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US 8,262,366 B2Granted
Piston systems having a flow path between piston chambers, pumps including a flow path between piston chambers, and methods of driving pumps
OwnerTom M. Simmons, John M. Simmons +1inventors
InventorsTom M. Simmons, John M. Simmons, David M. Simmons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Piston systems comprise a housing including a first piston chamber and a second piston chamber therein. A first piston is movably disposed within the first piston chamber and a second piston is movably disposed within the second piston chamber. A flow path extends between and couples the first piston chamber and the second piston chamber. Reciprocating pumps comprising a flow path between a plurality of piston chambers and methods of driving reciprocating pumps are also disclosed.
Claims38
A piston system, comprising:
- a housing comprising a first piston chamber and a second piston chamber therein, wherein the first piston chamber comprises an aperture in a sidewall thereof and the second piston chamber comprises an aperture in a sidewall thereof;
- a first shift piston movably disposed within the first piston chamber;
- a second shift piston movably disposed within the second piston chamber;
- a flow path extending between the aperture of the first piston chamber and the aperture of the second piston chamber;
- and
- a valve configured to deliver a control fluid to at least one of the first piston chamber and the second piston chamber and configured to change a flow path in response to a change in a position of at least one of the first shift piston and the second shift piston.
3 more elements
A reciprocating pump, comprising:
- a housing;
- a first pressure chamber within the housing, the first pressure chamber at least partially defined by a first flexible member;
- a second pressure chamber within the housing and opposing the first pressure chamber, the second pressure chamber at least partially defined by a second flexible member;
- a first shift piston disposed in a first shift piston chamber in the housing, the first shift piston positioned proximate to the first flexible member;
- a second shift piston disposed in a second shift piston chamber in the housing, the second shift piston positioned proximate to the second flexible member;
- a flow path extending between and coupling a volume of the first shift piston chamber and a volume of the second shift piston chamber;
- and
- a valve configured to deliver a control fluid to at least one of the first shift piston chamber and the second shift piston chamber and configured to change a flow path in response to a change in a position of at least one of the first shift piston and the second shift piston.
5 more elements
A reciprocating pump, comprising:
- a first shift piston chamber disposed in a housing and comprising a first longitudinal axis;
- a second shift piston chamber comprising a second longitudinal axis and disposed in the housing and positioned with the second longitudinal axis laterally offset from the first longitudinal axis;
- a first shift piston movably positioned in the first shift piston chamber and proximate to a first flexible member at least partially defining a first pressure chamber;
- a second shift piston movably positioned in the second shift piston chamber and proximate to a second flexible member at least partially defining a second pressure chamber;
- a valve configured to deliver a control fluid to at least one of the first shift piston chamber and the second shift piston chamber and configured to change a flow path in response to a change in a position of at least one of the first shift piston and the second shift piston;
- and
- a flow path extending between and coupling a volume of the first shift piston chamber and a volume of the second shift piston chamber.
4 more elements
A method of driving a reciprocating pump, comprising:
- filling a first pressure chamber within a housing and at least partially defined by a first flexible member with a control fluid and increasing a volume of the first pressure chamber;
- decreasing a volume of a second pressure chamber within the housing at least partially defined by a second flexible member;
- displacing a first shift piston at least partially housed within a first shift piston chamber and decreasing a first volume of the first shift piston chamber;
- displacing a second shift piston at least partially housed within a second shift piston chamber within the housing and positioned proximate the second flexible member and increasing a second volume of the second shift piston chamber;
- displacing at least a portion of a fluid from the first shift piston chamber into the second shift piston chamber through a flow path coupling the first shift piston chamber and the second shift piston chamber;
- and
- changing a flow path of the control fluid through a valve in response to a change in a position of the first shift piston.
4 more elements
A method of driving a reciprocating pump, comprising:
- filling a first pressure chamber within a housing and at least partially defined by a first flexible member with a control fluid and increasing a volume of the first pressure chamber;
- decreasing a volume of a second pressure chamber within the housing at least partially defined by a second flexible member;
- displacing a first shift piston at least partially housed within a first shift piston chamber and positioned proximate the first flexible member;
- at least partially filling a volume of a second shift piston chamber with the control fluid, at least a portion of the control fluid passing through a flow path coupling the first shift piston chamber and the second shift piston chamber;
- displacing a second shift piston at least partially housed within the second shift piston chamber and positioned proximate the second flexible member;
- and
- changing a flow path of the control fluid through a valve in response to a change in a position of the first shift piston.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.