Fluid pump

• US 6,808,121 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Rice
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Rice
• Inventors: Rice, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/361,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 237/1, 237/93, 237/159, 604/86, 418/191, 418/194
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0409 the pumps being driven by a hydraulic or a pneumatic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0855 the pump being motor-driven B05B9/0866, B05B9/0872 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 13/02 for driving hand-held tools or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/025 the pump being located directly adjacent the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/24 Bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/18 with similar tooth forms F04C2/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/003 having complementary function

Abstract

A fluid pump for pumping fluidized materials comprises a motor, a material pump, and a closed-loop pressure hydraulic system interconnecting the motor and the material pump. The closed-loop hydraulic system further comprises a hydraulic pump, a pressure regulator, an impeller, and an expandable fluid reservoir. The motor includes an output to drive the hydraulic pump, which pumps hydraulic fluid throughout the closed-loop hydraulic system. As the hydraulic fluid flows throughout the closed-loop system, it passes through the impeller, which in turn drives the material pump to deliver the fluidized material from a material reservoir to an outlet valve for dispensing the material.

Claims

1. A fluid pump comprising:

a motor;

a material pump interconnecting a material reservoir and a material dispenser; and

a closed-loop pressure regulation system between said motor and said material pump comprising;

a hydraulic pump connected to and driven by said motor;

an impeller connected between said hydraulic pump and said material pump;

a pressure regulator to regulate pressure in said closed-loop pressure regulation system; and

an expandable hydraulic fluid reservoir.

2. The fluid pump of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic pump moves hydraulic fluid through said closed-loop pressure regulation system at a first pressure level.

3. The fluid pump of claim 1 wherein said impeller comprises a set of counter-rotating gears.

4. The fluid pump of claim 3 wherein said counter-rotating gears are rotated by said hydraulic fluid moving through said closed-loop pressure regulation system.

5. The fluid pump of claim 2 wherein said material pump delivers a fluidized material from said material reservoir to said material dispenser at a second pressure level.

6. The fluid pump of claim 5 wherein said first and second pressure levels are substantially constant.

7. The fluid pump of claim 6 wherein said second pressure level is substantially equal to said first pressure level.

8. The fluid pump of claim 2 further comprising a valve operatively connected to said impeller for preventing backflow of said hydraulic fluid.

9. The fluid pump of claim 5 wherein said pressure regulator regulates said first pressure level of said hydraulic fluid in said closed-loop pressure regulation system.

10. The fluid pump of claim 9 wherein regulating said first pressure level regulates said second pressure level.

11. The fluid pump of claim 1 wherein said pressure regulator is positioned between an inlet of said impeller and said expandable hydraulic fluid reservoir.

12. The fluid pump of claim 1 wherein said pressure regulator includes a bypass connection operatively connected to said expandable hydraulic fluid reservoir.

13. A method of pumping a fluidized material, said method comprising:

interconnecting a motor and a material pump with a closed-loop pressure regulation system, said system comprising;

a hydraulic pump;

an impeller; and

a pressure regulator;

circulating a fluid at a first pressure through said closed-loop pressure regulation system with said motor;

pumping a fluidized material at a second pressure from a material reservoir to a material dispenser by driving said material pump with said closed-loop pressure regulation system;

wherein said first pressure level and said second pressure level are substantially constant; and

wherein said first pressure level regulates said second pressure level.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein interconnecting said motor and said material pump with said closed-loop pressure regulation system comprises connecting an output on said motor to a hydraulic pump, and connecting an output of said impeller to said material pump.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein circulating said fluid at said first pressure comprises driving said hydraulic pump with said motor output.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein circulating said fluid at said first pressure further comprises directing said fluid from said hydraulic pump to said impeller.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein circulating said fluid at said first pressure further comprises directing said fluid from said impeller into a fluid reservoir connected to said hydraulic pump.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein pumping said fluidized material comprises driving said material pump with said impeller, thereby causing said material pump to deliver said fluidized material from said material reservoir to said material dispenser.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising regulating said first pressure with said pressure regulator.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the first pressure level is substantially equal to the second pressure level.

21. A paint sprayer comprising:

a paint reservoir;

an outlet valve;

a motor;

a pump interconnecting said paint reservoir and said outlet valve;

a closed-loop pressure regulation system interconnecting said motor and said pump, wherein said motor drives fluid through said closed-loop pressure regulation system at a first pressure, and said closed-loop pressure regulation system drives said pump to deliver paint at a second pressure from said paint reservoir to said outlet valve;

wherein said first and second pressure levels are substantially constant; and

wherein said first pressure level regulates said second pressure level.

22. The paint sprayer of claim 21 wherein said closed-loop pressure regulation system comprises a hydraulic pump connected to said motor.

23. The paint sprayer of claim 22 wherein said closed-loop pressure regulation system further comprises an impeller interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said pump.

24. The paint sprayer of claim 23 wherein said closed-loop pressure regulation system further comprises a pressure regulator.

25. The paint sprayer of claim 21 wherein said closed-loop pressure regulation system further comprises an expandable bladder reservoir.

26. The paint sprayer of claim 25 wherein said closed-loop pressure regulation system further comprises a bypass conduit interconnecting said pressure regulator and said expandable bladder reservoir.

27. A paint sprayer comprising:

a paint reservoir;

an outlet valve;

a motor;

a pump interconnecting said paint reservoir and said outlet valve;

a closed-loop pressure regulation system interconnecting said motor and said pump, and comprising an expandable hydraulic fluid reservoir, wherein said motor drives fluid through said closed-loop pressure regulation system at a first pressure, and said closed-loop pressure regulation system drives said pump to deliver paint at a second pressure from said paint reservoir to said outlet valve.

28. A paint sprayer comprising:

a housing;

a pump to deliver paint to an outlet valve;

a motor;

a closed-loop pressure regulation system interconnecting said motor and said pump, and having a fluid circulating at a first pressure to regulate the delivery of the paint by said pump at a second pressure; and

said pump, said motor, and said closed-loop pressure regulation system being disposed within said housing.