Multiple pusher liquid color pump

• US 20070292288A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Stephen B.
• Application Number:
  US11/455,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20070292288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/474
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism

Abstract

A liquid color pumping includes a housing, a plurality of pushers within the housing, a deformable tube for transporting liquid color from the supply thereof to where the liquid color will be used with the tube being positionably removable in the housing at a location at which of the pushers when displaced squeeze the tube positioning of the pushers resulting in the pushers serially contacting the tube when displaced and the controller repeated actuating the pushers in sequence to draw liquid color into the pumping zone and then to force liquid color out of the pumping zone through the tube at increased pressure.

Claims

1. A pump for liquid color, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a plurality of pushers within the housing;

c) a deformable tube for transporting liquid color from a supply thereof to where the liquid color will be used;

d) the tube being insertable into the housing and positionable to a location therein at which at least one of each of the pushers when displaced squeezes the tube against a stop; and

e) a controller for actuating the pushers in sequence whereby the pusher which upon displacement squeezes the tube against a stop thereby forces at least a portion of liquid color through the tube towards the position at which the liquid color will be used.

2. The pump of claim 2 where the controller repeatedly actuates the pushers.

3. A pump for liquid color, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a pusher within the housing;

c) a deformable tube for transporting liquid color from a supply thereof to where the liquid color will be used;

d) the tube being removably positionable within the housing to a location at which the pusher when displaced squeezes the tube; and

e) a controller for actuating the pusher whereby upon pusher displacement squeezing the tube at least a portion of the liquid color is forced through the tube and out of the pump.

4. The pump of claim 4 in which the controller repeatedly actuates the pusher.

5. A pump for liquid color, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) three pushers within the housing, positioned side by side respecting one another;

c) a compressible tube for transporting liquid color from a supply thereof to where the liquid color will be used;

d) the tube being insertable into the housing to a position at which each of the pushers when displaced squeeze the tube against the housing interior, with the side by side positioning of the pushers resulting in the pushers serially contacting the tube when displaced; and

e) a controller for repeatedly actuating the pushers in sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube closed while a second and a third pusher are not displaced, thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube closure, then the second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube closed and trap liquid color in the tube between the first position of tube closure and a second position of tube closure, then the first pusher is permitted to return to its undisplaced position thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube past the first position of tube closure and the third pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and thereby force at least a portion of the trapped liquid color through the tube past the first position of tube closure.

6. A pump for liquid color, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a plurality of pushers within the housing; and

c) a controller for actuating the pushers in sequence whereby a pusher upon displacement squeezes a deformable tube thereby forcing at least a portion of liquid color through the tube towards a location at which the liquid color will be used.

7. A method for pumping liquid color, comprising repeatedly actuating three pushers, positioned side by side respecting one another, in sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze a compressible tube, for transporting liquid color from a supply thereof to where the liquid color will be used, into a closed disposition while a second and a third pusher are not displaced, thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube closure, then the second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube closed and trap liquid color in the tube between the first position of tube closure and a second position of tube closure, then the first pusher is permitted to return to its undisplaced position thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube past the first position of tube closure and the third pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and thereby force at least a portion of the trapped liquid color through the tube past the first position of tube closure.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising removably positioning the compressible tube within a pusher housing to a location at which a displaced pusher squeezes the tube.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising removably positioning the compressible tube within a pusher housing to a location at which a displaced pusher squeezes the tube.

9. A method for pumping liquid color, comprising:

a) repeatedly actuating three pushers, positioned side by side respecting one another, in sequence by,

i) displacing a first pusher to squeeze a compressible tube, for transporting liquid color from a supply thereof to where the liquid color will be used, into a closed disposition, and

ii) retaining a second and a third pusher from displacement,

iii) thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube closure,

iv) displacing the second pusher to squeeze the tube closed and trap liquid color in the tube between the first position of tube closure and a second position of tube closure; and

v) returning the first pusher to its undisplaced position;

vi) thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube past the first position of tube closure; and

vii) displacing the third pusher to squeeze the tube and thereby force at least a portion of the trapped liquid color through the tube past the first position of tube closure.