Pumping system
AssigneeQinetiq Limited
InventorsColin Andrew Mead, Alan Thomas Parsons, Stephen Arthur Pointer, Mark Arwyn Bennett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a pumping system. The design of the system is such that bi-directional operation can be achieved using a significantly smaller and hence lighter unit than those currently available. It uses the direction of rotation of the drive shaft to control the opening and closure of the by-pass means for controllably returning the fluid to the first reservoir.
Claims10
A pumping system comprising a first reservoir (3) and a second reservoir (4), a motor (1) coupled to a drive shaft (16);
- a pump (2), driven by the drive shaft (16), for pumping fluid from the first reservoir (3) to the second reservoir (4) and by-pass means (5) for controllably returning fluid from the second reservoir (4) to the first reservoir (3);
- characterised by a clutch (24;27) between the drive shaft (16) and the by-pass;
- means (5) whereby rotation of the drive shaft (16) in a first direction drives the pump (2) and disengages the clutch (24;27) while the by-pass means (5) is closed, and rotation of the drive shaft (16) in a second direction engage as the clutch (24;27) so that the by-pass means (5) is opened.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the by-pass means (5) comprises a cam-follower (23) and a cam (21);
- wherein the clutch (24;27) is operative between the drive shaft (16) and the cam (21);
- and whereby opening and closure of the by-pass means is controlled by engagement of the cam-follower (23) with the cam (21) and rotation of the drive shaft (16).
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the clutch comprises a flexible resilient sleeve (24) attached to the drive shaft (16) and adapted to grip a shaft (22) operatively associated with the by-pass means (5) when the drive shaft (16) is rotated in the second direction;
- and whereby rotation of the drive shaft (16) in the first direction causes the sleeve (24) to loosen from the second-mentioned shaft (22).
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the by-pass means (5) is housed within the pump (2).
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pump (2) comprises a smash plate pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.