System and method for priming a pump
First Claim
1. A pump comprising:
- a reservoir configured to receive a fluid pressurized at a first pressure by a boost pump;
at least one pumping mechanism including a drive mechanism and an outlet check valve, the at least one pumping mechanism being configured to receive a first flow of fluid from the reservoir and direct the first flow of fluid into a discharge passage of the pump without pressurizing the first flow of fluid above the first pressure when priming the pump, the at least one pumping mechanism being disposed in the reservoir such that the fluid in the reservoir surrounds at least a portion of the at least one pumping mechanism, the discharge passage being configured to output the first flow of fluid from the pump, the outlet check valve being configured to close preventing the first flow of fluid when a pressure in the discharge passage is substantially equal to the first pressure;
a bypass passage configured to communicate a second flow of fluid from the reservoir to a storage tank; and
a sensor configured to determine a temperature associated with the pump, the sensor being in communication with a controller, when the determined temperature is equal to or below a threshold temperature the controller is configured to stop riming the pump by starting the drive mechanism so that the at least one pumping mechanism begins pressurizing the first flow of fluid from the reservoir into the discharge passage at a second pressure greater than the first pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump includes a reservoir configured to receive a fluid pressurized by a boost pump. The pump also includes at least one pumping mechanism configured to receive a first flow of fluid from the reservoir and direct the first flow of fluid into a discharge passage of the pump without pumping the first flow of fluid when priming the pump. The at least one pumping mechanism is disposed in the reservoir such that the fluid in the reservoir surrounds at least a portion of the at least one pumping mechanism. The discharge passage is configured to output the first flow of fluid from the pump. The pump further includes a bypass passage configured to communicate a second flow of fluid from the reservoir to the storage tank.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pump comprising:
- a reservoir configured to receive a fluid pressurized at a first pressure by a boost pump;
at least one pumping mechanism including a drive mechanism and an outlet check valve, the at least one pumping mechanism being configured to receive a first flow of fluid from the reservoir and direct the first flow of fluid into a discharge passage of the pump without pressurizing the first flow of fluid above the first pressure when priming the pump, the at least one pumping mechanism being disposed in the reservoir such that the fluid in the reservoir surrounds at least a portion of the at least one pumping mechanism, the discharge passage being configured to output the first flow of fluid from the pump, the outlet check valve being configured to close preventing the first flow of fluid when a pressure in the discharge passage is substantially equal to the first pressure;
a bypass passage configured to communicate a second flow of fluid from the reservoir to a storage tank; and
a sensor configured to determine a temperature associated with the pump, the sensor being in communication with a controller, when the determined temperature is equal to or below a threshold temperature the controller is configured to stop riming the pump by starting the drive mechanism so that the at least one pumping mechanism begins pressurizing the first flow of fluid from the reservoir into the discharge passage at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a reservoir configured to receive a fluid pressurized at a first pressure by a boost pump;
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6. A pump priming system comprising:
- a boost pump configured to pressurize at a first pressure a fluid supplied from a storage tank;
a pump assembly including;
a reservoir configured to receive the fluid from the boost pump, at least one pumping mechanism including a drive mechanism and an outlet check valve, the at least one pumping mechanism configured to receive a first flow of fluid from the reservoir and direct the first flow of fluid into a discharge passage of the pump without pressurizing the first flow of fluid above the first pressure when priming the pump, the outlet check valve being configured to close preventing the first flow of fluid when a pressure in the discharge passage is substantially equal to the first pressure, a bypass passage configured to communicate a second flow of fluid from the reservoir to the storage tank, wherein the first flow of the pressurized fluid stops flowing into the discharge passage when a pressure of the fluid in the discharge passage is substantially equal to a pressure of the fluid in the reservoir; and
a sensor configured to determine a temperature associated with the pump, the sensor being in communication with a controller, when the determined temperature is equal to or below a threshold temperature the controller is configured to stop priming the pump by starting the drive mechanism so that the at least one pumping mechanism begins pressurizing the first flow of fluid from the reservoir into the discharge passage at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a boost pump configured to pressurize at a first pressure a fluid supplied from a storage tank;
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14. A method for priming a pump, the method comprising:
- supplying a fluid from a storage tank to a reservoir of the pump at a first pressure using a boost pump;
communicating a first flow of fluid from the reservoir through at least one pumping mechanism of the pump into a discharge passage of the pump without pressurizing the first flow of fluid above the first pressure until a pressure of the fluid in the discharge passage is substantially equal to a pressure of the fluid supplied to the at least one pumping mechanism, thereby closing a check valve stopping the first flow of the fluid into the discharge passage;
sensing a temperature of a fluid associated with the pump;
communicating a second flow of fluid from the reservoir to the storage tank when the first flow of fluid stops flowing from the at least one pumping mechanism into the discharge passage;
communicating the sensed temperature to a controller in communication with a drive mechanism for the at least one pumping element; and
operating, by the controller, the drive mechanism for the at least one pumping mechanism when the determined temperature is equal to or below a threshold temperature to stop priming the pump and to pressurize the first flow of fluid into the discharge passage at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
- supplying a fluid from a storage tank to a reservoir of the pump at a first pressure using a boost pump;
Specification