Patent ID: 6065387
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
A reciprocating fluid driven apparatus for a pipeline system carrying said fluid under pressure, said apparatus comprising:a hollow elongate barrel having a top end, an opposed bottom end with an inlet in fluid communication with an upstream portion of said pipeline, and an outlet located above said bottom end in fluid communication with said pipeline downstream of said upstream portion;a piston located within the barrel for reciprocal sliding therein in a relatively fluid tight manner, said piston having opposed upper and lower ends, an interior cavity for allowing fluid movement therethrough between said upper and lower ends, a through hole in said lower end for fluid communication between said hollow interior cavity and said barrel beneath the piston, at least one opening in said upper end of the piston for fluid communication between said interior cavity and the barrel above the piston, and a cyclically operable closure member for opening and closing said through hole, said piston being moved upwardly within said barrel by said pressurized fluid beneath said piston to an upper limit of travel upon said closure member closing said through hole, and said piston being allowed to fall by force of gravity from said upper limit of travel to a lower limit of travel upon said closure member opening said through hole to allow said fluid beneath the piston to travel through said interior cavity and into said outlet of the barrel for discharge into said downstream portion of the pipeline;said piston including a locking mechanism for positively locking said closure member upon closing said through hole at said lower limit of travel, said locking mechanism including an arrangement of levers at said upper end of the piston wherein a bottom end of each lever is located within said interior cavity of the piston and a top end of each lever extends out of and above said upper end of the piston, each of said levers being pivotable about a point intermediate said bottom and top ends so that said bottom end of each lever is aligned with said closure member for movement to lock and unlock said closure member; anda piston rod extending from said upper end of the piston and slidably through said top end of the barrel in a relatively fluid tight manner for transferring movement of the piston to the exterior of the barrel.