Internal pump assembly

• US 5,220,943 A
• Filed: 08/27/1991
• Issued: 06/22/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Montana Sulphur & Chemical Co.
• Original Assignee: Montana Sulphur & Chemical Co.
• Inventors: Zink, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/750,391
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 137/347-350, 137/565, 137/571, 137/587, 417/375, 417/401, 251/335.3
• US Class Current: 137/565.17
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0244 by using elastic expandable bags
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/10 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6866 Railway car
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86035 Combined with fluid receiver
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86324 Tank with gas vent and inlet or outlet

Abstract

An internal pump assembly including a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment, and first and second vessels positioned in the tank. The second vessel has a second vessel port through which fluid can flow relative to the fluid compartment. A bellows pump assembly positioned at least partially in the first vessel pumps fluid from the fluid compartment through the second vessel port into the second vessel from which the fluid can be subsequently removed. The fluid in the compartment acts on the bellows surface to thereby bias the pump assembly towards one of a pumping or a non-pumping position.

Claims

1. An internal pump assembly comprising:

a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment;

a first vessel positioned in said fluid tank;

a second vessel positioned in said fluid tank, said second vessel including a second vessel port through which fluid can flow relative to said fluid compartment; and

bellows pump means positioned at least partially in said first vessel for pumping fluid from said fluid compartment through said second vessel port into said second vessel from which the fluid can be subsequently removed;

wherein said bellows pump means includes a bellows pump movable between a first position wherein fluid is being pumped to said second vessel and a different second position;

wherein said bellows pump includes a bellows surface on which fluid pressure of said fluid compartment acts to thereby bias said bellows pump towards the second position;

wherein said bellows surface has an inwardly-disposed inside surface and an opposite outside surface; and

wherein said first vessel has a passageway through which fluid of said fluid compartment can flow to thereby act directly on said inside surface and bias said bellows pump towards one of the first and second positions.

2. An internal pump assembly comprising:

a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment;

a first vessel positioned in said fluid tank;

a second vessel positioned in said fluid tank, said second vessel including a second vessel port through which fluid can flow relative to said fluid compartment; and

bellows pump means positioned at least partially in said first vessel for pumping fluid from said fluid compartment through said second vessel port into said second vessel from which the fluid can be subsequently removed;

wherein said bellows pump means includes a bellows assembly, a cylinder-pump mechanism positioned in said bellows assembly, and a conduit providing fluid communication between said cylinder-pump mechanism and said second vessel port.

3. The internal pump assembly of claim 2 wherein said bellows pump means includes check valve means for stopping the flow of fluid in said conduit from said second vessel to said cylinder-pump mechanism.

4. The internal pump assembly of claim 2 wherein said cylinder-pump mechanism includes a pump chamber and a fluid passageway through which fluid can flow from said fluid compartment into said pump chamber, said cylinder-pump mechanism pumping fluid from said pump chamber into said conduit.

5. The internal pump assembly of claim 2 wherein said cylinder-pump mechanism includes a cylinder, a piston and a cylinder pump chamber.

6. The internal pump assembly of claim 5 wherein said cylinder is disposed within said bellows assembly.

7. The internal pump assembly of claim 5 wherein said cylinder pump chamber is disposed in said first vessel.

8. The internal pump assembly of claim 5 wherein said piston reciprocates in said cylinder.

9. The internal pump assembly of claim 2 wherein said cylinder-pump mechanism guides the movement of said bellows assembly.

10. An internal pump assembly comprising:

a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment;

a first vessel positioned in said fluid tank;

a second vessel positioned in said fluid tank, said second vessel including a second vessel port through which fluid can flow relative to said fluid compartment;

bellows pump means positioned at least partially in said first vessel for pumping fluid from said fluid compartment through said second vessel port into said second vessel from which the fluid can be subsequently removed;

a valve member generally at said second vessel port and positionable between an open positon and a closed position, said bellows pump means when pumping fluid to said second vessel moving said valve member to the open position;

biasing means removably positioned in said second vessel for biasing said valve member to the closed position; and

check valve means for preventing the flow of fluid through said second vessel port to said first vessel when said biasing means is removed from said second vessel.

11. The internal pump assembly of claim 10 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring bellows relief assembly.

12. An internal pump assembly comprising:

a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment;

a first vessel positioned in said fluid tank;

a second vessel positioned in said fluid tank, said second vessel including a second vessel port through which fluid can flow relative to said fluid compartment; and

bellows pump means positioned at least partially in said first vessel for pumping fluid from said fluid compartment through said second vessel port into said second vessel from which the fluid can be subsequently removed;

wherein said first and second vessels are both positioned in said fluid compartment and at least partially surrounded by the fluid therein.

13. An internal pump assembly comprising:

a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment;

a first vessel positioned in said fluid tank;

a second vessel positioned in said fluid tank, said second vessel including a second vessel port through which fluid can flow relative to said fluid compartment; and

bellows pump means positioned at least partially in said first vessel for pumping fluid from said fluid compartment through said second vessel port into said second vessel from which the fluid can be subsequently removed;

wherein said bellows pump means includes a bellows pump movable between a first position wherein fluid is being pumped to said second vessel and a different second position;

wherein said bellows pump means includes a bellows having a bellows inside surface; and

wherein said first vessel has a port through which fluid pressure of said fluid compartment passes to impact said bellows inside surface and thereby bias said bellows pump towards the second position.

14. An internal pump assembly comprising:

a fluid tank defining a fluid compartment for a containing a fluid therein;

a first vessel positioned in said fluid compartment, said first vessel having a first fluid entry port for the entry of the fluid from said fluid compartment and a first fluid exit port for the exit of the fluid from said first vessel;

a second vessel positioned in said fluid compartment, said second vessel having a second fluid entry port for the entry of the fluid from said first vessel and said fluid compartment;

a conduit providing fluid connection of said first fluid exit port with said second fluid entry port; and

bellows pump means positioned at least partially in said first vessel for pumping the fluid in said fluid compartment into said first vessel, out of said first vessel, through said conduit and into said second vessel.

15. The internal pump assembly of claim 14 wherein said bellows pump means includes a bellows pump movable between a first position wherein fluid is being pumped to said second vessel and a different second position, said bellows pump including a bellows surface on which fluid pressure of said fluid compartment acts to thereby bias said bellows pump towards the second position.

16. The internal pump assembly of claim 15 wherein said bellows surface has an inwardly disposed inside surface and an opposite outside surface, and said first vessel has a passageway through which fluid of said fluid compartment can flow to thereby act directly on said inside surface and bias said bellows pump towards one of the first and second positions.

17. The internal pump assembly of claim 14 wherein said second vessel includes a valve member movable between an open position wherein said second fluid entry port is open and a closed position wherein said second fluid entry port is closed.

18. The internal pump assembly of claim 17 wherein said bellows pump means when actuated moves said valve member to the open position.

19. The internal pump assembly of claim 17 further comprising spring bellows relief means positioned in said second vessel for biasing said valve member to the closed position against the working pressure of the fluid in said fluid compartment.

20. The internal pump assembly of claim 14 further comprising pumping means positioned outside of said fluid tank for pumping fluid relative to said first vessel to thereby actuate said bellows pump means.

21. The internal pump assembly of claim 14 wherein said bellows pump means includes a bellows assembly and a cylinder-pump mechanism positioned in said bellows assembly, and said conduit providing fluid communication between said cylinder-pump mechanism and said second fluid entry port.

22. The internal pump assembly of claim 21 wherein said bellows pump means includes check valve means for stopping the flow of fluid in said conduit from said second vessel to said cylinder-pump mechanism.

23. The internal pump assembly of claim 21 wherein said cylinder-pump mechanism includes a pump chamber in fluid communication with both said first fluid entry port and said first fluid exit port.

24. The internal pump assembly of claim 23 wherein said cylinder-pump mechanism pumps fluid from said pump chamber into said conduit.

25. The internal pump assembly of claim 24 further comprising check value means for preventing the flow of fluid from said second vessel through said conduit and into said pump chamber.

26. The internal pump assembly of claim 14 further comprising a valve member generally at said second fluid entry port and positionable between an open position and a closed position, and said bellows pump means when pumping fluid to said second vessel moving said valve member to the open position.

27. The internal pump assembly of claim 26 further comprising biasing means removably positioned in said second vessel for biasing said valve member to the closed position.

28. The internal pump assembly of claim 27 further comprising check valve means for preventing the flow of fluid through said second fluid entry port to said first vessel when said biasing means is removed from said second vessel.