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US 5,470,209 AGranted
Offset reciprocable device
AssigneeShurflo Pump Manufacturing Co.
InventorsE. Dale Hartley, F. Scott Hartley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid pumping system comprises a reciprocable pump having a reciprocable member. A valving system controls the supply of fluid under pressure to the reciprocable member to bring about reciprocation of the member. In order to provide a much more compact unit, the valving system is arranged to be offset radially from the reciprocable member, yet is drivingly connected to the reciprocable member through a unique mechanism so that the valving system may switch states responsive to the stroke travel of the reciprocable member.
Claims15
A reciprocable device, comprising:
- a housing having a chamber therein;
- a reciprocable member in the chamber and having first and second faces exposable to a driving fluid under pressure to reciprocate the reciprocable member in the chamber;
- a valving system for controlling the supply and exhaust of the driving fluid under pressure to and from the first and second faces whereby the reciprocable member can be reciprocated in said chamber, said valving system being radially offset from said reciprocable member;
- a mechanism for drivingly coupling the reciprocable member and the valving system so that the reciprocable member can actuate the valving system to switch between first and second states, said mechanism including an arm member drivingly coupled to said reciprocable member and to said valving system, said arm member being arranged generally radially between said reciprocable member and said valving system and being generally dog-leg shaped so that said reciprocable device may be more compactly packaged;
- and
- said first and second faces being outside faces, the reciprocable member including first and second inside faces and including an inside pickup mechanism driven by said inside faces for operating said valving system.
3 more elements
A reciprocable device, comprising:
- a housing having a chamber therein;
- a reciprocable member in the chamber and having first and second faces exposable to a driving fluid under pressure to reciprocate the reciprocable member within the chamber along a first longitudinal axis;
- a spool valve being oriented along a second longitudinal axis for controlling the supply and exhaust of the driving fluid under pressure to and from the first and second faces whereby the reciprocable member can be reciprocated in said chamber, said second longitudinal axis being radially offset from said first longitudinal axis;
- a mechanism for drivingly coupling the reciprocable member and the spool valve so that the reciprocable member can actuate the spool valve to switch between first and second states, said mechanism including an arm member having a first end portion drivingly coupled to said reciprocable member and a second end portion drivingly coupled to said spool valve, said arm member being arranged generally radially between said reciprocable member and said spool valve;
- and
- a bistable spring device having first and second states and a neutral position between said states thereof, said arm member second end being drivingly coupled to said bistable spring device such that said reciprocable member can move the bistable spring device from one of its states through the neutral position, with the resilience of the bistable spring device at least assisting in moving the bistable spring device from its neutral position to the other state thereof, the movement of the bistable spring device from its neutral position to the other state actuating said spool valve to switch between first and second states.
3 more elements
An apparatus for pumping a fluid, said apparatus being connectible to a source of fluid to be pumped and a source of pressurized gas, said apparatus comprising:
- a pump having a pumping fluid inlet and a driving gas inlet and adapted to be driven by the pressurized gas;
- a first conduit for connecting the source of fluid to be pumped to the pumping fluid inlet of said pump;
- a second conduit for connecting the source of pressurized gas supply source to said driving gas inlet of said pump;
- and
- a shut-off valve in said second conduit responsive to fluid pressure in the first conduit for opening said second conduit when there is sufficient pumping fluid available for pumping, thereby permitting driving gas to flow through said second conduit to drive said pump, and for closing said second conduit when there is insufficient pumping fluid available for pumping, so that the pump does not operate in a dry intake condition;
- wherein said shut-off valve is configured to open at a first higher pressure in said first conduit and to close at a second lower pressure therein.
3 more elements
A reciprocable device, comprising:
- a housing having a chamber therein;
- a shaft in said chamber;
- a reciprocable member in the chamber and having first and second reciprocable sections fixedly spaced on said shaft, each of said reciprocable sections having an outer face exposable to a driving fluid under pressure to reciprocate the reciprocable member in the chamber, and further having an inner face;
- a valving system for controlling the supply and exhaust of the driving fluid under pressure to and from the first and second reciprocable section outer faces whereby the reciprocable member can be reciprocated in said chamber, said valving system being radially offset from said reciprocable member;
- and
- an inside pickup mechanism for drivingly coupling the reciprocable member and the valving system, said mechanism including an element oriented in the space between said first and second reciprocable section inner faces and arranged to be alternately contacted by each of said faces as said reciprocable member reciprocates in said housing chamber, wherein said mechanism element, responsive to said alternate contacts, initiates the actuation of said valving system between first and second states.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.