Solar-powered reciprocating pump
First Claim
1. A submersible pumping apparatus for use in a well, said apparatus comprising:
- a pumping housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a plunger reciprocably disposed in said pumping housing;
a prime mover having a rotating output shaft;
a transmission connected to said plunger and said prime mover, said transmission adapted for converting rotating motion of said output shaft of said prime more into reciprocating motion of said plunger and a plunger rod interconnecting said transmission and said plunger;
said plunger comprising;
a plunger body defining a bore for receiving a portion of said plunger rod therein;
a first plunger first ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said pumping housing as said plunger moves upwardly;
said first plunger ring said plunger body define a cavity therebetween;
a second plunger ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said pumping housing as said plunger moves downwardly; and
a locking mechanism for locking said plunger body to said plunger rod;
said locking mechanism comprising a nut threadingly engaged with said plunger rod, and a quantity of epoxy substantially filling said cavity and enclosing at least a portion of said nut.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A solar-powered reciprocating pump for submersible use in a well, such as a water well. The pump has a pumping section with a plunger therein. The pump also has a drive section with a rotating output shaft and a transmission section which converts the rotating output of the shaft into reciprocating motion of the plunger. In one embodiment, the transmission comprises a gear train. In a second embodiment, the transmission comprises a ball screw which is actuated by a reversible motor. In a third embodiment, the transmission comprises a reversible ball screw which provides reciprocating action in response to rotation of a shaft in a single direction. The pumping section comprises an outer case portion with a cylinder disposed therein such that an annular volume is defined therebetween. A system of flow passageways and inlet and outlet valves provide for pumping liquid into and out of the pump in response to movement of the plunger in both upward and downward directions. A tube which acts to seal around the plunger rod is supported on sliding bushings on the rod. A sealed end cap is provided adjacent to the drive section so that liquid which may come in contact with electrical wires externally of the pumping apparatus cannot come in contact with a motor in the drive section.
39 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A submersible pumping apparatus for use in a well, said apparatus comprising:
-
a pumping housing having an inlet and an outlet; a plunger reciprocably disposed in said pumping housing; a prime mover having a rotating output shaft; a transmission connected to said plunger and said prime mover, said transmission adapted for converting rotating motion of said output shaft of said prime more into reciprocating motion of said plunger and a plunger rod interconnecting said transmission and said plunger; said plunger comprising; a plunger body defining a bore for receiving a portion of said plunger rod therein; a first plunger first ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said pumping housing as said plunger moves upwardly; said first plunger ring said plunger body define a cavity therebetween; a second plunger ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said pumping housing as said plunger moves downwardly; and a locking mechanism for locking said plunger body to said plunger rod; said locking mechanism comprising a nut threadingly engaged with said plunger rod, and a quantity of epoxy substantially filling said cavity and enclosing at least a portion of said nut. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A pump comprising:
-
a pumping housing having an inlet and an outlet; a plunger reciprocably disposed in said pumping housing; a transmission housing attached to said pumping housing; a prime mover attached to said transmission housing and having a rotating output shaft extending into said transmission housing; a first bevel gear attached to said output shaft; a second bevel gear engaged with said first bevel gear and having an axis substantially perpendicular to an axis of said first bevel gear; a speed reduction gear train disposed in said transmission housing and connected to said second bevel gear; a crosshead guide adjacent to said transmission housing; a crosshead reciprocably disposed in said crosshead guide and connected to said plunger; a connecting rod interconnecting said crosshead and said gear train; a plunger rod interconnecting said plunger and said crosshead; an elastomeric tube disposed around said plunger rod, said tube having a first end attached to said plunger rod and a second end attached to said pumping housing; and
,a plurality of bushings slidably disposed on said plunger rod within said tube. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A pumping apparatus comprising:
-
a pumping housing having an inlet and an outlet; a plunger reciprocably disposed in said pumping housing; a transmission housing connected to said pumping housing; a prime mover having a rotating output shaft extending into said transmission housing; a ball screw having a ball screw nut connected to said plunger, a ball screw shaft threadingly engaged with said ball screw nut and having an end connected to said output shaft of said prime mover, and a preventor adapted to prevent rotation of said ball screw nut with respect to said transmission housing; a plunger rod interconnecting said plunger and said ball screw nut; an elastomeric tube disposed around said plunger rod, said tube having a first end attached to said plunger rod and a second end attached to said pumping housing; and a plurality of bushings slidably disposed on said plunger rod within said tube. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A pumping apparatus comprising:
-
a pumping housing having an inlet and an outlet; a plunger reciprocably disposed in said pumping housing; a transmission housing connected to said pumping housing; a prime mover having a rotating output shaft extending into said transmission housing; and a ball screw comprising; a ball screw nut connected to said plunger; a ball screw shaft threadingly engaged with said ball screw nut and having an end connected to said output shaft of said prime mover; and a preventor adapted to prevent rotation of said ball screw nut with respect to said transmission housing a plunger rod interconnecting said transmission and said plunger; said plunger comprises; a plunger body; a first plunger ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said pumping housing, said first plunger ring and said plunger body define a cavity therebetween; a second plunger ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said pumping housing; and a locking mechanism adapted to lock said plunger body to said plunger rod; and
said locking means comprises;a nut threadingly engaged with said plunger rod; and a quantity of epoxy substantially filling said cavity and enclosing at least a portion of said nut.
-
-
42. A pumping apparatus comprising:
-
an outer case defining an inlet and an outlet therein; a cylinder disposed in said outer case such that a substantially annular volume is defined therebetween; a plunger reciprocably disposed in said cylinder such that an upper pumping chamber is defined in said cylinder above said plunger and a lower pumping chamber is defined in said cylinder below said plunger; a glass liner disposed in said cylinder and engaged with said plunger; said plunger comprises; a plunger body defining a bore for receiving a portion of said plunger rod therein; a first plunger ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said glass liner as said plunger moves upwardly, said first plunger ring and said plunger body define a cavity therebetween; a second plunger ring disposed on said plunger body and adapted for sealing engagement with said glass liner as said plunger moves downwardly; and means for locking said plunger body to said plunger rod said locking means comprising; a nut threadingly engaged with said plunger rod; and a quantity of epoxy substantially filling said cavity and enclosing at least a portion of said nut; and a lower manifold engaged with said outer case and a lower portion of said cylinder, said lower manifold defining a lower manifold port therein which provides communication between said lower pumping chamber and said annular volume; an upper manifold engaged with said outer case and an upper portion of said cylinder, said upper manifold defining; a first inlet passageway providing communication between said inlet and said upper pumping chamber; a second inlet passageway providing communication between said inlet and said annular volume; a first outlet passageway providing communication between said upper pumping chamber and said outlet; and a second outlet passageway providing communication between said annular volume and said outlet; and a reciprocator adapted to reciprocate said plunger in said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A submersible pumping apparatus for use in a well, said apparatus comprising:
-
a pumping section; a motor having a rotating output shaft and having a plurality of motor wires extending therefrom; a transmission section interconnecting said pumping section and said motor; an end cap adjacent to said motor and defining a cavity therein; a plurality of external wires adjacent to said end cap and extending upwardly in the well; a plurality of substantially solid electrical connectors disposed in said cavity, each of said electrical connectors being adapted for electrically interconnecting one of said motor wires with one of said external wires; and a quantity of epoxy substantially filling said cavity and thereby enclosing at least a portion of said electrical connectors such that liquid from said well which may be in contact with said external wires cannot come in contact with said motor wires.
-
-
47. A pumping apparatus comprising:
-
a pumping housing; a plunger reciprocably disposed in said pumping housing; a plunger rod connected to said plunger and reciprocable therewith; an elastomeric tube disposed around said plunger rod, said tube having a first end sealingly attached to said plunger rod and a second end sealingly attached to said pumping housing; and a plurality of bushings slidably disposed on said plunger rod within said tube. - View Dependent Claims (48)
-
Specification