US2394486A - Pump - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 19

L. c. ROTTER ET AL 2,394,486

PUMP

Filed 001:. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. ROTTER ET AL 2,394,486

PUMP

Filed Oct. 5 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

Patented F eb. 5, 1946 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE Lutwin C. Rotter, Maplewood, and .Victor G.

,Klein, St. Louis, ,Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis, .M a corpora- ;tion of Missouri This invention relates topumps, and with reard to certain more specific features, to improvements upon the United States patent of VictorG.;Klein andJonathan'Kludt, No. 2,280,- .708, dated April 21, i1942,'f01 Pump; and :upon the pump disclosed in the United States patent application of the inventors herein, Serial No. 395,136, filed Mayzfi, 1941, eventuated asPatent No.:2,348,151,.datedMay2, 19 4.4. Among the several objects of the invention may be-notedthe provisionof animprovedpump for pumping a wide :range of materials from containers to applicator nozzles and the like, in which a load-carrying grease follower is pneumaticallypressed for pump priming, and in which the Weight effect of said .load is neutralized; the provision of .a device-of the class described which avoids sinking of thefollower into lubricant, regardless of lubricant consistency; the provision of a device of the class described which obtains even flow of lubricant; and the'provision of simplified valve means for carrying out said neutralization. Other :objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the .elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in thestructur-es hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying. drawings, inwhich is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on lines 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. .3 is -an -,end view of the parts Fig. 2, viewed from theleft;

Fig. 4 is a'vertical section of a control valve shownin midposition;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing said valve in a position to admit pressure for forcing down'a follower;

Fig. 6 is a view-similarto Fig. 5,, showing :the valve in a position to raise the follower;

Fig. 7 is anenlarged fragmentary plan view of a control nozzle;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a left-end view of Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

.Referringnowmore particularlyto :Fig. 1,.there is :shown at .numeral I a base which carriesfasshown in teners "3, :for holding .downwa .zcomm'erc'ial rdrum 5 of lubricant, caulking compound or the like. Standards Tonthe base I support a raised-platform 9. Supported on top of the platform ".9 is a :vertical cylinder '11, within which operates a piston 13 on apiston :rod 15. The rod-l5 at the bottom passes out through a suitable packing and isjoinedwith a frame H. This frame I! supports a reciprocatingair:engine i9. Engine l9 operatesthe'piston'rod 2| of a pump unit 23, the latter being bolted to .a lubricant follower plate-25. The plate "25 contacts the surface of lubricant or 1the'like in any open container 5 placed upon 'the'base 1 ,:and contacts loosely with its inside periphery. iIt prevents cratering of lubricant.

.Thus it will be seen =that-the members 43,15, 1:1, :19, 2.3 and 25constitute amovable unit which maybe lifted up ,or pressed down by air below or above-the piston 13. 'Air forjforcing this assembly downward is brought ,to the upper end of the cylinder 1! bya pipeaconnection 2-1. A connection 29 leads air' to the bottom 'of said cylinder I 1. Connections :21! and 29 lead. :to .a hand'lcontrol'valve 3| which is shown in Fig. 1 and detailed in-Figs-l, 5 and 6.

Air for the pipe-21 isbrought-to-the valve 3| by a pipe 33 leading from a manifold block 35. In pipe 33' is a regulating pressure-reducer -39, which is manuallyadjustable. Air for the .pipe

29is brcught tothe valve 3-! by "apipe 31. AtM

is shown themain air supply line for the manifold 35, in which is a shut-off valve 42.

A: pressure pipe :43 leads from the-manifold 35 and :in it is a solenoid control valve 45. ,At A! is a take-off for .a flexible air supply hose 49 supplying .airto'the engine i9. Themanifold is connected with an air cylinder-51 (shown more particularly'inFigs'2 and 3) by a pipe. This cylinder 5! is carried on the platform It carriesa piston' 53 on a piston rod 55 whlchpasses from the cylinder 5| into connection with a plunger 51 ina surge cylinder .59, the cylinder '59 being carried on the same frame B'Las iscarried the cylinder 5 I. The cylinder 59 is connected with afpipe 63. A flexible hose B5 is-connected to the 'outlet 61 of the pump .23 and receives pumped lubricant and delivers to a fiexiblehose 13 via aconnectionfiB, with which pipe 63 com- :municatesj Thus plunger 51 is exposed .to fluid pressurefrom the pump-23.

The lubricant hose 13 leads to a control valve (15 shown; in-Figs. 1 and. 7-9. It consists ina man,- ifoldbody 11-1 traversed by a; slide valve :19 nor- ;mally biased shut b a spring 81. The valve :iS

under control of a handle 83 which upon pressurev opens the valve 19. The handle 83 has an adjustable extension 85 for cooperating with a switch 81, the arrangement being such that the 1 switch 81 is closed when the valve 15 is opened,

and vice-versa. Thus an electric line 89 organized with the hose I3 and leading to the solenoid valve 45"is closed. This opens the valve 45 to admit air from the line 4| for operating the en gine I9. Thus the pump 23 is operated to compress lubricant over the lines 69 and I3 and out through the then open valve I9.

plunger 51 against the charge of air behind the piston 53 (Fig. 2).

In the line 42 leading from the manifold 3-5 Any pump surges are compensated for by movement of the:

For example, if the air pressure were the head of the cylinder 5I to relieve nressure when desired. For example, if the regulator 44 has been providing a relatively high pressure and it is desired to regulate it to provide a relatively lower pressure, it will be necessary to open the vent 46 temporarily to relieve said relatively high pressure, because the ordinary'pressure regulator does not have facilities for releasing a pressure higher than that for which it is regulated at a given time. 7 Thus it willbe seen that the construction of Figs. 2 and 3 is a very simple one for obtaining an effective reduction in surge due to reciprocating action of the pump 23, and this under various field conditions met with.

The valve 3| (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) consists in a body portion 9| bored out to receive a slide valve 93, the latter being grooved as shown at 95 for detent cooperation with a spring-biased ball 91.

When the ball 91 is in the groove as indicated at Fig. 4, the valve is in mid position;

The stem '93 is cylindric except where fiat as indicated at 99 for cooperation with sealing washers "II in cups I93 forming parts of nipples I05. Springs I Il'Iv in the cups I 05 normally biasthe washers I III into sealing engagement with the the spring I2I. The amount of this pressure is predetermined by the weight of the organized parts I3, I5, II, I9, 23 and 25. v this is to prevent the'weight of said parts from exerting a downward bias on the lubricant follower 25. V Operation is as follows: v 7 Valve 3I is pushed down as in Fig. 5. I Desired air pressure is supplied to the line 4Ias determined by a gauge 35 on manifold 35. Regulator 44 reducesthis pressure inline 42 and consequently on compensatorpiston 53. Regulator 39 reduces the line pressure in pipes 33, 21 and consequently on the top of the'piston I3. When the hand valve I5 is opened, the switch 8'! closes and energizes the electric line 89. This opens the solenoid valve 45 to admit full air line pressure to the flexible enginesupply hose 49. This starts the engine I9 into operation, and biases the piston 53 and the plunger 51. The follower 25 is pushed down because of air flowing over pipe 21 to the'top of piston I3. Air exhausts over line 29 from beneath piston I3 and releases at a predetermined pressure because of throttle valve I I9. The predetermined pressure at which the throttlevalve I I9 releases has a value which will be discussed further in the next paragraph. Lubricant is pumped out from under follower 25 by pump 23' over the lines 65, I3 to the open valve, and the pressure of'any surges are compensated for by the resiliency of the air at adjusted pressure behind the piston 53 and plunger When enough lubricanthas been obtained, the

valve 75 is cut on- This also opens the switch 31 and closes the solenoid valve 45. Thus the engine I9 stops and this prevents buildingupof unnecessary pressure in the lines 65 and I3. At this time, valve 3| may be set at its upper position (Fig. 4) and hence the pipe 29 is out oii from the inlet and from exhaust in valve 3 I.

This also cuts oirsupply air from pipe 21 and valve II9 while the valve was exhausting. This 7 7 pressure is predetermined by the Spring IZI at When the stem 93 is up (Fig; 6), the port ms connects pipes 31 and 29. Also, when one set of pipes 33, 2'! or 31, 29 is connected the other is disconnected from the air pressure supply.

In'addition, when the stem 93 is up (Fig. 6),

' the pipe 21 may exhaust via a groove I I 3, port exhaust from the pipe 29 (from the bottom of the piston I3) must be at a pressure determined'by a unit value such that the total pressure 'force pushing up on'the piston I3 is equal to'the.

weight of the parts I3, I5, I1, I9, 23 and 25. Thussaid parts (when equilibrium is reached on piston I3); although they contact the surface of the material in the drum 5, donot sink into the material for any substantial" distance, and

consequently no hydraulic floating arrangement l g is required, regardless of the consistency of the material. The predetermined'air pressure under piston I3 prevents sinking. At the same time no counterweights are needed, which leads to a considerable weight reduction and enhances portability. I

It will be seen that for thinner fluids carried in the container 5 the regulator 39 maybe adjusted for lower pressures above-the piston I3;

and for heavier fluids it is adjusted 'for higher I pressures. The total weight of the parts I3; I5,

pump 23 is thus always equal to the total load brought about by the unit air pressure on the topof the piston I3, which may be closely controlled from the regulator 39; Without balanc ing pressure under the piston I3, it would not'b'e' The purpose of possible to obtain a range of pressure adjustments on the fluid in the container below values predetermined by the weight of parts I3, l5, l1, I9, 23 and 25. By means of this invention, it is possible to take advantage of this range.

When the valve 93 is pushed up above the mid position (Fig. 6) the port I09 connects the pipes 31 and 29, which has the effect of placing line pressure under the piston I3 while air from the top may exhaust, as already made clear. Since the solenoid valve 45 is beyond the manifold 35, it is seen that the pipes 29 and 31 are always supplied with air at line pressure. lifts the assembly I5, I'I, I9, 2|, 23 and 25 against any suction on 25 in container 5 The empty drum 5 may then be removed and a full one inserted.

It will be seen that the dead weight of the assembly on the piston rod I5 is supported by air trapped beneath the piston I3, thus preventing the follower 25 from gradually sinking into such lubricant as may not have a consistency adapted to support said weight. Also the range of pressure control on follower 25 is considerably extended into the smaller values. Also the air trapped under piston I3 at the pressure allowed by the valve H9 prevents the necessity of designing the follower 25 so as to float any weight upon it, because that weight is balanced by said air pressure under said piston I3. At the same time, the valve H9 releases air from under the piston I 3' under influence of air pressure from the line H brought to the top of the piston I3 via lines 33 and 21. Thus at any position in its stroke, the piston I3 is supported by the trapped air under it with a force counterbalancing the weight of the assembly supported from the rod I5.

It will be noted that the valve H9 is effective as a pressure limiting device only when the stem 93 of valve 3! is entirely down, that is, when the latter is admitting pressure to the top of the piston I3. When the valve is in neutral position, such as shown in Fig. 4, which is its normal position when the device is idle, this valve is cut off from communication with the underside of the piston I 3, but it will be clear that the air pressure retained under the piston I 3 is that which will counterbalance the gravity load, thus relieving the follower 25 of any function of floating on the lubricant the gravity weight of connected parts.

Also, priming of the pump 23 is effected only by the degree of air pressure on the top of piston I3, and not by the gravity weight of parts on the follower 25. Thus, the priming pressure may be controlled at will to the smallest values, and is not dependent in any way upon said weight. This makes the device effective on a wide range of materials of various consistencies.

It is to be understood that the regulator 44 is adjusted to a pressure in the cylinder 5| which is low enough to prevent the piston 53 from being pushed to the outermost end of its stroke (to the left in Fig. 2), but high enough that the piston is not pushed to the innermost end of its stroke (to the right in Fig. 2). This allows for a range of movement which will allow for volume changes which compensate surge pressures.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved'and othe advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions Without departing from the scope This forcibly of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for pumping, and applying controlled priming pressure to liquid and semi-liquid materials of various consistencies carried in containers, comprising a movable follower located above the material in a container and contacting with the material surface at various levels assumed by its surface, a pump assembled with and carried by the follower and pumping material from under it, a cylinder above the follower, a movable piston in said cylinder, said piston being connected with the pump and follower assembly and adapted to lift or depress it, separate fluid supply connections from a fluid supply line to points in said cylinder above and below said piston respectively, exhaust connections from the cylinder above and below th piston respectively, control means for said supply and exhaust connections, said control means being adapted to transmit fluid from said supply line to one end of the cylinder while venting its other end to its exhaust and vice versa, and pressure resistance means associated with that exhaust connection which is below the piston, said resistance means being adapted at all times to maintain exhaust pressure below the piston at a predetermined value substantially to counterbalance the weight of the pump and follower assembly so as to prevent it from sinking of its own weights into the material, regardless of the consistency of the material.

2. Apparatus for pumping, and applying controlled priming pressure to liquid and semi-liquid materials of various consistencies carried in containers, comprising a movable follower located above the material in a container and contacting with the material surface at various levels assumed by its surface, a pump assembled with and carried by the follower and pumping material from under it, a cylinde above the follower, a movable piston in said cylinder, said piston being connected with the pump and follower assembly and adapted to lift or depress it, separate fluid supply connections from a fluid supply line to points in said cylinder above and below said piston respectively, exhaust connections from the cylinder above and below the piston respectively, control means for said supply and exhaust connections, said control means being adapted to transmit fluid from said supply line to one end of the cylinder while venting its other end to its exhaust and vice versa, and pressure resistance means associated with that exhaust connection which is below the piston, said resistance means being adapted at all times to maintain exhaust pressure below the piston at a predetermined value substantially to counterbalance the weight of the pump and follower assembly so as to prevent it from sinking of its own weight into the material, regardless of the consistency of the material, and adjustable pressure-reducing and regulating means in said supply line connection above the piston, whereby a full range of priming pressures may be applied to a material from low values to the highest of which the apparatus is capable.

LUTWIN C. ROTTER. VICTOR G. KLEIN.

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