US1949589A

US1949589A - Pump

Info

Publication number: US1949589A
Application number: US627786A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce W Traylor; Jr Samuel W Traylor
Original assignee: Traylor Engineering & Manufacturing Comp
Current assignee: Traylor Engineering & Manufacturing Co; Traylor Engineering & Manufacturing Comp
Priority date: 1932-08-06
Filing date: 1932-08-06
Publication date: 1934-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1951-03-06

Description

March 6, 1934. B. w. TRAYLOR Er AL PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1932 Fig 72..; ATTORNEY B. W. TRAYLOR ET AL March 6, 1934.

PUMP

Filed Aug. 6', 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Bruce W Tray/or and By Sami/e/ W Tray/or .//r

Ef' l ATTORNE? March 6, v1934. B. w. TRAYLOR Er AL PUMP Filed Aug. 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mw. Saw Y www, w .mw/ m R E 0 vm. N /Wn Iw/ A,

f m @www Patented Mar. 6, 1934 PUIVIP Bruce W. Traylor and Samuel W. Traylor, Jr.,

Allentown, Pa., assignors to 'Eraylor Engineering & Manufacturing Company, a company of Delaware Application August 6, 1932, Serial No. 627,?88

17 Claims.

This invention relates to pumps of the type in which liquid being pumped is forced from a working chamber by high pressure motive fluid, such as gas or air under high pressure, in contact with the upper surface of the liquid in the chamber and the Working chamber when substantially emptied is again filled by exhausting the high pressure motive fluid from the upper part of the Working chamber and admitting another charge ofV liquid le under hydrostatic or other pressure.

Pumps of this type may be operated in single or multiple stages and are particularly adapted for use in oil fields where dry natural gas existing in connection with the oil can be utilized to provide the high pressure fluid. These gases may absorb oils and greases of sliding bearings thus causing rapid wear, excessive friction and even locking of moving parts against movement. It is therefore desirable to provide operating mechanism in which such deleterious effects are avoided as much as possible, as by using structure which requires no lubrication. Of course, when compressed air is used., such difficulties are minimized. `among the various diiculties encounteredV in conneetion with such pumps, one of the most important is that of obtaining reliable operation of the valves controlling the admission and exhaust of the l .ot-ive fluid with reference to the working chamber. lt has also been difficult in pumps of this character heretofore in use toprevent passage of the motive fluid out of the bottom of the working chamber and subsequent emulsication of the liquid forced from said chamber.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved pump of the'character to which reference has been made; It is also an important object of the invention to provide improved means for operating the control valves for the motive fluid. Another object is to provide means for preventing passage of motive fluid out of the bottom of the working chamber with the liquid being pumped.

it is also an object of the invention to provide means for limiting both the downward and 'the upward movement of the surface of the liquid in the working chambers. Another object is to provide means for preventing' undue shock at the ends of the valve shifting movements of the valve nq. operating means.

' iroved means for assisting the valve operating in finishing the valve shifting operations for hol ng the valves in positions to kwhich they ed. @ther objects relate to features of construction of various parts, connectionsv A further object is to providev (ci. 10am-24s) i therebetween and the functions performed thereby.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a plurality of units are arranged vcrtically in a weil and the liquid, oil for example, 0^ is admitted under hydrostatic pressure, dependent upon the height of oil in the well, tothe lowermost unit through a shield or gas trap adapted to prevent entrance of the gas which may pass upwardly in the casing outside of the pumping apparatus. From the shield the liquid passes through a foot valve into a tube enclosing the working chamber of the lower unit and communicating with the lower end of such chamber. Connected with the upper ends of both the tube and the working chamber therein is a valve block having one or more ducts or passages connecting the space around the working chamber with the upper side of the block to supply liquid to the next higher unit and having at its interior valve means connected with the upper end of the working chamber, a motive fluid supply duct, and a motive fluid exhaust duct. Preferably the valve means includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve operated by a reciprocataole member or stem which in its' upward movement opens the inlet valve and closes the exhaust 'valve and in its downward movement closes the inlet valve and opens the exhaust valve, in the first case starting the pumping movement or forcing of the liquid out of the working chamber and in the second case releasing the pressure in the upper part of the chamber and permitting the entrance into the chamber of a fresh supply of liquid under pressure. Y

For the lower unit the pressure under which liquid is supplied is due to the height of liquid in the welvbut for the next higher unit may be due to the pressure exerted from the bottom unit as liquid is forced therefrom.

The present invention involves use of the pressure of the incoming fluid to lift the valve stem to start expulsion of the liquid and use of the pressure of the motive fluid to depress the valve stern to exhaust the motive fluid and admit a fresh supply of liquid. Preferably such movement of the valve stem is obtained by means of a shuttle device connected at its upper end with the valve stem and fitting closely in the corresponding chamber so as to slide therein while preventing the passage of the vliquid around the shuttle device. This shuttle device or valve operating device is constructed so as to permit the passage of liquid therethrough from end to end A and is provided adjacent to its ends with inwardly facing valve seats'with which cooperate oat 110 'nsV ,controlled valves preferably formed as the opposite ends of a shuttle float. When the shuttle iloat is raised to the upper end of the valve operating member it closes the upper end thereof and the pressure of the rising liquid raises the valve operating device and shifts the valves to admit the motive fluid and force the liquid out of the chamber and up through a check valve to the next higher unit which is controlled in the same way. When the shuttle float reaches the lower valve seat it closes the opening therethrough and the motive fluid acts to depress the shuttle device and cause exhaust of motive uid from the working chamber.

It will also be seen that the shuttle device and the shuttle float therein serve to prevent the motive fluid from passing out of the lower end of the working chamber and the liquid from passing out of the upper end of the chamber.

Preferably the closing of the inlet and exhaust valves controlling the motive fluid is assisted by a toggle device comprising two rigid arms interposed between a longitudinally movable valve controlling member such as a valve stem f and two springs parallel to said member, each arm having knife edges at its ends and the cooperating parts having notches to receive said edges while permitting free pivotal movement of the said arms. This toggle device also tends to hold the valves in the positions to which they are shifted by the valve operating means. Preferably provision is also made of means for counterbalancing the weight of the shuttle device containing the shuttle float and of parts connected therewith and of means for cushioning the movement of the shuttle device, for example by means having a dash pot action.

Other objects and advantages will appear upon consideration of the following description and of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a pumping system including two units or stages;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections, somewhat diagrammatic, of the lower and upper ends of the lower unit indicated at A and B, respectively, on Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are corresponding views of the lower and upper ends of the upper unit, indicated at C and D, respectively, of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section including both upper and lower ends of a pump unit;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the lower end of a pump unit showing details of construction;

Fig. 8 is a section of a valve block taken at a level corresponding to that indicated by the line 8-8 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section of a valve block taken at a level corresponding to that indicated by the line 9 9 on Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a device for holding a split collar against rotation; and

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the split collar.

1n the drawings there is illustrated pumping apparatus including a lower unit 15 and immediately above the same an upper unit 16 each of which includes an outer casing 17 connected at its upper end with a valve block 18, an inner casing constituting a working chamber 19 of smaller diameter than the casing 17 so as to prf- `fide an annular flow passage 20 through which liquid is forced upwardly from the unit and through one or more passages 21 in the valve block to a chamber 22 at the top thereof. From the chamber 22 the liquid is forced past a check valve 22a into a pipe 22bwnich may lead to the surface of the ground if a single stage be used or to the next higher unit if the apparatus be of the multistage type. The oil is forced into the lower unit by hydrostatic pressure due to the height of the oil in the well.

The gas may be prevented from entering the lower unit by providing the outer casing 17 thereof with a downwardly extending gas shield 23 or trap which may include an outer casing 24 forming an extension of the outer casing 17 of the lower pump unit and being closed at its lower end by a bottom 25, and an inner tubular portion 26 of smaller diameter suspended from an annular flange 27 projecting inwardly from the outer casing 24 and sealing the upper end of the annular passage 28 surrounding said portion 26. Just below the flange 27 the outer casing 24 is provided with ports or inlets 29. The inner tubular portion 26 is spaced above the bottom of the outer casing so that oil entering through one or more ports or inlets 29 will flow downwardly through the annular passage 28, around the lower edge of the inner tubular portion 26 and upwardly to the lower pump unit through a foot valve 3G. As here shown the foot valve is in the form of a disc adapted to close on opening 32 surrounded by a valve seat 33 at the inner edge of an annular member 34 connected at its outer edge with the outer casing 17. Preferably the valve is guided by means of a spindle or stem 31 extending downwardly therefrom through a suitable opening in the center of a xed spider 36, the spindle being provided below the spider with a suitable stop 37 to limit the upward Inovement of the valve.

The working chamber 19 is closed at its lower end and the oil in the annular space 20 passes into the working chamber through one or more inlet ports or openings 38 in the circumferential wall of the chamber. At its top the working chamber 19 communicates with vertical passage 39 in the lower end of the corresponding valve block 18, and this passage or chamber 39 is connected at times with a motive fluid supply line or tube 39a to cause liquid to be forced out of the working chamber 19 and at other times with a motive fluid exhaust line or tube 4G to permit liquid under pressure to enter the working chamber. The flow of the operating medium or motive fluid into and out of the Working chamber gis controlled by suitable valve means, of which an advantageous form is disclosed.

An inlet passage 41 for the motive uid extends from the supply line 29a through the block to a chamber 41a between two vertically aligned upwardly facing valve seats 42, and a discharge or exhaust passage 43 extending from a connection with the exhaust line 4() to a chamber 44 between downwardly facing valve seats 45 below and in alignment with the upper valve seats 42.

The upper chamber 41a is connected through the upper of the valve seats 42 with a chamber 46 and is connected with the lower chamber 44 by a passage 47 in alignment therewith; the lower chamber 44 is connected with the upper end oi the passage 39; and the chamber 46, the passage 47 and the chamber 39 are connected by short

transverse passages

48, 49, and 5G, respectively, with a vertical passage 51, thus assuring equal pressure above, between and below the upper and lower pairs of valve seats.

To cooperate with the upper valve seats 42, provision is made of a double inlet valve 52 consisting of two single valves or heads 53 connected so as to move together to and from the correspending valve seats. A corresponding double outlet valve 54 comprising individual valves or heads 55 is provided to cooperate with the lower pair of valve seats 45. The arrangement is such that when the inlet valve is moved to closed position the outlet valve will be opened and vice versa.

In the illustrated embodiment of the valve means for controlling the motive fluid, the pressure receiving face of the lower head of the double exhaust or outlet valve 54 and the pressure receiving face of the upper head are of substantially the same area so that the double ex` haust valve as a whole may be said to be balanced. When the valve, including the inlet and outlet valves, is in the position with the outlet valve seated, the liquid is being forced or pumped from the working chamber and therefore this position of the valve is hereinafter referred to as the pumping position. Similarly the pressure receiving area of the lower head of the inlet pair and the pressure receiving area of the upper inlet head are substantially the same and the double inlet valve may be said to be balanced. As the valve when in the position with the inlet valve seated permits the liquid being pumped to flow into the working chamber, this position of the valve is hereinafter referred to as the filling position. It will be seen that the valve as a whole is balanced both as to working and back pres-'- sures and that no substantial difficulty is met in operating it at any time.

As illustrated, the intake and exhaust valves 52V and 54 are slidably mounted on a reduced portion 56 of a valve stem 57 and may be lifted to close the exhaust valve by engagement of the lower end of the exhaust valve with a shoulder 58 at the lower end of the reduced portion. With this arrangement the weight to be sustained by the exhaust valve is not very great and the overbalancing of the lower head of the exhaust valve over the upper head need not be very large. The intake and exhaust valves may be formed as parts of a single sleeve.

The movement of the valves is very small and, as it would be impracticable to provide valve shifting devices having such a slight movement, provision is made for lost motion connection between the valves and the valve stem or spindle. To this end, the enlargement or head 59 at the upper end of the reduced portion of the valve stem is spaced from the shoulder 58 a distance in excess of the length of the valve sleeve. To guide the upper end of the valve stem or spindle, the head 59 may have a sliding t in a chamber 60 in a plug 6l which closes an opening between the chamber 22a and chamber 46.

In order to assure proper seating of the intake and exhaust valves 52 and 54 and maintenance of such seating until the valve operating means acts to shift the valves, provision may be made of means for holding the shoulder 58 of the valve stem against the lower end of the exhaust valve until the valve stem is depressed to open the exhaust valve and for holding the head 59 down against the upper end of the inlet valve until the valve stem is raised to open the inlet or intake valve.

Preferably this result is obtained by use of a toggle'device including the rigid arms 62 of which the inner ends engage the valve stem 57 at opposite sides and the outer ends engage yielding members 63 which may be in the form of leaf springs substantially parallel to the spindle and xedly supported at points equally distant from their points of engagementwith the arms 62.

To avoid sliding contact and consequent friction and wear, the toggle arms are preferably provided at their ends with knife edges which are seated in suitable notches formed in the spindle 57 and the springs 63. Preferably the leaf springs 63 are secured at their upper ends which project into grooves at the inside of an annular flange 64 projecting downwardly from the valve block, which flange may be that to which the casing 19 of the working chamber is attached. 'I'he ends of the springs are clamped in the grooves by a member 65 of flat material in the general form of an inverted U and held in position in any suitable manner. The horizontal portion of the member 65 receives the spindle 57 therethrough and may have one or more openings 66 to permit passage of the motive fluid in addition to that passing around the side edges of the flat portion through openings between the same and inner surface of the flange 64. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 6, the member 65 is secured in place by means of a screw 65a screwed into the flange 64.

According to the present invention, the means for raising and lowering the valve stem 57 is positive in its action thus assuring proper shifting of the valve means controlling the admission o-f motive fluid to the working chamber and the exhaust or venting of the motive fluid. The positive action referred to may be obtained by utilizing the pressure of the incoming fluid to close the motive fluid exhaust and open the supply when the surface of the liquid reaches a predetermined upper limit, and by utilizing the pressure of the motive fluid to close the supply or intake valve and open the exhaust valve when the surface of the liquid sinks to a predetermined level.

Preferably the power for actuating the valves controlling the action of the motive iluid is provided in the following manner, Mounted in the casing of the Working chamber 19 are an upper head or piston 67 and a lower head or piston 68, each provided with a peripheral sealing strip 69 of suitable material, having a cylindrical portion surrounding a peripheral flange of the head and having an inturned annular portion clamped between the outer face of the flange and a clamping ring 70. Also the inner edge of the cylindrical portion of each strip is tapered to a thin edge at'the surface in contact with the inner surface of the chamber 19, so that increase of pressure at the inner side will tend to improve the seal.

The upper head 67 has a large central passage 71 extending axially through the hea'd and terminating at its lower end in a downwardly facing valve seat 72. The lower head 68 is provided in a similar manner with an upwardly facing valve seat 73 at the upper end of an axial passage 74. Preferably, however, the lower end of the passage 74 is closed by an end 75 and communication between the passage 74 and the outside of the head below its seal is provided by one or more openings or ports 76. As will be brought out more clearly hereinafter, the

heads

67 and 68 must be connected so that either one may be drawn along by the other. Preferably this connection is made by a tube 77 enclosing the inner ends of said heads and engaging the sides of said peripheral flanges and the tube is provided'near its lower end with one or more ports 78 so that liquid under pressure may enter the annular space between this tube and the casing of the Working chamber 19 and act on the sealing strips 69 t0 tighten the seal.

Enclosed in the tube 77 between the two valve seats 72` and 73 is a shuttle float 79, so called because it moves up and down with the surface of the liquid during the pumping operation. The ends 80 and 8l of the float are so shaped as to cooperate with the Valve seats 72 and 73, respectively, and serve as separate float-controlled valves. Obviously if the shuttle float be in the lower part of tube 77, rise of liquid in the tube due to inward ow through

ports

38 and 76 would raise the shuttle float until its upper end 80 engaged the valve seat 72 and closed the passage 7l through the upper head, whereupon the shuttle device including the two heads would be raised by the pressure of the inflowing liquid. On the other hand, if the motive fluid be introduced at the upper end of the working chamber, the float together with the upper surface of the liquid will be forced down until the lower end 81 of the shuttle float engages the lower valve seat 73, whereupon the shuttle device will be moved downwardly by the high pressure motive fluid.

Such movements of the shuttle device are utilized for operating the valve stem 55 by means of a suitable connection which may include a member or bar 82 extending across the passage 7l in the upper head 67 and having at the upper side thereof an upwardly facing cylindrical cup 83, a circular plate or disc 84 fixed on the lower end of the valve stem 57 and tting in said cup and a sleeve or bushing 85 having a part occupying the annular space above the disc and a ange overlying the upper edge or rim of the cup. The bushing may be secured tov the cup in any suitable manner. For reasons to be brought out hereinafter the spacing of the lower end of the bushing from the bottom of the cup is such as to provide for lost motion of the member 84 between the bushing and cup.

Through this connection the valves may be shifted by the shuttle device. It will be evident that the upper and lower limits of movement of the surface of the liquid in the working charnber are determined very closely by the normal positions of the upper and lower heads which move very slightly.

In view of the weight of the shuttle device and the parts supported by the top thereof it is desirable to provide means for counterbalancing their weight and thereby preventing pounding at the end of the downward stroke thereof. To this end a helical compression spring 86 may be interposed between a disc 86a at the lower side of the lower end 75 of the lower head and the lower end 87 of the working chamber.

In addition to providing means for stopping the shuttle device at opposite ends of its stroke thus avoiding subjecting the inlet and outlet valves and seats to severe stresses, it is also desirable to provide for a cushioning action in both directions. To this end the lower end 87 is in the form of an inverted cup which together with a member 88 closing its lower end forms a cylinder containing a piston 89 attached to the lower end of a piston rod 90, which is attached at its other end to the lower end 75 of the lower head 68 of the shuttle device. The piston 89 is provided with a restricted passage 91 so that when it is moved up and down by movement of the shuttle device it will act to cushion the action of the reciprocating parts due to retardation resulting from time taken for liquid in the cylinder to iiow back and forth through the restricted passage 91, the

effect being somewhat similar to that of a dash pot. The cylinder may be kept suitably filled with liquid by a restricted passage 92 extending through the member 88 at the bottom of the cylinder.

The upper of the two pump units is substantially the same as the lower one just described, except that it receives the liquid through the lower valve block 18 and check valve 22a instead of the arrangement at the bottom of the lower unit and that parts of the motive fluid duct 39a and the exhaust duct 40 are connected to the upper block 18a at its upper and lower sides, the block having passages which are really extensions o-f the ducts 39a and 40.

In Figs. l, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the valve blocks are somewhat distorted to make a clear showing oi' the motive fluid supply and exhaust connections, the preferred arrangement of certain of the parts being indicated in Figs. 8 and 9.

The operation of the lower unit, illustrated more particularly in `Figs. 2 and 3, is substantially as follows. Assuming that the shuttle device containing the shuttle oat 79 be in its lowermost position with the shuttle iioat resting on the lower valve seat 73, the piston 89 would rest on the member or stop 88, the valves 52 and 54 would be in their Fig. 5 positions and the working chamber would be connected with the exhaust line 40. The hydrostatic head in the well would then cause liquid to enter the gas trap through the port or ports 29 near the upper end thereof, and pass downwardly through the annular passage 28 to the bottom of tube 26 and then upwardly through the latter past the check valve 30 into the casing 17 of the pumping unit. During this action the gas in the oil passes upwardly at the outside of the gas trap. As the flow continues, the liquid passes through the port 38 into the working chamber 19 and through the port 76 into the lower head of the shuttle device which controls the motive fluid valves. The shuttle float 79 is lifted from the valve seat 73, as the upper surface of the liquid in the working chamber rises, and nally comes into contact with upper valve seat 72 thus closing the passage 71 in the upper head 67. The pressure of the liquid then shifts the shuttle device upwardly and after a lost motion action the shoulder 58 on the valve stem 57 engages the lower end of the exhaust valve 54 and shifts the valves from the Fig. 5 positions toward the Fig. 3 positions. While the shuttle device lifts the valve stem 57 sufficiently to carry the toggle arms 62 past dead center', it is stopped by engagement of the piston 89 with the upper stop before it can seat the outlet valve and the final seating is effected by the toggle device. This 'lnal seating movement is rendered possible by the lost motion connection between the shuttle device and the valve stem 57.

'Ihe intake valve is then open and motive fluid supplied through the supply line 39a passes into the upper end of the working chamber and forces the liquid in the shuttle device downwardly and out through the

ports

76 and 38 into the annular passage 20. The foot valve 30 is closed at this time and the liquid is forced upwardly through the annular passage 20, through the passages 21 in the valve block 18 to the chamber 22, and past the check valve 22a into the pipe 220. When, however, the shuttle noat 79 engages the valve seat 73, the flow of liquid from the shuttle device is checked and the shuttle device is vmoved downwardly thereby effecting through its connection with the valve stem 57 a downward shifting of Mil the valves from the positions shown in Fig. 3 to the positions shown in Fig. 5, in the same general manner as in the upward shifting.

Where two or more units are used, the units would ordinarily act alternately, the lower unit of each pair supplying liquid to the upper unit during the filling action of the latter and the upper unit forcing liquid upwardly during the filling action of the lower unit. Under some circumstances the head of liquid in the well might be so great as to force the liquid upwardly past a plurality of the units.

Preferably the sleeve or bushing 85, used in securing the valve stem 57 to the valve operating device including the shuttle float, is split for convenience in assembly around the valve stem 57. The two parts of the bushing after being brought together around said stem may be held in proper relative positions by dowel pins 95. The portion of the bushing entering the cup 83 is screwthreaded externally to cooperate with internal screw threads of the cup. The bushing may be held against unscrewing by suitable means such as a spring ring 96 seated in a groove in the outer surface of the cup and having an end 97 extending radially inwardly and serving as a pin to enter aligned holes in the cup and bushing 85. The hole in the split bushing may extend between the two halves thereof. The spring ring may readily be applied and removed but acts as a very effective means for accomplishing the desired purpose.

Preferably the valve seats 72 and 73 of the

heads

67 and 68 of the shuttle device are provided with parts 98 (Fig. 7) of harder metal than the rest of the heads and which can be replaced if necessary.

The cushioning means at the lower end of the working chamber 19 may take different forms, a preferred form being shown in Fig. 7. As here shown the workingchamber is closed by a downwardly facing cylinder 87a which is screwed into the lower end of the chamber. Integral with the closed top of the cylinder is an upwardly extending annular" sleeve 100 through which the piston rod passes. Surrounding the piston rod is a sealing ring 101 having 4at its lower edge a flange resting on the upper edge of the sleeve and clamped thereto by the overhangingV flange of a collar 102 screwed over the sleeve 100. In the cylinder 87a is a piston 89a having a restricted passage 91a extending therethrough. The piston is preferably provided with circumferential grooves 103 to provide a better liquid seal.

As here shown the screw-threaded, reduced lower end of the piston rod 90 isscrewed through the piston and is locked in position by means of a nut 104 and a lock washer` 105. The lower end of the cylinder 87a is preferably closed by a member 106 screwed into the same and having an opening 107 to accommodate the downward movement of the nut 104. The member or block 106 is provided beneath the opening 107 with a cavity 108 containing a ball valve 109 and communieating at its bottom with a restricted passage 110, surrounded at its topwith a seat for the valve 109. The valve is held in the cavity by a member 111 provided with restricted passages to retard the passage of fluid. At the lower side of the block is a frame 112, closed at its bottom end, surrounded by fine mesh 113 toexclude solid material. The arrangement at the top of the cylinder 87a is such as to prevent entrance of solid material from above and the arrangement atV the lower end of the cylinder is such as toadmit fluid but to prevent upward movement thereof.

Preferably the shuttle float 79 is constructed with

ends

80 and 81 of hard wear-resisting metal and an intermediate float portion of other material providing sufficient strength with lightness.

It will be evident that the apparatus of the present invention possesses many advantageous features including reliable and positive actuation of the valves, a connection between the valves and the valve operating means in which lost motion connection is provided right at the valves so that when the lost motion connection is relieved the valves are not subjected to the weight of the other parts which would tend to move the valves before the lost motion was taken up in the other direction, and an arrangement of the valves whereby they are balanced against both working and back pressures.

It should be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts and that various features may be used without others without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Having thusY described our invention, we claim:

l. In a liquid pump of the character described, a pump chamber, and motive-fluid-controlling means including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve for said chamber', and float controlled 105 means operable by the hydraulic pressure of the incoming liquid in said chamber to close said exhaust valve and open said inlet valve and operable by motive fluid pressure in said chamber to close said inlet valve and open said exhaustllo Valve' a il' -ifli 2. In a liquid pump of the class described, a pumping chamber for the liquid, valve means controlling motive fluid admission and venting of said chamber, a float in said chamber, and 115 means controlled by upward movement of said float to render hydraulic pressure of the entering liquid in said chamber effective to admit the motive fluid and prevent venting thereof and by downward movement of said float to renderV the motive fluid pressure in said chamber effective to stop admission of motive fluid to the chamber and vent motive fluid from said chamber.

3. In a liquid pump of the class described, a pumping chamber for the liquid, motive-fluidcontrolling means including a motive fluid inlet valve and a motive fluid exhaust valve, a reciprocatable shuttle device in said chamber including ends fitting closely in said chamber, inwardly facing Vvalve seats in said ends and a float adapted to cooperate with either one of said seats and prevent flow therethrough thereby rendering the liquid pressure effective to move the shuttle device in one direction and the motive fluid pressure effective tomove the shuttle device in the opposite direction, and a connection between said shuttle device and vsaid valves whereby movement of the shuttle device in one direction will cause admission of motive fluid to the chamber and movement in the opposite direction will cause exhaust of motive fluid.

4. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber for the liquid, valve means operable in one way to admit motive fluid under pressure to said chamber and in another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, and means Y for operating said valve means including a reciprocatable shuttle device connected with 'said valve means to operate the same, said shuttle than said chamber and heads connected with the ends of said tube and iitting closely in said chamber, said heads having openings therethrough and valve seats surrounding said openings, and a iloat in said tube adapted to cooperate with either of said seats when brought into engagement therewith by the upward and downward movement of liquid in the chamber and thereby cause movement of the shuttle device in corresponding directions.

5. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber, valve means operable in one way to supply motive fluid under pressure to said chamber and in another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, and means for controlling said valve means including a reciprocatable hollow member connected with said valve means to operate same, said reciprocatable member fitting tightly in said chamber, and having openings in its ends, and oat controlled means for closing the upper end of said reciprocatable member when the liquid level approaches at the top thereof and for closing the lower end when the liquid level approaches the same in its downward movement, thereby causing corresponding upward and downward movements of said reciprocatable member.

6. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber, valve means operable in one way to supply motive fluid under pressure to said chamber and in another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, and means for controlling said valve means including a reciprocatable hollow member connected with said valve means to operate the same, said reciprocatable member fitting slidably in said chamber and having openings in its ends, iioat controlled means for causing upward movement of the reciprocating member by closing the upper end of said shuttle device when the liquid level approaches the same in its upward movement, and for causing downward movement by closing the lower end when the liquid level approaches the same in its downward movement, and means for retarding the speed of movement of said reciprocatable member in both directions.

7. In a liquid pump of the class described, a tubular pumping chamber, valve means operable in one way to supply motive iiuid under pressure to said chamber and another way to exhaust motive fluid therefrom, and means for controlling said valve means including a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means to operate the same, said shuttle member fitting slidably in said chamber, and iioat controlled means for raising said shuttle member by closing the upper end of said shuttle member when the liquid level approaches the same in its upward movement and for depressing said hollow member by closing its lower end when the liquid level approaches the same in its downward movement, and means to counteract the effect of the normal downward pressure including that due to the weight of the shuttle device.

8; In a liquid pump of the character described, a pump chamber, motive uid controlling means including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve for said chamber, a shuttle device reciprocatable in said chamber including ends fitting closely in said chamber and having openings therethrough, inwardly facing valve seats, a iioat-controlled valve to close the upper valve when the liquid reaches a predetermined upper level thereby causing upward movement of the shuttle device by liquid pressure and a float-controlled valve to cooperate with the lower valve seat when the liquid sinks to a predetermined lower level thereby causing downward movement of the shuttle device by the pressure of said fluid, and a connection between said shuttle device and said valves whereby lifting of the shuttle device will cause admission of motive fluid to the chamber and depression of the shuttle device will cause exhaust of motive fluid.

9. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber, motive-fluid-controlling means including valve means for admitting motive fluid to or exhausting it from said chamber, and means for controlling said valve means including a reciprocating member movable in one direction to admit motive fluid and maintain such condition, and in the other direction to exhaust motive fluid and maintain such condition and toggle means including two rigid arms with their inner ends cooperating with the reciprocatable member at o-pposite sides, leaf springs parallel to said reciprocatable member and engaging the outer ends of said arms, and fixed holding means acting on said leaf springs at equal distances from Ithe points of engagement of the springs with the arms.

l0. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber, and motive-fluid-controlling means including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve for said chamber, and means for controlling said valves including a reciprocatable member movable in one direction to open said inlet valve and close said exhaust valve and hold them in such condition and in the other direction to close said inlet valve and open said exhaust valve and hold them in such condition, and toggle means including two rigid arms cooperating at their ends with the reciprocatable member at opposite sides thereof, leaf springs parallel to said reciprocatable member and engaging the outer ends of said arms and fixed holding means acting on said arms at substantially equal distances from the points of engagement with the arms, said arms having knife edges at their ends and said reciprocatable member and said springs having notches to receive said knife edges.

11. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber; valve means operable in one way to supply motive iiuid to said chamber and another Way to exhaust it therefrom; means for controlling said valves including a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means to operate the same and fitting slidably in said chamber and float controlled means for closing the upper end of the shuttle member to cause lifting thereof by liquid pressure when the liquid rises to a predetermined height and for closing the lower end of the shuttle member to cause depression thereof by the motive fluid when the liquid sinks to a predetermined level; and means to counterbalance downward pressure including that due to the weight of the shuttle member.

12. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber; valve means operable in one way to supply motive uid to said chamber and another way to exhaust it therefrom; means for controlling said valves including a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means to operate the same and fitting slidably in said chamber and float controlled means for closing the upper end of the shuttle member to cause lifting thereof by liquid pressure when the liquid rises to a predetermined height and for closing the lower end of the shuttle ,member to cause de pression thereof by the motive fluidV when the liquid sinks to a predetermined level; and shuttle member stopping means having a dash pot action.

13. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber; Valve means operable in one way to supply motive fluid to said chamber and another way to exhaust it therefrom; means for controlling said valves including a hollow shuttle member connected with said valve means to operate the same and fitting slidably in said chamber and oat controlled means for closing the upper end of the shuttle member to cause lifting thereof by liquid pressure when the liquid rises to a predetermined height and for closing the lower end of the shuttle member to cause downward movement thereof by the motive fluid when the liquid sinks to a predetermined level; a piston rod xed to the shuttle member and extending downwardly therefrom, a fixed cylinder having a lower head with a restrictedopening therethrough to permit slow movement of the liquid into and out of the cylinder and an upper head through which the piston rod passes, and a piston in said cylinder connected to said piston rod and having a restricted passage from the top to the bottom thereof to produce a dashpot action.

le. In a liquid pump of the class described, a working chamber, motive-fluid-controlled means including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve, two pistons in said chamber connected together to enable either one to pull the other and having valve seats facing each other, the upper piston being connected with said valves to operate the same, lioat controlled means cooperating with the upper valve seat when the liquid rises to a predetermined level and causing lifting or" the upper piston by the liquid and cooperating with the lower valve seat when the liquid sinks to a predetermined level and causing depression of the lower piston, and means operated by the upper piston to operate said inlet valve and said exhaust valve.

15. ln a pump ci the character described, a substantially balanced valve assembly movable as a unit and comprising a double intake Valve having heads facing in the same direction and a double exhaust valve having two heads facing in a direction opposite to that referred to for the intake valve heads, a motive uid supply chamber having discharge openings surrounded by valve seats to cooperate with the heads of the intake valve, a motive fluid exhaust chamber having intake openings surrounded by valve seats arranged to cooperate with the heads of the exhaust valve, and operating means for the valve assembly including a reciprocating valve stem extending through the valve assembly with a sliding Iit, stops on the valve stem at opposite ends of the valve assembly and spaced apart to provide a lost motion connection between the valve stem and the valve assembly, and means in engagement with the valve stem to aid in completing its stroke in both directions.

16. In a pump of the character described, motive-iluid-contrclling means including aligned intake and exhaust valves, a reciprocating valve stemhaving a lost motion connection with the valves whereby said stem may be utilized to move said valves a shorter distance than the stroke of said valve stem, a reciprocating member to actuate said valve stem, said reciprocating member having an end adjacent to an end of the valve stern, a lost motion connection between said ends to enable advancement of the stem after stopping of the reciprocating member, and means rendered elective by the valve stem to complete the throw of the valve stem in either direction and eiTect the seating of the Valves.

17. In a pump 0I" the character described, a working chamber, motive-fluid-controlling means including aligned intake and exhaust valves for said chamber and corresponding valve seats, a reciprocating valve stem having a lost motion connection with the valves to provide for a slight movement of the valves away from their seats, a valve stem actuator in said chamber means for moving the valve stem actuator in one direction by motive uid pressure in the chamber and in the other direction by liquid pressure in the chamber, stopping means for said valve stem actuator to limit its stroke to a length less than that necessary to seat the valves, a lost motion connection between the valve stem actuator and the valve stem so that the latter may have a longerv stroke than the former and seat the valves, and means rendered effective by the movement of the valve stem in either direction to complete its strokes and seat the valves.

BRUCE W. TRAYLOR. SAMUEL W. TRAY'LOR, JR.