US2209617A - Pumping mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1940. c. o. THOMAS PUMPING MECHANISM s Sheet-Sheet 1' Filed Da e. 19, 1938 July 30, 1940. c. o. THOMAS 2,209,617

PUMPING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 19, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3nve ntor 8g Wm Wm Gttorneg y 1940- c. 0. THOMAS 2.209,6l7

' PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PUMPING MECHANISM Clyde 0. Thomas, Kansas City, Mo. Application December 19, 1938, Serial No. 246,656

4 Claims.

as water or oil, and in which a float actuated lever is employed for controlling the admission of fluid, as air, under compression, for forcing the liquid, which enters the cylinder or float chamber, upwardly and outwardly from the well.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of novel means for preventing the accidental moving of the controlling lever from the position to which it has been moved.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means by which the float in lowering swings the lever to a position in which it will permit the discharge of the pressure fluid from the float chamber, so as to enable the liquid to be pumped to enter the float chamber by gravity.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel piston construction which operates a double acting valve employed for alternately closing the pressure fluid inlet to the cylinder or float chamber, and the pressure fluid outlet therefrom.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel double acting valve for closing the pressure fluid inlet and outlet of the float chamher, which will not become deformed by the use to which it is subjected.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a novel pumping mechanism of the kind described, which is relatively simple, which is strong, durable, not likely to get out of order and which is efiicient in its operation.

7 The novel features of my invention are hereinaiter fully described and claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical section, partly in side elevation, and partly broken away, of my improved pumping mechanism, showing the float lowered and having swung downwardly the controlling lever, the exhaust duct valve open, the pressure fluid inlet to the float chamber closed by the double acting valve, and the pressure fluid outlet from the float chamber open.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the float as having swung the lever to a position releasing the duct valve, the, latter being closed, the pressure fluid inlet to the float chamber open,

and the double acting valve closing the pressure fluid outlet from the float chamber.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the head of the float chamber, the controlling lever and part of its operating cable, other parts being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a section-on the line i6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line l--'l of Fig. l.

, Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

I designates a vertical hollow cylinder forming 10 the body of a float chamber adapted to be disposed in a well containing a liquid, suchas water or oil, which is to be pumped therefrom.

Fastened to thelower end of the cylinder I is a head 2, Figs. 4 and '7, having openings 3 therethrough serving as an inletfor the liquid in the well. I

The head 2 has a central vertical hole therethrough, the upper end of which is threaded and hasfitted in it the lower threaded end of I a guiding tube 4, having at its upper end a peripheral flange 5, which limits the upward movement of a soft rubber ring valve 6, which when seated, as shown in Fig. 4, closes the inlet openings 3.

Fitted in the central hole in the head 2 is a vertical liquid discharge tube 1, which has an externally threaded end projecting below the head 2, on which threaded end is fitted'a circular cap 8. I

A circular wire screen 9 encircles and is disposed between thehead 2 and the cap 8, for exeluding coarse trash or foreign matter.

Fitted on the upper end of the cylinder I is an upper head l0 having extending upwardly therethrough a discharge passage H, the lower end of which is threaded and has fitted therein the upper threaded end of the tube'l. The latter just above the tube 4 has inlet openings l2. An upwardly opening check valve I3 is mounted upon the upper end of the tube I, which has a valve seat M against which the valve 13 is adapt ed to rest, to prevent back flow of liquid through the pipe or tube I.

Encircling and guided by the tube 1 is an annular float l5, which is raised by liquid entering the cylinder I through the inletopenings 3, the liquid pressure from the outside forcing upwardly the check valve 6. v

The upper end of the passage H is threaded and has fitted in it the lower end ofa discharge pipe l6, which extends to. the ground surface. At one side of the passage I l, the upperend. of the head H) has a downwardly extending passage l I the upper end of which isthreadedand has fitted in it a pipe l8, which extends to the ground surface.

Extending transversely into the head Ill, intersecting the passage I1 is a cylindrical hole i9, having a threaded outer end in which is fitted a screw plug 29 having in its inner end a cylindrical hole 2|. The plug 20 has a lateral hole 22 which registers with the passage l1 and with the hole 2|. The holes 2|, 22 and the passage |1 form a pressure fluid outlet.

Communicating with the hole I9 is a passage 23 which communicates at its lower end with the upper part of the float chamber.

Extending into the side of the head |0, atthe side opposite the hole l9 and alined therewith, is a cylindrical hole 24, which forms a cylinder,

threaded at its outer end, and having fitted therein a screw cap 25. The opposite end of the aforesaid cylinder 24 has axially alined with the hole 2|, in the plug 20, a circular hole 26, which communicates with the hole l9 and the passage 23.

In the upper end of the head Ill is a threaded passage 21, in which is fitted the lower end of a pipe 28, which extends to the ground surface and through which is supplied fluid, as air. A hole 29 connects the pass-age 21 with the cylinder hole 24, for supplying the latter with pressure fluid.

A piston having a metal head 30 reciprocative in the cylinder 24, is provided with a piston rod comprising a longitudinal rod 3| on which the piston head 38 is fastened, and a sleeve 32 fitted on the rod 3| and extending through the hole 29. A nut 33 on the rod 3| holds the piston head 38 tightly against the adjacent end of the sleeve 32, the other end of which has bearing against it one end of a cylindrical soft rubber valve 34, against the opposite end of which bears a guide nut 35 slidably fitted in the hole 2|, and mounted on the adjacent threaded end of the rod 3|. A rigid metallic band 36 encircles and holds the rubber valve 34 from being radially expanded by use.

The sleeve 32 has peripheral longitudinal grooves 31 which extend through the hole 26, and which permit pressure fluid passing from the cylinder 24 through the hole 26 into the passage 23 into the float chamber When the piston and valve 34 are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the valve will close the adjacent end of the hole 2|. When the piston is moved to the left to the position shown in Fig. 1, the valve34 will close the hole 26.

A duct has one end communicating with the cylinder 24, and it extends therefrom downwardly to a chamber 38, forming a part of the duct, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The duct portion connecting the cylinder 24 with the chamber 38 is designated by 39. A passage 40, another portion of said duct, communicates with the upper end of the chamber 38, and at its upper end, the passage 40 communicates With a circular groove 4|, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, which encircles the cylinder hole 24 at its outer end, and which iscovered and closed by the screw cap 25. A passage 42, forming a continuation of the duct, has one end communicating with the circular passage or groove 4|, which is also a part of said duct, the other end of the passage 42 communicating with the passage |1.

There is thus formed acontinuous duct comprising the passage 39, chamber 38, passage 4!], circular groove or passage 4|, and passage 42, through which pressure fluid can pass fromthe cylinder hole 24 into the chamber 38, and thence into the outlet for exhaust pressure fluid-the passage I1.

For closing the passage 40, there is provided in the chamber 38 a valve 43 having fixed in its head a ball 44 adapted to be seated in the lower end of the passage 48. The valve has a stem 45, which extends downwardly into a lateral recess 46 provided in a horizontal cylindrical rock shaft portion 41 of a lever having a lateral arm 48 fastened to an axial stem 49, of reduced diameter, of the rock shaft 41.

A coil spring 59, resting on the rock shaft 41, encircles the valve stem 45 and normally forces the valve to the closed position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

On the stem 49 of reduced diameter is fitted an externally threaded sleeve 5|, Figs. 3 and 6, which is fitted in the threaded outer end of a transverse cylindrical hole 52, in the bearing portion 53 of the head I9, which transverse hole intersects the chamber 38 and communicates with the float chamber The enlarged portion of the rock shaft 41 is oscillatively and slidably fitted in said hole 52 and bears at its right end, as viewed in Fig. 3, tightly against the inner end of the sleeve 5|, against which it is firmly held by a coil spring 54, which bears against the bearing portion 53 at the inner end of the hole 52, and against a pointed pin 55, slidably fitted in the hole 52, and having its pointed end fitted in a conical axial recess in the adjacent inner end of the rock shaft 41. This pressing assembly, just described, exerts a frictional resistance holding the lever from being accidentally moved from the position to which it may be swung. The lever arm 48 is in the float chamber in the path of the float l5, and is rigidly fixed on the stem 49 which extends into the float chamber.

The coil spring 54, in addition to exerting frictional resistance to the oscillation of the rock shaft 41, also holds the rock shaft yieldingly and tightly against the sleeve 5|, thus preventing leakage from the valve chamber 38 into the float chamber The snug fitting of the rock shaft 41 in the hole 52 also aids in preventing such leakage of pressure fluid from the chamber 38 into the float chamber.

When the lever arm 48 is swung downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, the rock shaft portion 41 will engage and tilt the valve stem 45 laterally, thus opening the valve, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting pressure fluid from the cylinder hole 24 to pass through the duct into the outlet passage I1. The lever arm 48 has attached to it the upper end of a flexible line, as a cable 56, the other end of which is attached to a hook 51 mounted on and attached to the top of the float 5. When the float |5 lowers, as liquid is forced out of the float chamber I, as will afterwards be explained, the cable 56, when the float has lowered a predetermined distance, will pull the lever arm 48 downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1.

To permit insertion and removal of the valve 43 and spring 50, the lower side of the bearing 53 has a threaded hole in which is removably fitted a screw plug 58.

Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, with the float |5 lowered, the valve 43 open, and the double acting valve 34 closing the hole 25, the check valve l3, being closed and the valve 6 open.

The liquid entering the float chamber I will lift the float 5, which, when it reaches the lever arm 48, will swing the arm upwardly, thus rock ing the shaft 41 from the position-shown in Fig. 1, to'the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, upon which, the spring 50 will force the valve 43 closed.

Pressure fluid entering the cylinder bore 24 through the hole 29 will leak past the periphery of the metal piston head 39, which is slightly smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the cylinder 24, and into the passage 39, and then into the chamber 38. As the valve 43 is now closed, pressure of fluid will accumulate in the left end of the cylinder bore 24. The end of the piston which is next to the passage 39 is of greater area exposed to fluid pressure, than is the other side of the piston head 30, so that, when the pressure at the left of the piston head 30, as viewed in Fig. 1, is greater than at the opposite side, the piston will be forced to the left, thus moving the valve 34 to open the hole 26 and close the adjacent end of the hole 2!, and thus closing the fluid pressure outlet of the float chamber.

Pressure fluid will now pass from the cylinder 24 through the hole 26, the passages l9 and Z3, and will enter the float chamber, and will force the liquid, which has flowed into the latter through the openings 3, into the tube I through the openings l2. The valve '5 will now close, and the valve l3 open, and the liquid will pass from the float chamber through the tube 1, passage II, and discharge pipe 16.

As the liquid lowers in the float chamber, the float 15 will lower, and when it has lowered a predetermined distance, to a point a. short distance above the guiding tube 4, the cable 56 will become taut, and will pull downwardly the lever arm 48, as shown in Fig. 1, thus causing the rock shaft 41 to tilt the valve stem 46 and again open the valve 43. The pressure at the left of the piston head 36 will now reduce through the escape.

of the fluid through the duct to the fluid outlet passage l1, and the piston will move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1 closing the hole 26, and completing a cycle in the operation of the mechanism.

By having the metal piston head as, of less diameter than the diameter of the cylinder hole, or bore, 24, a by-pass is produced around the periphery of the piston head, for the leakage of pressure fluid, to later move the piston to the position, shown in Fig. 4, when the valve 43 has been closed. The sliding of the piston head in the cylinder bore 24, will keep this by-pass open at all times, due to the rubbing of the piston head in its cylinder.

By employing a frictional resistance, actuated by a yielding resilient pressure. exerted against the lever rock shaft, and its pressure against the adjustable threaded sleeve 5!, due to the spring 54, the lever arm 48 is reliably held from accidental displacement from theposition to which it is operatively moved.

Modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a pumping mechanism, the combination with a float chamber having a valved liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a pressure fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet, a lever havinga rock shaft and a lateral arm fixed thereon, means, including pressure fluid operated means, and controlled by said rock shaft, which, when said arm is swung in one direction, opens said fluid inlet and closes said fluid outlet, and which, when said arm is swung in the opposite direction, closes said fluid inlet and opens said fluid outlet, and

afloat in said chamber which, in rising, engages and swings said arm in said one direction, of "a vpull line permanently attached to said arm and with a float chamber having a valved liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a pressure fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet, a lever, means, including pressure fluid operated means, and controlled by said lever which, when said lever is swung in one direction, opens said fluid inlet and closes said fluid outlet, and which, when said lever is swung in the opposite direction, closes said fluid inlet and opens said fluid outlet, and a float in said chamber which, in rising, engages and swings said lever in said one direction, of a flexible cable permanently attached to said lever and said float, which cable has a length such that, when said float descends a predetermined distance, said cable pulls said lever in said opposite direction.

3. In a pumping mechanism of the kinddescribed, the combination with a float chamber having a liquid inlet means and a liquid outlet means, and having at its upper end a head provided with acylinder, a pressure fluid supply opening communicating with said cylinder, 9. pressure fluid outlet, a duct communicating with said cylinder and with said fluid outlet, a passage communicating with said chamber and with said fluid outlet, and a hole extending through one end of said cylinder and'communicating with said fluid opening and with said passage, a valve for closing said duct, a spring exerting a constant pressure normally holding said valve closed, a lever which when swung in one direction engages and opens said valve, a float in said chamber which on rising swings said lever in the opposite direction in which movement said lever releases said valve and permits said valve to be closed by said spring, means by which, when said float lowers, said lever will be swung in said first direction, and a second valve in said passage adapted to alternately close said hole and the intake end of said fluid outlet, of a piston having a head slidably reciprocative in said cylinder between said opening and said duct and spaced from said cylinder suiflciently to permit a slight leakage of pressure fluid past said piston head, said piston head at its end next adjacent to said duct being of greater area than at its opposite end, said piston having a piston rod extending through and reciprocative in but not closing said hole and carrying said second valve, whereby when said piston is reciprocated it will move said second valve to alternately close said hole and said fluid outlet.

4, In a pumping mechanism, in combination, a float chamber having a liquid inlet means and a liquid outlet means, and having at its upper end a head having a pressure fluid inlet, a pressure fluid outlet communicating with said float chamber, and a duct including a valve chamber and communicating with said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said head having a cylindrical hole intersecting said valve chamber and closed at one,

of said hole, a valve in said valve chamber movable to and from a position closing said duct, a spring engaging and normally closing said valve,

a lever having a cylindrical rock shaft oscillatively and slidably fitted in said hole and having an axial stem at one end extending through said sleeve into said chamber, said lever having a lateral arm fixed to said stem in said float chamber, said end of said rock shaft seating against the inner end of said sleeve and sealing said hole to prevent fluid passing from said valve chamber into said float chamber through said sleeve, said rock shaft engaging and moving said valve to the open position when said arm is swung in one direction, and releasing said valve to permit said valve to close when said arm is swung in the other direction, means including a second spring engaging and constantly forcing said rock shaft against said sleeve,a float in said float chamber which on rising to a predetermined point engages and swings said arm in said other direction, a flexible line permanently attached to said arm and to said float and of such length that when said float lowers to a predetermined point ti htens and pulls said arm in said one direction, and means, including pressure fluid operated means, by which, when said first named valve alternately closes and opens, communication between said float chamber and said fluid inlet, and between said float chamber and said fluid outlet will be respectively opened and closed.

CLYDE O. THOMAS.

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