# US 2006/0239830 A1 · Cyclic condensate pump having a three-way valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0239830 A1 - Document ID: US20060239830A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/113,593 - Filed: 2005-04-25 - Published: 2006-10-26 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-25 - Assignees: Spence Engineering Company - Inventors: George Page; Dan Cole - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060239830A1 ## CPC - F04F 1/06: the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped (F04F1/02 takes precedence) - F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)} ## Abstract A condensate pump includes a condensate reservoir, a liquid level float sensor operable to sense a liquid level within the condensate reservoir, and a pressure/vent valve including a pressure source, a pressure vent, and a primary piston slidably supported in a primary cylinder and sliding in the primary cylinder responsive to the liquid level sensor. A secondary piston is slidably supported in a secondary cylinder and moves responsive to a movement of the primary piston between a first secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is in communication with a gas space of the condensate reservoir and the pressure vent is isolated from the gas space, and a second secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is isolated from the gas space and the pressure vent is in communication with the gas space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A condensate pump, comprising: a condensate reservoir comprising a fluid inlet, an inlet check valve operable to prevent a flow of fluid out of the condensate reservoir through the fluid inlet and to allow a flow of fluid into the condensate reservoir through the fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an outlet check valve operable to prevent a flow of fluid into the condensate reservoir through the fluid outlet and to allow a flow of fluid out of the condensate reservoir through the fluid outlet; a liquid level sensor operable to sense a liquid level within the condensate reservoir; and a pressure/vent valve comprising a pressure source, a pressure vent, and a three-way valve, wherein the three-way valve operates responsive to the liquid level sensor, between a first three-way-valve position wherein the pressure source is in communication with a gas space of the condensate reservoir, and a second three-way-valve position wherein the pressure vent is in communication with the gas space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The condensate pump of claim 1, wherein when the three-way valve is in the first three-way-valve position the pressure vent is isolated from the gas space. when the three-way valve is in the second three-way-valve position the pressure source is isolated from the gas space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The condensate pump of claim 1, wherein the pressure/vent valve is located exterior to the condensate reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The condensate pump of claim 1, wherein the pressure/vent valve is located within the condensate reservoir. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The condensate pump of claim 1, wherein the three-way-valve comprises a secondary piston slidably supported in a secondary cylinder, wherein the secondary piston slides in the secondary cylinder responsive to the liquid level sensor, between a first secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is in communication with a gas space of the condensate reservoir and the pressure vent is isolated from the gas space, and a second secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is isolated from the gas space and the pressure vent is in communication with the gas space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The condensate pump of claim 5, wherein the secondary piston is double ended in a secondary piston spool configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The condensate pump of claim 5, further including a reservoir pressurization line extending from the pressure source to a first intermediate location of the secondary cylinder, a reservoir vent line extending from the vent to a second intermediate location of the secondary cylinder, and a pressurization/vent line extending from a third intermediate location of the secondary cylinder to the gas space of the condensate reservoir. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The condensate pump of claim 5, wherein the pressure/vent valve further includes a primary piston slidably supported in a primary cylinder, wherein the primary piston slides in the primary cylinder responsive to the liquid level sensor, between a first primary-piston position and a second primary-piston position, and wherein the secondary piston slides in the secondary cylinder responsive to a movement of the primary piston. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The condensate pump of claim 8, wherein the primary piston is double ended in a primary-piston spool configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The condensate pump of claim 8, wherein the liquid level sensor comprises a float within the condensate reservoir, and an actuating arm connected to the float and movable with the float, and wherein the actuating arm is connected to the primary piston. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The condensate pump of claim 8, further including a main pressure drive line extending from the pressure source to an intermediate location of the primary cylinder, a first branch pressure drive line extending from a first intermediate location of the primary cylinder to a first end of the secondary cylinder, and a second branch pressure drive line extending from a second intermediate location of the primary cylinder to a second end of the secondary cylinder. ### Claim 12 A condensate pump, comprising: a condensate reservoir comprising a fluid inlet, an inlet check valve operable to prevent a flow of fluid out of the condensate reservoir through the fluid inlet and to allow a flow of fluid into the condensate reservoir through the fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an outlet check valve operable to prevent a flow of fluid into the condensate reservoir through the fluid outlet and to allow a flow of fluid out of the condensate reservoir through the fluid outlet; a liquid level sensor operable to sense a liquid level within the condensate reservoir, wherein the liquid level sensor comprises a float within the condensate reservoir, and an actuating arm connected to the float and movable with the float; and a pressure/vent valve comprising a pressure source, a pressure vent, a primary piston slidably supported in a primary cylinder, wherein the primary piston slides in the primary cylinder responsive to the liquid level sensor, between a first primary-piston position and a second primary-piston position, and wherein the actuating arm is connected to the primary piston, a secondary piston slidably supported in a secondary cylinder, wherein the secondary piston slides in the secondary cylinder responsive to a movement of the primary piston, between a first secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is in communication with a gas space of the condensate reservoir and the pressure vent is isolated from the gas space, and a second secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is isolated from the gas space and the pressure vent is in communication with the gas space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The condensate pump of claim 12, wherein the pressure/vent valve is located exterior to the condensate reservoir. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The condensate pump of claim 12, wherein the pressure/vent valve is located within the condensate reservoir. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The condensate pump of claim 12, wherein the primary piston is double ended in a primary-piston spool configuration and the secondary piston is double ended in a secondary piston spool configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The condensate pump of claim 12, further including a main pressure drive line extending from the pressure source to an intermediate location of the primary cylinder, a first branch pressure drive line extending from a first intermediate location of the primary cylinder to a first end of the secondary cylinder, and a second branch pressure drive line extending from a second intermediate position of the primary cylinder to a second end of the secondary cylinder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The condensate pump of claim 12, further including a reservoir pressurization line extending from the pressure source to a first intermediate location of the secondary cylinder, a reservoir vent line extending from the vent to a second intermediate location of the secondary cylinder, and a pressurization/vent line extending from a third intermediate location of the secondary cylinder to the gas space of the condensate reservoir. ### Claim 18 A condensate pump, comprising: a condensate reservoir comprising a fluid inlet, an inlet check valve operable to prevent a flow of fluid out of the condensate reservoir through the fluid inlet and to allow a flow of fluid into the condensate reservoir through the fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an outlet check valve operable to prevent a flow of fluid into the condensate reservoir through the fluid outlet and to allow a flow of fluid out of the condensate reservoir through the fluid outlet; a liquid level sensor operable to sense a liquid level within the condensate reservoir, wherein the liquid level sensor comprises a float within the condensate reservoir, and an actuating arm connected to the float and movable with the float; a pressure/vent valve located exterior to the condensate reservoir and comprising a pressure source, a pressure vent, a primary piston slidably supported in a primary cylinder, wherein the primary piston is double ended in a primary-piston spool configuration, wherein the primary piston slides in the primary cylinder responsive to the liquid level sensor, between a first primary-piston position and a second primary-piston position, and wherein the actuating arm is connected to the primary piston, and a secondary piston slidably supported in a secondary cylinder, wherein the secondary piston is double ended in a secondary piston spool configuration, and wherein the secondary piston slides in the secondary cylinder between a first secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is in communication with a gas space of the condensate reservoir and the pressure vent is isolated from the gas space, and a second secondary-piston position wherein the pressure source is isolated from the gas space and the pressure vent is in communication with the gas space; a drive pressurization structure including a main pressure drive line extending from the pressure source to an intermediate location of the primary cylinder, a first branch pressure drive line extending from a first intermediate location of the primary cylinder to a first end of the secondary cylinder, and a second branch pressure drive line extending from a second intermediate location of the primary cylinder to a second end of the secondary cylinder; and a reservoir pressurization/vent structure including a reservoir pressurization line extending from the pressure source to a first intermediate location of the secondary cylinder, a reservoir vent line extending from the vent to a second intermediate location of the secondary cylinder, and a pressurization/vent line extending from a third intermediate location of the secondary cylinder to the gas space of the condensate reservoir.