US1730337A - Pump - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 1, 1929. BELLOCQ 1,730,337

. PUMP Filed Aug. 30, 1928 INVENTOR.

Tor-[5Z0 B222 BY A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP Application filed August 30, 1928. Serial No. 308,074.

My invention relates to a new type or scheme of moving or transporting liquids and especially to pumping permitting of the elevation of liquids from substantially any depth without the necessity of situating the machinery at the bottom of the well and includes the employment not only of the energy produced by the waves set up by the rapid reciprocation of a piston but also the extra waves or impulses produced by the opening and closure of a valve in the system. Variations of pressure in the body of liquid in the pump may be employed to effect the pumping and it is more eflicient and a larger output is produced if the variation is produced in a plurality of series.

Figure l of the accompanying drawing illustrates a vertical section through apparatus incorporating the invention.

The apparatus for carrying out the invention consists of a pipe reaching to the bottom of the well or within the water therein and provided at its lower end with a check valve VI. At or about the ground level the pipe enters the cylinder of a pump or compressor provided with a piston. The cylinder has a single valve VS. In beginning the operation the piston is placed at its outermost position and the pipe and cylinder are completely filled with liquid, care being taken to exclude substantially all free air. The valve VI prevents the liquid running out of the pipe and the valve VS is closed. The piston is then pushed forward by a suitable power and its reciprocation started. After the piston has moved a proper part of its stroke the valve VS is opened sues therefrom. 'The valve VI also opens and liquid enters the bottom of the pipe from the well and the continued operation of the device lifts liquid from the well bottom and delivers it through the valve VS which is closed at the proper part of each stroke of the piston at which time the outflow of liquid will be temporarily stopped.

I have thus described the physical operation of the apparatus, while the underlying theory of its operation and the theoretical application of the physical forces involved may not be entirely clear, there will now be set and liquid isforth a full and clear statement of what is believed to be the explanation of the operation and how the physical forces interact with the apparatus to produce the desired effect.

The apparatus employed involves three parts, namely (1). the apparatus for producing the impulses or waves of force and for producing the opening and closing extra waves or impulses (2) the transmission line or pipe (3) a valve in the lower end of the pipe which may produce in its turn opening and closing extra waves or impulses.

1. The first portion of the apparatus may consist of a compressor of any approved design having a single valve VS diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1. The piston of the compressor is rapidly reciprocated preferably through a short stroke so as to produce waves of energy in the'liquid column. Initially the piston is moved to its outermost position and the pipe and compressor cylinder filled with liquid. The valve VS is initially closed. The compression of the liquid caused by the inward stroke of the piston initiates a wave movement through the column of liquid. When, the movement of the piston has produced the desired pressure, which may be before or at the end of its stroke, the valve VS is suddenly opened. The cooperation and relative timing ofthe piston and valve may be accomplished in any appropriate way but I prefer to have mechanically interlocked so that the valve will open at the appropriate moment in the piston stroke. When this valve opens it suddenly, by the variation of pressure, transforms the piston wave into an opening extra impulse or wave in the liquid column. Advantage may be taken also of the extra wave caused by the closure of the valve but the 99 closure extra waves are of lesser effect than the opening extra waves. Valve VS being closed when the piston enters the cylinder a certain pressure is produced to set up a wave in the liquid column. When the valve VS opens the opening sets up an-extra or supplemental wave'impulse which like the piston wave will travel through the whole length of the li uid in the pipe to the lower valve VI. T is extra or auxiliary wave 100 or impulse may be similar also to that produced in water rams. The water ram, however, takes advantage of the closing extra wave rather than the extra wave produced by opening. In my system this extra wave when workin with the valve VS open to the air is probably one of much volume and slight pressure. This wave and extra wave cause the liquid to proceed from the well by valve VI and carry it through the pipe and and drive it through valve VS which is open. It is necessary to calculate the necessary pres sure and velocity of the wave for the length and diameter of the pipe employed as a guide in altering or adjusting, in each case, the diameter, stroke and frequency of the piston. As is well known in systems trans. mitting energy by wave through colulnns or pipes of liquid the pressure produced in a tube or pipe of a given diameter may be varied or controlled by providing in communication with the pipe a further container filled with the same liquid which is being pumped to act as a capacity or condenser. In order to set up such waves it is necessary to cause alternate areas of high and low pressure in the medium and this may be effected by any siutable known means. I find it convenient to use for this purpose a reciprocating piston and valve as indicated.

2. The second portion of the apparatus con sists merely of a suitable pipe which :brings up the liquid and, through the flowing stream, transmits the energy or waves from the piston and the upper valve VS to the lower valve VI it beingnecessary to calculate the section of the pipe in accordance with the pressure and the volume of the liquid to be obtained or extracted from the well. Since energy-bearing wave-currents in liquid have a certain velocity, the frequency of the piston must be calculated in order that the wave produced should conform with the length of the pipe, it being possible to work likewise with the harmonics of the wave and also to work when the pipe length'corresponds with odd or even fourths of such wave len th. This is preferred but the purpose can be accomplished, possibly with less efficiency, with other adjustments.

3. The third portion of the apparatus consists of the lower valve VI which may serve three purposes, (a) it serves as a nonreturn valve so as to permit the pipe being filled up before starting; (Z1) it causes the liquid to move in one direction only avoiding the return thereof into the well; and (c) it may be that it also serves as a wave or impulse transformer like the upper valve VS producing by its movement an extra Wave or impulse. Thus the pipe will draw in a great quantity of liquid under low pressure being the inverse of the piston WlllCll produces a wave or impulse of high pressure and little volume.

At first sight it might seemthat if the piston is caused to enter the cylinder when the valve VS is closed the apparatus would burst. This is not the case, however, since the capacity for compression and the elasticity of the liquid being pumped, when known, serve to allow the stroke of the piston and the pressure obtained to be calculated and the apparatus to be operated in such a way as not to exceed the limit of resistance of the apparatus before the opening of the valve. It will be remembered that the impulses and extra impulses of energy in the wave form are possi le solely because the liquids worked upon are compressible and elastic which permits of their working in a resilient manner.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The piston is withdrawn from the cylinder to the maximum extent possible and the cylinder and pipe are filled u substantially completely with liquid ta 'ng care that substantially no free air be left inside. The valve VS is closed and the piston is pushed inwardly vigorously causing a compression of the liquid and initiating an energy carrying wave which moves through the column of 1i uid. As soon as the piston has entered suflicientl to produce the desired pressure the valve as is suddenly opened. This abrupt opening of the valve VS ,permits escape of liquid and suddenly changes the pressure thus producing an opening extra wave which will travel through the whole length of the pi e. The waves produced by the piston and y the valve VS both carr' energy to the valve VI which will be opened The system is more economical and more efficient than one which employs for the pumping and lifting of the liquid only the energy.

transmitted by the waves set up by the piston action. If the opening of the valve VI is abrupt it may transform the extra wave into a wave of small pressure but great volume. Since the valve VI does not permit the liquid to flow downwards an .upward flow will occur, that is to say, the energy transmitted by the two Waves will not only open the valve VI but will lift the liquid in the pipe and draw from the Well liquid past the valve VI and upwards through the pipe from which it will discharge through the open valve VS. Operation then may become substantially continuous the piston being rapidly reciprocated and the valve VS operated in harmony therewith being always closed at the proper part of the piston stroke. It might be best to arrange the shaft moving the piston so that it would also govern the valve VS. Thus the Work might be done in a completely automatic manner. Thus a cam C may be mounted on the drive shaft and engage mechanism D to operate the valve VS at the proper predetermined point in the stroke of the piston. Any other suitable means for associating the operation of the piston and the valve may employed. The time of opening and closing the valve VS and its size may be adjusted to give the maximum output of liquid with the minimum expense of energy to operate the piston. The apparatus expels durin each stroke of the piston a volume of liquid several times greater than the volume displaced by the piston. In practice it is possible to expel during each stroke of the piston a volume of liquid about seventeen times as lar e as the volume displaced by the piston an for this reason thetstroke of the piston may be very short or the volume displaced at each stroke of the piston may be small.

I have found that one specific appropriate apparatus which will illustrate in a concrete way the present invention may consist of a flllld pi e having an internal diameter of one inch. uch a pipe placed ina well having water .at a depth of 20 meters may have arranged at its lower end a valve opening 30 millimeters in diameter seated in which is a ball of approximatel 38 millimeters in diameter held in place y the usual cage which may be adjusted so that the ball can rise from its seat about 20 millimeters. .On the surface of the earth the pipe may be led into the cylinder of a compressor of 50 millimeters diameter in which is. a piston having a stroke of about 30 millimeters. The piston may be reciprocated at a speed of about 180 revolutions per minute by a suitable electric motor. In the cylinder of the compressor may be a valve having a diameter of about 30 millimeters and'adJuSted so as to have a movement of from 5 to 7 millimeters. The piston will be moved to its outermost position and the cylinder and pipe entirely filled with water. The ball valve rests by gravity in its closed position and the valve in the cylinder is closed. The electric motor will be started and at the proper time in the stroke of the piston the valve in the cylinder will be opened. The ball valve will open and water will begin to flow from the piston valve with an output of about 4,000 or 5,000 liters per hour.

While the fundamental theory on which the operation is based may be somewhat in doubt, I have endeavored to set out herein what I believe is the true princi le but my invention is not to be so limited. 11 order to set up such waves as are here involved it is necessary to produce variations in compression in the liquid and although a compressor is illustrated for such purpose it will be understood that the invention is not so limited but extends to any suitable or known means for producing such effect.

This system permits of working at any desired depth without being compelled to arrange the machinery within the well, provided the necessary pressure has been well calculated. It is possible that advantageously, the work is done under a considerable pressure in order to use, same as in electricity, the transmission of high voltages over long dlstances'with favorable output. This system also permits of workin with a piston of reduced dimensions as, taking advantage of the transforming efi'ect of the wave or impulse, a p1ston of a given dis lacement, under a glven pressure, would e able to elevate at each stroke a liquid volume several times greater than the same displacement but under a pressure several times lower.

Thls system would seem to be contrary to the laws of gravity which does not permit of liquid being elevated or drawn up from a depth greater than the length of a column of the same liquid counter-balancing the atmospheric-pressure; however, in fact there is employed a force in wave form which travels throughout the length of the pipe and arrives at the lower valve VI. This force operates at this valve in the same manner as if there were a piston at this point.

The present system would seem also to be contrary to the law which does not ermit a piston of a given displacement to o tain at each stroke a volume of liquid greater than such displacement; but it will be apparent that a plston of a given displacement, under a given pressure, may obtain'at each stroke a liquidvolume several times greater than the volume of displacement of such piston, but under a pressure several times less.

The piston may work either with the cylinder horizontal or with the cylinder vertical or inclined. The pipe through which the liquid flows may be either horizontal or vertical or inclined and it may be curved or straight. All of these arrangements may be referred to as pumps and I use the term a pumping as including moving, transporting -or conveying 1n vertlcal or horlzontal or inclined direction.

The term liquids is used to include not only simple liquids but also mixtures of liquids and such mixtures of liquids with gases or solids as are capable of being transported through pipes or pumped.

It is obvious that the device has been shown only am. preferred embodiment and that any other may be used for the same purpose. Apparatus for carrying out the invention may be constructed from mechanisms or devices already known and used for other purposes and the invention is not confined to any specific form of valves or compressors or means of operating them.

Having thus fully described and ascertained my said invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into practice, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is of the pipe in the liquid supply, a compressor cylinder at the other end of the pipe, an outlet for the liquid, a piston inthe cylinder, means to cause the piston to repeatedly com- 5 press the liquid in the pipe, a valve in the outlet and means for opening the outlet valve at a predetermined point in each stroke of the piston.

2. Apparatus for pumping liquids comrisin a )i e leadin to the li uid su l 5nd filled with liquid? 11 check alve in hia pipe Within the liquid to-be moved, an outlet for the liquid, means for compressing the liquid in the pipe, and separate means for sud- 15 denly releasing the pressure.

3. Apparatus for pumping liquids comprising a check valve in the liquid supply, a compressor adjacent the point of delivery, a pipe filled with liquid leading from the valve to the compressor, an outlet for the liquid,

means for operating the compressor to compress the liquid in the pipe, and separate means to suddenly release the pressure, to operate the check valve and move the liquid. 4. The method of pumping liquids comprising placing in the liquidsupply a pipe provided with an outlet near one end controlled by a valve and carrying at the other end a check valve in the liquid supply, filling the pipe with liquid, compressing the liquid in the pipe, and operating the valve controlling the outlet to suddenly releasethe pressure to cause the liquid to fiow toward the compressing means near the outlet, and to cause new liquid from the supply to enter the pipe.

5. The method of pumping liquid through a pipe provided with a controlled outlet near and filled with liquid, a check valve in the pipe in the liquid supply, a compressor cylinder at the other end of the pipe, a valve in the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and means for operating the piston and the valve in the cylinder to set up a plurality of series of compression waves in the li uid in the pipe todoperate the check valve an pump the liqu1 9. The method of pumping liquid through a pipe provided with a controlled outlet near one end and a check valve at the other end, comprising placing the check valve in the liquid to be pumped, filling the pipe with the liquid, and applying energy to the liquid in the pipe in a contemporaneous plurality of series of impulses in the form of compression waves at a point toward which flow occurs.

10. Apparatus for pumping liquid comprising means for alternately compressing a body of liquid in a pipe, separate means for alternately releasing the pressure, and an outlet for the pipe, whereby the variations in compression cause the liquid to enter and flow through the pipe.

In testimony whereof- I afiix my signature.

TORIBIO BELLOCQ.

one end and a check valve at the other end,

comprising placing the check valve in the liquid to be pumped, filling the pipe with the liquid, and repeatedly compressing the liquid in the pipe and operating the outlet controlling means to suddenly release the compression.

6. Apparatus for pumping liquids comprising a pipe leading to the liquid supply and filled with liquid, a check valve in the pipe within the liquid supply, an outlet for the liquid, and means to set up a contemporaneous plurality of series of compression waves in the liquid in the pipe to operate the check valve and move-the liquid.

7. The method of pumping liquids in pipes comprising repeatedly compressing the liquid to cause a series of impulses of energy in the form of compression waves to pass through the liquid and repeatedly suddenly relievlng the compression of the liquid to cause another series of impulses of energy in the form of compression waves to pass through the liquid to cause liquid to pass through-the system.

8. Apparatus for pumping liquids com prising a pipe leading to the liquid supply

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