MANUALLY OPERATED PUMP UTILIZING BACKPRESSURE FOR EASEMENT OF PUMP STROKE

• US 3,749,524 A
• Filed: 01/03/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Jordan
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Jordan
• Inventors: Jordan, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/215,040
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 128/145.7,145.8,142.2,145,142,145.6 417/439,522,374,511,555,323,392,489,508,234
• US Class Current: 417/323
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 33/00 Pumps actuated by muscle power, e.g. for inflating

Abstract

Diving apparatus employing a hand operated pump is disclosed. The apparatus is characterized by a hand operated pump for supplying air to a user consisting of a chamber provided with a piston which is connected via piston rod to a handle and a slide valve is associated with the piston rod. The slide valve is provided with passages or grooves which , with the valve in its innermost position, provide communication between a discharge port and the region between the valve and piston (back side of piston); and with the valve in its outermost position, provide communication between an inlet port and the back side of the piston. The chamber is also provided with second inlet and discharge ports at a point most remote from the slide valve, whereby fresh air is directed to the user via second inlet and discharge ports, and exhausted air is directed through a flexible hose and then to the back side of the pump piston pressurizing the same thereby balancing the piston load and reducing the effort required to stroke the pump.

Claims

1. Fluid supplying apparatus comprising:

pump means, said pump means including a housing defining a cylinder and a piston reciprocally movable therein;

means for delivering fluid from said pump means cylinder at one side of said piston to a fluid consuming load when said piston is moved in a first direction, said delivering means interrupting communication between the cylinder and load except when said piston is moved in said first direction;

means for supplying fluid to said pump means cylinder at said one side of said piston when said piston is moved in the second direction;

said supplying means preventing delivery of fluid to said cylinder when fluid is being supplied to a load;

means for storing pressurized fluid previously delivered from said pump means to the load; and

means connected between said storing means and said pump means for returning pressurized fluid to said pump cylinder at the second side of said piston during movements of said piston in said first direction, said returning means isolating said storing means from said cylinder during movements of said piston in said second direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supplying apparatus is employed to furnish air to a diver and wherein said means for returning fluid to said pump cylinder comprises:

an extension of said pump means housing, said extension defining a valve body having a channel which communicates with said pump means cylinder, said extension further defining an inlet port and a discharge port for said channel;

a slide valve positioned in said housing extension channel, said slide valve in a first position establishing communication between said cylinder at said second side of said piston and said extension inlet port said slide valve in a second position establishing communication between said extension discharge port and said piston means cylinder at said second side of said piston; and

flexible hose means for connecting said storing means to said housing extension inlet port.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pump means further comprises:

a piston rod attached to said piston and extending through said housing extension channel, said piston rod also passing through and being slidable with respect to said slide valve;

means mounted on said piston rod for engaging and causing movement of said slide valve between said first and second positions, said engaging means being spacially displaced and respectively engaging said slide valve when said piston approaches its limits of motion in said first and second directions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a mouthpiece; and

wherein said storing means comprises;

flexible bag means connected to said mouthpiece and said flexible hose.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said delivering means comprises:

an exit port in said pump means cylinder;

a check valve mounted in said exit port; and

flexible hose means coupling said exit port downstream of said check valve to said mouthpiece.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said supplying means comprises:

an inlet port in said piston means housing; and

a check valve disposed in said inlet port upstream of said cylinder.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said housing extension is provided with a pair of spacially displaced stops for limiting the motion for said slide valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means operatively coupled to said means for returning pressurized fluid to said pump cylinder at the second side of said piston for connecting said pump cylinder at said piston second side to a fluid source at the same pressure as the pump fluid supply during movements of said piston in said second direction.