Pump Drive System

Abstract

A system is provided for a product pump drive for pumping fluids or substances into or out of a tanker-trailer towed by a tractor, the system including an auxiliary diesel engine mounted on the tractor, the engine operating a hydraulic pump used to operate a hydraulic motor operatively coupled to a product pump. The system can further include a high-pressure shutdown mechanism to shut down the engine if the pressure of the hydraulic fluid pumped by the hydraulic pump exceeds a high-pressure threshold. The system can also include an air conditioning unit and/or an electrical generator operatively coupled to the auxiliary diesel engine.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/174,957 filed May 1, 2009, and hereby incorporates the same provisional application by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is related to the field of pumping systems for use in pumping fluids to and from tanker trucks, and for use in providing hydraulic power to hydraulic tools, cranes, bucket lifts and the like.

BACKGROUND

It is known to use the engine on a tanker tractor hauling a tank to power a product pump used to pump fluids or substances into or out of the tank. This can be done either through directly mounting the product pump under the chassis of the tractor and coupling the product pump to a transmission-driven power take-off (“PTO”) through shafts, belts or other means of mechanical coupling as well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the PTO can drive a hydraulic pump to power a hydraulic motor, via hydraulic hoses, to operate the product pump mounted above or on the chassis of the tractor. In either of these configurations, the tractor's engine must operate at an elevated rotational speed or revolutions per minute (“RPM” or “RPMs”) when the product pump is pumping fluids or substances into or out of the tank.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that this can result in increased fuel consumption and maintenance costs for the tractor, as the tractor engine is typically larger in power capacity (300 to 500 horsepower or more) than is what is required to effectively operate the product pump (up to 50 horsepower). In addition, the service intervals for the engine are reduced due to the increased amount of time the engine is left running to operate the product pump.

In addition, some jurisdictions or regions have bylaws that restrict the idling of vehicle engines due to noise and/or emission concerns or restrictions.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system for pumping fluids or substances into or out of a tank that overcomes these shortcomings and disadvantages.

SUMMARY

A system is provided that comprises an auxiliary engine coupled to a hydraulic pump that, in turn, operates a hydraulic motor for operating a product pump. In one embodiment, the auxiliary engine can comprise a diesel engine in power range of up to 50 horsepower that is more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly in operating the product pump, or an auxiliary hydraulic circuit, than using the engine of the tractor.

In another embodiment, the system can comprise a safety shut-down mechanism that monitors the pressure of the hydraulic oil used by the hydraulic pump to operate the hydraulic motor. The safety mechanism can comprise a high-limit pressure setting that operates to stop the auxiliary engine if the hydraulic oil pressure exceeds the high-limit pressure setting. Such a safety mechanism can prevent situations where the product pump is pumping fluids or substances into or out of a tank, or the auxiliary hydraulic circuit is operating, at a pressure that exceeds the pressure rating of the hoses used in the pumping of the fluids or substances thereby avoiding the failure of the hoses and the loss of fluids or substances from the failed hoses.

In other embodiments, the system can function as an auxiliary power unit (“APU”) for the tractor by operatively coupling with the tractor's cooling system, fuel system and battery pack. In another embodiment, the system can also comprise an air conditioning unit or compressor operatively coupled to the auxiliary engine, as well known to those skilled in the art, to provide air conditioning for the tractor. In further embodiments, the system can also comprise an AC electrical generator operatively coupled to the auxiliary engine, as well known to those skilled in the art, for providing electrical power. By operating the APU when the tractor is parked or stationary for extended periods of time, the consumption of fuel can be reduced thereby resulting in less wear and tear on the tractor's engine and a reduction of exhaust emissions being released into the atmosphere. It can also comply with anti-idling bylaws that have been introduced in some jurisdictions.

In some embodiments, a system is provided comprising: a diesel engine; a hydraulic pump operatively coupled to the engine; a hydraulic motor; a product pump operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor; and a selector valve operatively coupling the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor whereby hydraulic fluid pumped by the hydraulic pump when the engine is running can operate the hydraulic motor to, in turn, operate the product pump to pump the fluids or substances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a product pump drive system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a product pump drive system for installation on a tractor for a tanker-trailer is shown. In this embodiment, system 10 comprises engine 12 operatively coupled to hydraulic pump 14. Engine 12 can be any suitable diesel engine in the up to 50 horsepower range. Representative examples of suitable engines include the Super 03 Series or Super 05 Series of diesel engines as manufactured by Kubota Corporation of Osaka, Japan. By using a diesel engine for engine 12, engine 12 can use the same fuel used for the engine on the tractor.

Hydraulic pump 14 pumps hydraulic fluid through hose 16 to selector valve 18 that is used to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from hydraulic motor 20 through hoses 24. Motor 20, in turn, can be operatively coupled to product pump 22 via clutch 42 and driveshaft 44 to pump fluids or substances into or out of a tank (not shown) using hoses (not shown) coupled to pump 22. Lever 17 on valve 18 can be operated to circulate hydraulic fluid to motor 20 in either direction so that motor 20 can turn clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on whether pump 22 is being operated to pump fluids or substances to or from a tank.

Hydraulic fluid can be circulated through system 10 by flowing from selector valve 18 through hose 26 and filter 28 to hydraulic fluid tank 30. Hydraulic fluid is drawn from tank 30 by hydraulic pump 14 through hose 32. In an alternate embodiment, hose 32 can be coupled to hydraulic fluid heat exchanger 34 that can be used in the transfer of heat, in either direction, between hydraulic fluid flowing through hose 32 and engine coolant circulating from engine 12 through hoses 36.

In another embodiment, system 10 can further comprise high-pressure switch 40 that can monitor the hydraulic fluid pressure in hose 16. Switch 40 can be adjustable in the pressure that operates the switch. When the hydraulic fluid pressure exceeds the high-pressure limit set on switch 40, switch 40 can operate shut-off solenoid 13 disposed on engine 12 via cable 15 to shut engine 12 down thereby preventing damage to system 10 or to pump 22 and the hoses attached thereto for pumping fluids or substances.

In other embodiments, system 10 can also be used in combination with the engine of a tractor used to tow the tank (not shown). The heated engine coolant of engine 12 can be coupled to the engine cooling system of the tractor engine to keep the tractor engine warm during cold weather conditions without having to idle the tractor engine. In other embodiments, system 10 can be used to operate an alternator or battery charging system (not shown) to keep the batteries of the tractor charged when the tractor engine is not running.

In other embodiments, system 10 can comprise a remote control system (not shown) for controlling the operation of engine 12 and system 10 in general as well known to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, system 10 can further comprise positive air shut-off/over-speed protection mechanism as well known to those skilled in the art.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a) a diesel engine;

b) a hydraulic pump operatively coupled to the engine;

c) a hydraulic motor;

d) a product pump operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor; and

e) a selector valve operatively coupling the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor whereby hydraulic fluid pumped by the hydraulic pump when the engine is running can operate the hydraulic motor to, in turn, operate the product pump to pump the fluids or substances.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an air conditioning unit operatively coupled to the engine.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an electrical generator operatively coupled to the engine.