Pump operating on rotational inertial forces with proportional delivery and head inversely proportional to the number of active circuits and balancing of the moments of the inertial forces transmitted to the pump supporting frame and generation of rotor oscillatory motion

Abstract

The parts for implementing the invention of the pump with high delivery and low head are illustrated in FIG. 1/10 which shows a tubular circuit bent in accordance with a circumference occupied by way of example by four 2-phase circuits fastened rigidly to a rotor. Each 2-phase circuit consists of a counterclockwise and a clockwise circuit whose direction is defined by two one-way valves each arranged at the beginning of the associated circuit. After the pump inlet the liquid is distributed through the inlets of the 2-phase circuits to the circuits Ci e Ci′. The forces of inertia stressing the liquid mass mc=m0/Nc of each circuit (where mc is the total mass relative to the circumference and Nc is the number of circuits into which it is divided) are proportionate to the same mass mc. Accordingly the acceleration of mc and the corresponding mean velocity Vc are independent of mc. As the cross section of each circuit is constant it follows that the delivery Qc is also independent of Nc while the sum of the deliveries is Q0=Nc Qc where Q0 is the delivery at the inlet E0 of the pump. The force of inertia fc which stresses mc is fc=f0/Nc, where f0 is the force of inertia relative to the summation of the absolute value of the forces stressing the circuits Ci.

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relate to a pump operating on rotational inertial forces with proportional delivery and head inversely proportional to the number of active circuits with the possibility of balancing of the moments of the inertial forces transmitted to the pump supporting frame and generation of rotor oscillatory motion.

[0002] The possibility of constructing a pump characterized by very high delivery and relatively small head is included in the unlimited field of application of the pump operating with rotational inertial forces.

[0003] The combination of high delivery & low head seems at first glance incompatible for a pump of the type proposed because a large delivery implies a large cross section of the active circuits which presupposes a large radius ro of the active circuit with the square of which the head developed by the pump increases. But this can be remedied by dividing the circumference with a large radius ro in a number Nc of active circuits of equal and reduced length which develop the same pressure inversely proportional to Nci while the delivery of each active circuit is held constant. For this reason, by adding together the deliveries of the N, active circuits large resulting delivery NcQc, reduced pressure po/Nc and constant power NcQc p0/Nc=Qc p0 are achieved.

[0004] The description of the new pump is organized in the following paragraphs.

[0005] A. Description of pump operation with the aid of the associated FIGS and including the following sections,

[0006] A1. active pump circuits,

[0007] A2. liquid distributors and connection thereof,

[0008] A3. connection of the 2-phase circuit unions fastened to the rotor with the corresponding distribution unions,

[0009] A4. lamellar device for creating independence of the clockwise and counterclockwise circuits of a 2-phase circuit, and

[0010] A5. multiple delivery 4-phase pump and assembly diagram thereof.

[0011] B. Balancing of the moments of the inertial forces generated by the oscillatory motion of the rotors and transmitted to the supporting frame,

[0012] C. generation of rotor oscillatory motion,

[0013] D. Claims.

[0014] A1. Active Circuits of the Pump

[0015] FIG. 1/10 shows the active circuit ring fastened on each rotor. It consists of a tube with circular longitudinal axis whose center is common to the axis O-O′ (FIGS. 8/10 & 10/10) of the shaft around which the rotors rotate. The tube cross section is preferably square or rectangular with a pair of mutually parallel faces perpendicular to the axis O-O′ in order to use all available space and simplify application of inlet unions Ei (i=1, 2, 3, 4) on one of the above mentioned faces and outlet unions Ui (i=1, 2, 3, 4) on the other. On this tube is applied by way of example a number Ncb=4 of identical 2-phase circuits CBi each of which consists of one inlet Ei, two 1-way valves Vi and Vi′ (where i=1, 2, 3, 4 and i′−1′, 2′, 3′, 4′) arranged on the right and left of Ei and with mutually opposed consent direction, two active circuits one of which counterclockwise Ci and one clockwise Ci′, and one pair of outlets Ui each arranged at the end of the circuits Ci and Ci′ of which one is used in common with the above active circuit and one with the following active circuit. The smaller number of Ncb, equal to the unit, characterizes the pump described in EU patent application dated Mar. 30, 1999 and USA patent application dated May 17, 1999.

[0016] The latter pump can thus be considered a special case for Ncb=1 of the pump which is the subject matter of the present invention.

[0017] The 2-phase multiple pump consists of the series made up of an assembly of identical 2-phase circuits arranged as shown in FIG. 1/10 and fastened on the rotor R1 and by an identical assembly of circuits fastened to the rotor R2. The two rotors are subjected to oscillatory motion with identical frequency and relative phase other than 90°. In addition the series is made with the use of, (a) an inlet distributor Den connecting the inlet E01 of the 2-phase pump liquid with the inlets Ei of the circuits CBi arranged on R1; (b) an intermediate distributor Din connecting the outlets of the circuits CBi arranged on R1 with the inlets of the circuits CBi arranged on R2; (c) an outlet distributor Dus connecting the outlets Ui of the circuits CBi arranged on R2 with the outlet U02 of the pump.

[0018] It is observed that (1) the distributor pair (Den, Din) establishes the parallel of the circuits CB, fastened on R1; the pair (Din, Dus) establishes the parallel of the circuits CBi fastened on R2, while the set of three (Den, Din, ,Dus) establishes the series of the two parallels; (2) the liquid contained in each circuit of the assembly of circuits fastened on R1 is stressed by identical inertial forces and therefore both the liquid of a circuit and the summation of the liquids of all the circuits fastened at R1 have behaviour identical to that of a similar circuit with Ncb=1. A 2-phase pump with Ncb=1 has a number of active circuits Nc=2, delivery Q=Nc Qc=2 Qc and a head ps=p0/Nc, =P0/2=pc/2 where po is the head developed by a circuit with radius ro and length equal to that of the summation of the circuits Ci and Ci′ contained in the circuit of FIG. 1/10. Similarly the multiple pump proposed, assuming Ncb=4 and identical radius ro, has a number of active circuits Nc=8 and develops a head ps=p0/8 and delivery Q=8 Qc.

[0019] For this reason the pump which is the subject matter of the present invention is designated hereinafter ‘multiple delivery pump’, it being understood that the multiplicity is given by a factor equal to the sum of the clockwise and counterclockwise active circuits fastened to each rotor arranged at the pump inlet.

[0020] A2. Liquid Distributors

[0021] The three following types of distributors are employed; (a) inlet distributor Den which transfers the liquid from the pump source to the inlets of the circuits CBi fastened to the first rotor; (b) the intermediate distributor Din which distributes the liquid of the 2-phase circuit outlets fastened to the first rotor at the inlets of the circuits CBi fastened to the next rotor; and (c) the outlet distributor Dus which transfers to the pump outlet the liquid of the outlets of the circuits CBi fastened to the second rotor.

[0022] The distributor Din consists (see FIG. 2/10) of the hollow cylinder branch 1 to each end of which is applied a round plate fastend to cylinder 2 to prevent leaks of the liquid and fasten cylinder 1 in a position coaxial with shaft 3 around which the rotors rotate. The internal part 4 has the shape of a cylindrical ring included between the inside diameter of the cylinder 1 and the outside diameter of the cylinder 2. The ring has the function of allowing passage of the liquid with constant speed from the inlet Ei (or outlet Ui) unions to the outlet Ui (or inlet Ei) unions applied to the exterior of the distributor. The unions are connected by flexible tubes to the outlet unions Ui and the inlet unions Ei respectively of the circuits CBi fastened to the two side-by-side rotors. The axes of the inlet and outlet unions are arranged as shown in FIG. 2/10 on two distinct planes perpendicular to the rotation shaft 3; the two planes can coincide provided the space occupied by the unions allows it.

[0023] The distributors (a) and (c) are distinguished from the distributor (b) by having only inlet (or outlet) unions while the outlet (or inlet) of the liquid can have an axis parallel or perpendicular to the rotor rotation axis.

[0024] A3. Connection of the 2-Phase Circuit Unions Fastened to the Rotor with the Corresponding Distributor Unions

[0025] The liquid is transferred from the outlets Ui (i=1,2,3,4) of the distributor (see FIG. 3/10) at the inlets Ei of the 2-phase circuit CBi with the employment of four flexible tubes whose axes are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotor rotation shaft in order to prevent torsion stresses in them. In addition, opposite the maximum rotor speed oscillation angle the flexible connection tube axis is bent in a circumferential arc while the inlet and outlet unions are bent in such a manner that at the connecting points the tangent in each of the two end points of the flexible tube axis coincides with the tangent to the axis of the associated union. This is in order to reduce to a minimum the stresses on the flexible tube. The same diagram is used for the inlets of the 2-phase circuits to be connected with the distributor outlets.

[0026] The two unions to be connected one of which is fastened to the ring of the active circuits and the other to the distributor ring can have a rectangular or round cross section. The rectangular cross section of the flexible tube union is found by extending parallel to the rotor rotation axis the rectangular inlet or outlet cross section of the 2-phase circuit from which is derived the required union with the major side parallel to said axis. The rectangular cross section has the following advantages, to wit, (1) it makes use of the surface occupied without the presence of unused surfaces as with the circular cross section; (2) the minor side of the union cross section is arranged on a plane at right angles to the rotor rotation axis and occupies a circumferential arc of the ring of the active circuit and distributor whose length is adjustable by choosing the length of the major side of the cross section; this gives the number of 2-phase circuits necessary for having the required delivery multiplication factor of the delivery of the active circuits; (3) the rectangular cross section of the ring facilitates application of the inlet and outlet unions on two opposite faces of the active circuit ring; (4) the flexible connection tubes have reduced bending stress due to the limited length of the minor side of the cross section; and (5) the rectangular cross section of the flexible tubes is made non-deformable with resistant material filaments arranged parallel to the minor side of the section.

[0027] A4. Lamellar Device for Creating Independence of the Clockwise and Counterclockwise Circuits of a 2-Phase Circuit

[0028] The device is basically made up of the laminations 3 and 4 of FIG. 5/10 welded at the sides on the base opposite that of side inlet (or outlet) union 2 of the liquid in such a manner as to separate the liquid of the clockwise circuit from that of the counterclockwise circuit. The two laminations are connected to the inlet (or outlet) of union 2 in such a manner as to form common segment 6 visible in FIG. 4/10 which is the side view of the union 2 with a round cross section. The independence of the two circuits is useful in reducing water leaks at the inlet and outlet of the 2-phase circuit.

[0029] A5. Multiple Delivery 4-Phase Pump and Assembly Diagram thereof

[0030] The multiple delivery 4-phase pump (see FIG. 6/10) consists of four rotors R1, R2, R11, R22 oscillating around a shaft (see FIG. 8/10) or around two shafts (see FIG. 10/10) with relative phase of 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° respectively. Each rotor pair (R1,R2), (R11,R22) on each of which is fastened an assembly consisting for example of four identical 2-phase circuits as shown in FIG. 1/10 constitutes a multiple 2-phase pump with relative inlet phase (0°, 180°) e (−90°, +90°) respectively. In the pump associated with the pair (R1,R2) the liquid has a path divided in the following stages, to wit, inlet E01, inlet distributor Den, inlets and outlets of the 2-phase circuits fastened to R1 connected respectively with flexible tubes to the distributors Den and Din, inlets and outlets of the 2-phase circuits fastened to R2 and connected with flexible tubes to the distributors Din e Dus respectively, and outlet U02 of the 2-phase pump (R1; R2) connected with the outlet U0 of the multiple 4-phase pump. A similar path is followed by the liquid of the 2-phase pump (R22; R11), which departs from the inlet E022 located in parallel with E01 and connected to the inlet E0 of the pump, traverses the inlet distributor D′en, the circuits fastened to the rotor R22, the intermediate distributor D′in, the circuits fastened to the rotor R11, the outlet distributor D′us, and the outlet U011 of the 2-phase multiple pump (R22; R11) connected with the outlet U0 of the multiple 4-phase pump.

[0031] B. Balancing the Inertial Force Moments Generated by the Oscillatory Motion of the Rotors Transmitted to the Supporting Frame

[0032] For reduced powers and rotation speeds the moments transmitted to the supporting frame can be balanced by the frame itself with a suitable form or by constraining the frame to the floor on which it rests. For higher powers it is necessary to provide that the summation of said moments is null at all times. To achieve this result it is necessary to employ four identical rotors R1, R2, R11, R22 which, assuming sinusoidal oscillatory motion, must oscillate at the same frequency and relative phase of 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° respectively. In addition the four rotors must have the same moment of inertia as their rotation axis. The multiple delivery 4-phase pump built with four oscillating rotors as specified above meets this condition. For the multiple delivery 2-phase pump with circuits installed on two rotors, balancing requires the introduction of two oscilating flywheels as set forth above and having moment of inertia the same as that of each rotor. This system can be useful due to its lesser space occupied and smaller construction cost, for example for pumps with large delivery and small relative head.

[0033] C. Rotor Oscillatory Motion Generation

[0034] For pump rotor oscillatory motion generation the three following cases are taken into consideration.

[0035] (a) Oscillatory motion of the four rotors Ri (i=1, 2, 11, 22) of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump around a single shaft generated with a connecting-rod & crank system. The basic components are (see FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10) (1) a single shaft 2 fastened to the supporting frame 1 to which are applied bearings 3 around which can rotate rotors Ri; (2) a shaft of the crank 5 parallel to the shaft 2 and rotating on bearings fastened to the frame 1; and (3) the four connecting rods 8 which transmit oscillatory motion to the rotors. On each rotor is fastened a gudgeon 9 at a predetermined distance from the axis of the shaft 2. On shaft 5 are fastened four identical cranks 6 whose pins 7 have relative phases of 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°. In addition each of the four pin & gudgeon pairs is connected to a connecting rod 8 so that the rotary motion of the shaft 5 causes the oscillatory motion of the rotors Ri in accordance with the intended modalities.

[0036] (b) Oscillatory motion on a single shaft of the four rotors Ri (i=1, 2, 11, 22) of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump generated by bearings applied to the crank pins. The mechanism (see FIG. 9/10) proposed for EU and USA patents as set forth above is made up of a shaft of the cranks 1 having axis O1-O′1 to which for each of the four rotors Ri (i=1, 2, 11, 22) is fastened a crank 2 to which is applied a pin 3 having an axis O2-O′2 parallel to the axis O-O′ of the rotation shaft of the rotors 6 and the above mentioned associated phase. To each pin is applied a bearing whose outer ring 4 rotates alternately and with close tolerance on one of the two parallel plates 5 fastened rigidly to each rotor Ri in a position symmetrical with the axis O-O′. In this manner there is a periodic oscillatory motion of each rotor Ri around the axis O-O′ for the rotation of the crankshaft on bearings fastened to the supporting frame. The motion is defined by the distance OO1 and O1O2 of the corresponding axes.

[0037] (c) Oscillatory motion of the two rotor pairs (R1; R2) and (R11; R22) of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump around two parallel shafts generated by a connecting-rod & crankshaft system. The basic components of the mechanical system (see FIG. 10/10) are (1) two parallel shafts 2 and 5 fastened to the supporting frame 1 around each of which can rotate on the bearings 3 the two rotor pairs (R1; R2) and (R11; R22); (2) a crank shaft 4 which, arranged in a position symmetrical to the shafts 2 and 5, can rotate on bearings fastened to the supporting frame 1; and (3) four connecting rods 7 transmitting motion from the shaft 4 to the rotors R1. On each rotor is fastened a gudgeon with the same distance from the axes of the corresponding shafts 2 and 5. On the shaft 4 are fastened four identical cranks whose pins 6 have relative phases 0°, 90°, 80°, 270°. Each pin & gudgeon pair is connected by a connecting rod 7 so that for the rotary motion of the crank shaft 4 there is corresonding oscillatory motion of the rotors with the intended characteristics. The two rotor pairs (R1; R2) and (R11; R22) are arranged on opposite sides of a plane perpendicular to the rotation shafts so that the two inlets and two outlets of the component multiple delivery 2-phase pump pair are side-by-side on opposite sides of said plane. This avoids laborious secondary connections.

Claims

1. Pump operating on rotational inertial forces with proportional delivery and head inversely proportional to the number of active circuits with the possibility of balancing of the moments of the inertial forces transmitted to the pump supporting frame and generation of rotor oscillatory motion with the pump including a curved tube in the form of a cylindrical ring whose axis coincides with the rotation axis of the rotor to which it is fastened with the tube divided in Nc identical active circuits so as to form with the contribution of the one-way valves Nc/2 2-phase inlet and outlet circuits arranged on opposite faces of the ring with the sum of the deliveries of each inlet proportional to Nc while the pressure developed is proportional to 1/Nc to achieve a pump with very high delivery and relatively low pressure.

2. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by a pump inlet liquid distributor fastened to the supporting frame and having its inlet connected with the source of the liquid and its outlets connected with the inlets of an assembly of identical circuits CB fastened to a rotor.

3. Pump in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the intermediate liquid distributor is fastened to the supporting frame and has its inlets connected with the outlets of an assembly of identical 2-phase circuits CB fastened to the preceding rotor and outlets connected with the inlets of an assembly of identical 2-phase circuits CB fastened to the following rotor.

4. Pump in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the liquid outlet distributor is fastened to the supporting frame and has its inlets connected with the outlets of an assembly of identical 2-phase circuits CB fastened to the preceding rotor and outlets connected with the pump outlet.

5. Pump in accordance with the above claims characterized in that it is a multiple delivery 2-phase pump consisting of the series of two assemblies of identical 2-phase circuits CB as described in claim 1 and arranged on the identical rotors R1 and R2 oscillating with identical frequency and relative phase of 0°, 90° and that the series is made up of pump inlet, inlet distributor as set forth in claim 2, CB assembly fastened on R1, intermediate distributor as set forth in claim 3, CB assembly fastened to the rotor R2, outlet distributor as set forth in claim 4, and pump outlet.

6. Pump in accordance with claims 3 and 5 characterized in that it is a multiple delivery 2-phase pump consisting of the series of two assemblies of circuits CB as set forth in claim 5 and arranged on the identical rotors R22 and R11 oscillating with identical frequency and relative phase of 180°, 270° with the series being made up of pump inlet, inlet distributor as set forth in claim 2, CB assembly fastened on R22, intermediate distributor as set forth in claim 3, assembly of circuits CB fastened to the rotor R11, outlet distributor as set forth in claim 4, and pump outlet.

7. Pump in accordance with claims 1, 5 and 6 characterized in that it is a multiple delivery 4-phase pump consisting of the parallel of two identical multiple delivery 2-phase pumps as set forth in claims 5 and 6 with relative inlet and outlet rotor oscillation phase (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) and having the advantages of delivery double that developed by each pump making up the parallel, steady developed pressure and delivery, automatic balancing of the moments transmitted to the supporting frame and caused by the rotor oscillatory motion.

8. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by connection with flexible tubes of the inlet or outlet unions of an assembly of identical 2-phase circuits CB fastened to the rotor with corresponding distributor unions fastened to the supporting frame with the connection made so that the terminal axis of the unions and the axis of the flexible tube employed are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotor rotation axis and so that opposite the angle with maximum rotor rotation speed the flexible tube axis is identified with a circumferential arc to reduce bending stresses to a minimum and prevent torsion stresses in the flexible tubes employed.

9. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by a connection of the inlets and outlets of the 2-phase circuits with the corresponding outlets and inlets of the distributor achieved with the employment of unions and flexible tubes with rectangular cross section whose minor side is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotor rotation axis to allow increase of the active circuits to secure the intended delivery and reduce bending stresses of the flexible connection tubes.

10. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by a device consisting of laminations appropriately arranged to create independence of clockwise and counterclockwise circuits of the 2-phase circuits to increase pump efficiency.

11. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by generation of oscillatory motion of the rotors of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump around a single shaft with the employment of a connecting rod & crank system with the advantage of less radial space occupied.

12. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by generation of oscillatory motion of each rotor pair (R1; R2) and (R11; R22) of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump on two distinct rotation shafts generated with the use of a connecting rod & crank system with the advantage of a rational position of the pump inlets and outlets and less space occupied in accordance with the axis of the rotation shafts.

13. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by generation of oscillatory motion of the rotors of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump around a single shaft by means of a bearing applied on a crank pin whose external ring rotates alternately on one of the two parallel plates fastened to each rotor symmetrically with respect to its rotation axis with the system allowing saving of components and smaller space occupied.

14. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by balancing of the moments of the inertial forces caused by the rotor oscillatory motion and transmitted to the supporting frame by the use of four rotors of a multiple delivery 4-phase pump each having an identical moment of inertia with respect to the relative rotation axis and relative phase of 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°.

15. Pump in accordance with claim 1 characterized by balancing of the moments of the inertial forces transmitted to the supporting frame of a multiple delivery 2-phase pump with circuits arranged on two rotors oscillating around a single shaft with relative phase of 0°, 90° with the balancing being achieved by two flywheels having inertial moment identical to that of each rotor and subjected to oscillatory motion with identical frequency and relative phase of 180°, 270° respectively with the oscillation of the rotors and flywheels being generated by the system set forth in claim 13 and the advantage of smaller space occupied and construction cost.