WO1989009340A1

WO1989009340A1 - A fluid pumping module

Info

Publication number: WO1989009340A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000146
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralph Anthony Rigby
Original assignee: Ralph Anthony Rigby
Priority date: 1988-03-31
Filing date: 1989-03-31
Publication date: 1989-10-05
Also published as: AU3236889A

Abstract

A fluid pumping module comprising at least three aligned elastic sleeves (1, 2, 3) mounted in a housing (4) with the bores of the sleeves in communication and the exteriors of the sleeves within chambers isolated each from the others, a port means (7) in communication with each chamber for connection with valving means (11) to direct pressurised fluid into and out of said chambers to cause said sleeves (1, 2, 3) to be sequentially closed off by external fluid pressure and released to reopen thereby to produce a pumping action and cause a unidirectional flow of fluid through said module.

Description

"A FLUID PUMPING MODULE"

This invention relates to means for pumping fluids, particularly liquids.

The object of the invention is to provide a fluids pumping pump which is reliable and which is simple to make and operate. Most pumping equipment is operated by an electric motor and this involves the supply of power for the motor. The pump of the present invention is not directly driven by electric power but uses pressurised fluid as the operative power means and therefore it can be operated in locations remote from electric power supplies provided a source of pressurised fluid is available.

Broadly the invention can be said to provide a fluid pumping module comprising at least three elastic sleeves with bore portions of the sleeves linearly interconnected to provide a fluid passageway through the module and exteriors of the sleeves respectively disposed within fluid receiving chambers each isolated from the other chambers, port means into each chamber for connection to valving means to direct pressurised fluid into and out of said chambers through their associated port means to cause said sleeves to be sequentially externally pressurised to the point of said bores adopting a closed off condition and sequentially relieved of pressure to allow said sleeves to recover to an open condition and thereby produce a pumping action and cause a unidirectional flow of fluid through said module.

The present invention in presently preferred forms will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig.1 is a sectional elevation of a one form of the invention diagrammatically showing it connected to valving means,

Fig.2 is a diagrammatic elevational sketch of the pumping module of Fig.1 in its passive mode,

Fig.3 illustrates a first condition for a first pumping sequence using an arrangement as illustrated in Fig.2,

Fig.4 illustrates a second condition for a first pumping sequence,

Fig.5 illustrates a third condition for a first pumping sequence,

Fig.6 illustrates a fourth condition for a first pumping sequence,

Fig.7 illustrates a fifth condition for a first pumping sequence, and

Fig.8 illustrates a return to the condition illustrated in

Fig.3 for the commencement of a second cycle of the first pumping sequence,

Fig.9 illustrates a first condition for a second pumping sequence using an arrangement as illustrated in Fig.2, Fig.10 illustrates a second condition for a second pumping sequence,

Fig.11 illustrates a third condition for a second pumping sequence,

Fig.12 illustrates a fourth condition for a second pumping sequence,

Fig.13 illustrates a fifth condition for a second pumping sequence, and

Fig.14 illustrates a return to the condition illustrated in Fig.9 for the commencement of a second cycle of the second pumping sequence.

Referring to Fig.1 there is provided a moulded module made from elastomeric material wherein there is a first sleeve portion 1, a second larger diameter sleeve portion 2 and a third sleeve portion 3 of dimensions much the same as the sleeve 1. The sleeves form part of a body made of the same material but because of the thickness of the body outer zone 4 and reinforcing 5 and tubular reinforcement and shaping members 6a and 6b the body outer zone 4 is substantially rigid compared to the unreinforced sleeve parts 1 to 3.

The bores of the sleeves 1 to 3 are in communication to provide a pathway for fluid through the module but the exteriors of the sleeves are isolated each from the others and lie within pressure chambers defined by the inner surfaces of the tubular members 6b. The tubular members 6a define with their outer coverings, being portions of the outer zone 4, inlet pipes 7. It will be noted that the elements 6b are cylindrical tubes around the sleeves 1 and 3 and the element 6b is of profiled tubular form around the sleeve 2.

The inlet pipes 7 are connected through a valving means 11, which can be of any suitable form, to a source of pressurised fluid, liquid or gas. The pressurised fluid initially impinges on the zones 8 of the sleeves and when delivered in sufficient volume and pressure will first force the sleeves away from the elements 6b allowing the fluid to encircle the sleeves and then stretch the sleeves radially to the extent that the bores of the sleeves are closed off. By delivering the fluid to the inlet pipes 7 in a particular sequence a unidirectional pumping action can be achieved to cause fluid to be passed through the module.

Two representative pumping sequences will now be described by way of example. Referring to Figs. 2 to 8, with the end 9 of the module connected to a supply of liquid to be pumped, the module in the passive mode will be as shown in Fig.2, with none of the sleeves pressurised. The first step is to close off the sleeve 1, see Fig.3. Whilst maintaining pressure to hold the sleeve 1 closed pressure is applied to dilate the sleeve 2 to achieve the configuration of Fig.4 the result will be to expel liquid from the module through the discharge end 10. The next step is to apply pressure to sleeve 3 and release the pressure on sleeve 1, simultaneously, to achieve the configuration of Fig. 5. The next step is to release the pressure on sleeve 2 to achieve the configuration of Fig.6 and draw in liquid through the end 9 of the module. Pressure is then applied to the sleeve 1 to achieve the configuration of Fig.7 and as a final step prior to the release of the pressure on sleeve 3. Release of the sleeve 3 will result in the configuration of Fig.8 which will be seen to be the same as that of Fig.3, the first step in the pumping sequence. By repeating the above steps a second pumping cycle is performed.

In a second operating sequence, see Figs. 9 to 14, the first steps as shown in Fig.9 and Fig.10 duplicate the steps 3 and 4 of the first operating sequence. Fig.11 shows sleeve 3 being pressurised whilst pressure is maintained on sleeves 1 and 2. The pressure is then released on sleeve 2 thereby creating negative pressure within the module, see Fig.12. Fig.13 shows the release of pressure on sleeve 1 to allow the negative pressure within the module resulting from the previous restoration of sleeve 2 to its undilated form to rapidly draw in liquid through the module end 9. Fig.14 shows the first stage in the second cycle of the second operating sequence and duplicates the configuration of Fig.9, resulting from simultaneous pressurisation of sleeve 3 and release of pressure on sleeve 1.

In order to facilitate the positive action of the module and the rapid recovery of the sleeves to the undilated form the inlets 7, through the valving mechanism, are subjected to positive sleeve dilating pressure and negative sleeve restoring pressure as required. Thus in Figs. 5, 6, and 8 (in the first operating sequence) and Figs. 12, 13 and 14 (in the second operating sequence) the arrows indicating the direction of movement of the sleeves in the return direction to the undilated condition also indicate the application of negative pressure to those sleeves. In other words a restoring force is applied to the sleeves to supplement the natural elastic recovery action of the sleeves. In this way a predetermined rate of operation of the sleeves can be achieved which could not be guaranteed if sole reliance was placed upon the elastic recovery of the sleeves to the undilated condition.

As will be understood the repetition of the above sequences in a rapid manner will produce a pulsing forward movement of fluid through the discharge 10 of the pumping module.

The foreging sequences of operation are presently considered the preferred sequences of operation but they are not to be considered as the only possible operating sequences. The described embodiment is representative of one form of the invention. The use of a sleeve 2 larger than the sleeves 1 and 3 is not essential. It is possible to have further sleeves in a module but three sleeves is presently considered to be the minimum number for the operation of the invention in the described manner.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to have the sleeves mounted as individual entities each in a mounting means with the bores of the sleeves in communication, in this way each of the sleeves can be designed to have desired qualities, such as preferred elasticity or wall thickness or material of manufacture, which is not possible with the preferred arrangements described wherein the sleeves and the housing therefore are made of the same generic material. In another arrangement the sleeves can be individual members all mounted in a single housing made of a different material to that of the sleeves. It will be understood that in such arrangements it would be possible to have the housing(s) for the sleeves without the reinforcements items 5, 6a and 6b described previously as parts of the preferred embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A fluid pumping module comprising at least three elastic sleeves with bore portions of the sleeves linearly interconnected to provide a fluid passageway through the module and exteriors of the sleeves respectively disposed within fluid receiving chambers each isolated from the other chambers, port means into each chamber for connection to valving means to direct pressurised fluid into and out of said chambers through their associated port means to cause said sleeves to be sequentially externally pressurised to the point of said bores adopting a closed off condition and sequentially relieved of pressure to allow said sleeves to recover to an open condition and thereby produce a pumping action and cause a unidirectional flow of fluid through said module.

2. A pumping module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valving means can also connect said port means to negative pressure to provide a restoring force facilitating the recovery of said sleeves from a closed off condition to the open condition.

3. A pumping module as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sleeves comprise an entry end sleeve, an intermediate sleeve and an outlet end sleeve and said entry and outlet end sleeves are of substantially the same shape and size and the intermediate sleeve is longer and larger in diameter than said entry and outlet end sleeves.

4. A pumping module as claimed in claim 3 wherein the intermediate sleeve is symmetrical and has a midlength bore diameter substantially greater than its end bore diameters and said end bore diameters are substantially the same as the bore diameters of the entry and outlet end sleeves.

5. A pumping module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the module housing includes reinforcement shells around said sleeves to resist outward deflection of said housing when pressurised fluid is introduced into said chambers to cause said sleeves to adopt the closed off condition.

6. A pumping module as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein said module includes a central sleeve disposed between two end sleeves and said valving means provides a cyclic actuation of the sleeves including in an operating sequence, application of pressurised fluid to one end sleeve of the module to close it off, followed by the application of pressurised fluid to the central sleeve to close it off, followed by simultaneous application of pressure to the other end sleeve to close it off and the release of the pressure from said one end sleeve to allow it to open, followed by the release of pressure to said central sleeve to allow it to open, followed by the application of pressure tα said one end sleeve to close it off and the subsequent release of the pressure holding said other sleeve in the closed off condition.

7. A pumping module as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein said module includes a central sleeve disposed between two end sleeves and said valving means provides a cyclic actuation of the sleeves including in an operating sequence, application of pressurised fluid to one end sleeve of the module to close it off, followed by the application of pressurised fluid to the central sleeve to close it off, followed by application of pressure to the other end sleeve to close it off, followed by the release of pressure to said central sleeve to allow it to open and in do doing create a negative pressure within the module between the closed end sleeves, followed by the release of pressure to said one end sleeve to allow it to open and liquid to be pumped to be drawn into the module through said one end sleeve by the negative pressure, followed by the application of pressure to said one end sleeve to close it off and the subsequent release of the pressure holding said other end sleeve in the closed off condition.