Multi-stage expansible chamber pneumatic system

A multi-stage expansible chamber pump system, comprising;

• a first pump unit (30) including a first low pressure air chamber (31), a first fluid chamber (32), and a first pump piston separating said first low pressure air chamber and said first fluid chamber;
• a second pump unit (40) including a second low pressure air chamber (41), a second fluid chamber (42), and a second pump piston separating said second low pressure air chamber and said second fluid chamber;
• a high pressure pump unit (60) disposed between said first (30) and second (40) pump units, said high pressure pump unit (60) including left and right side high pressure air chambers (62, 61), and a high pressure pump piston separating said left side high pressure air chamber and said right side high pressure air chamber;
• said first pump piston, said second pump piston, and said high pressure pump piston disposed coaxially on a common piston rod (35) for reciprocating movement in unison with said common piston rod;
• a direction control valve including a direction control valve spool movable therein between a first position and a second position, said direction control valve disposed to receive high pressure air divided into a Control air component and a Process air component;
• said Control air component directed to said direction control valve to move said direction control valve spool alternately to said first and second positions;
• said direction control valve responsive to an alternation between first and second positions of said direction control valve spool to direct said Process air component alternately in a sequence wherein said Process air component is directed:
• a. to said left side high pressure air chamber (62), and from said right side high pressure air chamber (61) to said second low pressure air chamber (41), and from said first low pressure air chamber (31) to atmosphere;
• and
• b. to said right side high pressure air chamber (61), and from said left side high pressure air chamber (62) to said first low pressure air chamber (31), and from said second low pressure air chamber (41) to atmosphere;
• and
• c. again to said left side high pressure air chamber, to continue the sequence;
• whereby said first pump piston (33), said second pump piston (43), and said high pressure pump piston (63) reciprocate in unison to pump fluid through said first and second fluid chambers (32, 42).

A multi-stage expansible chamber pump system, comprising;

• a pump unit (80) including first and second fluid chambers (81,82) on opposite sides of a pump piston (83);
• a low pressure drive unit (70) including a first and second low pressure air chambers (71, 72) on opposite sides of a low pressure drive piston (73);
• a high pressure drive unit (60) including left and right side high pressure air chambers (62, 61) on opposite sides of a high pressure drive piston (63);
• said pump piston (83), low pressure drive piston (73), and high pressure drive piston (63) disposed coaxially on a common piston rod (75) for reciprocating movement in unison with said common piston rod;
• a direction control valve including a direction control valve spool movable therein between first and second positions, said direction control valve disposed to receive high pressure air divided into a Control air component and a Process air component;
• said Control air component directed to said direction control valve to move said direction control valve spool alternately to said first and second positions;
• said direction control valve responsive to an alternation between first and second positions of said direction control valve spool to direct said Process air alternately in a sequence wherein said process air component is directed:
• a. to said left side high pressure air chamber (62), and from said right side high pressure air chamber (61) to said first low pressure air chamber (71), and from said second low pressure air chamber (72) to atmosphere;
• and
• b. to said right side high pressure air chamber (61), and from said left side high pressure air chamber (62) to said second low pressure air chamber (72), and from said first low pressure air chamber (71) to atmosphere;
• and
• c. again to said left side high pressure air chamber (62), to continue the sequence;
• whereby said pump piston (83), said low pressure drive piston (73), and said high pressure drive piston (63) reciprocate in unison to pump fluid through said first and second fluid chambers (81, 82).

A multi-stage expansible chamber pump, comprising:

• a. a high pressure housing of a first predetermined volume separated into first and second chambers by a first piston;
• b. first and second low pressure housings of second and third predetermined volumes, respectively, each of the second and third predetermined volumes being greater than said first predetermined volume, wherein said first low pressure housing is separated into third and fourth chambers by a second piston and said second low pressure housing is separated into fifth and sixth chambers by a third piston;
• c. a control air source having a directional control valve in fluid communication with each of said first and second chambers by first and second lines, respectively, said first and second chambers exhausting into said third and fifth chambers, respectively, through said directional control valve;
• d. at least one rod interconnecting said first piston to each of said second and third pistons, wherein said first, second and third pistons are adapted for simultaneous, reciprocating movement in first and second directions;
• e. first and second relief valves positioned for actuation at positions of said at least one rod to shift said directional control valve when said first, second, and third pistons are extended in said first and second directions, respectively.

An air-driven pump comprising:

• a source of pressurized air;
• a directional control valve;
• a first pump unit including a first pump chamber, a first air chamber and a first piston therebetween, the first air chamber being in communication with the directional control valve;
• a second pump unit including a second pump chamber, a second air chamber and a second piston therebetween, the second air chamber being in communication with the directional control valve;
• a piston shaft affixed to both of the first and second pistons;
• a control air component shifting the directional control valve responsive to stroke positions of the air-driven pump;
• a high pressure pump unit including a high pressure cylinder and a high pressure piston with high pressure air chambers on either side of the high pressure piston, the high pressure piston being affixed to the piston shaft, the high pressure air chambers of the high pressure pump unit being pneumatically disposed in the communications between the directional control valve and the first air chamber and the second air chamber, such that pneumatic exhaust flow from each of the high pressure air chambers is provided to a corresponding one of the first and second air chambers to pressurize the first and second air chambers, respectively, the high pressure air chambers each having a maximum volume smaller than the maximum volume of either of the first air chamber and the second air chamber.

An air-driven pump comprising:

• a source of pressurized air;
• a directional control valve;
• a piston shaft;
• a control air component shifting the directional control valve responsive to stroke positions of the air-driven pump;
• a high pressure pump unit including a high pressure cylinder and a high pressure piston with high pressure air chambers on either side of the high pressure piston, the high pressure piston being affixed to the piston shaft;
• a low pressure pump unit including a low pressure cylinder and a low pressure piston with low pressure air chambers on either side of the low pressure piston, the low pressure piston being affixed to the piston shaft, the high pressure pump unit being disposed in the communications between the directional control valve and the second air chamber, such that pneumatic exhaust flow from each of the high pressure air chambers is provided to a corresponding one of the first and second air chambers to pressurize the low pressure air chambers, respectively, the high pressure air chambers each having a maximum volume smaller than the maximum volume of either of the low pressure air chambers;
• a pumping unit including a pumping piston and pump chambers to either side of the pumping piston, the pumping piston being affixed to the piston shaft.