US1878220A - Pumping of rubber latex and the like and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Description

Sept 2@ 11932. H. WILLSHAW ET AL PUMPING OF RUBBER LATEX AND THE LIKE'AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 28, 1928 2 SheetS-Sheec l Sept. 20, E932. H. wlLLsHAw ET AL 'mg@ PUMPING OF RUBBER LATEX AND THE LIKE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 /5 mul-Inghamy 15 Patented Sept. 20,l 1932Y UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE BIARRY WILLSHAW, WALTER GEORGE GGR-HAM AND yROGrllR FREDERICK LEE, OF

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T AMERICAN ANODE, NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORIYYORATION OF DELAWARE INCORPORATED, 0F

PUMIPING- 0F RUBBER LATEX AND THE LIKE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Application led February 28, 1928, Serial No. 2573691, and in Great Britain March 2, 1927.

This invention relates to means for effecting the forced movement or pumping of liquid dispersions or emulsions` which are liable to undergo flocculation or coagulation on being subjected to, for instance immoderate agitation or impact shock.

Liquid dispersions or emulsions contemplated as coming under consideration in this invention comprise the latices of rubber or w other vegetable resins, artificial dispersions such as of rubber or of other vegetable resins or of coagulated rubber or of waste rubberl or rubber reclaim or vulcanized dispersions of rubber or other vegetable resins, or artitieial dispersions of synthetic resins or cellulose compounds or again mixtures of any p of the aforesaid dispersions, anyl of which may or may not contain any one or more of the vusual and known compounding ingredients.

2o According to the present invention the means utilized for effecting the forced movement or pumping of liquid dispersions of the aforesaid kinds and nature is a pump adapted to function by the deformation or reformation or similar displacement of a resilient member or chamber, it being preferable that the reformation of said member or chamber draws the dispersion from one vessel and that the deformation of the said member or chamber discharges the dispersion so drawn into another vessel or vice versa. In this manner the clogging of any interstices with coagulum from the dispersions is avoided.

The invention is applicable in a variety of instances necessitating the forced movement or pumping or circulation of dispersions, particularly latex. Thus it is especially suitable for use in the circulation of liquid dispersions through a container, such` as is described in our application of even date, while it can equally well be utilized in the pumping of latex from transport tankers into storage vats in the factory.

Referring to latex, almost insuperable dif- `ficulties attend the use of pumps having slid- `ing parts, or bearings or glands, which contact with the latex. l It its practically impossible to prevent the infiltration of the rubber globules between the stationary and the moving parts and consequent rapid coagulation of the latex adjacent those parts.

Thus the use of pumps of the usual reciproeating piston type is precluded in as'much as if the coagulum formed adjacent the piston is allowed to remain, the pump rapidly becomes clogged and unable to function. To avoid the difliculties associated with this kind of pump, various other expedient-s have been resorted to. For instance rotary or turbine umps have been utilized, but these as applied to the pumping of latex have been comparatively complicated and ineicient. Bearings or glands exposed to the latex rapidly become' clogged with coagulum and special constructions .have had to be devised in which the rotors are carried on bearings wholly clear of the latex. Air ypumps have also been utilized for the movement of latex but known kinds of such pumps have only a very limited range of application and are not generally practicable.

The invention will now be described by Way.

l of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a' sectional side elevation of a pump constructed for use with rubber latex. Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, while Figures?) and 4 show diagrammatically alternative arrangements.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the resilient member is in the form of a disc diaphragm l extending across anoriflce 2 in a chamber or cavity 3 disposed between the inlet and outlet valves 4 and 5 respectively.

The said member is preferably actuated by a reciprocating rod 6 the operating mechanism for which ,includes a driven pulley 7, gearing 8, a crank shaft 9, a connecting rod 10, and a bell crank lever 11 fulcrumed at I0 12. That surface of the diaphragm 1 which contacts with the latex is removed from the surrounding surfaces. It has been found that yif the diaphragm is allowed to contact or to approach closely the walls of the cavity 3i ifar as is convenient from the surrounding a suitably arranged stop surfaces. Further in ball valves means are provided to prevent undue displacement of the ball thereof-both to ensure that the ball returns accurately to its seating and that it so returns almost immediately after cessation of discharge. As shown in-thedrawings, said means conveniently consistsv of 14 limiting the vertical lift of the said ball.

In the alternative construction shown diagrammatically in Figure 3, the cavity 3 between the valves 4 and 5 is Wholly ineXtensible and the resilient member is in the form of an envelope l5 distensibleby inflation. To allow said envelope to collapse into a small compass, the same is preferably formed to assume deflated-the cross sectional shape indicated at 16. The actuating fluid is alternately admitted and exhausted via a suitable valve 17-distention of the envelope causing disdisplacement, through the outlet valve 5, of the latex around it in the cavity, and contraction of the said envelope drawing more lateX into the said cavity through the inlet valve 4.

In general, however, it will be apparent that the resilient member may take any convenient form. Thus for example the said resilient member may be in the form of a bellows-like chamber preferably disposed between two substantially rigid end members adlapted to move towards and away from each ot er.

In a further modification designed specifl fined to valves such as ball valves adapted to be actuated by the displacement of the latex, it will be apparent that alternatively we may utilize positively actuated valves. For instance as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 4 such valves may comprise distensible members 18 and 19 adapted to close the orilices into the chamber 3 of the inlet and outlet pipes 4a and 5a respectively. The inflation to close the inlet pipe. As shown in Figure 4 x the diaphragm may be fluid actuated under the control of a distributing valve 21.l Finally it will be apparent that the features described in connection with one application of our invention may where applicable, with or without modification or addition, be utilized in connection with any of the other applications of the said invention.

What we claim is l. Means for pumping aqueous dispersions which are coagulated by friction, comprising a pump body, a resilient diaphragm constituting one wall of the pump body, means engaging` the diaphragm for repeatedly changing the internal volume of the pump body, and inlet and outlet valves comprising valve'chambers, inflatable members within the valve chambers adapted to obstruct the fluid passage when inliatcd and leave a passage for the fluid when deflated, and means for successively infiating and deflating the said members in timed relationship with the (halnges in the internal volume of the pump 2. A pump valve comprising a valve chamber, an inflatable member adapted to obstruct the fluid passage when inflated andleave a passage for the fluid when deflated, and means for periodically inflating and deflating the said member.' p

3. A pump valve comprisinga valve chamber, an inflatable sac adapted to fill the valve chamber when inflated and leave a passage for the fluid when deflated, and means for periodically iniiating and deflating the sac.

' 4. A pump comprising a chamber, fluid operated means for periodically drawing the fluid to be pumped into the chamber and forcing it out of the chamber, inlet and outlet valves comprising valve chambers, inflatable members within the valve chambers adapted to obstruct vthe fluid passage when inflated and leave a passage for the fluid when deflated, and conduits connecting the inflatable members with the fluid actuating the pump proper whereby the valves areopened and closed in synchronism with the operation of the pump proper. y

5. A pump comprising a pump body, a resilient diaphragm constituting one wall of the pump body, a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the diaphragm, means for introducing a liquid under pressure alternately into the two ends of the cylinder to reciprocate the said diaphragm, inlet and outlet valves comprising valve chambers, inflatable members within the valve chambers adapted to obstruct the Huid passage when inated and leave a passage for the uid when deflated, and conduits connectin the respective inflatable members with the uid in the two ends of the cylinder whereby the valves are opened and closed in synchronism with the movements of the diaphragm.-

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

HARRY WILLSHAW. 1 WALTER GEORGE GORHAM. ROGER FREDERICK LEE.

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