Proportioning pump, control systems and applicator apparatus

• US 10,167,863 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pumptec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pumptec, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, James E., Dorsey, Steven T., Babcock, Stephen E., Eriksen, O. Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US15/133,082
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/22141 Speed of feeding of at least one component to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8311 with means for controlling the motor driving the pumps or the other dispensing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/1418 for supplying several liquids or other fluent materials in selected proportions to a single spray outlet controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid G05D11/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/1445 pumping means for the liquids or other fluent materials being mechanically linked, e.g. master and slave pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/58 preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage by recirculating the fluid to be sprayed from upstream of the discharge opening back to the supplying means B05B1/3093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/32 the fed liquid or other fluent material being under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/12 Parameters of driving or driven means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/14 Pistons, piston-rods or piston-rod connections
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence

Abstract

An absolute proportioning pumping system includes an electric motor assembly powering a first pump at a first flow rate and powering a second pump at a second flow rate. A proportioned fluid output includes a first fluid pumped by the first pump and a second fluid pumped by the second pump. The pumping system provides a desired ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid at the proportioned fluid output, relatively independently of pressure and flow rate at the output. In accord with further embodiments, a pump and motor assembly is mounted to and generally surrounded by a liquid tank. The pump and motor assembly may include a pair of fixed ratio outputs driven from a common motor, or may include a single variable output pump either slaved to a master pump or controlled through a timed bypass valve to control output flow rate.

Claims

1. A pump apparatus, comprising:

a liquid tank defining a storage volume operative to receive and hold a liquid;

said storage volume having an upper horizontal portion, a mid-section extending vertically from and beneath said upper horizontal portion, and a lower wedge-shaped sediment bowl extending horizontally from and beneath said mid-section;

a pumping apparatus comprising at least a pump having a pump inlet, a pump outlet, and a fluid driver between said pump inlet and said pump outlet, said pumping apparatus external to said storage volume and coupled with said liquid tank in a position between said upper horizontal portion and said lower wedge-shaped sediment bowl.

2. The pump apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump inlet is offset above a bottom of said lower wedge-shaped sediment bowl.

3. The pump apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a drain outlet coupled to said lower wedge-shaped sediment bowl and configured to drain fluid from said lower wedge-shaped sediment bowl.

4. The pump apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a valve selectively coupling said drain outlet to said lower wedge-shaped sediment bowl.

5. The pump apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pumping apparatus further comprises an electric motor coupled to said fluid driver, and said pumping apparatus is affixed as a single unit to said liquid tank through at least one mount passing entirely through said liquid tank mid-section.

6. The pump apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one mount further comprises at least one elastomeric isolator configured to reduce force transmission from said pumping apparatus through said at least one mount to said liquid tank.

7. The pump apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fill cap configured to permit air to be drawn into said liquid tank as said liquid is pumped by said pumping apparatus therefrom, and to prevent liquid from escaping through said fill cap.

8. The pump apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid tank further comprises:

a light transmissive tank wall defining said storage volume; and

at least one graduation scale coupled to said tank wall that defines a fill level sight gauge.

9. The pump apparatus of claim 5, further comprising at least one electrical wire passing through said liquid tank mid-section.

10. The pump apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a back flow check valve in fluid communication with said pump outlet configured to prevent fluid from flowing from said pump outlet into either of said fluid driver and said pump inlet.

11. The pump apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a priming bulb coupling said pump outlet prior to flowing through said back flow valve to said storage volume.

12. The pump apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a pressure controlled valve coupling said pump outlet prior to flowing through said back flow valve to said storage volume, said pressure controlled valve configured to only allow fluid flow through said valve when a flow out of said back flow check valve is blocked.

13. The pump apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a valve coupling said pump outlet prior to flowing through said back flow valve to said storage volume.