GB2433492A

GB2433492A - Tank-refilling pump arrangements

Info

Publication number: GB2433492A
Application number: GB0607849A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Worswick; David Trimby; Chas Millard; Lee Bishop
Original assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
Current assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
Priority date: 2005-12-09
Filing date: 2006-04-20
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Also published as: KR20080083136A; EP1957394A1; CN101321685A; GB0607849D0; JP2009518577A; GB0525134D0; WO2007066091A1; US20080277018A1

Abstract

A refilling pump arrangement comprises a refilling hose (1), and a submersible pump (2) mounted at the end of the hose. This arrangement provides the pump for refilling as part of the 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 liquid tank. This enables space savings for the parts of the vehicle which have the most critical space demands. May be used for refilling a fuel tank or a water tank.

Description

TANK-REFILLING PUMP ARRANGEMENTS

This invention relates to pump arrangements. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to pump arrangements used for the refuelling of hydrocarbon fuelled machinery that 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 need to take these vehicles to a filling station would of course be an extremely inefficient use of the machinery resource. Instead, such vehicles are typically refuelled on site from a barrel, bowser or some other such mobile or localised static containers.

To enable this refuelling operation, 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.

For some machinery, space saving and weight is of vital importance. For example, excavators that are designed for working in confined spaces (in cities) are referred to as short radius or zero swing machines. Boats designed for speed are weight dependant.

According to the invention, there is provided 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. For example, 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. For example, 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.

The 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, corn p rising: coupling a pump arrangement to the tank, 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, immersing the pump in a reservoir of liquid; and controlling the pump to provide refilling.

An example of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a pump arrangement of the invention; and 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.

Conventionally, 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 I for submersion into a fuel barrel. At the end of the hose, 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. For example, 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.

As shown in Figure 4, 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.

In the case of a centrifugal pump, 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. As a result, 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).

By way of example, the motor may draw 8 to 9 Amps when pumping liquid, but draw around 4 Amps when in air.

In this example, 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.

Only one type of vehicle has been shown, but as outlined above, the invention can be applied to many different types of vehicle where space or weight saving is an issue, so that the freedom to detach the pump arrangement and choose where storage should be will provide advantage.

In the example above, the pump arrangement is for refuelling, but the same arrangement may be used for pumping other liquids. For example, 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.

There are various possible pump designs that can be used, for example the centrifugal pump mentioned above, sliding vane pumps or others.

The implementation of the sensing of the current drawn by the pump motor will be routine to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. 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.

2. A pump arrangement as claimed in claim 1, for pumping fuel from a mobile fuel storage vessel into a vehicle fuel tank.

3. A pump arrangement as claimed in claim 1, for pumping water into a vehicle water tank.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump comprises a centrifugal pump.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump is fitted within a substantially cylindrical housing at the end of the hose.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing has an outer diameter of less than 65mm.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a strainer at the pump inlet.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a flow straightener at the pump inlet.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a strainer and flow straightener combined.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump comprises an electric motor, and wherein electrical supply wires are provided through the inside of the hose.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a non return valve at the pump outlet.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an air valve to aid priming.

13. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a fully sealed motor which is directly cooled by the pumped fluid.

14 An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an arrangement to de-couple the pump from the hose.

15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a shut off device for shutting off power to the pump based on the pump drive conditions.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pump comprises an electric motor, and the shut off device shuts off power to the pump when the current drawn by the pump motbr is below a threshold level.

17. A vehicle comprising a pump arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim stowed in or on the vehicle.

16. A method of refilling a storage tank of a vehicle, comprising: coupling a pump arrangement to the tank, 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, immersing the pump in a reservoir of liquid; and controlling the pump to provide refilling.

17. A method as claimed in claim 17 for refuelling a vehicle, wherein the storage tank comprises a fuel tank and the reservoir of liquid comprises a mobile fuel storage tank.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 for refilling a vehicle water tank, wherein the storage tank comprises a water tank and the reservoir of liquid comprises a natural waterway.