US 6,089,837 A · Pump inlet stabilizer with a control unit for creating a positive pressure and a partial vacuum

Abstract

A pump inlet stabilizer for positive displacement reciprocating pumps, which reduces pressure fluctuations at the pump inlet and aids in filling the pump head with fluid during each inlet stroke. The pump inlet stabilizer comprises an accumulator housing with a bladder which creates a gas chamber which is fludically isolated from a fluid chamber within the housing, and a control unit. The control unit consists of a compound pressure gauge to measure positive and negative pressure levels in the gas chamber, a ball valve with an open and closed position for opening or closing an inlet into the gas chamber and a venturi pneumatically coupled to a compressed air source. The control unit is able to use the compressed air source, typically shop air, either to reduce the pressure in the gas chamber or increase the pressure in the gas chamber, depending upon whether the outlet of the venturi is blocked or unblocked. The present invention can condition the pump for either high pressure or high vacuum conditions at the pump inlet. To condition excessive inlet pressure the gas chamber is energized to a predetermined pressure level to cushion the force created by the excessive pressure into the inlet. To condition a high vacuum or suction lift state at the pump inlet, an external pressure source is used to forcibly draw air from the accumulator, thereby creating a vacuum in it. The inlet stabilizer is now under partial vacuum which facilitates fluid flow into the accumulator housing in opposite cooperation with the pump's suction stroke.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A fluid handling system comprising:

a fluid source;
a positive displacement pump with an inlet and an outlet;
a pump inlet stabilizer for stabilizing pressure levels at the inlet of said pump during either high pressure or high vacuum conditions, said pump inlet stabilizer further comprising:
a housing, including a fluid chamber fluidically coupled to said fluid source and said pump inlet, and a gas chamber, wherein the volume of said fluid chamber varies in response to pressure variations in said gas chamber;
and
a control unit, pneumatically coupled to said gas chamber and a compressed air source, the control unit being adapted to create and maintain a predetermined positive pressure or partial vacuum level in said gas chamber.

3 more elements

A fluid handling system comprising:

a fluid source,
a positive displacement pump with an inlet and an outlet;
and
a pump inlet stabilizer for stabilizing pressure levels at the inlet of said pump during either high pressure or high vacuum conditions, said pump inlet stabilizer further comprising:
a housing fluidically coupled to said fluid source and said pump inlet, wherein said housing further comprises:
an isolation member which forms a gas chamber on a first side of said isolation member and a fluid chamber on a second side of said isolation member, said isolation member being adapted to vary the volume of said fluid chamber in response to pressure variations in said gas chamber;
means for measuring a positive pressure or a partial vacuum level in said gas chamber;
means for creating a predetermined positive pressure or partial vacuum level in said gas chamber;
and
means, comprising a valve having an open and closed position, for maintaining said predetermined positive pressure or partial vacuum in said gas chamber by moving into the closed position and preventing gas flow into or out of said gas chamber when the predetermined pressure positive pressure or partial vacuum level is measured.

7 more elements

A method for stabilizing inlet pressure of a positive displacement pump for high pressure and high vacuum conditions at an inlet of said pump, depending on whether the pump is being utilized as a high pressure or a suction lift pump, said method comprising the steps of:

installing a pump inlet stabilizer at the inlet of the pump, said pump inlet stabilizer further comprising:
a housing with an isolation member which forms a gas chamber on a first side of said isolation member and a fluid chamber on a second side of said isolation member, said isolation member being adapted to vary the volume of said fluid chamber in response to pressure variations in said gas chamber;
opening a valve creating an opening into said gas chamber of said housing;
creating a positive pressure in said gas chamber of said housing when the pump is being utilized with a high pressure at the inlet of the pump;
creating a partial vacuum in said gas chamber of said housing when the pump is being utilized with a suction lift at the inlet of the pump;
and
measuring when a predetermined positive pressure or partial vacuum level is reached within said gas chamber of said accumulator housing and sealing the positive pressure or partial vacuum in said gas chamber of said housing by closing said valve.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pump inlet stabilizer with a control unit for creating a positive pressure and a partial vacuum

Life of this patent

Pump inlet stabilizer with a control unit for creating a positive pressure and a partial vacuum

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26