US1702119A - Priming mechanism for hydroturbine air pumps - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1929.

n. c. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fr /Q9 NEW/@793 Feb, 12,, 192st MOZJW I. C. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 j/V/jf W w /7042525 Feb. 12, 1929.

I. C. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet eb. 12, 1929.. LWZJW II. c. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3% wwww Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,119

I. C. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS Original Filed Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sfiets-Sheet 5 4o mi x 31 w l 38 E 32 Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES- I IRVING- C. JENNINGS, OF SOUTH NORW'AILK, CONNECTICUT.

PBIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS.

Original application filed August 4, 1926, Serial No. 127,163. .Divided and this application filed March 3,

1928. Serial No. 258,946.

This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No. 127,163, filed by me August 4, 1926.

v This invention relates to an air pump of the hydroturbine type, which uses water or other liquid for its pumping action, and relates more particularly to improved means for priming such an air pump and for causing it to quickly resume pumping operations after it has been standing idle or has lost its operating water.

While the invention is of general application to hydroturbine air pumps, it is particularly useful in connection with such pumps when forming a part of a sewage ejecting system or when otherwise operated intermittently for short intervals only.

In a sewage ejection system, such as is shown in my prior Patent No. 1,492,171, issued April 29, 1924, it is customary to provide a closed tank or sewage receiver into which sewage or other liquid may flow by gravity and from which it is ejected by subjecting the receiver to a suitable air pressure, causing the sewage to be discharged through an outlet pipe past a suitable check valve.

The air pressure in the system disclosed in my prior patent is supplied by a hydroturbine air pump of the type using water for its pumping action and this pump is shown as being motor driven and as being controlled by a float in the sewage .receiver. When a predetermined amount of sewage has entered the receiver, the float closes the switch and the pump forces air into the receiver, ejecting the sewage through the discharge pipe. A hydro-turbine pump has a special,

advantage when used in such a system because it provides a natural vent for the sew-' age receiver as soon as thepump ceases to rotate, as the operating water flows to the lower-part of the casing, leaving an open air passage through the pump casing and out through the upper inlet port of the pump.

The system above described operates efficiently but it has been found that the rush of air out through the pump, as the sewage receiver fills rapidly, tends to delay the restoration of the pump to operating condition when it is started by the float controlled switch. There is frequently sufficient air pressure in the pump casing to delay the proper distribution of the operating water in the casing.

This is objectionable, as it reduces the sewage'capacity of the system, which is preferably so designed that the sewage receiver may be available to receive sewage during the greatest'possible proportion of the time and so that the receiver will be emptied immediately after a charge has been received.

With these operating conditions in mind, it is the general object of my i'nveniton to rovide improved means for priming a hydroturbine air pump as it is placed in operation, to the intent that it may more quickly pick up its load.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for priming a hydro-turbine air pump in the upper part thereof, thus equalizing the water in the diflerent lobes of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to prime a hydroturbi'ne air pump by delivering water under substantial pressure direct to certain portions of the pumpingchamber.

An important feature of my invention relates to means for simultaneously controlling the supply of priming water and the operation of the hydro-turbine air pump, so that the priming water may be injected only during the operation of the air pump.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of certain sewage ejecting mechanism, partly in section, and showing the general operation of my invention' Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the mechanism forv controlling the switch and priming valve, the parts being shown in position for pumping;

Fig. 3 is a similar view but showing the parts in inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of certain partsof the switch mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and also includes a partial longitudinal sectional elevation of a hydro-turbine air pump Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the air pump;

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional elevations. taken along the lines 77 and 8-8 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the priming valve.

General construction.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I will first describe briefly the general operation of a sewage ejecting system to which my im preventing flow through said inlet and outlet pipes in a reverse direction. A hydroturbine air pump has a discharge pipe 26 opening into the upper part of the tank or receiver 20 and when in operation the pump delivers air under pressure to the upper part I of the receiver 20, forcing the sewage out through the discharge pipe 22.

The pump 25 is preferably motor driven and is controlled by a float 27 in the receiver 20, which operates to close a switch and-start the air pumpv motor when the sewage reaches a predetermined height in the receiver. The switch is opened and the pump stops when the sewage falls to a predetermined lower level in the receiver. As soon as the pump stops, the operating water flows to the lower part of the casing, as indicated in Fig. 8, un covering the upper inlet port 34 and permitting free escape of air from the receiver 20 through the pipe 26 and out of the port 38.

When the airv pump is again placed in operation, it is necessary for the operating water to be evenly distributed around the entire periphery of the casing before the pump can be effectively operated and it is also commonly necessary to provide a certain amount of so-called make-up water to take the place of water which may have escaped through the ports or connections of the pump.

Nash air pump.

Certain details of constructionof the air pump shown in my prior patent are shown in Figs. 5 to 9 of this application, which will be briefly described to make the operation of my improved priming mechanism more easily understood. a

The air pump shown in the drawings comprises a rotor 30 rotatable in a casing 31 having the substantially elliptical outline best shown in Fig. 8. An inlet pipe 32 is connected to an inlet chamber 33, portions of which extend on both sides of the rotor chamber 31. Upper and lower inlet ports 34 and 35 connect the inlet chamber 33 to the rotor chamber 31 where they are aligned with openings 36 formed, in the side walls or end plates 37 of the rotor 30. These end plates 37 are omitted in Fig. 8 to more clearly illus trate the operation of the machine.

Outlet ports 38 (Fig. 8) are disposed alternately with inlet ports 34 and 35 and connect the rotor chamber 31 an outlet woaiia chamber 39 (Fig.7) communicating through a passage 40 (Fig. 8) with an outlet or discharge pipe 41 through which compressed air is delivered by the pump.

The rotor chamber 31 when the pump is in operation, is largely filled with water, which is carriedaround with the rotor as it rapidly rotates, and which tends to distribute itself substantially uniformly around the elliptical periphery of the rotor chamber. The water thus forms in effect, a plurality of water pistons between the blades of the rotor, which water pistons alternately draw air into the inlet ports 34 and 35 and discharge the air through the outlet ports 38, all as fully described in the prior Patent to Nash, No. 1,091,529,.issued March 31, 1914.

, When the pump comes to rest, the operating water flows to the lower part of the casing (Fig. 8) collecting in the lower portion of the inlet chamber 33 and the lower portion of the rotor chamber 31. The upper inlet ports 34 and the outlet ports 38 are thus substantially uncovered and the rotor 30 has suflicient clearthe connections described,- a certain degree of air pressure may be built up in the pump casing and connections, which may more or less seriously interfere with proper admission and distribution of operating water in the rotor chamber when the pump is again placed in operation and consequently the building up of a desired air pressure in the discharge pipe 41.

Priming device.

Accordingly, I have provided a priming pipe 50 (Fig. 6) projecting through the outer casing of the air pump into the inlet chamber 33 and preferably aligned with one of the upper inlet ports 34. The pipe 50 is controlled by a shut-off valve 51 which, in the preferred form, is connected to the mecha-' nism which actuates the switch which controls the air pump motor. These connections will be hereinafter described, but, briefly stated, they operate to open the valve 51 when the switch is closed to start the motor, so that priming water will be simultaneously and forcibly injected through the pipe 50 to the inlet chamber 33 and through the port 34 into the pockets in the upper part of the rotor 30.

The rotor thus promptly receives a supply of operating water suflicient to place it imshut off immediately when the air pump isstopped. If a slight excess of water is thus injected, no harm is done, as the surplus water is discharged by the pump through the outlet ports-38 and passes on through the discharge pipe 26 (Fig. 1) to the sewage receiver 20, where it is pumped out with the sewage through the sewage discharge pipe 22.

Quick-acting control mechanism.

The float-controlled mechanism for the motor switch and priming valve comprises a float 27 pivoted at 61 in an air tight flanged casing 62 secured to an upper side portion of the receiver 20. The pivot shaft 61 extends outward through suitable close fitting beariiigs and is provided with an arm 63 having a lost-motion member 64 pivotally mounted on the free end of the arm. The member 64' is substantially lJ-shaped and is apertured to receive a rod 65 slidable in said member 64. Adjusting and cheek nuts 66 on the rod 65 provide adjustable abutments, limiting sliding movement of the rod relative to the member 64:.

At is upper end, the rod 65 is pivoted to an arm 68 secured to a rock shaft 69 mounted in a bearing 70 supported on a switch box 71 containing switches 7 2 by which the air pump motor may be started and stopped. The switches 72 are clamped to a. square shaft 73 rotatable in bearings within the casing 71 and having an arm 75 connected by a link 76 to a lever 77 pivoted on a support 78 mounted on the casing of the priming valve 51. The lever 77 has an Offset projection 80 engaging the upper end of a valve rod 81 (Fig. 9) and adapted to depress the rod against the re sistance of a spring 82 by which the valve is normally closed. The link 76 is adjustable as to length, for convenience in setting the parts in desired relation.

Any usual snap-action connection is provided between the shaft 69 (Fig. 5) and the shaft 73 supporting the switches 72. I have shown a spring 85 connected at its lower end to one movable part 86 and at its upper end to a second movable part 87, one ofsaid parts being connected to the shaft 69 and the other to the shaft 73. The parts are so constructed that the shaft 73 will remain in the closed position shown in Fig. 2 or the open position shown in Fig. 3 during the initial rotation of the shaft 69 in one direction or the other, but will be moved quickly with a snap action to the opposite position when the spring 85 passes a given point.

Statement of operation.

The general operation of the machine has been described somewhat in detail in connection with the several parts and only a brief additional statement of operation is considered necessary. I

The U-shaped sliding member 64 is given any desired amount of lost motion by adjusting the lock nuts 66 on the rod 65, and the switch and valve controlling connections are so adjusted that the valve 51 will be closed when the switch 72 is open, as indicated in Fig. 3, while the valve 51 is open when the switch 72 is closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

As the tank or receiver 20 fills with sewage,

the float 27 is gradually lifted until the member 64 engages the lower pair of lock nuts 66,

depressing the rod 65, and tensioning the spring; 85, the tension increasing until the spring finally acts abruptly to close the switch to start the motor (Fig. 2) and to open the valve 51 to inject priming water intothe pipe 50 and into the upper. inlet port 54 to the rotor of the air pump. The pump is thus primed as soon as it begins to rotate and very quickly picks up its load, forcing compressed air into the'receiver 20 and thus forcing out the sewage therein through the discharge pipe 22.

As the sewage flows out, the float 6O swings i downward until the member 64 engages the upper pair of lock nut-s 66, forcing the rod 65 upward, and eventually causing the spring 85 to act abruptly in the opposite direction to open the switch 72 and to close the valve 51, as indicated in Fig. 3. The parts are thus restored to initial posit-ion and the cycle of operation begins over again.

As no time is lost in priming the pump or in picking up the load, th receiver is emptied more promptly than wh n the priming pipe is not used and consequently the cycle of operations is completed in a shorter period of time and the apparatus can handle more charges of sewage in a given period, thus increasing the capacity of the sewage ejecting tion about the periphery of the casing and of accomplishing this distribution much more quickly than will happen if the water remaining in the bottom of:- the pump casing is depended upon entirely to supply water for the pumping action.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof I do not Wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but What I claim is 1 In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and outlet ports, and means to inject a stream of priming water through one of said inlet ports directly into said rotor chamber.

2. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing Water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having outlet ports and upper and lower inlet ports, and means to inject a stream of priming water through an upper inlet port directly into said rotor chamber.

- 3. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having outlet ports and upper and lower inlet ports, and means to forcibly inject a supply of priming water through one of said inlet ports when the pump is in operation and to shut ofi said supply when the pump stops.

4. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing Water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and outlet ports, means to start and stop said rotor, and means effective to introduce priming Water to said rotor chamber, saidpriming means and said taneously operated.

5. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and. outlet ports, means to start and stop said rotor, and means effective to introduce priming water to said rotor chamber, said priming means and said starting and stopping means being controlled externally of said pump and being simultaneously operated. W

6. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and-outlet ports, means to start and stop said rotor, and means effective to introduce priming water to said rotor chamber, said priming means and said starting and stopping means being controlled externally of said pump and being simul-' taneously operated, and connections between said float and said dual means through which said means is abruptly operated with a snap action.

7. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor driving means, a control device therefor hav-- ing a snap action, and means to introduce priming water to said rotor chamber, said means being rendered operative and inoperative byvsaid controlling device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

IRVING C. JENNINGS.

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