Buoyancy pump device

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve,
• a piston shaft interconnecting the piston and the buoyancy block, and
• wherein the piston shaft has an adjustable length.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• a plurality of stops connected to an inner surface of the buoyancy block housing at a lower portion of the buoyancy block housing, the plurality of stops defining a limit of movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• a plurality of axial shims connected to an inner perimeter of the buoyancy block housing adjacent the buoyancy block for minimizing friction between the buoyancy block housing and the buoyancy block and for maintaining the buoyancy block in a generally axial relationship with the piston.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• wherein the buoyancy block housing comprises a generally cylindrical cage having a plurality of openings thereon adapted to allow the fluid to flow therein.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• wherein the buoyancy block has a predetermined adjustable buoyancy.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• wherein the buoyancy block further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion moveably coupled to the upper portion.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• wherein the buoyancy block further comprises:
• a generally cylindrical axially tapered upper portion having a plurality of threads on a cylindrical inside perimeter of the upper portion;
• and
• a generally cylindrical lower portion having a plurality of threads on an outer surface thereof adapted to mate with the plurality of threads on the cylindrical inside perimeter of the axially tapered upper portion.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• an aquiculture rig connected to the buoyancy block housing for maintaining the position of the buoyancy pump with respect to the fluid.

A buoyancy pump for use in a fluid, comprising:

• a buoyancy block housing defining a buoyancy chamber therein through which the fluid may flow;
• a buoyancy block disposed within the buoyancy chamber to move axially therein in a first direction responsive to rising of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber and a second direction responsive to lowering of the fluid in the buoyancy chamber;
• a piston cylinder connected to the buoyancy block housing;
• at least one valve disposed in the piston cylinder operating as an inlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the second direction and an outlet in response to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction;
• a piston slideably disposed within the piston cylinder and connected to the buoyancy block, the piston being moveable in the first and second directions and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block and in the second direction to draw a fluid substance into the piston cylinder through the at least one valve, and responsive to movement of the buoyancy block in the first direction to output the fluid substance through the at least one valve;
• and
• wherein the piston cylinder has an open lower end, and a lower surface of the piston is adapted to contact the fluid.