US3315606A

US3315606A - Pump apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3315606A
Application number: US420926A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Piros
Original assignee: Sinclair Research Inc
Current assignee: Sinclair Research Inc
Priority date: 1964-12-24
Filing date: 1964-12-24
Publication date: 1967-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-25

Description

April 25, 1967 v J. J. PIROS 3,315,606

PUMP APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 1964 INVENTOR.

J'OH/V J. P/R0$' k g zlm ATTORNEYS.

FIG. 2

United States Patent 3,315,606 PUMP APPARATUS John J. Piros, Homewood, Ill., assignor to Sinclair Research, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 420,926 7 Claims. (Cl. 103-37) This invention pertains to a new type of pump which is of value whenever the movement of precise amounts of fluid is desired. The pump is compact and its flow rate is controllable, reproducible and can be essentially continuous. It can also be made to operate at high pressures. The essential pumping element in the apparatus of this invention is one or more coiled tubes, for example, of the Bourdon tube type. The tube used in this invention is usually metallic and is of relatively thin gauge. Before coiling the tube may have a cross-sectional shape which is circular, oval, parallelepiped, etc., and this shape often will be, to a greater or lesser extent, flattened in the coiling. Generally some pressure is applied to the tube to keep it somewhat tightly coiled during its use. Tubes such as those described have the valuable property of tending to uncoil when internal pressure is applied. Thus, with one end of the tube fixed, a change of fluid pressure in the interior of the tube causes a change in volume and a resultant movement of the other, free end of the coiled tube. The extent of this movement, in a Bourdon tube, is used to determine a pressure change. The coil may be a spiral or a helix.

In this invention, one end of the coiled tube is held fixed and its interior, at or near this fixed end, is connected to a source of the fluid to be pumped and to an outlet for this fluid. The free end of the coiled tube is connected to a source of motive power for coiling and uncoiling movement of this free end. The resulting movement of the free end brings about a change in the internal volume of the coiled tube to cause suction or pressure in the line leading to the interior of the tube at the fixed end. Thus, in this invention the coiled tube is provided with means to move the free end and with a suitable control arrange ment, e.g. a valve system, to assure movement of fluid in the desired direction. The result of several movements of the free end of the tube, therefore, comprises a pumping effect, but without the friction and/or leakage factors associated with positive displacement pumps of the piston variety. More or less continuous pumping, that is, essentially continuous flow through the outlet of the pumping system can be accomplished by the use of a plurality of tubes sufiiciently out of phase with each other that the desired continuity of fluid flow will be attained. Thus, while one tube may be forcing out fluid to an outlet, another may be drawing in fluid from the pump system inlet. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, two tubes having exactly opposite cycles, that is, one spiralling clockwise around the fixed end, the other counterclockwise, may be employed.

Coiling and uncoiling movement of the coiled tube may be attained by the use of any convenient source of mechanical power, usually a source of reciprocating motion, and the flow rate of the pumping system may be alterable by the use of a variable speed power source and/ or by use of an adjustable mechanical linkage between power source and Bourdon tube to vary the length of the stroke. Adjustability of rate may also be accomplished by further coiling or uncoiling of the Bourdon tube or tubes in the gang.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 shows schematically an alternate fluid inlet and outlet means in a first position; and

FIGURE 3 shows this latter means in a second position.

The apparatus will usual-1y provide an armature or chassis 11 having a support 13 for a power source 15, usually a variable speed electric motor. The chassis 11 will also generally provide a support 18 for a spiral Bourdon type or other coiled tube. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, there are two tubes 20 and 22 spirally and oppositely wound around the ends, for example, 25, of cylinder 30 which is supported by arm 33 from support 18.

Support 18 may also provide for passage of the

ducts

36 and 39 to the inner and interior ends of tubes 20 and 22 respectively. The inner ends are the ends adjacent and fixed to the cylinder 30 The tubes 20 and 22 usually also are supplied with the capped vents 42 and 44 respectively. The yoke 46 is more or less rigidly attached to each of tubes 20 and 22, preferably near the free end of each tube. Yoke 46 is reciprocated by rod 48 which is pivoted at 50 to link 53, which in turn pivots at 55, a connection to the disc 57. It will be observed that 55 may represent a nut which can be loosened to change the effective length of link 53 thereby adjusting the length of stroke of rod 48 while still serving to convert the rotary motion of disk 57 into a reciprocating motion of yoke 46.

It can be readily seen from the drawing of FIGURE 1 that movement of the yoke 46 toward the support 18 as indicated by the arrow causes loosening or an uncoiling motion of the spiral tube 20, thereby increasing the volume of the tube and creating a suction in line 36 and at the same time causes a tightening or further coiling motion of the spiral tube 22 thereby decreasing the volume of this tube and squeezing out fluid contained therein. At the end of the forward motion of yoke 46, the yoke moves away from the support 18 in the downstroke, tightening the spiral of 20 to squeeze out-fluid drawn in the up-v stroke and loosening the spiral of 22 to cause suction in this tube.

A number of means may be adopted to convert the fluid handling forces of the coiled tubes into net fluid movement. In FIGURE 1, this means includes a fluid inlet line 60 and a fluid outlet line 63. Inlet line 60 branches into a plurality of inlet ducts, for example, 66 and 68 which lead to a suitable valve system, for example, to check valve arrangements 70 and 72 respectively. Outlet line 63 collects fluid from a similar number of outlet ducts 75 and 77, leading from check valve arrangements and 82 respectively. When line 36 is in suction valve 70 will be open as illustrated and valve 80 will be closed causing movement of fluid from line 60 through valve 70 and duct 36 to tube 20. Usually simultaneously with suction in line 36, there will be pressure in line 39 causing valve 72 to close and valve 82 to open as illustrated, allowing fluid to move from tube 22 through duct 39, valve 82 and duct 77 to outlet line 63. Reversal of the pressures in the tubes 20 and 22 due to reciprocation of the yoke 46 causes a reversal of the action of valves 70, 80, 72 and 82 with a resulting more-or-less continuous movement of a measured amount of fluid from inlet 60 to outlet 63. Although check-valves 70, 72, 80 and 82 are shown as gravity biased to the closed position, they may be spring-biased, etc., as is well known to the art.

In FIGURES 2 and 3 a rotating multiport valve is used instead of a check-valve arrangement to assure continuity of fluid movement. The multiport valve may have a plurality of internal passages, e.g. 84 and 88; Rotation of the valve may be accomplished for example by electric timing means or by a mechanical linkage associated with the yoke 46, disc 57, etc. Thus during suction in line 36, passage 84 connects inlet line 60 with line 36 to bring fluid to the tube 20, as shown in FIG- URE 2. Simultaneously, passage 88 connects line 39 to 7 tube 20. Generally the tubes 20 and 22 are filled with the fluid to be pumped before the start of a pumping operation. 7

In an apparatus made according to the embodiment of FIGURE 1 of this invention, two steel Bourdon-type tubes, having spirals of five full turns were useable under pressures varying from -600 psi. The spirals have a change in volume of about 0.1 ml. for 45 of movement. The pump can operate over a range of abont /s ml. per hour to about 90 ml. per hour under about 300 p.'s.i. outlet pressure.

It is claimed: 7

' 1; A positive displacement pump having an inlet means and an outlet means, a first conduit and a second conduit each connected at one end by a valve system to "said inlet and outlet means and at the other end to the interior of a first and a second coiled tube, respectively, at the fixed ends of said tubes, the first of said coiled tubes having a free end wound clockwise around said fixed end, the second of said coiled tubes having a free endzwound counterclockwise around said fixed end, said free ends being fixedly attached to a single source of reciprocating motion.

2. The pump of claim 1 in which the source of reciprocating motion is'a variable-speed motor.

3. The pump ofcla im 1 in which the extent of reciprocation is adjustable. f

4. A pump comprising support means, at least two hollow coiled tubes each having a fixed end attached 5. A pump comprising a chassis having a supporting tube means thereon, at least two hollow coiled tubes each having a movable end and a fixed end attached'to said supporting tube means, the movable end of one of said coiled tubes being wound clockwise around the fixed end thereof and the movable end of the other of said .coiled tubes being wound counterclockwise around the fixed end thereof, yoke means interconnecting said movable ends of the two coiled tubes, an inlet and outlet. 7

means comprising a separate conduit means for each said coiled tube connected to the interior thereof at the fixed end, a source of reciprocating motion including motor'means mounted on said chassis and drive means,- operatively interconnecting said motor means and said,

yoke means to alternately coil and I uncoil [said two coiled tubes in opposite phase whereby said tubes are alternately placed under suctionand pressure, saidd'rive means including a rotatably'mounted disc operatively connected to. said motor means, a drive shaft attached to said yoke means and means interconnecting said disc i a and drive shaft for translating the rotary movement of said disc to reciprocatingmovement of said shaft.

6. The pump of claim 5 wherein said means interconnecting said disc and drive shaft comprises a plate" attached to said disc,-said shaft being pivotally attached I tosaid plate off center with respect to said disc. a

to saidsupport means and amovableend, the movable end of one,of said coiled tubes being wound clockwise the other of said coiled tubes beingwound counterclocknecting said movable ends of the two coiled tubes, an

' around, the'fixed end thereof and the movable end of inlet and outlet means comprisinga separate conduit actuation of said-motor means whereby said tubes are means foreachsaid coiled tube connected to the interior I thereof at thejfixed end, a source of reciprocating motion j tgincluding motor means, support means for said motormeans and drive means operatively interconnectingsaid motor meansand said yoke means to alternately coil and uneoil said two coiled tubes in'opposite phase upon 7. The pump of claim 6 wherein said plate hasa slot therein and including means for adjustably attaching said plate to said disc through said' slot whereby the point of attachment of said shaft to said plate is adjustable with respect to the center of said disc. 7

References Cited by'theExaminer UNITED STATES fPATENTS 157,406 12/1874 1,973,180 9/1934 Scott 10s- 148 2,428,912 10/1947 Hulsberg 103 ,1 18 3,020,846 2/1962 Thomas '1. 103 148 3,046,903 7/1962 "Jones .1034149 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,137,097 1/1957 France, 7 7 482,827 9/1929 Germany,

3,152 12/1904 Great Britain. 108,771 8/1917 GreatBritain. 368,193 2/1939 nay.

l LAURENCE v. EFNER, Przfinafy Examiner."

Leas 103-148-

Claims

1. A POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP HAVING AN INLET MEANS AND AN OUTLET MEANS, A FIRST CONDUIT AND A SECOND CONDUIT EACH CONNECTED AT ONE END BY A VALVE SYSTEM TO SAID INLET AND OUTLET MEANS AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE INTERIOR OF A FIRST AND A SECOND COILED TUBE, RESPECTIVELY, AT THE FIXED ENDS OF SAID TUBES, THE FIRST OF SAID COILED TUBES HAVING A FREE END WOUND CLOCKWISE AROUND SAID FIXED END, THE SECOND OF SAID COILED TUBES HAVING A FREE END WOUND COUNTERCLOCKWISE AROUND SAID FIXED END, SAID