Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
  • F04F1/00—Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped
  • F04F1/06—Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped
  • F04F1/08—Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped specially adapted for raising liquids from great depths, e.g. in wells

Definitions

• THIS INVENTION relates to liquid pumps. It is particular ⁇ ly applicable to submersible pumps for pumping water from wells and bores.
• the invention resides in a liquid pump com ⁇ prising: a housing having a chamber therein adapted to receive liquid from a liquid source via a first one-way valve arranged to allow liquid to pass therethrough into the chamber but preventing return flow of the liquid; a liquid outlet having an outlet opening communicating with the chamber; a second one-way valve in or connected to the liquid outlet to allow liquid to pass therethrough out of the chamber but preventing return flow of the liquid; an air inlet having an inlet opening communicating with the chamber at a location above the outlet opening, the air inlet being adapted for connection to a supply of com ⁇ pressed air; a vent for venting air in the chamber; valve means for opening and closing the vent; whereby on closing of the vent said compressed air effects expulsion of the liquid in the chamber through the liquid outlet.
• the pump is adapted to be submerged in the liquid source.
• the first one-way valve be located at the bottom of the chamber.
• compressed air is continuously deli ⁇ vered to the chamber during operation of the pump. With this arrangement, compressed air delivered to the chamber escapes therefrom an opening of the vent.
• the valve means for opening and closing the vent may be operable by a float so as to close the vent when liquid in the chamber attains a predetermined level.
• the valve means may be adapted to be cyclically operated in a predetermined timing cycle.
• the vent is provided in the con ⁇ nection between the supply of compressed air and the cham ⁇ ber whereby on opening of the vent delivery of compressed air to the chamber is interrupted.
• the valve means is preferably adapted to be cyclically operated in a predetermined timing cycle.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic view of part of a water pumping installation incorporating a pump according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a pump according to the first embodiment
• Fig. 3 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the second embodiment.
• Fig. 4 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the third embodiment.
• the pump according to the first embodiment includes a housing 11 having a cylin ⁇ drical side wall 13, a top wall 15 and a bottom wall 17.
• a chamber 19 is defined within the housing.
• a water intake opening 21 is located in the bottom wall 17 of the housing 11.
• the opening 21 is fitted with a one-way valve 23 which is arranged to permit water flow through the opening into the chamber 19 but prevent return flow o"f the water.
• An air inlet 25 is adapted for connection to a supply of compressed air.
• the air inlet has an inlet opening 27 communicating with the upper part of the chamber 19.
• a liquid outlet 31 is adapted for connection to a water delivery point such as a water tank at or above ground level.
• the liquid outlet has an outlet opening 33 com ⁇ municating with the lower part of the chamber.
• a one-way valve 35 is located in the outlet 31 and is arranged to allow water to flow from the chamber through the outlet but prevent reverse flow of the water.
• the chamber 19 has a vent 37 for venting air therein to atmosphere.
• the vent 37 is opened and closed by a valve 39.
• the valve includes a valve seat 41 and a valve member 43 movable into and out of sealing engagement with the valve seat.
• the valve 39 is operatively connected to a float 45 whereby the valve operates to close the vent when the water in the chamber attains a predetermined level.
• a guide means 47 is provided for guiding movement of the float.
• the pump In use, the pump is installed under water in a well or bore 51 (see Fig. 1), with the water outlet 31 connected to the water delivery point by way of a water supply line 53 and the air inlet 25 connected a supply of compressed air by way of an air supply line 55.
• the supply of com ⁇ pressed air may comprise a compressor driven by a wind ⁇ mill, although other driving means (such as an engine) may be used.
• a continuous supply of com ⁇ pressed air is delivered to the chamber via the air supply line 55."
• Water in the well or bore enters the chamber 19 of the pump through the intake opening 21.
• the water rises in chamber and in doing so causes the float to rise.
• the float moves the valve member 43 into sealing engagement with the valve seat 41, thereby closing the vent 37.
• Owing to the closure of the vent there is a build-up of air pressure in the chamber which forces the water in the chamber out of the chamber through the outlet opening 33 of the outlet 31.
• the water is forced along the water supply line 53 to the delivery point.
• Fig. 3 of the drawings is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 (like reference numerals being used to identify like parts), with the exception that the float 45 is operatively connected to the valve member 43 by means of a pivot arm 48.
• the vent 37 is incor ⁇ porated in the air supply line 55 rather than being inde ⁇ pendent thereof.
• the vent comprises a valve member 57 in the form of a flap adapted to open and close an outlet port 59 in the air supply line.
• the operation of the valve is such that when the port 59 is closed, compressed air is delivered to the chamber and when the port 59 is open, the flow of compressed air to the chamber is inter ⁇ rupted by diverting it to atmosphere.
• the valve member 57 may be operable in response to water level in the chamber 19 or in a predetermined timing cycle.
• a pump according to the invention has a number or advan ⁇ tages over existing pumps for bores or wells which are adapted to be operatively connected to a windmill by way of a mechanical drive transmission system.
• the windmill or other drive system must be sited directly above the well or bore because of the mechanical drive transmission system, whereas with a pump according to the invention the windmill or other drive system may be sited at a location remote from the bore or well owing to the fact that the only connection between the windmill and the pump is the air supply line. This permits the windmill to be sited at the most suitable location having regard to prevailing winds.
• a further advantage of a pump according to the present invention is that it is not necessary for the windmill size to vary with the head; the pump will merely pump less water with deeper bores or wells.
• a still further advantage of the present invention relates to the absence therefrom of a mechanical drive transmis ⁇ sion system. This eliminates a number of parts which are susceptable to wear or which require maintenance. It also reduces the cost of the pump.
• the pump may be installed in bores or wells which are off-set from vertical.
• the bore or well is required to be sub ⁇ stantially vertical to avoid damage to the mechanical drive transmission system.
• a pump according to the in ⁇ vention may have applications other than merely pumping water from wells and bores.
• the pump may be constructed entirely of plastics materials thereby to make it particularly suitable for pumping corrosive liquids.
• the scope of the inven ⁇ tion is not limited to the scope of the three embodiments described.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
• Details Of Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=47665741

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (2)

Citations (11)

• 1985
  • 1985-12-24 WO PCT/AU1985/000326 patent/WO1987003938A1/en unknown
• 1987
  • 1987-08-17 KR KR870700734A patent/KR880700900A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (11)

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