Pump system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837437-B2
Application number	US-201615742431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2016
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A pump system is presented having a pump with a generally cylindrical pump housing that is arranged with a liquid inlet in one end and a liquid outlet in a second end. A tubular membrane is arranged inside the pump housing and a first passage is arranged in the vicinity of the liquid inlet for introducing pressurized fluid between the membrane and the housing. A second passage arranged in the vicinity of said liquid outlet for releasing said pressurized fluid where the membrane is arranged with an elasticity providing a local radial compression and an annular fluid compartment when a pulse of pressurized fluid is entered through the first passage. The annular fluid compartment travels along the housing bringing a volume of liquid with it. An expansion vessel can be operably attached to the liquid outlet for reducing pressure changes in the liquid caused by the action of the pulse of pressurized fluid.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pump system comprising:
a pump having a generally cylindrical pump housing, wherein the pump housing is arranged with a liquid inlet in a first end and a liquid outlet in a second end, and wherein the liquid inlet is oriented generally vertically downwards and the liquid outlet is oriented generally vertically upwards;
a tubular membrane arranged inside the pump housing;
a first passage arranged in a vicinity of the liquid inlet for introducing pressurized fluid between the tubular membrane and the housing, wherein the tubular membrane is arranged with an elasticity providing a local radial compression and a ring-shaped fluid compartment when a pulse of pressurized fluid is entered through the first passage, and wherein the ring-shaped fluid compartment travels along the housing bringing a volume of liquid with it;

a second passage arranged in a vicinity of the liquid outlet for releasing the pressurized fluid;
an expansion vessel operably attached to the liquid outlet for reducing pressure changes in the liquid caused by the action of the pulse of pressurized fluid; and
a conduit attached to the liquid outlet and being oriented generally vertically for creating a liquid column, wherein an upper end of the conduit includes a first branch attached to the expansion vessel and a second branch that constitutes an outlet for the liquid.

2. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the conduit is chosen such that the liquid column is created having a weight creating a pressure on the tubular membrane ensuring a tight seal between the tubular membrane and an inner surface of the pump housing.

3. The pump system according to claim 1 , further comprising a compressor operably connected to a pulse generator for providing pulses of pressurized fluid to the pump housing.

4. The pump system according to claim 3 , wherein the pulse generator is a pressure valve that opens above a certain pressure threshold and closes below the pressure threshold.

5. The pump system according to claim 3 , further comprising a power generator operably connected to the compressor, capable of energizing the compressor.

6. The pump system according to claim 5 , wherein the power generator comprises one or several of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, water turbines.

7. The pump system according to claim 5 , wherein the power generator comprises at least one battery operably connected to the compressor.

8. The pump system according to claim 6 , wherein one of the one or several of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, water turbines are arranged to charge at least one battery.

9. The pump system according to claim 1 , further comprising a check valve in liquid communication with the liquid inlet of the pump housing.

10. The pump system according to claim 9 , further comprising a filter unit arranged before the check valve relative to a direction of flow of the liquid.

11. The pump system according to claim 9 , wherein the check valve comprises a generally tubular body provided with a number of passages, a generally tubular flexible membrane arranged coaxial with and inside the body having one end of the tubular membrane fixedly attached to the body.

12. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the second passage is arranged with a second conduit of such a length as to ensure that its free end is above a liquid level when placed in the liquid.

13. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the pressurized fluid is pressurized ambient air.

14. The pump system according to claim 1 , further comprising a buoyancy element.

15. The pump system according to claim 1 , further comprising anchoring rods adopted to be attached to a bottom surface of a water area.

16. The pump system according to claim 15 , further comprising a third conduit attached to the liquid inlet, wherein the conduit and the third conduit are arranged as modules with fixed lengths that are inter-connectable.

17. A pump comprising:
a generally cylindrical pump housing, wherein the housing is arranged with a liquid inlet in one end and a liquid outlet in a second end;
a tubular flexible membrane arranged inside the pump housing;
a first passage arranged in a vicinity of the liquid inlet for introducing pressurized fluid between the tubular membrane and the housing;
a second passage arranged in a vicinity of the liquid outlet for releasing the pressurized fluid, wherein the tubular membrane has an elasticity providing a local radial compression and forming a ring-shaped fluid compartment when a pulse of pressurized fluid is entered through the first passage, wherein the ring-shaped fluid compartment is able to travel along the housing bringing a volume of liquid with it; and
a check valve in liquid communication with the liquid inlet of the pump housing, wherein the check valve comprises a generally tubular body provided with a number of passages, a generally tubular flexible membrane arranged coaxial with and inside the body having one end of the tubular membrane fixedly attached to the body.

18. The pump according to claim 17 , wherein the tubular flexible membrane is made of one of a rubber hose and plastic having the required properties and has a shape and dimension so as to contact at least a major part of a inner surface of the housing when placed inside the housing.

19. The pump according to claim 17 , wherein the ends of the flexible membrane are attached to the housing at the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet by appropriate attachment elements.

20. The pump according to claim 17 , wherein the first passage is connected to a pressure source and is situated closer to the liquid inlet than the second passage.

21. The pump according to claim 17 , wherein the first passage and the second passage are preferably arranged on the same side of the pump housing when viewed in a circumferential direction, and each passage is arranged with suitable attachment elements.

22. The pump according to claim 17 , wherein the pressurized fluid is pulsated pressurized ambient air.

Assignees

• Carebay Europe Ltd
• Shl Medical Ag

Inventors

• Söderström Michael
• Johansson Henrik

Classifications

• F04B43/10 Primary

  Pumps having fluid drive · CPC title

• F04B43/113

  the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve · CPC title

• F04B47/08

  the motors being actuated by fluid · CPC title

• F04B47/00

  Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps (by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00) · CPC title

• F04B43/1133

  with fluid-actuated pump inlet or outlet valves; with two or more pumping chambers in series · CPC title