GB2096707A

GB2096707A - A reciprocating pump having interchangeable plungers

Info

Publication number: GB2096707A
Application number: GB8111900A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-04-15
Filing date: 1981-04-15
Publication date: 1982-10-20

Abstract

A reciprocating pump having a casing 24 and inlet 26 and outlet 40 ports together with a gland 44 for releasably mounting a plunger 42 selected from a plurality of plungers of differing sizes so that by fitting a different plunger the pump output from the same pump casing can be quickly changed. Ball valves 14-36 control fluid input to and output from the casing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Reciprocating pump apparatus This invention relates to a reciprocating pump apparatus, particularly a ram pump.

A ram pump comprises a casing in which there is located a reciprocating piston with the piston extending through a sealing gland fixed to the casing. Conventionally, when it is desired to vary the delivery from the pump, it is necessary to vary the size of the casing as well as the piston and the associated sealing gland.

According to the present invention there is provided reciprocating pump apparatus comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for fluid being pumped, means for releasably mounting a piston member so as to extend through sealing means into the casing, for reciprocating movement in the casing, the piston member being selected from a plurality thereof of different dimensions and the means for sealing the entry of the piston member into the casing being selected from a plurality thereof of different dimensions so as to accommodate the selected piston member, whereby the output of the apparatus with the same casing may be varied.

Preferably the piston member is releasably mounted on a ram which is reciprocable within a cylinder on a frame connected to the casing. The piston member is preferably of a hollow construction.

Preferably also the sealing means comprises a gland having its outer periphery bolted to the casing and sealing rings positioned at its inner periphery for sealing engagement with the piston member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is an end elevation in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a ram pump comprises a first valve assembly 10 having an inlet conduit section 12 for connection to pipework in a conventional manner, a ball valve 14 engageable with a seat 16, and an outlet conduit section 1 8 connected, by means of bolts 20 extending through a flange 22, to a side wall of a casing 24. The latter has an inlet aperture 26 aligned with the bore of the conduit section 1 8.

The casing 24 is of substantially rectangular configuration and on its opposed wall mounts a further valve assembly 28. The latter has an inlet conduit section 30 mounted on the opposed wall of the casing 24 by means of bolts 32 extending through a flange 34, a ball valve 36 with a seat 37, and an outlet conduit section 38. An outlet aperture 40 in the opposed wall of the casing 24 is aligned with the bore of the conduit section 30.

The casing 24 has an open upper end through which a piston 42 is arranged to extend into the internal space of the casing 24 centrally through a gland 44. The latter has a peripheral flange section 46 by means of which the gland 44 is mounted on the casing 24 with bolts 48. The piston 42 is of hollow configuration and, on an upper wall 50, has an upstanding collar 52 in which can be received a lower end of a ram 54. A locking pin 56 is arranged to extend through aligned apertures in the collar 52 and the ram 54 to lock the piston 42 to the ram 54. For sealing purposes the gland 44 on its inner periphery is provided with a plurality of sealing rings 57 positioned in an upwardly facing recess and clamped therein by a flange 58, the latter being secured to the gland 44 by bolts 60 extending through an outer peripheral section 62.

For reciprocating movement of the piston 42 within the casing 24, the ram 54 is slidably arranged within a cylinder 64, the latter being subject to any suitable control, for example pneumatic or hydraulic, to effect movement of the ram 54 therein. The cylinder 64 is bolted to a plate 66 which extends between upper ends of posts 68 and is secured thereto by nuts 70. At their lower ends, the posts 68, which are located one at or adjacent to each corner of the casing 24, are bolted to an outer peripheral flange section 72 at the upper end of the casing 24 and secured by means of nuts 74 (Fig. 2). The posts 68 space the plates 66 above the casing 24 to provide for reciprocating movement of the piston 42 through the gland 44 within the casing 24.

In use, reciprocating movement of the piston 42 effects delivery of fluid from the valve assembly 12 through the casing 24 into the valve assembly 28, flow in one direction being ensured by the provision of the one-way acting ball valves 14, 36. To vary the output of the ram pump, the plate 66 is released from the posts 68 whereby the ram 54 with the piston 42 can be removed.

The piston 42 can then be released from the ram 54 by removal of the pin 56 and another piston of appropriate dimensions can be mounted on the ram 54. Also it is necessary to release the gland 44 from the casing 24 and select a further gland providing a suitable central opening through which the newly selected piston can move. The newly selected gland is then mounted on the casing 24 and the plate 66 is again mounted on the posts 68 such that the newly selected piston extends into the casing 24. There is therefore provided a much simplified procedure for changing the output of the ram pump with no requirement for changing the casing used or any part of the inlet and outlet valve assemblies. A more versatile pump is therefore provided which is more economical as the output can be varied with fewer component changes.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the various components such as the casing, the piston, and the gland may vary, while the inlet and outlet valve assemblies may obviously differ in construction from those described and shown.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1 Reciprocating pump apparatus comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for fluid being pumped, means for releasably mounting a piston member so as to extend through sealing means into the casing, for reciprocating movement in the casing, the piston member being selected from a plurality thereof of different dimensions and the means for sealing the entry of the piston member into the casing being selected from a plurality thereof of different dimensions so as to sealingly accommodate the selected piston member, whereby the output of the apparatus with the same casing may be varied.

2. Reciprocating pump apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the piston member is releasably mounted on a ram which is reciprocable within a cylinder on a frame connected to the casing.

3. Recirculation pump apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the piston member is of hollow construction.

4. Reciprocating pump apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sealing means comprises a gland having its outer periphery bolted to the casing and sealing rings positioned at its inner periphery for sealing engagement with the piston member.

5. Reciprocating pump apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the sealed rings are held in sealing engagement with the piston member by a flanged plate secured to the gland.

6. Reciprocating pump apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a pair of ball valves are provided to allow fluid to enter at an inlet port into said casing and the fluid to leave said casing at an outlet port.

7. Reciprocating pump apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.