Low horsepower apparatus and technique for raising liquid above the static surface level thereof

A low-horsepower apparatus for raising submerged liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof, comprising

• a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, the piston rod extending from the bore to a point beyond the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom, and being operatively closed to the liquid, but there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is operatively intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus,
• a reciprocable drive mechanism connectible to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case, and
• means for operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo-system at such stroke,
• the weight of the piston rod being adjusted to increase the buoyancy of the servo-system, and the length of the rod and the annulus and the level of the discharge being adjusted commensurately so that when the distal end portion of the case is inserted downward into the body of liquid to immerse the intake of the same below the static surface level of the liquid, the proximal end portion of the case is retained in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid to discharge the annulus to the atmosphere, and the annulus is flooded to the level of the discharge, the piston rod has an immersed length relative to the increased buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo-system.

A method of raising liquid above the static surface level thereof with a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus, comprising

• inserting the distal end portion of the case downward into the body of liquid until the intake of the same is immersed below the static surface level of the liquid,
• retaining the proximal end portion of the case above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the pump effluent thereabove,
• extending the piston rod from the bore of the case to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• connecting a reciprocable drive mechanism to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• operating the drive mechanism by pedalling the cranks of a conventional bicycle-type chain and sprocket power system to reciprocate the servo system at such stroke, and
• adjusting the level of the intake and flooding the pump to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the bouyancy of the servo system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of bouyancy and the center of gravity of the servo system reach a state of eualibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive bouyancy of the servo-system.

A low horsepower apparatus for raising liquid above the static surface level thereof, comprising

• a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus,
• the piston rod extending from the bore of the case so that when the distal end portion of the case is inserted downward into the body of the liquid to immerse the intake of the same below the static surface level of the liquid, and the proximal end portion of the case is retained above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the pump effluent thereabove, the rod extends to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• a reciprocable drive mechanism connected to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• means including a pair of crank arms adapted to be pedalled by a person with his legs to operate the drive mechanism and reciprocate the servo system at such stroke, and
• means whereby the level of the intake can be adjusted and the pump flooded to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the bouyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of bouyancy and the center of gravity of the servo system reach a state of equalibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive bouyancy of the servo-system.

A method of raising liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof with a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus, comprising

• inserting the distal end portion of the case downward into the body of liquid until the intake of the same is immersed below the static surface level of the liquid,
• retaining the proximal end portion of the case in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the annulus into the atmosphere,
• extending the piston rod from the bore of the case to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• connecting a reciprocal drive mechanism to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo-system at such stroke, and
• adjusting the level of the intake and flooding the pump to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servo system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo system,
• the body of liquid having insufficient depth and/or artesian head to accommodate the intake within it, a sump being formed in the bottom of the enclosure for the body of liquid, and the pump being inserted into the sump to place the intake at a depth therein at which the piston rod has the necessary length, and
• the material at the bottom of the enclosure being relatively liquid pregnable, and the sump being cased with a thimble-like water-tight liner for the same.

A method for raising liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof with a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus, comprising

• inserting the distal end portion of the case downward into the body of the liquid until the intake of the same is immersed below the static surface level of the liquid,
• retaining the proximal end portion of the case in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the annulus into the atmosphere,
• extending the piston rod from the bore of the case to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• connecting a reciprocal drive mechanism to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo system at such stroke, and
• adjusting the level of the intake and flooding the pump to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servosystem passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo-system,
• the body of liquid being enclosed in a ground formation, the surface of the ground being contoured to have two or more tiers of surface, a plurality of float pump units being inserted in the ground formation, one below each tier, and the liquid being raised by each unit to the next successive tier thereabove, to discharge thereon.

A low horsepower apparatus for raising liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof, comprising

• a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus,
• the piston rod extending from the bore of the case so that when the distal end portion of the case is inserted downward into the body of the liquid to immerse the intake of the same below the static surface level of the liquid, and the proximal end portion of the case is retained in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the annulus into the atmosphere, the rod extends to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• a reciprocable drive mechanism connected to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• means for operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo-system at such stroke, and
• means whereby the level of the intake can be adjusted and the pump flooded to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo-system,
• said apparatus further comprising means for forming a sump in the bottom of the enclosure for the body of liquid, so that the intake of the case can be inserted in the sump to a level therein at which the piston rod has the necessary length, and
• means for casing the sump with a thimble-like water-tight liner for the same, where the material at the bottom of the enclosure is relatively liquid pregnable.

A low horsepower apparatus for raising liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof, comprising

• a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus,
• the piston rod extending from the bore of the case so that when the distal end portion of the case is inserted downward into the body of the liquid to immerse the intake of the same below the static surface level of the liquid, and the proximal end portion of the case is retained in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the annulus into the atmosphere, the rod extends to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• a reciprocable drive mechanism connected to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• means for operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo-system at such stroke, and
• means whereby the level of the intake can be adjusted and the pump flooded to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo-system,
• the piston rod having a longitudinally extending cavity in the bore thereof, and
• the cavity being filled with a buoyancy adjusting filler material.

A low horsepower apparatus for raising liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof, comprising

• a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus,
• the piston rod extending from the bore of the case so that when the distal end portion of the case is inserted downward into the body of the liquid to immerse the intake of the same below the static surface level of the liquid, and the proximal end portion of the case is retained in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the annulus into the atmosphere, the rod extends to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• a reciprocable drive mechanism connected to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• means for operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo-system at such stroke, and
• means whereby the level of the intake can be adjusted and the pump flooded to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo-system,
• the piston rod being constructed from the group consisting of light weight metal and polymer materials adapted to withstand the hydrostatic pressures ambient to the pump.

A low horsepower apparatus for raising liquid to the atmosphere above the static surface level thereof, comprising

• a float pump comprising an elongated tubular case having an intake and a discharge in the distal and proximal end portions thereof, respectively, a piston in the bore of the case, and a rod for reciprocating the piston in the bore, there being a liquid flow annulus formed in the bore between the rod and the wall of the bore, which opens to atmosphere at the discharge, and valve means whereby the liquid is intaken through the piston to the annulus and then delivered to the discharge through the annulus,
• the piston rod extending from the bore of the case so that when the distal end portion of the case is inserted downward into the body of the liquid to immerse the intake of the same below the static surface level of the liquid, and the proximal end portion of the case is retained in the atmosphere above the static surface level of the liquid, to discharge the annulus into the atmosphere, the rod extends to a point above the discharge, to enable the piston to be reciprocated therefrom,
• a reciprocable drive mechanism connected to the piston rod at the aforesaid point so that the piston, the rod, and the connection between the rod and the drive mechanism are constrained to reciprocate with one another as a unitary servo-system having a predetermined stroke paralleling the longitudinal axis of the case,
• means for operating the drive mechanism to reciprocate the servo-system at such stroke, and
• means whereby the level of the intake can be adjusted and the pump flooded to levels in the body of liquid and the annulus, respectively, at which the piston rod has an immersed length, relative to the buoyancy of the servo-system and the weight of the column of liquid in the annulus, at which the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the servo-system reach a state of equilibrium each time that the servo-system passes through an intermediate point within the stroke thereof, so that a portion of the stroke, in each direction thereof, is powered by the negative or positive buoyancy of the servo-system,
• the means for operating the drive mechanism including a stand for immobilizing a conventional bicycle while it is pedalled by a person sitting on the same, and means whereby the chain and sprocket power system of the bicycle can be interconnected with the drive mechanism to operate the same through the pedalling action of the person sitting on the bicycle.