With Control Of Pumped Fluid Outlet Patents (Class 417/135)
  • Patent number: 8983667
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Patent number: 8858190
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a non-electric pump. Gas pressure, typically steam or compressed air, is used to move a liquid, typically steam condensate, from a low pressure source to a high pressure destination. A tank fills with liquid from the source. Once full, the motive pressure is admitted to the tank and the pressure forces the liquid to the destination. When the tank is empty, the motive valve shuts and a vent valve opens to vent off the motive gas. A balanced trap plunger with an unattached float linkage provides for improved pump efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Watson McDaniel Company
    Inventor: Robert Collins
  • Patent number: 8594851
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Patent number: 6244828
    Abstract: A combination pump and trap is disclosed which includes a snap-over mechanism useful for small floats with little buoyancy. The snap-over mechanism has a geometry in which the distance between the float or compression arm pivot point and the pivot for the portion of the spring connected to a first arm or toggle link is greater than the distance from the float or compression arm pivot point and the pivot for the portion of the spring connected to the float or compression arm. This geometry allows the magnification of buoyancy by the main arm which is transmitted to the first toggle link to be large and the magnification of buoyancy by the first toggle link which is transmitted to the change-over valve to be large. A trap which is connected to the float arm is also used, which allows a liquid seal to be maintained at the liquid discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: TLV Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5938409
    Abstract: A gas powered pump tank is alternately filled with liquid such as water at low pressure, and then emptied by gas pressure such as from pressurized steam. An auxiliary exhaust assist valve opens at a threshold pressure after switching from the pumping phase to the filling phase to more quickly vent the pressure in the tank and minimize obstruction of the incoming flow of liquid. The pump tank has inlet and outlet check valves for the liquid, permitting flow only in a positive pumping direction. A gas inlet valve and a primary gas exhaust valve are controlled by an alternating mechanism such as a float with a snap action toggle that opens one of the gas valves while closing the other. The auxiliary exhaust assist valve has a valve body spring biased inwardly of the tank, and opens at a pressure lower than the pumping pressure, thereby venting the tank more rapidly and also assisting in venting any additional steam produced by boiling of the water or other liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Spirax Sarco, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Radle, Jr., Daniel E. Douro
  • Patent number: 5401142
    Abstract: In order to enable only condensate to be discharged/fed under pressure without leaking out steam independently of the respective pressures at the primary side and at the secondary side, in a condensate discharging device comprising a condensate receiving chamber provided with a condensate inlet opening and a condensate outlet opening as well as an operating high pressure fluid inlet and outlet; a float disposed within the chamber and adapted to rise and drop along with the water level; an inlet valve connected to the float and used for opening and closing the inlet; an exhaust valve connected to the float and used for opening and closing the outlet; and check valves, one arranged at the condensate inlet opening and the other at the condensate outlet opening, the improvement comprises a valve mechanism connected to the float to open and close the outlet opening independently of the check valves, the valve mechanism being adapted to close the condensate outlet opening when the water level is low, and to open th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5366349
    Abstract: An automatic liquid pump contained within a sealed pressure vessel. The pressure vessel includes a liquid inlet opening, a liquid outlet opening, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A preloaded float-operated over-center valve mechanism closes the gas inlet valve and opens the gas outlet valve to permit vapor to vent through the gas outlet valve. The over-center valve mechanism alternately closes the gas outlet valve and opens the gas inlet valve to admit compressed gas into the sealed vessel to evacuate the liquid within the sealed vessel through the liquid outlet opening. A float valve is coupled to the liquid outlet opening for closing the liquid outlet opening when the liquid in the vessel drops below a first predetermined level. As a result, vapors are prevented from escaping through the liquid outlet opening under all operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Gestra, Inc.
    Inventor: Edmond Ilg
  • Patent number: 4842487
    Abstract: There is provided an improved fluid pumping device including an enclosure to be placed downhole in a well. A first hollow tube is received in the enclosure and extends to the surface of the well for removing fluid from the well. A second hollow tube also extends into the enclosure for forcing a gas into the enclosure. The bottom of the enclosure has an opening for permitting fluid to enter. A mechanical mechanism is provided for forcing the closing of the opening in the enclosure so that the device may be utilized in deep wells where high fluid pressures occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventors: William G. Buckman, Robert L. Boots
  • Patent number: 4828461
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring metered quantities of a flowable bonding agent from a tank into a mixer of a sand core making machine has an upright tubular vessel into which the bonding agent is drawn from the tank by a suction pump and a pressure pump which transfers the accumulated bonding agent from the vessel into the mixer. The vessel contains a float which cooperates with sensors serving to generate signals for actuation or deactivation of the pumps and/or valves in the conduits connecting the vessel with the tank, mixer and the pumps. The bonding agent is kept out of contact with the pumps and out of contact with the valves in the conduits connecting the vessel with the pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Dipl. Ing. Laempe GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Laempe
  • Patent number: 4770610
    Abstract: A pump for pumping a slurry of frail material is provided by a rigid chamber which is connected to a source of negative air pressure when an inlet valve is open and an outlet valve closed to suck the slurry through the open inlet valve into the chamber, the amount of slurry in the chamber is sensed and when it reaches a preset amount a controller is triggered to disconnect the source of negative pressure and close the inlet valve, and then admit air under positive pressure to the chamber, then open the outlet valve to drive the contents of the chamber through the outlet by replacing a significant amount of the contents with air. The controller then causes the air pressure in the chamber to be reduced and closes the outlet valve, and then reconnects the chamber to the source of negative pressure and then opens the inlet valve to commence a second cycle. The inlet and outlet valves are bladder type valves to protect the frail material and permit simplified operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Innovac Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Breckner