GRAVITY-ASSISTED FLUID PUMP
A gravity-assisted fluid pump includes a fluid reservoir, a piston, a valve element, a piston operator, and a valve operator. The piston is movably disposed within the fluid reservoir and is movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. The valve element is movable between a closed position and an open position. The piston operator moves the piston between the uppermost position and the lowermost position. The valve operator selectively moves the valve element between the closed position and an open position.
The present invention generally relates to fluid pumps and, more particularly, to a fluid pump in which the pumping action is assisted by the force of gravity.
BACKGROUNDFluid pumps are used in myriad systems and environments to move various fluids. There are also numerous and varied classes of pumps, such as centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, and numerous and varied pump types within each pump classification. No matter the specific pump classification or type, most are driven by a relatively inefficient prime mover. Moreover, the efficiencies of most pumps is relatively low.
In the present global energy landscape, in which energy resources are becoming more and more scarce, and energy efficiency is becoming more and more pronounced, there is an increased need for a fluid pump that is relatively more energy efficient that presently known pumps. The present invention addresses at least this need.
BRIEF SUMMARYIn one embodiment, and by way of example only, a fluid pump includes a fluid reservoir, a piston, a valve element, a piston operator, and a valve operator. The fluid reservoir includes an inner surface that defines a fluid volume for receiving a fluid. The piston is movably disposed within the fluid reservoir against the inner surface, and divides the fluid volume into an upper variable fluid volume and a lower variable fluid volume. The piston is movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position and includes an upper side exposed to the upper variable fluid volume, a lower side exposed to the lower variable fluid volume, and an aperture extending between the upper and lower sides. The valve element is movable between a closed position, in which the valve element seals the aperture to thereby fluidly isolate the upper variable fluid volume from the lower variable fluid volume, and an open position, in which the valve element does not seal the aperture to thereby fluidly communicate the upper variable fluid volume with the lower variable fluid volume. The piston operator is coupled to the piston and is responsive to an input force to move the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position. The valve operator is coupled to the valve element and is operable to selectively move the valve element to the closed position and an open position.
In another exemplary embodiment, a fluid pump system includes a fluid reservoir, a piston, a valve element, a piston operator, a valve operator, a piston actuator, a valve actuator, and a valve actuator control. The fluid reservoir includes an inner surface that defines a fluid volume for receiving a fluid. The piston is movably disposed within the fluid reservoir against the inner surface and divides the fluid volume into an upper variable fluid volume and a lower variable fluid volume. The piston is movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position and includes an upper side exposed to the upper variable fluid volume, a lower side exposed to the lower variable fluid volume, and an aperture extending between the upper and lower sides. The valve element is movable between a closed position, in which the valve element seals the aperture to thereby fluidly isolate the upper variable fluid volume from the lower variable fluid volume, and an open position, in which the valve element does not seal the aperture to thereby fluidly communicate the upper variable fluid volume with the lower variable fluid volume. The piston operator is coupled to the piston and is responsive to an input force to move the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position. The valve operator is coupled to the valve element and is operable to selectively move the valve element to the closed position and an open position. The piston actuator is coupled to the piston operator and is operable to selectively supply the input force thereto that moves the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position. The valve actuator is adapted to receive actuator control signals and is operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply an actuation force to the valve operator to move the valve element to the closed position and an open position. The valve actuator control is operable to supply the actuator control signals to the valve actuator. The valve actuator control is configured to supply actuator control signals that cause the valve element to be moved to the open position when the piston is in the lowermost position, and to the closed position when the piston is in the uppermost position.
In yet a further exemplary embodiment, a fluid pump includes a fluid reservoir, a piston, a valve element, a piston rod, a valve operator, a piston actuator, a valve actuator, and a discharge conduit. The fluid reservoir includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an inner surface that defines a fluid volume for receiving fluid. The piston is movably disposed within the fluid reservoir against the inner surface and divides the fluid volume into an upper variable fluid volume and a lower variable fluid volume. The piston is movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position and includes an upper side exposed to the upper variable fluid volume, a lower side exposed to the lower variable fluid volume, and an aperture extending between the upper and lower sides. The valve element is movable between a closed position, in which the valve element seals the aperture to thereby fluidly isolate the upper variable fluid volume from the lower variable fluid volume, and an open position, in which the valve element does not seal the aperture to thereby fluidly communicate the upper variable fluid volume with the lower variable fluid volume. The piston rod is coupled to the piston upper surface and extends upwardly therefrom to an upper end. The piston operator is responsive to an input force to move the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position. The valve operator is coupled to the valve element. The piston actuator is coupled to the piston operator and is operable to selectively supply the input force thereto that moves the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position. The valve actuator is coupled to the valve operator and is operable to selectively supply an actuation force thereto that moves the valve element to the closed position and an open position. The discharge conduit has an inlet and an outlet. The discharge conduit inlet is in fluid communication with the lower variable fluid volume via the fluid reservoir fluid outlet, and the discharge conduit outlet is disposed at a position above the upper variable fluid volume.
Other desirable features and characteristics of the fluid pump will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
Referring first to
Referring now to
The valve element 112 is disposed adjacent the piston 108 and is movable between a closed position, which is the position depicted in
The piston operator 114 is coupled to the piston 108 and is responsive to an input force to move the piston 108 between its uppermost and lowermost positions. Although the configuration of the piston operator 114 may vary, in the depicted embodiment, and as shown most clearly in
The valve operator 116 is coupled to the valve element 112 and is operable to selectively move the valve element 112 between the closed position and an open position. Although the valve operator may also be variously configured, in the depicted embodiment the valve operator 116 is implemented as a shaft 214. The shaft 214 (see
Returning once again to
The pump control 104, as has already been referred to, comprises the piston actuator 152 and the valve actuator 154. As
The valve actuator 154 is coupled to the valve operator 116, and more specifically to the upper end of the shaft 214. The valve actuator 154, like the piston actuator 152, may be variously configured and implemented. For example, it may be a variously configured manually-operated actuator, a variously configured electromechanical actuator, a variously configured hydraulic actuator, a variously configured mechanical operator, or a variously configured pneumatic actuator. In one particular preferred embodiment, the valve actuator 154 is an electromechanical actuator, such as a solenoid actuator, that is coupled to receive actuator control signals. The valve actuator 154, in response to the actuator control signals, selectively supplies an actuation force to the valve operator 116 (e.g., the shaft 214) to move the valve element 112 between the closed position and an open position.
The valve actuator control 158 is coupled to, and supplies the actuator control signals to the valve actuator 154. As will be described momentarily, the valve actuator control 158 is configured to supply actuator control signals that cause the valve element 112 to be moved to the open position when the piston 108 is in the lowermost position, and cause the valve element 112 to be moved to the closed position when the piston 108 is in the uppermost position.
Turning now to
As depicted in
It is noted that the fluid pump 102 depicted and described herein is preferably configured such that the upper variable fluid volume 132 is always larger than the lower variable fluid volume 134, despite the position of the piston 108. This is because, as may be appreciated, a larger volume of fluid 124 above the piston 108 results in a greater gravitational force being applied to the piston 108. Hence, for a given input force from the piston operator 114, the height that the fluid 124 can be displaced from the fluid reservoir 106 as the piston moves downwardly is increased. Moreover, for a given height of fluid displacement from the fluid reservoir 106, the larger the volume of fluid 124 above the piston 108, the lower input force supplied from the piston operator 114 may be. As a result, a smaller, lower power piston operator may be used.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A fluid pump, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir including an inner surface that defines a fluid volume for receiving a fluid;
- a piston movably disposed within the fluid reservoir against the inner surface and dividing the fluid volume into an upper variable fluid volume and a lower variable fluid volume, the piston movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position and including an upper side exposed to the upper variable fluid volume, a lower side exposed to the lower variable fluid volume, and an aperture extending between the upper and lower sides;
- a valve element movable between a closed position, in which the valve element seals the aperture to thereby fluidly isolate the upper variable fluid volume from the lower variable fluid volume, and an open position, in which the valve element does not seal the aperture to thereby fluidly communicate the upper variable fluid volume with the lower variable fluid volume;
- a piston operator coupled to the piston, the piston operator responsive to an input force to move the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position; and
- a valve operator coupled to the valve element and operable to selectively move the valve element to the closed position and an open position.
2. The pump of claim 1, further comprising:
- a piston actuator coupled to the piston operator and operable to selectively supply the input force thereto that moves the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position.
3. The pump of claim 2, wherein:
- the piston operator comprises a rod coupled to the piston upper surface and extending upwardly therefrom to an upper end; and
- the piston actuator is coupled to the rod upper end.
4. The pump of claim 3, further comprising:
- a support bearing assembly surrounding, and providing lateral support for, the rod.
5. The pump of claim 3, wherein:
- the rod is hollow; and
- the valve operator comprises a shaft extending through the rod and having a lower end coupled to the valve element.
6. The pump of claim 1, further comprising:
- a valve actuator coupled to the valve operator and operable to selectively supply an actuation force thereto that moves the valve element to the closed position and an open position.
7. The pump of claim 1, further comprising:
- a discharge conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the discharge conduit inlet in fluid communication with the lower variable fluid volume, the discharge conduit outlet disposed at a position above the upper variable fluid volume.
8. The pump of claim 7, further comprising:
- a check valve disposed within the discharge conduit between the discharge conduit inlet and outlet.
9. The pump of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir includes a fluid inlet adapted to receive fluid from a fluid source.
10. The pump of claim 1, wherein the upper variable fluid volume is larger than the lower variable fluid volume, regardless of the position of the piston.
11. A fluid pump system, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir including an inner surface that defines a fluid volume for receiving a fluid;
- a piston movably disposed within the fluid reservoir against the inner surface and dividing the fluid volume into an upper variable fluid volume and a lower variable fluid volume, the piston movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position and including an upper side exposed to the upper variable fluid volume, a lower side exposed to the lower variable fluid volume, and an aperture extending between the upper and lower sides;
- a valve element movable between a closed position, in which the valve element seals the aperture to thereby fluidly isolate the upper variable fluid volume from the lower variable fluid volume, and an open position, in which the valve element does not seal the aperture to thereby fluidly communicate the upper variable fluid volume with the lower variable fluid volume;
- a piston operator coupled to the piston, the piston operator responsive to an input force to move the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position;
- a valve operator coupled to the valve element and operable to selectively move the valve element to the closed position and an open position;
- a piston actuator coupled to the piston operator and operable to selectively supply the input force thereto that moves the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position;
- a valve actuator adapted to receive actuator control signals and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply an actuation force to the valve operator to move the valve element to the closed position and an open position; and
- a valve actuator control operable to supply the actuator control signals to the valve actuator, the valve actuator control configured to supply actuator control signals that cause the valve element to be moved to (i) the open position when the piston is in the lowermost position and (ii) the closed position when the piston is in the uppermost position.
12. The pump of claim 11, wherein:
- the piston operator comprises a rod coupled to the piston upper surface and extending upwardly therefrom to an upper end; and
- the piston actuator is coupled to the rod upper end.
13. The pump of claim 12, further comprising:
- a support bearing assembly surrounding, and providing lateral support for, the rod.
14. The pump of claim 12, wherein:
- the rod is hollow; and
- the valve operator comprises a shaft extending through the rod and having a lower end coupled to the valve element.
15. The pump of claim 11, further comprising:
- a discharge conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the discharge conduit inlet in fluid communication with the lower variable fluid volume, the discharge conduit outlet disposed at a position above the upper variable fluid volume.
16. The pump of claim 7, further comprising:
- a check valve disposed within the discharge conduit between the discharge conduit inlet and outlet.
17. The pump of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir includes a fluid inlet adapted to receive fluid from a fluid source.
18. The pump of claim 1, wherein the upper variable fluid volume is larger than the lower variable fluid volume, regardless of the position of the piston.
19. A fluid pump, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an inner surface that defines a fluid volume for receiving fluid;
- a piston movably disposed within the fluid reservoir against the inner surface and dividing the fluid volume into an upper variable fluid volume and a lower variable fluid volume, the piston movable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position and including an upper side exposed to the upper variable fluid volume, a lower side exposed to the lower variable fluid volume, and an aperture extending between the upper and lower sides;
- a valve element movable between a closed position, in which the valve element seals the aperture to thereby fluidly isolate the upper variable fluid volume from the lower variable fluid volume, and an open position, in which the valve element does not seal the aperture to thereby fluidly communicate the upper variable fluid volume with the lower variable fluid volume;
- a piston rod coupled to the piston upper surface and extending upwardly therefrom to an upper end, the piston rod responsive to an input force to move the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position;
- a valve operator coupled to the valve element;
- a piston actuator coupled to the piston rod and operable to selectively supply the input force thereto that moves the piston to the uppermost position and the lowermost position;
- a valve actuator coupled to the valve operator and operable to selectively supply an actuation force thereto that moves the valve element to the closed position and an open position; and
- a discharge conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the discharge conduit inlet in fluid communication with the lower variable fluid volume via the fluid reservoir fluid outlet, the discharge conduit outlet disposed at a position above the upper variable fluid volume.
20. The pump of claim 19, further comprising:
- a check valve disposed within the discharge conduit between the discharge conduit inlet and outlet.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 1, 2010
Applicant: STEWART PHILLIP INTERNATIONAL LLC (Phoenix, AZ)
Inventor: Raimond Emile Immelman (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 12/345,159