PNEUMATIC EVACUATION PUMP

• US 20110091333A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies Pacific Pty Ltd. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Flow Control Pacific Pty Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Krohn, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,212,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/120
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 1/02 using both positively and negatively pressurised fluid medium, e.g. alternating
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/24 displacing liquids, e.g. containing solids, or liquids and elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/34 characterised by means for changing inducing fluid source

Abstract

A pneumatic evacuation pump including: an inlet assembly (10) having an inlet valve (14) interposed between an inlet accepting material (13) from a material supply and a charging port (17) and selectively operable purge air injection means (20) located on the charging port side of said inlet valve; a chamber of selectable length (11) and substantially constant cross section and having a charge end opening to said charging port and a discharge end; and a delivery assembly (12) having a passage opening to said discharge end and extending to a delivery outlet, a delivery valve (24) interposed in said passage between said discharge end and said delivery outlet, a selectively operable, venturi vacuum source (31) opening to said passage between said discharge valve and said discharge end, and selectively operable exhaust air injections means (41) located downstream of said discharge valve and utilizing exhaust air from said venturi; a compressed air supply supplying said venturi and said purge air injection means; and control means acting to coordinate a cycle of operation of said venturi vacuum source, said purge air injection means, said exhaust air injection means and said inlet and delivery valves.

Claims

1. A pneumatic evacuation pump including:

an inlet assembly having an inlet valve interposed between an inlet accepting material from a material supply and a charging port and selectively operable purge air injection means located on the charging port side of said inlet valve;

a chamber of selectable length and substantially constant cross section and having a charge end opening to said charging port and a discharge end; and

a delivery assembly having a passage opening to said discharge end and extending to a delivery outlet, a delivery valve interposed in said passage between said discharge end and said delivery outlet, a selectively operable, venturi vacuum source opening to said passage between said discharge valve and said discharge end, and selectively operable exhaust air injection means located downstream of said discharge valve and utilizing exhaust air from said venturi;

a compressed air supply supplying said venturi and said purge air injection means; and

control means acting to coordinate a cycle of operation of said venturi vacuum source, said purge air injection means, said exhaust air injection means and said inlet and delivery valves.

2. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is configured from APL5 Standard pipe.

3. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is a knifegate valve.

4. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 3, wherein the inlet valve is pneumatically operated.

5. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the purge air injection is angled to the axis of the charging port to direct injection air with a downstream component of direction.

6. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the charging port is configured to be joined to the charge end opening by a conventional pipe collar clamp.

7. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is formed of a selected length of standard bore pipe of a type known to be useful in the transport of the materials to be pumped.

8. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 7, wherein the chamber is formed of a selected length of 100 mm NB steel AP5 Standard pipe.

9. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the delivery assembly comprises a tubular stock body having a passage therethrough and having a delivery valve body fabricated to it.

10. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 9, wherein the tubular stock comprises 100 mm NB steel AP5 Standard pipe.

11. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the discharge valve is a pneumatically actuated knifegate valve.

12. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the selectively operable, venturi vacuum source is mounted on the delivery assembly.

13. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 12, wherein the venturi vacuum source has a high velocity air flow jet in a housing and used to generate a zone of low pressure within the housing, which is tapped by a selectively operated vacuum valve to lower the air pressure in the chamber.

14. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 13, wherein the high velocity air exhausted from the venturi is diffused to be used by exhaust air injection means to provide driving force for material on the side of the delivery line downstream of the delivery valve when the delivery valve is closed.

15. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 14, wherein the venturi vacuum source comprises a venturi assembly comprising said venturi housing mounting an axial venturi jet, the housing transitioning into a diffuser tube coaxial with the jet, the vacuum take off being directed laterally via said selectively operable vacuum valve to intersect the passage between the discharge valve and the discharge end.

16. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 15, wherein said exhaust air injection means comprises a selectively valve operated exhaust air line angled to the delivery passage axis to direct exhaust air from said diffuser tube with a downstream component of direction.

17. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 1, wherein the control means is selected from timed-cycle or condition-responsive control means.

18. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 17, wherein the control means is pneumatic and operates the respective valves by pneumatic means.

19. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 18, wherein the control means is a programmable logic controller.

20. A pneumatic evacuation pump according to claim 17, wherein the cycle of operation is a selectable timed cycle of operation.