JPH0419389B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pump device equipped with a gas-liquid separation device and a gas-liquid separation chamber, and relates to a pump device implemented, for example, in a fuel supply device at a gas station.

As is well known, in a refueling system at a refueling station that handles volatile liquids such as gasoline, a pump device is provided with a device for separating gas bubbles mixed in the liquid. This device is connected to the discharge side of the pump,
It consists of a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid, and a gas-liquid separation chamber that completely separates the gas-containing liquid flowing out from the gas-liquid separator into gas and liquid.

By the way, since gas-containing liquid is forcefully introduced into the gas-liquid separation chamber from the gas-liquid separation device, bubbles are generated within the chamber. The gas-liquid separation chamber is equipped with a valve that is opened and closed by a float, and when a predetermined amount of liquid has accumulated in the gas-liquid separation chamber, the valve opens and the liquid is returned to the pump. may cause this float to malfunction. Furthermore, if the float malfunctions due to foaming, there is also the problem that the foam (gas) flows out to the pump chamber side. Furthermore, when handling a liquid that easily foams, such as light oil, there is a risk that the separation chamber will be filled with foam and the foam will flow out from the gas outlet path, ie, the air vent, causing a fire. When the gas-liquid mixture flows forcefully into the gas-liquid separation chamber, it not only foams, but also stirs the liquid, which promotes vaporization of the liquid and causes the paper to flow out of the air vent in a dense manner, which is dangerous and wastes resources. It will also be a loss.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 47-33768 discloses that a pump device has a gas-liquid separator for separating a gas-containing liquid containing a large amount of bubbles, and a gas-liquid separation chamber into which the separated gas-containing liquid flows. A technique for attenuating velocity energy by colliding liquids has been disclosed. However, in this known technique, the gas-containing liquid that collides with the wall and rebounds directly falls onto the liquid surface in the gas-liquid separation chamber and hits the liquid surface.
Foaming occurs and gas is mixed into the liquid in the gas-liquid separation chamber again, reducing separation efficiency. Furthermore, foaming causes the aforementioned float to become liquid-operated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pump device that can efficiently separate gas and liquid in the gas-liquid separation chamber without causing foaming of the gas-containing liquid flowing into the gas-liquid separation chamber.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pump, a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas-containing liquid containing a large amount of bubbles from the liquid discharged from the pump, and a flow into which the gas-containing liquid separated by the gas-liquid separator flows. In a pump device having a gas-liquid separation chamber having an inlet, the gas-liquid separation chamber is provided with a protruding inflow force buffering member at a position facing the inflow port, and the inflow force buffering member is connected to a casing and a pump casing. One side of the shelf is open to a gas-liquid separation chamber, and the gas-liquid separation chamber has a liquid connected to the inflow side of the pump. An outflow path, a float valve for opening and closing the liquid outflow path, and a separated gas outflow path open to the atmosphere are provided.

Therefore, the gas mixture flowing into the gas-liquid separation chamber from the inlet flows into the inflow force buffer member located opposite to the inflow port. Since this inflow force buffering member is composed of a casing, a pump casing, and a shelf, the gas mixture collides with the casing or the shelf, flows onto the shelf, and flows from the open surface to the gas liquid. Flows down into the separation chamber.

Therefore, the velocity energy of the gas-containing liquid separated by the gas-liquid separator is once received by the inflow force buffer member and flows out from the open surface.
Since the velocity energy of the gas-containing liquid falling into the gas-liquid separation chamber disappears and becomes only potential energy, the impact force with the liquid in the gas-liquid separation chamber is reduced. As a result, the generation of bubbles is suppressed as much as possible.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show the entirety of a pump device U embodying the present invention, and this pump device U is equipped with a casing C. As shown in FIG. The casing C is provided with a liquid inlet I and an outlet O. A check valve 1 is provided at the inner end of the inlet I, and opens into a chamber 2 provided with a strainer 2a on the inlet side. As shown in the figure, the check valve 1 is of a type that closes by gravity, and a stopper 50 is provided above it to prevent the valve from coming off during transportation or operation of the pump device. A pump 3 is provided approximately in the center of the casing C. In the illustrated embodiment, the pump 3 is a known internal gear pump. This pump 3 has a suction port 3a and a discharge port 3b, and a liquid path 10 is formed in the casing C to connect the chamber 2 and the suction port 3a.
The discharge port 3b of the pump 3 is connected to a gas-liquid separator 4, which will be described later.
is connected to. A liquid path is configured such that the liquid flowing outside in the radial direction of the gas-liquid separator 4, that is, the liquid that does not contain bubbles, flows into a chamber 5 provided with a trainer 5a on the outflow side, and a strainer chamber 5 on the outflow side. A control valve 6 is provided between the outlet O and the outlet O. This control valve 6 opens the valve against the spring 6a when the pump is driven, and when the liquid flows out and the pressure in the pipe connected to the outflow port increases due to temperature rise, etc. after the oil supply is stopped, the spring 6b The small valve 6c is opened to allow the liquid to flow backwards. A bypass valve 12 is provided in a liquid flow path 11 flowing radially outward of the gas-liquid separator 4,
This flow path 11 communicates with the suction port 3a of the pump 3.

On the other hand, the liquid containing bubbles flowing inside the gas-liquid separator 4 in the radial direction passes through the flow rate restriction valve 7 and flows into the liquid path 13. This liquid path 13 is formed in the cover 16. This liquid path 13 communicates with a gas-liquid separation chamber 8, which will be described later. The gas separated in this gas-liquid separation chamber 8 is released from the air vent 14, and the liquid from which the gas has been separated is released from the liquid path 15.
flows to A check valve 9 is provided in this liquid passage 15, and this liquid passage 15 communicates with the strainer chamber 2 on the inflow side.

A cover 1 is attached to a pair of opposing surfaces of the casing C.
6 is provided. This is so that only one pair of surfaces needs to be opened for repairs after installation.

Therefore, when the pulley 17 is rotated by the motor to rotate the pump 3, the liquid flows from the inlet I to the check valve 1, the strainer chamber 2 on the inflow side, the pump 3, the gas-liquid separator 4, and the strainer chamber 5 on the outflow side. , and is discharged from the outlet O through the control valve 6. Further, a part of the liquid from the gas-liquid separator 4 is bypassed to the pump 3 through the bypass valve 12 . This is because the amount of liquid discharged from the gear pump 3 is determined by the number of revolutions thereof, so that it is possible to cope with changes in the amount of discharged liquid. On the other hand, in the gas-liquid separation device 4, the liquid containing gas flows through the flow rate restriction valve 7 to the gas-liquid separation chamber 8, where the gas is released from the air vent 14.
The liquid flows through the check valve 9 into the strainer chamber 2 on the inflow side.
It will be returned to.

Next, a preferred example of the gas-liquid separation device of the discharge device implemented in the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, a liquid path 18 from the pump outlet 3b leading to the gas-liquid separator 4 is communicated with a swirl chamber S configured to introduce liquid tangentially to the gas-liquid separator 4. (See Figure 9). In FIGS. 5 and 9, this spiral chamber S is extended by an outer cylinder 20, whose end 20a is open and communicates with the strainer chamber 5 and the flow path 11 on the outflow side.

Therefore, the gas-free liquid flowing out from the end 20a of the outer cylinder 20 flows from the outside to the inside of the strainer 5, flows into the chamber 23 formed at the end of the strainer 5 in the axial direction, and then passes through the control valve 6. It flows out from the outlet O.

On the other hand, inside the inner cylinder 21 of the gas-liquid separation device 4, a valve body 24 and a valve seat 25 constituting the flow rate limiting valve 7 are provided, and the valve body 24 is pressed in the opening direction by a spring 26. This valve body 24 has an opening 22 in the center.
However, an opening 27 is also bored in the side. When the amount of gas contained in the liquid increases, the pressure on the inlet side of the valve body 24 decreases, and when there is little gas, the pressure on the inlet side of the valve body 24 increases. Therefore, when the amount of air contained in the liquid increases, the valve body 24 moves to the left in the drawing due to the pressure difference between the front and rear, and a large amount of liquid (including air bubbles) flows from the openings 22 and 27 to the valve seat 25. It flows into the liquid path 13 through the passage. When the content of bubbles decreases, the valve body 24 is moved to the right by the pressure of the inflowing liquid, and the liquid flows out only from the central opening 22. The flow rate is therefore controlled.

6 and 7 show a gas-liquid separation chamber 8 in which the present invention is implemented.

The gas-liquid separation chamber 8 has the outlet hole 3 of the liquid path 13 described above.
0, that is, an inflow force buffering member is provided at a position facing the inlet of the gas mixture liquid to reduce the inflow force of the liquid containing bubbles flowing out from the liquid path 13, and the inflow force buffering member is connected to the casing C. It consists of a pump casing P and a shelf 31 formed by a horizontal protrusion, and as can be seen from FIG. 7, at least one side thereof is open to the gas-liquid separation chamber. Therefore, the liquid flowing out from the outlet hole 30 does not directly flow down to the liquid accumulated in the lower part of the chamber 8, but once flows into the shelf part 31, and quietly flows downward along the wall surface. Therefore, there is no foaming in the gas-liquid separation chamber 8, which prevents malfunction of the float due to foaming, and also prevents foam from flowing out from the air vent pipe 14. A float 32 that can rotate around a pivot point 33 is provided within the gas-liquid separation chamber 8 . This float 32 is interlocked with a valve 34 that controls the opening and closing of the liquid path, that is, the liquid outflow path 15 connected to the inflow side of the pump.

Therefore, when liquid accumulates in the gas-liquid separation chamber 8, the float 32 rotates counterclockwise about the pivot point 33, and the valve body 34 opens, so that the liquid in the gas-liquid separation chamber 8 becomes liquid. It flows out into road 15. Note that 35 in the figure is a stopper. Note that as shown in FIG. 6a, the outlet hole 30
may be provided on the upper part of the shelf section 31.

As shown in FIG. 8, a check valve 9 is provided in the liquid path 15 from the gas-liquid separation chamber 8. The flow path 15 is connected to the strainer chamber 2 on the inflow side via this check valve 9.
is connected to. Therefore, when the pump stops, chamber 2
The liquid inside will not flow back into the gas-liquid separation chamber 8.

FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of bypass valve 12 implemented in the present invention.

That is, the outer cylinder 20 and the inner cylinder 21 of the gas-liquid separator 4
On the one hand, the bubble-free liquid flowing out from the passage between the two flows toward the strainer chamber 5 on the outflow side,
Excess liquid flows through the liquid path 11 towards the bypass valve 12.

The bypass valve 12 includes a valve body 40 pressed by a spring 42 and a valve seat 41 on which the valve body 40 is seated. Therefore, when the pressure in the liquid path 11 on the upstream side of the valve body 40 increases, the valve body 40 opens against the spring 42, and the liquid flows into the chamber 44 on the downstream side of the valve body 40. The chamber 44 communicates with the suction port 3a of the pump 3. A spring seat 45 that locks one end of the spring 42 can be positioned by an adjustment screw 46, so that the hydraulic pressure at which the valve body 40 opens can be adjusted.

As described above, the present invention provides the following excellent effects.

(i) Since the gas-containing liquid flowing into the gas-liquid separation chamber is received by the inflow force buffer member and falls, there is little impact force on the liquid in the gas-liquid separation chamber, and there is little foaming.

(ii) As a result, there is no malfunction of the float valve.

(iii) Bubbles do not flow out from the separation gas outlet.

(iv) Therefore, the separation efficiency in the gas-liquid separation chamber is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pump device embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a portion of the gas-liquid separation device, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of the gas-liquid separation chamber in which the present invention is implemented, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separation chamber taken along the - line in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the check valve, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the bypass valve. 3... Pump, 4... Gas-liquid separation device, 8... Gas-liquid separation chamber, 9... Check valve (valve that controls opening and closing),
14... Air vent (separated gas outflow path), 30...
...Exit hole (inflow port), 31... Shelf (inflow force buffer member), 35... Liquid path (liquid outflow path).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A gas-liquid having a pump, a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas-containing liquid containing a large amount of bubbles from the liquid discharged from the pump, and an inlet into which the gas-containing liquid separated by the gas-liquid separator flows. In the pump device having a separation chamber, the gas-liquid separation chamber is provided with an inflow force buffer member protruding from a position facing the inflow port, and the inflow force buffer member is connected to the casing, the pump casing, and a horizontal protrusion. One side of the shelf is open to the gas-liquid separation chamber, and the gas-liquid separation chamber has a liquid outflow path connected to the inflow side of the pump, and a liquid outflow path connected to the inflow side of the pump. A pump device comprising a float valve that opens and closes a liquid outflow path and a separated gas outflow path that is open to the atmosphere.