Patent ID: 6209309
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: F02C,F04D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for controlling a fluid flow rate from a pump, said method comprising the steps of:providing a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet;providing a fluid flow path to the pump inlet;cyclically restricting the fluid flow path to achieve a fluid flow to the pump inlet that cycles between a first flow rate for a time period T1 and a second flow rate for a time period T2, the second flow rate being greater than the first flow rate;pumping fluid with the pump from the pump inlet to the pump outlet;providing a fluid storage device that supplies fluid to the fluid flow path;providing a valve in the fluid flow path to perform the step of cyclically restricting the fluid flow path, the valve having a valve inlet receiving fluid flow from the fluid storage device and a valve outlet supplying fluid flow to the pump inlet;pressurizing the fluid in the fluid storage device; andregulating the pressure in the fluid storage device to achieve a desired average pressure differential between the fluid flow at the valve inlet and the fluid flow at the valve outlet.