US2280708A - Pump - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1942. v, KLEIN ETAL 2,280,708

PUMP

Filed Nov. 4, 1940 I) Sheets-Sheet l FIG.I.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 PUMP Victor G. Klein, St. Louis, and Jonathan Kludt, Ladue, Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Missouri Louis, Mo., a corporation of Application November 4,4940, Serial No. 364,194 22 Claims. (01. 221-411) semi-plastic materials directly from commercial containers; the provision of a pump of the class described which avoids the necessity for usingv a long suction tube whichwould set up too much friction in the case of semi-plastic materials; the. provision of a pump of the class. described which will provide semi-plastic material under such pressure as will force this material through lines of substantial length; and the provision of a device of the class described which will avoid entrainment of air and hence which will provide air-free delivery. 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 the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application-of which will be indicated in the following claims. In accompanying drawings, in which is illus trated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing follower and pump parts in elevated position above a container which is illustrated in section;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the follower and pump parts depressed into the container;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged'vertical section of certain pump parts at the begirming of a suction stroke;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, showing the position of parts at the end of the suction stroke;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of a lift cylinder; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

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

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral a commercial container for semi-plastics, such as caulking compounds, putty, or the like. It is desired to empty this container by applying a pump directly thereto.

Numerals 3 and 5 show supporting plates between which are spacing and supporting pillars 1. These form a supporting frame in which are tension holders |0| for the container I.

' On the upper plate 5 is carried a manifold 9 for a lift cylinder II. In the cylinder II is a piston |3 on the upper end of a piston rod l5, which passes down through a packing gland I! on the manifold 9. At the upper end of the cylinder H is a buffer spring l9 with which the piston l3 contacts at the upper end of its stroke. This absorbs shock.

In the manifold 9 is an inlet 2| communicating with the lower end of the cylinder H and also an inlet 23 which, through a pipe 25, communicates with the upper end of the cylinder Each of the inlets 2| and 23 carries an inlet fitting 29 and 3|, respectively, which provides for selective quick-detachable connections with a coupling 33 on the end of a flexible air hose 35. The hose 35 receives air from a supply line 31. By attaching the couplers 33 to one or the other of the fittings 29 or 3|, compressed air. may be brought under the piston l3 or above it. When the coupler 33 is on one of the fittings 29 or 3|, the other fitting serves as an air-relief port for the other side of the piston' I3, since' there are no check valves in the fittings 29 or 3 The line 31 also supplies a flexible hose 45 for supplying the motive fluid to an engine ll.

The piston i'od l5 extends downward where it is attached to a frame 39. This frame supports the fluid engine 4| (air engine in the present example), and its integral valve control 43. Thedetails of the engine and its valve gear are not shown, since these are known (see for example United States Patent 2,215,852 dated September 24, 1940, of Victor G. Klein, and the im- 7 provement application thereon of Frank S. Barks and Victor G. Klein, Serial No. 359,034, flied September 30, 1940, for Valve mechanism). The essential features of the engine, so far as the present disclosure is concerned isthat it receives an operating fluid over the flexible line which results in reciprocation of a downwardly directed piston rod 41 extending from the engine, provided that resistance to the .movement of the rod 41 is not so great as to stall the engine. When said resistance becomes great enough, the engine stops, Pump parts are attached to a plate 49 carried upon spacing pillars 5| extending from the engine 4|.

What may be referred to as a pump cylinder is shown at 53, fastened by means of a nut to the plate 49. This cylinder 53 at its lower end is attached to a flared hell 5!, flanged at the bottom, as shown at 59, and attached by means of Studs and removable wing nuts'il to a follower plate 63. The plate 63 has a movable fit in the drum I. The clearance between the circular edge of the plate 53 and the inner circular wall of the drum I need not be snug, but it should be a fairly accurate loose fit. The central por-- tion of the follower63 has a relatively large opening 65, to communicate with the hollow interior of the bell 51.

The cylinder 53 has an upper bore 61, in which is a closely fitting plunger 69. Below the bore Bl is a counterbore 1|, into the lower end of which is screwed a lift cylinder 13. The upper end of the cylinder 13 is formed with a spherical seat 15, for supporting a movable valve seat 11. The lower side of the valve seat is also spherical, and rocks on the supporting seat 15. Double-shouldered means 13 at the lower end of the cylinder 53 serves to axially center the valve seat, but permits rocking movement about anyhorizontal axis.

' The upper side of the valve seat 11 is machined (preferably flat) for sealing engagement with the lower edge of a valve 8|. The valve is slidable around an extension 83 from the plunger 69. The upper end of the valve 8! is crenelated as shown at 35, so that fluid may flow around it and, into the bore 61 upon a retractive stroke of the plunger 69, or at least to allow a communication between any vacuum in cylinder 61 with counterbore 1|.

The counterbore 1| is provided with an outlet 81 with which communicates an outwardly opening double check-valve member 89. The double check-valve member 88 communicates with an accumulator cylinder 9|, the opposite end of which is connected at 93 with a flexible line 95 leading to a hand control valve 91. Attached to the valve 91 may be any suitable nozzle for applying the semi-plastic.

At the lower end of the extension 83 (Figs. 3 and'4) is attached an elevator disc 99 which has a good enough fit with respect to the interior of the lift cylinder 13 (Fig. 4) to effect lifting of plastic past valve 8!, but said fit is poor enough so that above a certain pressure extrusion will occur of material back through the clearance between the elevator disc 93 and the cylinder 13. This will return to the supply.

Operation is as follows:

The coupling 33 is first attached to the fitting 29, whereupon air pushes up the piston It with rod I5 to lift the assembly of pump parts, including the follower 63, as shown in Fig. 1. This permits of placing the container I in position on the base 3 after its cover has been removed. The container may beheld down in proper axial position by means of tension rods. one of which is shown at. l0].

Next, the coupler 33 is removed from the fitting 29, whereupon gravity will carry down the pump parts by their own weight. This applies the follower 63 to the top of the plastic in the container I. If the plastic is particularly thick and additional force on it is desired, this may be obtained by applying the coupler 33 to the fitting 3|. This introduces air pressure above the piston 13 and applies force to the pump assembly via the rod l5. Hence additional force is applied to the follower 63.

when the valve 91 is opened, resistance is released in the outlet 81 and the pump 4| (which was theretofore stalled) automatically starts operation to reciprocate the plunger 69. Starting with the position of the plunger parts shown in Fig. 3, and progressing up to the position shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that a vacuum will be drawn by the plunger 69 in the bore 61, tending to unseat the valve 3| and to draw up plastic materials. Such a vacuum alone, it has been found, is not sufiicient to pump plastics at desired rates, especially not through long suction pipes. It is for this reason that the bell 51 and extension 83 are used with the elevator disc 99 and lift cylinder H3. The disc 99 serves to push up or elevate the plastic mass which is above it and raise this mass through the lift cylinder 13. After the elevator disc 33 enters the lift cylinder 13, the volumetric displacement of it in this cylinder 13 is greater than that in the bore 61. This is because of the relatively large bore of cylinder 13 and diameter of disc 99. Hence plastic crowds past the valve BI and this infills the vacuum in 51.

Any further excess that cannot be pushed on is squeezed back and out around the disc 99, and passes back to the supply in the bell 51. Upon a downstroke the valve Bl closes and the compressive action of the plunger 39 compresses material through the outlet 81.

During the upstroke both a vacuum (at 31) and a lifting action (by 99) are used, the lifting action serving not only to infill the vacuum under plunger 69 but also to squeeze plastic toward the outlet 81. The infllling into the vacuum under 69 prepares the plunger 69 for pressing out plastic to outlet 31 upon the downstroke. During the final portions of the downstroke, the elevator disc 33 is quite clear of the lift cylinder 13, so that during all this time (which is substantial) the plastic may in-fiow above the disc 99 to form a more or less clinging mass which is ready to be lifted into the lift cylinder 73 upon upward approach of the disc 99 to the cylinder 13.

The purpose of the accumulator Qi is to smooth out pulsations of flow, so that the flow in the line is relatively smooth.

As pumping continues and material is withdrawn from the drum I, the follower descends, and in view of the weight thereon, and, if desired, additional air pressure from above the piston I3, tends to squeeze material up into the bell 51 and above the elevator disc 99 when lowered as in Fig. 3.

Finally, the condition shown in Fig. 2 is reached, wherein most or all of the material has been withdrawn from the container l. The coupling 33 may be at this time applied to the fitting 29 and the assembly lifted to the Fig. 1 position, the frame 5, I and rods I 05 forming positive reaction means between the piston l3 and container I while the follower 63 is forcibly separated from the material It. If the suction action of the follower 63 resists lifting too much, the wing nut 6| may be loosened so that the assembly (down to and including the bell 51) may be withdrawn, after which the disc 63 may be pulled out, the vacuum having been broken by reason of entry of air through the opening 65. The disc may then be reapplied to the bell 51 for application to the next container. The large opening 65 available to atmosphere makes it easy to pick out the follower, if necessary.

The device is applicable to materials, the viscosities of which are such as not to pass between a fairly loose fit between the edge of follower B3 and inner wall of the container I, while the follower bears a weight or force from above, which is adapted to force the material through the relatively large opening 65 and into the bell 51.

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

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

We claim:

1. In a pump, a follower for application to the surface of material in a cylindric container, the shape of the follower loosely approximating a cross section of said cylinder with clearance, said follower having an opening for withdrawal of material, a pump located on the follower and withdrawing material through said opening, an engine associated with the pump, means for app ying fluid pressure to the engine and pump in the direction of their combined weights, the said fluid pressure and weight of the pump and engine being applied with the follower weight to the material as it is withdrawn from beneath it by the pump, the area of said clearance and of said opening being so related that said force and weight press material through said opening without pressing it through said clearance.

2. In a pump, a follower for application to the surface of material in a container, said follower having an opening for withdrawal of material, a pump cylinder located on the follower for withdrawing material through said opening and having an outlet for deliverypf material, an engine associated with the pump cylinder, a plunger reciprocated by the engine and operating in said cylinder, means for applying fluid pressure to the pump and engine in the direction of their weights, the fluid pressure and weights of the pump and engine being applied with the follower weight to the material as it is withdrawn from beneath by the pump, and quick-detachable means between the pump and the follower.

3. In a pump, a frame work, a follower for application to the surface of material in a container, said follower contacting the material on its bottomside and having an opening for withdrawal of material and also being exposed to atmospheric pressure on its top side, a pump cylinder attached to the follower and having an outlet for delivery of material, an engine associated with the pump cylinder, a plunger reciprocated by the engine and operating in said cylinder, fluid-pressure-operated means connected to the frame work for lifting the assembly of follower, engine and pump clear of the container and means attached to the frame work for holding the container in the frame when lifting is effective whereby the follower may be forcibly separated from said material without relieving the atmospheric pressure thereon prior to separation, said framework forming positive reaction means between the fluid-pressure-operated means and the container.

4. In' a pump, a follower for application to the surface of material in a container, said follower having an opening for withdrawal ofmaterial, a pump cylinder located on the follower and having an outlet for delivery of material, an engine associated with the pump cylinder, a plunger reciprocated by the engine and operating in said cylinder, the weight of the pump and engine being applied to the follower as material is withdrawn from beneath it by the pump, and fluid-pressure-operated means for lifting the assembly of engine and pump clear of the container, said pressure-operated means being also and follower against the material, which is in addition to the force of gravity of said engine and pump on the follower.

5. In'apparatus of the class described, a frame for receiving an open container for material to be pumped, a. cylinder at the top of the apparatus, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod reaching from said piston downwardly, an engine and pump assembly fastened to said piston' rod,

a follower supported in connection with said assembly and adapted to move into said container against the surface of material therein, said pump having an outlet and also an inlet through said follower, reciprocation of the pump by the engine resulting in withdrawal of fluid from beneath the follower for delivery to said outlet, means for delivering air beneath said piston to lift the assembly with the follower clear of the container, and means for releasing said air and delivering air above the piston to force said assembly to push the follower against the material in the container to effect an extrusion thereof through said inlet toward the pump.

6. Pump means comprising a follower forengaging the surface of the material to be pumped from a container, said follower having an opening forming a pump inlet, a lift cylinder above the inlet, a pump cylinder communicating with the lift cylinder, a plunger in the pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through the lift cylinder, an elevator disc on the extension movable from a position substantially clear of the lift cylinder to positions within the lift cylinder.

- 7. Pump means comprising a follower for engaging the surface of the material to be pumped, said follower having a relatively large opening, a relatively large bell-shaped inlet covering the opening, a smaller lift cylinder, a pump cylinder communicating with the lift cylinder, a valve controlling flow from the lift to the pump cylinder, a plunger in the pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through the lift cylinder, an elevator disc on the extension movable from a position substantially clear of the lift cylinder and in the bell-shaped inlet to positions within the lift cylinder, said pump cylinder ing an outlet above said valve.

8. Pump means comprising a follower for engaging the surface of the material to be pumped, said follower having an opening, a bell-shaped inlet covering the opening and a lift cylinder, a pump cylinder communicating with the lift cylinder, a plunger in the pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through the lift cylinder, an elevator disc on the extension movable from a position substantially clear of the lift cylinder to positions within the lift cylinder, the clearance betweenv the elevator disc and the lift cylinder being enough for permitting back-flow past the disc, a valve between the disc and the plunger, said pump cylinder having an outlet above said valve.

9. Pump means comprising a follower for engaging the surface of the material to be pumped, said follower having an opening, a bell covering the opening and a lift cylinder thereabove, a pump cylinder communicating with the lift cylinder, a plunger in the pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through the lift cylinder, an elevator disc on the extension movable from a position substantially clear of the lift cylinder and in the bell to positions within the lift cylinder, the clearance between the elevaadapted to apply force to move said assembly havtor disc and the lift cylinder being enough for back-flow when necessary past the disc, a valve between the disc and the plunger, said cylinder 'having an outlet above said valve, and means able from a position substantially clear of the lift cylinder to positions within the lift cylinder, a valve between the disc and the plunger, said cylinder having an outlet above said valve, and means for continually forcibly biasing the follower toward the material to extrude it through the opening and into said bell and above the elevator disc.

- 11. Pump means comprising a follower for engaging the surface of the material to be pumped, said follower having an opening, a bell covering the opening and including a lift cylinder thereabove, a pump cylinder communicating with the lift cylinder, a plunger in the pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through the lift cylinder, an elevator disc on theextension movable from a position in the bell to positions within the lift cylinder, the clearance between the elevator disc and the lift cylinder being enough for backflow past the disc, a valve between the disc and the plunger, said cylinder having an outlet above said valve, the volumetric displacement of the elevator disc in the lift cylinder being greater than that of the plunger in the pump cylinder during the part of the stroke in which the disc is in said lift cylinder.

12. Pumping apparatus comprising a pump cylinder, a plunger reciprocating therein, a lift cylinder forming an inlet for said pump cylinder, a bell extending from said lift cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through said lift cylinder to the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and loosely fitting the lift cylinder, the lift cylinder being in free communication with the bell, a valve between the lift cylinder and the pump cylinder permitting flow only from the former to the latter, said pump cylinder having an outlet located above said valve.

13. Pumping apparatus comprising a pump cylinder, a plunger reciprocating therein, a lift cylinder forming an inlet for said pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through said lift, cylinder, an elevator disc on said exten sion and loosely fitting the lift cylinder and movable from points outside to points inside of the lift cylinder, a valve between the lift cylinder and the pump cylinder permitting flow only from the former to the latter, said pump cylinder having an outlet located above said valve.

14. Pumping apparatus comprising a pumpcylinder, 9. plunger reciprocating therein, a lift cylinder forming an inlet for said pump cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through said lift cylinder, an elevator disc on said extension and loosely fitting the lift cylinder, a valve between the lift cylinder and the pump cylinder permitting flow only from the former to the latter, said pump cylinder having in communication therewith an outlet located above said valve, the bore of the lift cylinder being larger than that of the pump cylinder and said elevator disc fitting it loosely enough so that upon an upstroke excess material may be passed back to the bell-shaped portion around said elevator disc.

15. Pumping apparatus comprising a pump cylinder, a plunger reciprocating therein, a lift cylinder therein forming an inlet for said pump cylinder, a bell extending from said lift cylinder, an extension from said plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and loosely fitting the lift cylinder, the lift cylinder being in free communication with the bell-shaped member when clear of the disc, a valve between the lift cylinder and the pump cylinder permitting flow only from the former to the latter, said pump cylinder having in communication therewith an outlet located above said valve, the bore of the lift cylinder being larger than that of the pump cylinder and said elevator disc fitting it loosely enough so that upon an upstroke excess material may be passed back to the bell-shaped portion around said elevator disc.

16. Pumping apparatus comprising a frame for receiving a container for materials to be pumped, a cylinder at the upper end of the frame, a piston in the cylinder, means for introducing air either below or above said piston to lift or to depress it respectively, a piston rod extending .down from said piston, an engine and pump assembly supported by said piston rod and movable up and down, a follower carried by said assembly and engageable with the surface of the material in the container and having an opening for passage of said material to the pump, said pump comprising a cylinder, a plunger therein reciprocated by the engine, a bell connecting the cylinder with the opening in said follower, a lift cylinder between the pump cylinder and the bell, an extension from the plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and movable throughout a substantial portion of an upstroke freely in the bell and beyond the lift cylinder and thereafter in the lift cylinder.

17. Pumping apparatus comprising a frame for receiving a container for materials to be pumped, a cylinder at the upper end of the frame, a piston in the cylinder, means for introducing air either below or above said piston to lift or to depress it respectively, a piston rod extending down from said piston, an engine and pump assembly supported by said piston rod and movable up and down, a follower carried by said assembly and engageable with the surface of the material in the container and having an opening for passage of said material to the pump, said pump comprising a cylinder, 2. plunger therein reciprocated by the engine, a bell connecting the cylinder with the opening in said follower, a lift cylinder between the pump cylinder and the bell, an extension from the plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and movable throughout a substantial portion of an upstroke freely in the bell and beyond the lift cylinder and thereafter in the lift cylinder, said disc having a relatively lzose fit in the lift cylinder.

18. Pumping apparatus comprising a frame for receiving a container for materials to be pumped, a cylinder at the upper end of the frame, a piston in the cylinder, means for introducing air either below or above said piston to lift or to depress it respectively, a piston rod extending down from said piston, an engine and pump assembly supported by said piston rod and movable up and down, a follower carried by said assembly and engageable with the surface of the material in the container and having an opening for passage of said material, said pump comprising a cylinder, a plunger therein reciprocated by the engine, a bell connecting the cylinder with the opening in said follower, a lift cylinder between the pump cylinder and the bell, an extension from the plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and movable throughout a substantial portion of the stroke freely in the bell and beyond the lift cylinder, said disc having a relatively loose fit in the lift cylinder throughout the remainder of the stroke, said pump cylinder having an outlet above the lift cylinder, a check valve in the outlet and a valve permitting only flow from the lift cylinder toward said pump cylinder, said plunger thereafter forcing the material through said outlet.

19. Pumping apparatus comprising a frame for receiving a container for materials to be pumped, a cylinder at the upper end of the frame, a piston in the cylinder, means for introducing air either below or above said piston to lift or to depress it respectively, a piston rod extending from said piston, an engine and pump assembly supported by said piston rod and movable up and down, a follower carried by said assembly andengageable with the surface of the material in the container and having an opening for passage of said material, saidpump comprising a, cylinder, a plunger therein reciprocated by the engine, a bell connecting the cylinder with the opening in said follower, a lift cylinder between the pump cylinder and the bell, an extension from the plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and movable throughout a substantial portion of the stroke freely in the bell and beyond the lift cylinder, said disc moving in the lift cylinder throughout the remainder of the stroke and having a loose fit therein, said pump cylinder having an outlet' above the lift cylinder, and acheck valve permitting only flow from the lift cylinder toward said outlet, the volumetric displacement of the disc in and the bell, an extension from the plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and movable throughout a substantial portion of the stroke freely in the bell and beyond the lift cylinder, said disc having a relatively loose fltand being movable in the lift cylinder throughout the remainder of the stroke, said pump cylinder having an outlet above the lift cylinder, and a check valve permitting only flow from the lift cylinder toward said outlet, the volumetric displacement of the disc in the lift cylinder being greater than the pump plunger during the time that said disc is movable in said lift cylinder, said follower being biased against the material by the weight of the pump and engine thereon, and additionally by the action of air upon the upper side of said piston.

21. Pumping apparatus comprising a frame for receiving a container for materials to be pumped, a cylinder at the upper end of the frame, a piston in the cylinder, means for introducing'air either below or above said piston to lift or to depress it respectively, a piston rod extending from said piston, an engine and pump assembly supported by said piston rod and movable up and down, a follower carried by said assembly and engageable with the surface of the material in the container and having an opening for passage of said material, said pump comprising a cylinder, a plunger therein reciprocated by the engine, a bell connecting the cylinder with the opening in said follower, a lift cylinder between the pump cylinder the lift cylinder being greater than the pump plunger during the time that said disc is movable in said lift cylinder.

20. Pumping apparatus comprising a frame for receiving a container for materials to be pumped, a cylinder at the upper end of the frame, a piston in the cylinder, means for introducing air either below or above said piston to lift or to depress it respectively, a piston rod extending from said fi5 piston, an engine and pump assembly supported by said piston rod and movable up and down, a follower carried by said assembly and engageable with the surface of the material in the container and having an opening for passage of said material, said pump comprising a cylinder, a plunger therein reciprocated by the engine, a bell connecting the cylinder with the opening in said and the bell, an extension from the plunger passing through said lift cylinder and into the bell, an elevator disc on said extension and movable throughout a substantial portion of the stroke freely in the bell and beyond the lift cylinder, said disc having a relatively loose fit and being movable in the lift cylinder throughout the remainder of the stroke, said pump cylinder having an outlet above the lift cylinder, and a check valve permitting only flow from the lift cylinder toward said plunger during the time that said disc is movable in said lift cylinder, said follower being biased against the material by the weight of the pump and engine thereon.

22. Pumping apparatus comprising an assembly consisting of an engine, a pump, a follower adapted to rest upon material to be pumped, said follower having an opening, means connecting the pump with the follower and said opening comprising a bell, said pump having a pump cylinder. a plungerin the cylinder, a lift cylinder communicating with the pump cylinder, a check valve between said cylinders, and a lifting disc operable follower, a lift cylinder between the pump cylinder by the pump piston and movable into said lift cylinder, said pump having an outlet above said valve, and an accumulator with which said outlet is in communication andwhich is carried by the engine and pump assembly.

VICTOR G. KLEIN. JONATHAN KLUDT.

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