Variable displacement reciprocating pump
AssigneeServa Corporation
InventorThomas E. Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable displacement reciprocating pump with pumping rate that is adjustable from zero to maximum stroke while the pump is running. Stroke is varied by changing relative position of pairs of eccentric inner and outer cams that drive the pump's plungers. The pump's input drive shaft drives two gear trains: a first gear train that turns the inner cams and a second gear train that turns the outer cams. These cams normally revolve together with no relative motion occurring between them. A rotary actuator is positioned in the first gear train to rotate the inner cams relative to the outer cams and thereby changes the pump's stroke. A computerized system of sensors and control valves allows the pump to be automatically controlled or limited to any one or combination of desired output flow, pressure and horsepower.
Claims11
A variable displacement reciprocating pump comprising:
- a prime mover;
- an intermediate shaft directly or indirectly driven by said prime mover;
- a rotating rotary actuator directly or indirectly driven by said prime mover;
- a central shaft;
- at least one outer eccentric cam carried by said central shaft;
- at least one inner eccentric cam carried by said central shaft;
- wherein either said outer eccentric cam or said inner eccentric cam is fixed to said central shaft and wherein at least one central shaft gear is associated with the non-fixed eccentric cam;
- at least one intermediate shaft gear carried by said intermediate shaft, said intermediate shaft gear engaging said central shaft gear thereby providing a drivable connection between said prime mover and said central shaft;
- a crank end coupled to said outer cam;
- a plunger connected to said crank end by a connecting rod
- wherein said rotating rotary actuator directly or indirectly engages said central shaft thereby providing a drivable connection between said prime mover and said central shaft and wherein adjustment of said rotating rotary actuator provides for adjustment of said fixed eccentric cam relative to said non-fixed eccentric cam thereby adjusting the stroke of said plunger and the displacement of said pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.