US3144963A

US3144963A - Feed pump

Info

Publication number: US3144963A
Application number: US238332A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Savage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-11-15
Filing date: 1962-11-15
Publication date: 1964-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-18

Description

1954 H. A. SAVAGE 3,144,963

FEED PUMP Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u 2.0 \9 I7 I Z L F\G.l

2o INVENTOR.

HARRY A. SAVAG E Aug. 18, 1964 H. A. SAVAGE FEED PUMP Filed NOV. 15 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HARRY ASAVAGE United States Patent 3,144,963 FEED PUMP Harry A. Savage, 7361 SW. 9th St., Miami, Fla., assignor of fifty percent to Donald W. Barlow, Miami, Fla. Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 238,332 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-66) This invention relates to feed pumps and is more particularly directed to a feed pump for feeding metered quantities of one liquid into another which pump cannot lose its prime at any time.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a feed pump device whose prime cannot be lost by lack of fluid but will retain sutficient fluid in the system to keep the prime until more fluid is added thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a feed pump device with an inlet valve controlled by a float wherein the original priming is easily obtained yet cannot be lost when once procured.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a feed pump which is capable of feeding minute, but accurate quantities of a liquid into a second liquid.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a feed pump device with highly accurately controlled feed rates.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a feed pump device embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 showing the intake valve in its closed position at the end of the suction stroke of the piston or beginning of the compression stroke.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view with the piston at its compression stage and fluid being discharged by the feed pump.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the intake valve open with the piston at its suction stage.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the number It) refers to a feed pump constructed in accordance with my invention and consisting of a fluid tank 11 mounted on a stand 12 having floor engaging legs 13. Also mounted on the stand 12 is a motor 14 having its motor shaft 15 extend vertically to below the stand 12 with a cam plate 16 secured to the end of the shaft 15. The cam plate 16 engages the free end of a piston 17 on which is mounted a collar 18 for retaining a coil spring 19. The coil spring 19 encircles the piston 17 and extends between the collar 18 and a pump block 20 mounted on the lower surface of the stand 12 below the tank 11, the coil spring urging the piston 17 in a direction away from the pump block 20 and toward the cam plate 16. i

The inner end of the piston 17 is slidably positioned in a cylinder 21 formed in the pump block 20. The cylinder 21 is connected to a fluid passageway 22 which communicates with a valve chamber 23. The wall forming the chamber 23 is threaded at its upper portion as at 24 for receiving a threaded valve plug 25 which is prot 3,144,963 Patented Aug. 18, 1964 vided with a fluid passageway 26 communicating with the valve chamber 23. The valve plug 25 secures the tank 11 in position on the stand 12 in a liquid tight connection by means of a peripheral shoulder 27 at the upper part of the plug 25 which engages a bottom wall 28 of the tank 11 at an opening 34 in the tank 11. A second peripheral shoulder 29 at the bottom portion of the plug 25 receives a seal such as an O-ring 30 for hearing against a shoulder 31 in the valve block 20 to seal the chamber 23. The plug 25 is provided with a peripheral slot 32 in proximity of the shoulder 27 for receiving an O-ring seal 33 to prevent the leakage of any liquid through the opening 34 between the plug 25 and the bottom wall 28 of the tank 11.

Extending along the fluid passageway 26 of the valve plug 25 is a valve rod 35 one end of which is fastened to a float 36 positioned in the tank 11. The other end of the valve rod 35 is fastened to a valve support 37 secured to a valve 40. The valve 40 is provided with an O-ring seal 41 which engages a valve seat 42 formed at the end of the valve plug 25. The valve rod 35 is of such length to permit the valve 40 to open as shown by FIGURE 5 when the float 36 engages the top portion of the valve plug 25.

The valve chamber 23 is provided with an outlet passageway 43 which communicates with an outlet chamber 44. The outer end of the walls forming the chamber 44 is threaded as at 45 for receiving a seal plug 46. Within the outlet chamber 44 is an outlet valve 47 provided with an O-ring seal 48 which seals against a valve seat 49 in the chamber 44. A coil spring 50 extending between the plug 46 and the valve 47 normally maintains the valve 47 seated on the valve seat 49. Fluid entering the outlet chamber 44 passes through a fluid passageway 51 and is discharged through a discharge pipe 52 which is connected to a plug 53 threadedly mounted in a bore 54 in the valve block 20. The discharge pipe 52 extends to a tank or fluid line (not shown) Where the metered fluid is being discharged.

Prior to the normal operation of the feed pump 10 when no liquid is contained in the tank 11, the valve 40 will be in its open position as shown by FIGURE 5 with the float 36 resting on the valve plug 25. To place the feed pump 10 ready for normal operation, the liquid that is to be fed into a fluid system is poured slowly into the tank 11. The liquid will flow to the bottom of the tank 11 covering the bottom wall 28 until the liquid rises above the plug 25. The liquid will now flow down the fluid passageway 26 past the open valve 40 into the chamber 23; as the chamber 23 becomes filled, the liquid will flow out through the

fluid passageway

22 and 43 to displace all of the air therein until the chamber 23 and passageway 26 is filled of liquid. The tank 11 is then filled of the desired quantity of liquid. The float 36 will now rise in the liquid contained in the tank 11 carrying with it the valve 40 to bring the valve 40 to its closed poistion as shown by FIGURES 3 and 4.

The motor 14 is now energized to cause the rotation of the cam plate 16 on the end of the motor shaft 15,. which in turn causes a reciprocating movement of the piston 17. As the piston 17 moves in the direction away from the pump block 20, as shown by FIGURE 5, a suction pressure is created in the chamber 23 cansing the valve 40 to slide downwardly to an open position against the upward force of the buoyant float 36. Liquid in the tank 11 will now be in communication with the liquid in the passageway 26. As the piston 17 arrives at its extreme right position, the suction pressure in the chamber 23 will cease and the valve 40 will come to its closed position as shown by FIGURE 3, by

virtue of the upward buoyant force of the float 36 floating in the liquid in the tank 11.

Now the piston 17 will begin to slide in an inward direction or to the left as viewed by FIGURE 4. During this movement of the piston 17, the fluid in the chamber 23 will be subjected to a compressive pressure thereby forcing the valve 47 to slide against the spring pressure 50 to its open position as shown by FIGURE 4. A portion of the liquid in the chamber 23 will be discharged through the outlet 43 into the chamber 44 duct 51 and through the discharge line 52. The amount of liquid being discharged for each thrust of the piston 17 is determined by the volume displaced by the piston 17 at each movement to the left. The cycle is then repeated to refill the chamber 23 with liquid on the outward or suction stroke of the piston 17.

The feed pump will continue to discharge the liquid in accurately metered quantities as long as a certain level of liquid is maintained in the tank 11. When there is not suflicientl liquid in the tank 11 to buoyantly force the float upwardly, then the valve 40 will remain in an open position as shown by FIGURE 5. When the valve 40 should be made to slide upwardly to its closed position at the commencement of the compression stroke as shown by FIGURE 3, the upward buoyant force of the liquid in the tank on the float 36 will be lacking. The valve 40 will remain open and the liquid in the chamber 23 subjected to the compressive pressure of the piston 17 will flow past the open valve 40 and into the tank 11 while the outlet valve 47 remains closed by virtue of the coil spring pressure 50. Continued oscillation of the piston 17 will cause the liquid to flow back and forth from the tank 11 to the chamber 23 and vice versa. None of this liquid will be discharged at the outlet valve 47. Consequently, the prime cannot be lost as the chamber 23 and

passageways

22, 43 and 26 will be filled with liquid. As soon as liquid is poured into the tank 11, the float 36 will rise in the tank 11. When the piston 17 is at the beginning of its. compression stroke, the valve 40 will be forced upwardly to its closed position by the buoyant force of the floating float 36. Now, the compression pressure applied against the liquid in the chamber 23 will force the outlet valve 47 to its open position and discharge a metered quantity of the liquid via the duct 43, chamber 44 and discharge line 52.

The feed pump 10 is especially adapted for metering minute quantities of liquid chemicals and the like into large quantities of liquids. An example is the feeding of 1 to 2 drops of a wetting agent per second in each five gallons of water during the rinse period of a dish washing machine or adding minute quantities of fluorides and chlorine to large volumes of water. Once in operating condition, the feed pump 10 will not lose its prime.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A feed pump comprising a container of liquid, valve supporting means mounted below said container, said valve supporting means having a valve chamber and a liquid passageway connecting said container and said valve chamber, permitting the flow of liquid from said container to said. valve chamber, a float positioned in said container, a valve, positioned in said valve chamber and controlling the flow of liquid through said liquid passageway, means connecting said valve and said float eflected by the liquid in said container whereby upward movement .of said, float causes said valve to be .4 brought from an open to its closed position, pump means connected to said chamber, valve discharge means connected to said chamber, and resilient means mounted on said valve discharge means yieldingly urging said discharge valve to a closed position. whereby upon the depletion of the liquid in said container said float valve moves downwardly to open said first named valve and dissipate therethrough the pressure produced by said pump means while said discharge valve is maintained in a closed position and liquid is trapped in said chamber and said liquid passageway.

- 2. A feed pump comprising a tank for containing a liquid, a valve block mounted below said tank, said valve block having a valve chamber and a liquid passageway connecting said valve chamber and said tank, a float positioned in said tank, a valve positioned in said valve chamber controlling the flow of liquid through said liquid passageway, means connecting said valve and said float whereby upon the floating of said float in liquid in said tank said valve is brought from an open to its closed position, said valve block having a pump chamber, an outlet chamber and ducts connecting both of said chambers with said valve chamber, a piston slidably mounted in said pump chamber, an outlet valve mounted in said outlet chamber for controlling the flow of liquid from said valve chamber to said outlet, chamber and resilient means yieldingly urging said outlet valve to a closed position whereby upon the depletion of the liquid in said tank said float moves downwardly to open said first named valve and dissipate therethrough the pressure produced by said piston while said outlet valve is maintained in a closed position and liquid is trapped in said valve chamber and said liquid chamber.

3. A feed pump comprising a tank for containing a liquid, a valve block mounted below said tank, plug means fastening said valve block to said tank, said valve block having a valve chamber, said plug means having a liquid passageway connecting said valve chamber and said tank, a valve seat mounted at the lower end of said plug means, a valve positioned in said valve chamber and seating on said valve seat for controlling the flow of liquid from said tank to said valve chamber, a float positioned in said tank, rod means extending through said liquid passageway and connecting said float and said valve whereby upon the floating of said float in liquid in said tank said valve is brought from an open to its closed position, said valve block having a pump chamber, an outlet chamber and ducts connecting both of said chambers with said valve chamber, a piston slidably mounted in said pump chamber, an outlet valve mounted in said outlet chamber for controlling the flow of liquid from said valve chamber to said outlet chamber and resilient means urging said outlet valve to a closed position whereby upon the depletion of the liquid in said tank said float moves downwardly to open said first named valve and dissipate therethrough the pressure produced by said piston while said outlet valve is maintained in a closed position and liquid is trapped in said valve chamber and said liquid chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,589 Engstrom Nov. 30, 1926 1,991,342 Ball Feb. 12, 1935 2,269,857 Nielsen Jan. 13, 1942 2,734,667 Conklin Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 664,939 Germany Sept. 9, 1938

Claims

1. A FEED PUMP COMPRISING A CONTAINER OF LIQUID, VALVE SUPPORTING MEANS MOUNTED BELOW SAID CONTAINER, SAID VALVE SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING A VALVE CHAMBER AND A LIQUID PASSAGEWAY CONNECTING SAID CONTAINER AND SAID VALVE CHAMBER, PERMITTING THE FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER TO SAID VALVE CHAMBER, A FLOAT POSITIONED IN SAID CONTAINER, A VALVE POSITIONED IN SAID VALVE CHAMBER AND CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LIQUID THROUGH SAID LIQUID PASSAGEWAY, MEANS CONNECTING SAID VALVE AND SAID FLOAT EFFECTED BY THE LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FLOAT CAUSES SAID VALVE TO BE BROUGHT FROM AN OPEN TO ITS CLOSED POSITION, PUMP MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER, VALVE DISCHARGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER, AND RESILIENT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID VALVE DISCHARGE MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID DISCHARGE VALVE TO A CLOSED POSITION WHEREBY UPON THE DEPLETION OF THE LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINER SAID FLOAT VALVE MOVES DOWNWARDLY TO OPEN SAID FIRST NAMED VALVE AND DISSIPATE THERETHROUGH THE PRESSURE PRODUCED BY SAID PUMP MEANS WHILE SAID DISCHARGE VALVE IS MAINTAINED IN A CLOSED POSITION AND LIQUID IS TRAPPED IN SAID CHAMBER AND SAID LIQUID PASSAGEWAY.