US1686887A - Fluid elevating and feeding means - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1928.. 1,686,887

' L. E. VAN HlsE FLUID ELEVATNG AND FEEDNG MEANS Original Filed May 12, 1925 LE5Er E'. Van His@ afferma Patented Urt. 9, 1928.

UNlTED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

LESTER E. VAN HISE, OF ALTADEN A, CALFOBNIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES V. BALDWIN,

OF LOS ANGELES, CALFOR-NA.

FLUID ELEVATING AND FEEDING MEANS.

Original applicationy filed May 12, 1925, Serial. No. 29,8524. Divided `and this application led Serial No. 295,466.

This invention relates to fluid elevating and feeding means, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which is adaptable for pumping from a source of supply any form of fluid desired. Other objects of the invention will appeal1 as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, certain parts being in section, of my improved fluid and elevating means considered in itsentirety, in combination with a source of liquid sup` ply and the member towhich said fluid is pumped. 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary viewv of a modification of the pump member; anc

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a valve element used in practicing the invention, the said view being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are v designated by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing the adaptation' of the means may be applied wherever it is desired to boost fluid or cause the flow of a fluid from a given point to a given point and so. where it is necessary to use a ptnnping` element to cause said flow. In particular the fluid elevating and feeding means may be designated as an entirely by A in Figure 1,`

residing in the method of heatingthe same,`

the said pump d is of relatively diminutive character and has the characteristics of a bot-- tle, being open at one end and closed at the other, and therefore may bey vconvenient-ly characterized as a bottle like pump member. ln Fig. l1 the numeral 1 represents tank which may contain some liquid such as gasoline, and a feeding pipe 2 leads from said tank to a valve element c and from said 'valve element through a suitable pipe 3 to the pump a.

Leading from said pump is a pipe l which connects with a second valve element c and from said valve element through a pipe 5 July 26,

to a storage tank 6. Thepump a may include a casing member'7 closed at one end as S and screw-threaded exteriorly as at 9 adjacent its open mouth. A member 10. is internally threaded as at 11 for reception on the threaded part 9 of the casing 7, and said member 10 is provided with two annular members 12 and 13 adapted to receive and confine ends of the pipes 3 and 4. The top 111 of the member 10 is provided with an opening through which projects a screw 15, and said screw normally supports an element el within the casing 7. The element Z may. comprise a tubular member 16 closed at one end by means of a plug 17, said plug being annular in formation and screw-threaded on its inner surface for reception of the screwsthreaded portion of the screw 15. In the showing the yplug 17 is retained in the tubular member 16 by a pin 18 passing through said tubular member and engagingthe plug 17. One end of said tubular member 16, the lower end, is open. And insulating casing 19 surrounds the tubular member 16 and coiled about said insulating' casing is an electrical conductor 20. Each end of the electrical conductor 20 passes through an insulating bushing 21 and 22 in the casing 7, and the said electrical conductors connect with a source of electrical current supply 6 there being a switch element f in the electrical circuit. If desired, some form of rheostat might be provided in the electrical current so as to regulate the current flowing within the coil 2O surrounding the element CZ, or taps may be taken as shown at 22 whereby different Zones of the member Z may be heated.

The valve elements e and c are identical in form, and consequently only one -of said elements will be described. The let-ters of reference applying to the one, likewise apply to the other, and said valve elements c and 0 include an annular body member 23 ha a reduced externally threaded member 2A with a cap member 25, carrying an end of the pipes 5 or 3, screw-threaded upon the threads of the part 211. The annular por# tion of the body 23 is enlarged at the part 26 and said part is screw-threaded internally for a portionas at 27. A flanged nut 28 is received within the body 23' at the screwthreaded portion 27, and a second cap member 29, carrying an end of the pipes 3 and 4i, is screw-threaded upon the threads 3f) of the nut.' 'The chamber -of the body 23 is provided with a series of half bores 3l and a small disc 32 is normally conhned within said chamber for .closing at times the annular opening 33 in the nut 28.

rlhe operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the tank is filled with some fluid, such as gasolii'ie, and that the apparatus including the pump a is fully primed, the switch y may be placed in position so as to close an eletrical circuit through the coil 20 from the source of current supply e, and the coil 2() will become heated and in turn communicate its heat to the interior of the casing 7 and likewise heat the tubular element fl.

When the apparatus is fully primed, the heating of thebot-tle-like pump element will rapidly vap-orize the fluid therein with the result of vaporizing the same and placing pressure therein which will expel fiuid upwardly past the check valve c', and this vaporization and expulsion of liquid' will con tinue until the pressure above the intake check valve c is less than atmospheric pressure above the fluid supply in the tank l with which the pipe 2 connects. l/Vhen such differential pressure occurs, atmospheric pressure will force a quantity of liquid past the check valve c intothe outer shell 7 of the pump thereby causing rapid condensa tion due to the cooling effect of the incoming fluid, thereby intensifying the vacuum. That condition necessarily provides the force for drawing into the pump chamber a fresh supply of fluid from the intake pipe 2, and that fresh supply of fluid is in turn vapor ized and expelled in the manner already described. The operation repeats itself so as to give a distinct pulsation or pumping action that will pump the fluid in a substantially continuous stream into the container 6 which receives the same.

llilith reference to the member d it is pointed out that this member is primarily instrumental in effecting the pumping action previously described. rl`hat is to say when the device is properly primed with liquid fuel the lower `open end of Z is submerged in the liquid fuel and the space in the member Z above the fuel and below the member l? constitutes a vapor trap in which the vapor collects (upon the application of heat) and when the vapor-ization of the gasoline or other volatile liquid has accumulated sufficiently in the member Z it will expand and push out the fuel between the outer side of the member Z and the inner side of the casing 7.

The inertia and momentum in theV moving column of fluid is sufficient to carry the liquid out to suoli a point that the pressure in chamber a is reduced below atmospheric pressure whereupon gasoline will be forced in through the pipe 3. The incoming gasoline being cold will condense the vapor within the member Z whereupon the entire device will be filled with gasoline ready for vthe next pulsation. It may be pointed out that the operation of the device involves. two cycles, first a discharge cycle vand then an intake cycle. lVhen the pump is primed so that liquid fills the so-called casing 7 to the proper point, the liquid fuel will enter the kmouth of the member CZ up to a. point where itis held back by the air trapped within the member al. When heat is applied to the pump the gasoline or other fuel becomes vaporized and the space above the gasoline which seals the open end of el, accumulates vapor under pressure until the pressure becomes strong enough to let go and push the gasoline out between the walls of the member-fl and the casing 7, as previously explained.

When the pressure inthe vapor has eX- pended itself and moved its increment of fluid forward,.a partial vacuum is formed in the member Z which tends to pull in fresh fuel through the supply line. Such fuel being cool intensifies the vacuum as eX- plained, and greatly assists in the pumping action.

The modification of the device shown in Fig. 2 consists in ceiling the conductor 20 about the outside of the casing? i'n place of coiling it about the element cl. rlhe results obtained, however, are the same. By fluting or relieving or half-boring, as it might be termed, portions of the wall surrounding the annular chamber 26, any fluid flowing through the opening 33 may escape past the disc 32 by raising said disc. As shown by the drawing' the disc normally closes the opening' 83 and prevents any liquid from passing back through the member c or c into the pipes 4l or 3 respectively.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in departure from the particular description and showing of the accompanying drawing in adapting the invention to Varying conditions and requirements of use and service, without departing from the true spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A device of the character disclosed, including two concentric tubular members and a wire coil surrounding oneof said members for heating said member upon electri'fying the wire coil; the inner tubular member being hermetically closed at one end and the other tubular member being formed with a hermetically closed base portion, said inner tubular member having its open end directed toward and spaced from the base portion; and valve controlled means connected to the open end of said other member to conduct liquid to and from said members.

2. A fluid pumping apparatus including a bottlelike pump element comprising Leasing open `at one end and hermeticaily closed at the other, a second member Within sai'dicasing 5 for regulating the expansion of liquid therein, a valved feed line connected to and outside of the open end of the pump casing,

with said pump element.

In testimony whereof, Il have signed my name to this specification. f

LESTER E. VAN HISE.

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