PUMP AND A METHOD OF FLUID PUMPING

• Main Authors: FERENC, KOCSIS, MCKAY, MAXWELL, BRUCE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: 24.04.2000
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BLASTING; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BYUSING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS; SIPHONS; WEAPONS

1. A pump characterized in that it comprises: pump chamber means arranged to receive liquid to be pumped and air, delivery pipe means for delivery of the liquid by the air to a location remote from said pump chamber means, air pipe means for flow of air therein, said delivery pipe means and said pump chamber means in fluid communication, said air pipe means and said pump chamber means in fluid communication, first air flow control means to control air flow via said air pipe means during first and second stages of a pumping cycle of the pump, timer means to control the operation of said first air flow control means to thereby set the durations of said first and second stages of said pumping cycle, and first valve means to allow, in use, liquid to enter said pump chamber means, wherein said first stage of said pumping cycle of the pump, said first air flow control means allows air to be directed via said air pipe means to said pump chamber means for a time period set by said timer means to cause liquid to be pushed from said pump chamber means into said delivery pipe means with the air for delivery via said delivery pipe means to said location, and in said second stage of said pumping cycle said first air flow control means allows air to vent from said pump chamber means via said air pipe means for a time period set by said timer means and said first valve means allows liquid to enter said pump chamber means whilst liquid and air are able to continue to travel along said delivery pipe means toward said location. 2. A pump according to claim 1, characterized in that second valve means is provided to allow, in use, liquid to enter said delivery pipe means from said pump chamber means during said first stage of said pumping cycle and prevent liquid escaping from said delivery pipe means into said pump chamber means during said second stage of said pumping cycle, said second valve means arranged such that the pressure of the air in said delivery pipe means maintains said second valve means closed to prevent liquid escaping from said delivery pipe means in said second stage of said pumping cycle. 3. A pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that air supply pipe means is provided to supply the air that is directed by said first air flow control means via said air pipe means to said pump chamber means in said first stage of said pumping cycle of the pump. 4. A pump according to claim 3, characterized in that branch pipe means is provided for air flow from said air supply pipe means to said delivery pipe means in said second stage of said pumping cycle to assist carriage of liquid along said delivery pipe means in said second stage of said pumping cycle. 5. A pump according to claim 4, characterized in that second air flow control means is provided and allows air that is supplied by said air supply pipe means to be directed via said branch pipe means to said delivery pipe means in said second stage of said pumping cycle of the pump. 6. A pump according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that third valve means is provided in said branch pipe means to allow air flow in the direction from said air supply pipe means to said delivery pipe means and prevent flow of liquid in the reverse direction in said second stage of said pumping cycle. 7. A pump according to claim 6, characterized in that said third valve means is located downstream of said second air flow control means. 8. A pump according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said branch pipe means is connected to said delivery pipe means at a location remote from said pump chamber means. 9. A pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in said first stage of said pumping cycle, said air directed via said air pipe means to said pump chamber means closes said first valve means to prevent liquid entering said pump chamber means. 10. A method of pumping liquid using a pump characterized in that it comprises: in a first stage of a pumping cycle, directing air from an air supply to a pump chamber means of said pump to cause liquid to be pushed into a delivery pipe means of said pump with the air, and delivering the liquid by the air via said delivery pipe means to a location remote from said pump chamber means, in a second stage of said pumping cycle, allowing air to vent from said pump chamber means and allowing liquid to enter said pump chamber means whilst liquid and air are able to continue to travel along said delivery pipe means toward said location, and controlling the duration during which air is directed from said air supply to said pump chamber means and the duration during which air is allowed to vent from said pump chamber means during said first and second stages, respectively, of said pumping cycle. 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises preventing liquid in said delivery pipe means from escaping from said delivery pipe means into said pump chamber means in said second stage of said pumping cycle due to the pressure of the air in said delivery pipe means acting to close a valve means of the pump. 12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it further comprises preventing liquid entering said pump chamber means during said first stage of said pumping cycle. 13. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises directing air from said air supply to said delivery pipe means in said second stage of said pumping cycle of the pump to assist carriage of liquid along said delivery pipe means in said second stage of said pumping cycle. 14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises allowing flow of said air from said air supply to said delivery pipe means and preventing flow of liquid in the reverse direction in said second stage of said pumping cycle.