Abstract: An air sampling pump includes a reciprocating piston for operating a diaphragm assembly. The diaphragm includes a valve head including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a fluid chamber defining a fluid path between the inlet and outlet. A diaphragm sealing engages the valve head and encloses the fluid chamber. The diaphragm includes a piston diaphragm membrane portion coupled to the piston for reciprocating with the piston and reciprocation of the piston causes a change in air pressure within the fluid chamber to cause air to move from the fluid inlet toward the fluid outlet. The diaphragm includes a damper membrane portion, which cooperate to reduce an amplitude of pulsation in the airflow at the fluid inlet and fluid outlet.

Abstract: A multifunctional air extraction boosting pump includes an upper cover, two positioning rings mounted in the upper cover, a control valve mounted in the upper cover, an air inlet pipe connected with the upper cover, and a container connected with the upper cover. One of the positioning rings is initially mounted in the upper cover. Then, the control valve is mounted in the upper cover. Then, the other one of the positioning rings is mounted in the upper cover. Then, the air inlet pipe is mounted on the upper cover. Thus, the air extraction boosting pump is assembled easily and conveniently.

Abstract: Systems for pumping water are described. The system can include a covered pool containing a first volume of water, an oared water pump with a plurality of radial oars, an upper reservoir configured in fluid communication with the covered pool, a lower reservoir and a hydroelectric system. The oared pump can pump water from the covered pool into the upper reservoir. The upper reservoir can be configured to communicate water to the lower reservoir through the hydroelectric system with the lower reservoir configured in fluid communication with the covered pool.

Abstract: An elongate air operated pump includes a pump chamber, a bladder inside the pump chamber, inlet and outlet valves to and from the chamber and an air control system. The air control system includes a control valve alternately communicating compressed air and exhaust to atmosphere to a venturi with a first end, a second end and a throat port. The first end of the venturi receives continuous compressed air. The second end receives the alternately communication of compressed air and exhaust to atmosphere from the control valve. The throat port of the venturi is in continuous communication with the bladder to pressurize and draw a vacuum on the bladder. The valves may be pneumatic pinch valves controlled by the control valve to cycle with the bladder or passive one-way pump valves.

Abstract: A system is provided to control fluid flow in a wastewater treatment system through wastewater level manipulation. The wastewater treatment system may include a wastewater treatment plant connected to a plurality of pump stations by a main. Each of the plurality of pump stations may include a wet well with a pump therein. The system may include a central server in communication with a sensor to sense a level of wastewater within the wet well. The pump may be automatically moved to an on position when the level of the wastewater in the wet well is at or above a first level and may be automatically moved to an off position when the level of the wastewater in the respective wet well is at or below a pump cutoff level. The central server may systematically manipulate the first level to selectively set the level of wastewater within the wet well.

Abstract: Reductions in energy consumption and maintenance requirements for operating a wastewater treatment plant are achieved by controlling the operation of pumps at pump stations along a force main in a systematic fashion. The operation of the pumps is controlled to manage the flow of wastewater along the force main to minimize energy consumption, to eliminate sediment, to manage peak pressures encountered by smaller pumps and to avoid septic conditions.

Abstract: Vessels (10, 11, 12 and 13) are associated with an inlet manifold (14) passing to inlets (16), each controlled by a knifegate valve (17). The lower ends of the pots (10) and (12), and pots (11) and (13), pass material through respective outlet knifegate valves (22) to respective first (23) and second (24) delivery lines. The respective knifegate valves (17) and outlet knifegate valves (22) of pots (10) and (11) on the one hand and pots (12) and (13) on the other, are operable by respective common pneumatic actuators (25). Each pot has an ejector assembly (26) having an upper chamber (28), an air injector nozzle (30), and an accelerator tube (31) to create the venturi function. An air cycling valve (32) transitions the upper chamber (28) between a depressurized space and a pressurized space. The accelerator tube (31) exhausts to a delivery line (23 or 24). Ejector assembly (26) air is supplied via air control valve (35).

Abstract: A device for liquid removal from a drilled hole equipped for gas production from an underground accumulation, under the conditions in which a downward liquid film flow on the tubing string wall occurs, the device comprising a long lower inner liner (4) whose upper end (b) is beveled, surrounded by an “M”-shaped short-circuiting pipe (7), provided with short vertical portions (j and k), which, at the lower side, are secured to elbows (l and m) of an “M”-shaped discharge path (8) which partially surrounds the lower inner liner, the elbows continuing to the lower side with long vertical portions (n and o) and short vertical portions (p and q) which communicate between them through a lower horizontal portion (r), one long vertical portion having a curved lower end (s) mounted in a window (t) cut into the lower inner liner and the other long vertical portion having an open end (u) located in an accumulation chamber (a).

Abstract: A system pumps liquid. The system includes a compressed air source and a pump for vertically moving the liquid upward. The pump is powered by the compressed air source. The pump includes a first container, a second container disposed interior to the first container, and a U-shaped tube disposed interior to the first and second containers. The compressed air source supplies compressed air to the U-shaped tube at a vertical portion of the U-shaped tube.

Abstract: A system of de-watering boreholes by alternating cycles of aspiration and expulsion based on pneumatic displacement, includes a double hose to be introduced into a borehole. The double hose includes a flexible outer hose and a flexible inner hose separated by an annular space therebetween, the double hose adapted to reach a full depth of the borehole. The outer hose has an outer diameter less than a diameter of the borehole to provide an annular clearance between the borehole and the outer hose. An upper closing element is connected to an upper end of the double hose outside of the borehole, and has two outlets which permit entry and exit of air and water. A lower closing element is attached to the double hose at a lower end thereof, and includes a foot valve, a filter, and a protective element to serve as a battering ram.

Abstract: A pump for pressurizing a fluid includes an engine portion including a first pressure vessel, a first piston movable inside the first pressure vessel, at least two pressurant entrance valves connected to the first pressure vessel, and at least two pressurant exit valves connected to the first pressure vessel. The valves are configured to be opened and closed automatically and directly as a function of a position of the first piston inside the first pressure vessel. The valves are also configured to be automatically opened and closed out of phase with each other. The pump also includes a pump portion including a second pressure vessel, a second piston connected to the first piston and movable inside the second pressure vessel, at least two fluid entrance valves connected to the second pressure vessel, and at least two fluid exit valves connected to the second pressure vessel.

Abstract: A kinetic pump and method of pumping a liquid comprising providing an acceleration tube for the acceleration of a liquid contained therein by an introduced high-pressure vapor or gas, receiving the liquid from the acceleration tube with a compressed-air surge tank, admitting the liquid from the acceleration tube into the compressed-air surge tank via a check valve, draining the liquid from the compressed-air surge tank from an outlet, and adding additional liquid to the acceleration tube via an inlet, wherein during each first half cycle of the method, the vapor or gas forces the liquid to accelerate in the acceleration tube, whereby a portion of the liquid is forced into the compressed-air surge tank, and wherein during each second half cycle of the pump, the vapor or gas is substantially removed from the acceleration tube and the liquid flows back to its original location and the additional liquid is added to the liquid.

Abstract: A gas pressure driven fluid pump having an electronic cycle counter. The pump has a pump tank with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A switching mechanism is operative within the pump tank for switching to exhaust porting when the fluid level within the pump tank falls to a low level position and switching to motive porting when the fluid level within the pump tank rises to a high level position. An electrical counter circuit is operatively connected to the pump tank for incrementing a stored count in response to the fluid level within the pump tank rising to a predetermined level.

Abstract: Liquid raising systems raise liquid from a system inlet to a system outlet without any moving parts below the system outlet. One or more closed cells are disposed at elevations between the system inlet and outlet. A liquid conduit leads from the bottom of each cell to the top of the next downstream cell. Gas pressure-differential between two next-adjacent cells causes liquid to flow through the liquid conduit to the next cell. The pressure-differential need be only enough to move the liquid between adjacent cells. The cells are cyclically filled and emptied by sequentially applying the gas at higher and lower pressures to adjacent cells, thus progressively moving liquid toward the system outlet. A cell can have a variety of shapes and sizes, so long as the cell gas inlet is above the liquid inlet, and the liquid outlet is below both the liquid inlet and the gas inlet.

Abstract: The phase of this process is done by the functionality of the perforated lower stem, which due to the fact that its internal conduit is able to connect the lower bellow in an alternated way, first to the tubing and after, to the casing. This is possible due to the fact that it is assisted by: a) a window that communicates the casing with the tubing when the lower bellow is open, and b) sealing packing installed in the lower stem to isolate the casing pressure, in order that the lower bellow can register only the tubing pressure when it is in closing position.

Abstract: An air-operated, submersible pump features a bladder-controlled inlet applicable to water pumping or fluid separation, including the recovery of viscous hydrocarbon products. The inlet area fluidly penetrates through a portion of the wall of the pump, and the bladder, disposed within the pump body, is supported in overlying registration therewith. A pressure-operated valve in fluid communication with the discharge port facilitates a refill mode of operation, wherein fluid surrounding the pump flows into the pump body through the inlet area, and a discharge mode of operation wherein the air inlet is pressurized, causing the bladder to inflate and seat against and seal off the inlet area, and fluid which flowed into the pump body to be discharged through the discharge port. In the preferred embodiment, the inlet area comprises a plurality of apertures formed through the wall of the pump body arranged as one or more linear arrays lengthwise along the pump.

Abstract: A pneumatic pumping device for pumping liquids such as landfill leachates and polluted liquids or thick matter includes a tubular body (1) forming a pump body and defining a cylindrical main chamber (2) in the upstream and downstream ends of which respectively emerge an inlet (3) and outlet (4) for the liquid to be pumped. The pneumatic device further includes a sleeve valve (7) arranged in front of the inlet to control the passage of the liquid to be pumped through the orifice, elements (8) for controlling the opening and closure of the sleeve valve with a compressed gas, a delivery pipe (9) passing through the outlet and extending inside the tubular body over the major part of the length thereof, and elements for supplying the main chamber with compressed gas.

Abstract: An air-operated pump for groundwater sampling and other applications includes a removable cartridge coupled to a manifold configured to receive air-inlet and fluid-discharge tubes from an above-ground location. The removable cartridge may be in the form of a bellows or bladder, and may be removably attachable to the pump body through a press fitting. In contrast to prior implementations, the pump body features a manifold with fittings enabling the air-inlet and fluid-discharge tubes to be respectively inserted and sealed into the air-inlet and fluid-discharge ports. In the preferred embodiment, the fittings are such that the associated tubes cannot be removed without modification. For example, the fittings may include a grab plate associated with one or both of the air-inlet and fluid-discharge ports. Each grab plate includes an aperture with finned serrations such that through proper sizing of the plate features and associated tubing, the tube(s) may be inserted and sealed through appropriate compression.

Abstract: An axle bearing lubricating device includes a grease storage tank for providing lubricating grease to at least one grease propeller, the grease storage tank having a grease outlet, at least one grease propeller for propelling grease from the grease storage tank to a respective axle bearing, the at least one grease propeller each having a piston reciprocated to expel lubricating grease to a respective axle bearing, a manifold connected between the grease outlet of the grease storage tank and air holes on each grease propeller, and a high pressure system controlled to output high pressure air to the at least one grease propeller to reciprocate the piston in each grease propeller for enabling lubricating grease to be applied to each axle bearing.

Abstract: A pump having a pump chamber arranged to receive liquid to be pumped and air, a delivery pipe for delivery of the liquid by the air to a location remote from said pump chamber, an air pipe for flow of air therein. The delivery pipe and pump chamber are in fluid communication, as are the air pipe and said pump chamber. A first air flow control to control air flow via said air pipe during first and second stages of a pumping cycle of the pump. A timer controls the operation of said first air flow control to thereby set the durations of said first and second stages of said pumping cycle. A first valve allows liquid to enter said pump chamber. Wherein in said first stage of the pumping cycle of the pump, the first air flow control allows air to be directed via said air pipe to said pump chamber for a time period set by said timer to cause liquid to be pushed from said pump chamber into said delivery pipe with the air for delivery via said delivery pipe to said location.

Abstract: An air-operated pump for groundwater sampling features a corrugated bellows as opposed to the traditional bladder used for fluid collection. The preferred embodiment includes an air-supply line and a fluid-discharge line, each coupled to the pump body through a controller disposed at an appropriate above-ground location. The bellows is operable between a refill state, wherein fluid is drawn into the pump body through the fluid inlet, and a discharge state wherein fluid is forced out of the pump body through the discharge line. An apparatus disposed within the pump body governs the air received through the air-supply line to, at least, semi-automatically cycling the bellows between the refill and the discharge states. To assist in cycling, the pump may further include one or more magnets for latching the bellows in the refill or discharge state, and an electrical sensor for detecting whether or not the bellows is latched.

Abstract: A method of transferring fluent material transfers the material from a first pressure tank to a fluent material transfer destination by supplying compressed gas to the first tank through a compressor. The compressed gas is retained in the first tank for reuse. Additional fluent material is drawn into a second pressure tank and is transferred therefrom to the fluent material transfer destination by supplying the compressed gas from the first pressure tank to the second pressure tank through the compressor. The compressed gas is further retained in the second pressure tank transferring fluent material from the first pressure tank. As the compressed gas is emptied from each tank to the other tank, additional fluent material is drawn into that tank. The cycle can be repeated on a continuous basis to transfer large quantities of fluent material.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated and controlled pump which is capable of maintaining its efficiency and reliability in various environments. The pump head contains a spool and sleeve valve assembly operated in response to a signal pressure. The assembly controls the cycling of the pump through a pumping phase and a pump filling phase. A timing switch on the surface controls the occurrence of the signal pressure and thus the pump cycles, at preset intervals thus eliminating any lag time between the cycles and the need for operator estimations of the cycle times. This results in a virtually closed system and self contained unit.

Abstract: A compressed air-actuated pump includes a venturi nozzle to create a vacuum condition within a fluid-tight pump body to pump in a liquid or slurry. When a given level of liquid is pumped in, a control circuit closes a flexible sleeve of a pneumatically actuated pinch valve positioned in an exhaust passageway of the venturi nozzle. Upon closing of the pinch valve, the exhaust stream from the venturi nozzle is diverted into the pump body to create a pressurized condition therein whereby the liquid or slurry previously accumulated therein is pumped out. The pump also includes a pair of variable flow control valves for independently adjusting the flow rates of compressed air through the venturi nozzle in the vacuum, pump-in and in the pressurized, pump-out cycles. Solid state opto-electronic liquid level sensors or appropriate pneumatic, electric or electro-pneumatic timing devices are employed to signal the opening and closing of the pinch valve.

Abstract: A well pumping system uses a closed gas cycle to periodically unload a pumping chamber in a well. The system includes a tubing string having a downhole pumping chamber providing a check valve at the lower end. A packing assembly defines the upper end of the pumping chamber and includes a dip tube having a check valve allowing upward liquid movement through the dip tube. A conduit passes through the packing assembly. Pressurized gas is periodically pumped down the conduit to force liquid upwardly through the dip tube and tubing string. Cycling of the pressurized gas is controlled by a liquid seal control assembly at the surface. When the pumping chamber has been unloaded, the gas therein flows up the conduit and through the seal control assembly to a suction tank. The pressurized gas is thus maintained in a closed cycle.

Abstract: A cyclic lubrication system is pulled by compressed air by way of a timer so that an injector manifold, having a plurality of injector valves, is fed with a lubricant which is gravity fed into the system during the off times of the cyclic air pulsation. Each of the injector valves is adjustable with respect to the quantity of lubricant delivered.

Abstract: A fluid pump which uses a motive fluid for pumping liquid or gaseous fluids by use of a fluid inlet, a fluid exchange chamber, and a fluid exhaust means operates as follows: A fluid which is to be pumped is introduced into a fluid exchange chamber. The exchange chamber then isolates itself from the fluid source. Now a motive fluid is introduced to the exchange chamber. The fluid which is to be pumped is carried away from its intended use while the motive fluid displaces the previously existing fluid in the exchange chamber. The exchange chamber is then exhausted of its motive fluid contents and more fluid which is to be pumped, is once again introduced to the exchange chamber to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: The pneumatic device for pumping a solid-carrying liquid or slurry, which operates intermittently and is continuously under load, comprises a tubular body (1) in which a flap valve (12) is mounted so that it pivots in the downstream direction on a support (8) and cooperates with a seat to close a passage port (11) at the entry of a pumping chamber (17), between the seat and the delivery port (16). A pipe (18) which allows compressed air to enter opens into the pumping chamber (17). The valve (12) is opened under the pressure of the solid-carrying liquid or slurry to be conveyed, when compressed air is not allowed to enter the chamber (17). The entry of air causes the valve (12) to close and the chamber (17) to empty. A valve (20) which is operated by a timing device (23) controls the filling and emptying sequences. The device is useful for pumping dense slurries and solid-carrying liquids.

Abstract: An installation is provided for bringing into production hydrocarbon deposits with reinjection of effluents into the deposit or into the well or wells and a process for using this installation. Said installation comprises at least one sealed casing whose base communicates with the deposit; at least one sealing plug disposed in the lower part of the casing and forming a capacity; at least one duct for either injecting or removing a pressurized gas; a condensate injection pipe passing through the capacity and opening into the base of the casing beyond said plug; a production pipe passing through said capacity and possibly through said plug, this pipe communicating with the inner volume of the casing downstream of the plug, as well as with said capacity through a valving system.

Abstract: A method of controlling the removal of flowable material from a well using a pump in the well which includes a housing having at least one aperture leading to an interior chamber within the housing so that flowable material from the well can enter the chamber and a pressure responsive valve for opening and closing the aperture. Gas is supplied under pressure through a conduit to the pump to close the valve to terminate entry of the flowable material into the chamber and to force the flowable material out of the pump. The flow of gas under pressure is then terminated, and gas from the conduit is vented. The venting is carried out during the time that the gas under pressure is supplied through the conduit to the pump and following the termination of the flow of gas to the pump to bleed gas under pressure from the conduit and the pump so that flowable material from the well can again enter the chamber.

Abstract: A means and apparatus for transfer of pressure energy from a first fluid at high pressure to a second fluid at lower pressure via a piston mounted for free floating movement within a cylinder communicating on one side with the first fluid and at the other side with the second fluid and in which contamination of the second fluid by the first fluid is prevented during energy transfer by exposing the one side of the piston to clean fluid for substantial equalization of pressures on opposite sides of the piston before exposure of the piston to the first fluid at high pressure.

Abstract: Air operated dredging apparatus comprising a submerged pumping unit adapted to be dragged along an underwater bed which unit includes at least two pumping chambers periodically filled with loose material in admixture with water entering the chamber through a duct connecting a dredging shovel to the chamber, and emptied by feeding compressed air into the said chamber. A check valve is provided on the duct upstream of the entrance to the chamber whereby escape of air through the duct and the shovel is avoided.

Abstract: The pneumatic device for pumping a solid-carrying liquid or slurry, which operates intermittently and is continuously under load, comprises a tubular body (1) in which a flap valve (12) is mounted so that it pivots in the downstream direction on a support (8) and cooperates with a seat to close a passage port (11) at the entry of a pumping chamber (17), between the seat and the delivery port (16). A pipe (18) which allows compressed air to enter opens into the pumping chamber (17). The valve (12) is opened under the pressure of the solid-carrying liquid or slurry to be conveyed, when compressed air is not allowed to enter the chamber (17). The entry of air causes the valve (12) to close and the chamber (17) to empty. A valve (20) which is operated by a timing device (23) controls the filling and emptying sequences. The device is useful for pumping dense slurries and solid-carrying liquids.