Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/58—Arrangements of pumps
  • B67D7/68—Arrangements of pumps submerged in storage tank or reservoir
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S5/00—Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles
  • B60S5/02—Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D13/00—Pumping installations or systems
  • F04D13/02—Units comprising pumps and their driving means
  • F04D13/06—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven
  • F04D13/08—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven for submerged use
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D13/00—Pumping installations or systems
  • F04D13/02—Units comprising pumps and their driving means
  • F04D13/06—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven
  • F04D13/08—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven for submerged use
  • F04D13/086—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven for submerged use the pump and drive motor are both submerged

Definitions

• This invention relates to pump arrangements. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to pump arrangements used for the refuelling of hydrocarbon fuelled machinery tha t have movement cost implications. Such machinery is typically refuelled on site from mobile storage vessels such as barrels or bowsers.
• Examples of such machinery may include construction, agricultural or industrial machinery.
• Off road vehicles such as diggers, cranes, and other excavation vehicles are generally refuelled on site. These are typically, but not exclusively diesel vehicles. Boats and other marine equipment also have refuelling mobility issues.
• the machinery is typically provided with a pump which is integrally mounted, usually in the toolbox.
• a flexible hose is stored in a tool compartment, and this is coupled at one end to the pump inlet, whereas the free end is placed in the container.
• the outlet to the pump may be permanently connected to the machinery's fuel tank.
• the free end of the hose has a strainer, which is immersed in the diesel within the container.
• a pump arrangement for pumping liquid from a reservoir of liquid to a vehicle storage tank, the pump arrangement comprising a hose having one end adapted to be releasably coupled to the vehicle storage tank, and a pump mounted at the other, free end of the hose, the pump being adapted to be temporarily immersed in the reservoir of liquid.
• This arrangement provides the pump for refuelling or refilling of another tank as part of the refuelling/refilling hose.
• This hose and pump assembly can be stored anywhere, either on or off a vehicle, and when stored on the vehicle, it can be stored in an area that does not need to be adjacent the fuel/water tank. This enables space savings for the parts of the vehicle which have the most critical space demands.
• the pump may comprise a centrifugal pump, which is a well known reliable pump which can be made with no elastomeric moving parts, and is particularly suitable for the transfer of hydrocarbon fuels due to it's safe dry running capability.
• the pump is powered by a fully submersible motor which may be substantially cooled directly from the fluid being pumped.
• the pump is preferably fitted within a substantially cylindrical housing at the end of the hose, and this is sized to fit into the opening in a standard fuel barrel.
• the housing can have an outer diameter preferably less than 60mm, and particularly less than a 2 inch (50mm) BSP (British Standard Pipe) female thread.
• a strainer can be provided at the pump inlet.
• a flow straightener can also be provided at the pump inlet and these two may be combined.
• the pump preferably comprises an electric motor, and electrical supply wires are provided through the inside of the hose which protects them from rough handling and abuse.
• a non return valve can be provided at the pump outlet. To aid priming, a valve can be incorporated into the pump to allow air to be expelled from inside the pump before use, but to restrict fluid loss during pump operation.
• the pump and hose may be de-coupled (including electrical connections) to aid ⁇ serviceability.
• a shut off device can be provided for shutting off power to the pump based on the pump drive conditions.
• the pump can comprise an electric motor, and the shut off device shuts off power to the pump when the current drawn by the pump motor is below a threshold level. This can be used to detect when the pump is running dry, or if there is a blockage in the hose.
• the invention also provides a vehicle having a pump arrangement of the invention.
• vehicle may comprise a fuel tank with the pump separate or attached to it.
• the invention also provides a method of refilling a storage tank of a vehicle, comprising:
• the pump arrangement comprising a hose having one end adapted to be coupled to the vehicle storage tank, and a pump mounted at the other, free end of the hose,
• Figure 1 shows a pump arrangement of the invention
• Figure 2 shows a vehicle to which the invention can be applied
• Figure 3 shows how the cable arrangement is installed into the hose; and Figure 4 shows a modification to the pump arrangement.
• a first example of the invention relates to machinery which are refuelled remotely from a fixed refuelling centre, typically using fuel stored in barrels, bowsers or driven to site in a tank.
• a pump is mounted near the fuel tank to be filled and connected via a hose.
• a hose is connected to the pump and leads to the external fuel container for refuelling purposes.
• a first example of the invention provides a refuelling pump arrangement comprising a refuelling hose connected to or inserted into the tank, and a pump mounted at the free end of the hose. This enables the refuelling pump to be removed from the cab and made into a part of the hose, which is typically stored in a tool kit, either on or off the vehicle. When stored on the vehicle, it can be stored in an area that does not need to be adjacent the fuel tank.
• This arrangement provides the pump for refuelling as part of the refuelling hose.
• the pump arrangement is shown in Figure 1 , which shows the end of the hose 1 for submersion into a fuel barrel.
• the fuel pump comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 2 which houses a motor 3, a pump set 4 and a non-return valve 5.
• a filter can also be incorporated into the pump design 6.
• a flow straightener can also be added to the pump inlet 7, and these two items can be combined.
• An air check valve can also be incorporated into the pump above the pump set 4.
• the pump set 4 comprises a centrifugal pump, which is a well known pump suitable for fuel pumping.
• Figure 2 shows one example of the type of machinery which may use the pump arrangement of the invention, and shows excavation machinery.
• the housing 2 is designed to fit into the opening in a standard fuel barrel 12.
• the housing can have an outer diameter of 60mm.
• a control panel 10 is used to control the refuelling operation, once the refuelling pump arrangement has been connected to the inlet of the fuel tank 13. This connection provides both fluid and electrical connection of the refuelling pump arrangement to the fuel tank and control panel 10.
• the pump housing 2 is submerged in fuel 11 in the barrel 12.
• the control panel 10 can provide automated control of the pump to provide the required delivery flow rates and to cease operation of the pump when the tank is full or when the container is empty.
• the refuelling pump arrangement can be stored as part of the tool kit of the vehicle, and this can be stored anywhere on or off the vehicle. ⁇
• Figure 3 shows how the electricity supply 14 can be provided to the pump through the hose 1 , although it may instead run attached to an outer wall of the hose.
• an additional safety shut off device 20 can provide the automated control mentioned above, and which controls the power supply to the pump 2.
• This device can be used to prevent the pump running when the pump is not immersed in fluid, for example because all fluid has been pumped or the pump has not been inserted deeply enough into the tank 12. This prevents overheating and can also save energy.
• the load on the pump is directly related to the material being pumped, and the pump cavity will also empty after the pump is removed from the liquid.
• the current drawn by the pump motor can be measured and used as an indicator of whether the pump is immersed in liquid or if it is in a gas (e.g. air).
• the motor may draw 8 to 9 Amps when pumping liquid, but draw around 4 Amps when in air.
• a current flow of 5 Amps or less thus provides an indication that the pump is running dry, there are air bubbles in the pump, or there is no flow because the hose is blocked. By switching off the pump in these circumstances, there is an energy saving, overheating is prevented and the lifetime of the pump may be prolonged.
• a further switch 22 can be installed in the tank 13 to be filled to provide an indication that the tank is full, again to switch off the pump. This can be in the form of a normally closed float switch.
• the user control panel 10 forms part of the safety device 20, and can simply comprise an on and an off button, as shown schematically in Figure 4.
• the pump can only be turned on when there is sufficient current, and current overload can be protected by a fuse.
• the safety device will switch off whenever the tank being filled is full or tank being emptied is empty.
• the manual off switch provides an extra user controlled shut off capability.
• the pump arrangement is for refuelling, but the same arrangement may be used for pumping other liquids.
• the pump arrangement can be used to pump water from a stream/creek to a water storage tank. This may be of interest for many different types of agricultural vehicle.
• the arrangement of the invention provides the pump at the free end of the hose, namely as a portable fitting which is immersed in the liquid to be pumped on site.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
• Details Of Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
• Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=35735854

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (28)

• 2005
  • 2005-12-09 GB GBGB0525134.3A patent/GB0525134D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2006
  • 2006-04-20 GB GB0607849A patent/GB2433492A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-12-05 WO PCT/GB2006/004535 patent/WO2007066091A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-12-05 EP EP06820420A patent/EP1957394A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-12-05 CN CNA2006800457824A patent/CN101321685A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-12-05 JP JP2008543891A patent/JP2009518577A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-12-05 KR KR1020087016486A patent/KR20080083136A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2008
  • 2008-06-02 US US12/156,486 patent/US20080277018A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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