Pneumatic pump control system
OwnerRobert Wendlandinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic pump control system includes a pump chamber having a top end and a bottom end, an air valve coupled to the top end of the pump chamber and configured to be coupled to a pressurized air source, and a pump chamber valve coupled to the bottom end of the pump chamber. In addition, the pneumatic pump control system includes a discharge chamber having a top end and a bottom end, a discharge fitting coupled to the top end of the discharge chamber, a discharge check valve coupled to the bottom end of the discharge chamber in fluid communication with the pump chamber valve, and an inlet check valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber.
Claims19
A pneumatic pump and control system comprising:
- a pump chamber having a top end and a bottom end;
- an air valve coupled to the top end of the pump chamber and configured to be coupled to a pressurized air source;
- a pump chamber valve coupled to the bottom end of the pump chamber and configured to cause an increase in a pressure within the pump chamber when closed to indicate an end of a pumping cycle;
- a pressure sensor configured to determine the pressure within the pump chamber;
- a discharge chamber having a top end and a bottom end;
- a discharge fitting coupled to the top end of the discharge chamber;
- a discharge check valve coupled to the bottom end of the discharge chamber and in fluid communication with the pump chamber valve;
- and
- an inlet check valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber.
A pneumatic pump comprising:
- a pump chamber having a top end and a bottom end;
- an air valve in communication with the pump chamber;
- a pump chamber valve coupled to the bottom end of the pump chamber;
- a discharge chamber having a top end and a bottom end;
- a discharge check valve coupled to the bottom end of the discharge chamber and in fluid communication with the pump chamber valve;
- an inlet check valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber;
- a pressurized air source to supply pressurized air to the pump chamber;
- and
- a switch configured to indicate when the pump chamber is filled with liquid.
A method of operating a pneumatic pump and control system comprising a pump chamber having a top end and a bottom end, an air valve coupled to the top end of the pump chamber and configured to be coupled to a pressurized air source, a pump chamber valve coupled to the bottom end of the pump chamber, a discharge chamber having a top end and a bottom end, a discharge fitting coupled to the top end of the discharge chamber, a discharge check valve coupled to the bottom end of the discharge chamber and in fluid communication with the pump chamber valve, and an inlet check valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber, the method comprising:
- opening the air valve to cause liquid to flow into the pump chamber through the inlet check valve as air exits the pump chamber;
- closing the air valve to stop the liquid from flowing into the pump chamber when a liquid level in the pump chamber reaches a predetermined high level, which closes the inlet check valve;
- and
- introducing air into the pump chamber to force the liquid out of the pump chamber and into the discharge chamber as the air displaces the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.