water in the valve box 3. When the delivery valve 4 is subsequently suddenly opened by means of the motor 11 and piston 14 water surges through said inlet into the air chamber 5. This surge of water compresses air in the air chamber 1 and the compressed air expands forcing the water in the air chamber 5 through the one-way valve 7 in said outlet into the delivery pipe 6. The water in the delivery pipe 6 cannot, of course, pass back into the air chamber 5 since the one-way valve 7 only allows water to pass from the air chamber 6 to the delivery pipe 6.

As the delivery valve 4 is periodically opened and closed there are a succession of surges of water into the air chamber 5 and water is pumped out through the delivery pipe 6.

The motor 8 and impeller 9 are not necessary if the valve box receives water which is aiready under pressure e.g. if the pipe 3 is connected to a mains pressure water supply (not shown) or to a pipe connected to an overhead tank (not shown).

Though, of course, even in these cases the provision of a motor and impeller would enable the pressure in the valve box 3 to be further increased thereby increasing the rate at which water is delivered to the delivery pipe 6.

The delivery pipe 6 can extend vertically upwards so that water is supplied to, for example, a reservoir. Alternatively the delivery pipe 6 may be connected so that the pressure of water therein drives hydraulic apparatus (not shown).

The pump illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has the advantage over conventional surge and self-acting pumps that all the water supplied to the inlet of the air chamber 5 appears at the outlet thereof, none of the water having to be discharged to waste.

A fluid-electric apparatus including a plurality of pumps according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 will now be described. Figure 3 shows a frame 1 9 having a first reservoir 20 of liquid, for example water, positioned above a second reservoir 21 of water.

A pipe 22 from the reservoir 20 carries water to a turbine 23 which turns a generator 24 to generate electricity. The water leaving the turbine 23 passes into the first reservoir 21 and then out through a plurality of pipes 25 into a plurality of pumps 1 according to the present invention. The pumps 1 may be of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 and operate as described above, the water received by them thereby being pumped back up to the reservoir 20. The pipe 22 may be provided with a lock-off valve 26. The apparatus can, of course, be built into an existing building rather than the frame 1 9.

Figure 4 shows the turbine 23 and generator 24 in more detail. In the embodiment shown four surge pumps 1 are used. The apparatus may have a control panel 27 to control the fluid-electric apparatus.

Claims

1. A pump comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being arranged to receive a supply of liquid under pressure; valve means in said inlet; and means for periodically opening and closing said valve means, the arrangement being such that, in use, pressure surges are created in the liquid supplied to said inlet as a result of the periodic closing of said valve means, said surges forcing liquid into said chamber as said valve means is periodically opened, the liquid entering said chamber compressing gas contained therein and being forced out of said outlet as said gas expands.

2. A pump as claimed in claim 1 including an impeller for supplying said liquid under pressure.

3. A pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said inlet is connected to a source of liquid under pressure.

4. A pump as claimed in any preceding claim in which said motorised means for periodically opening and closing said valve means comprises a motor and a piston connected between said motor and said valve means the arrangement being such that, in use, said motor causes reciprocation of said piston, said valve means thereby being periodically opened and closed.

4. A pump as claimed in any preceding claim in which said means for periodically opening and closing said valve means comprises a motor and a piston connected between said motor and said valve means the arrangement being such that, in use, said motor causes reciprocation of said piston, said valve means thereby being periodically opened and closed.

5. A pump as claimed in claim 4 including control means for controlling operation of said motor thereby to control the rate of opening and closing of said valve means.

6. A pump as claimed in any preceding claim including a one-way valve in said outlet.

7. A pump substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A fluid-electric apparatus comprising: a first reservoir and a second reservoir; a turbine arranged to be driven by liquid flowing from said first reservoir to said second reservoir; a generator driven by said turbine for generating electricity; and at least one pump as claimed in any preceding claim for returning liquid from said second reservoir to said first reservoir.

9. A fluid-electric apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 8th May 1981.

Superseded claims 1 a 4.

New or amdended claims:

1. A pump comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being arranged to receive a supply of liquid under pressure; valve means in said inlet; and motorised means for periodically opening and closing said valve means, the arrangement being such that, in use, pressure surges are created in the liquid supplied to said inlet as a result of the periodic closing of said valve means, said surges forcing liquid into said chamber as said valve means is periodically opened, the liquid entering said chamber compressing gas contained therein and being forced out of said outlet as said gas expands.