Abstract:
A hydraulic pump is provided. The pump includes: a pump shaft adapter configured to rotate and operate the hydraulic pump thereby; a magneto operatively connected to the pump shaft adapter; conductors extending from the magneto connecting the magneto to a power outlet to provide electricity generated by the magneto to the power outlet; and a hydraulic pump housing enclosing both the hydraulic pump and the magneto. A method of generating electricity may be provided. The method includes: adapting a pump shaft to include an attaching structure; attaching a magneto to the attaching structure; and configuring the magneto to generate electricity when the pump shaft rotates.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of a provisional U.S. patent application entitled HYDRAULIC PUMP WITH ELECTRIC GENERATOR, having a Ser. No. 62/174,242, filed Jun. 11, 2015. The disclosure of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to hydraulic pumps. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hydraulic pump configured to use the rotating shaft of a prime mover configured to operate the pump to also generate electric power. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hydraulic pumps are often operated at construction or other work sites that do not always have access to electric power. The hydraulic pumps may be operated by a variety of different prime movers. For example, gasoline motors, diesel motors, pneumatic motors, natural gas motors, propane powered motors or any other type of motor may be used to drive a hydraulic pump. In many instances, the prime mover may provide a rotating shaft to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump then has a shaft that connects to the output shaft of the prime mover in order to operate the hydraulic pump. 
         [0004]    In some instances, it may be useful to have some electric power available in addition to the mechanical shaft power provided by the prime mover. For example, certain hydraulic valves may be electrically operated or controlled by electronic controller that runs on electricity. In other instances various valves a be moved by electric actuators. In still other instances, other devices may run on electricity forming a desire for electric power to be generated by the energy or rotating shaft of the prime mover. In some instances, generators may not be used to generate electric power because of arcing or sparks that may occur within the generator. For example, in mines where flammable gases may accumulate such generators should not be used. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that can use the rotating shaft provided by a prime mover to run both a hydraulic pump and generate electric power. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that in some embodiments uses a rotating shaft powered by a prime mover to run both a hydraulic pump and generate electricity. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a hydraulic pump is provided. The pump includes: a pump shaft adapter configured to rotate and operate the hydraulic pump thereby; a magneto operatively connected to the pump shaft adapter; conductors extending from the magneto connecting the magneto to a power outlet to provide electricity generated by the magneto to the power outlet; and a hydraulic pump housing enclosing both the hydraulic pump and the magneto. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of generating electricity is provided. The method includes: adapting a pump shaft to include an attaching structure; attaching a magneto to the attaching structure; and configuring the magneto to generate electricity when the pump shaft rotates. 
         [0008]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a hydraulic pump is provided. The pump may include: a means for transmitting mechanical power configured to rotate and operate the hydraulic pump thereby; a means for generating electrical power operatively connected to the means for transmitting mechanical power; means for transmitting electrical power extending from the means for generating electrical power to a power outlet to provide electricity generated by the means for generating electrical power to the power outlet; and a hydraulic pump housing enclosing both the hydraulic pump and the means for generating electrical power. 
         [0009]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0010]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0011]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a motorized hydraulic pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a motorized hydraulic pump with part of the housing removed in order to show internal components according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the motorized hydraulic pump of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adapted pump shaft in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a partially broken away top view of the adapted pump shaft of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a partial, enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the motorized hydraulic pump. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a partial, enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the motorized hydraulic pump. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective, partial, enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the motorized hydraulic pump according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a schematic wiring diagram of the motorized hydraulic pump. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure provides a motorized hydraulic pump. The motorized hydraulic pump is driven by a prime mover. The prime mover provides energy to run the hydraulic pump in the form of a rotating shaft. In addition to performing pumping operations, the hydraulic pump is capable of generating electricity. Electricity may be used for a variety of purposes including operating hydraulic valves that may receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1, 2, and 3  illustrate a motorized hydraulic pump  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. The motorized hydraulic pump  10  includes a prime mover  12 . The prime mover  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  includes a gasoline reciprocating engine. However, in other embodiments, a variety of prime movers  12  may be used. For example, the prime mover  12  may be a pneumatic motor, a hydraulic motor, an engine running on propane or natural gas or any other motor that is configured to rotate a shaft. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a power generation assembly  14 . The power generation assembly  14  is located in between the prime mover  12  and the hydraulic pump  18 . The power generation assembly  14  shown in  FIG. 1  is covered by a housing  16 . In some embodiments, the housing  16  is part of the hydraulic pump  18  such that the power generation assembly  14  is contained within the housing  16  of the hydraulic pump  18 . The housing  16  is removed (or, at least, partially removed) in  FIGS. 2 and 3  to better illustrate the parts of the power generation assembly  14 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the motorized hydraulic pump  10  with the housing  16  removed.  FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the motorized hydraulic pump  10  where the prime mover  12  and the hydraulic pump  18  are intact but separated from each other. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the prime mover  12  has a drive shaft  22  that extends down below the prime mover  12  toward the power generation assembly  14 . The power generation assembly  14  may be a magneto  20 . The magneto  20  may include a rotor  21  and a stator assembly  26  which will be discussed in further detail later below. The magneto  20  is attached to an adapted pump shaft  24  which is also connected to the drive shaft  22  of the prime mover  12 . In some embodiments, it is the adapted pump shaft  24  which is attached to the power generation assembly  14  and also drives the hydraulic pump  18 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the adapted pump shaft  24 .  FIG. 5  is an end view of the adapted pump shaft  24  having a broken out portion  44  which allows better illustration of some of the aspects of the adapted pump shaft  24  described below. With respect to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the adapted pump shaft  24  includes a shaft portion  28  terminated at one end with a flat end portion  30 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the flat end portion  30  is configured to engage with components of the hydraulic pump  18  to drive the hydraulic pump  18  (See  FIGS. 1-3  for the hydraulic pump  18 ). The adapted pump shaft  24  may have a larger diameter portion  32  which has a larger diameter than the shaft portion  28 . The larger diameter portion  32  may include a set screw hole  34  which, in some embodiments, may be threaded. The screw hole  34  may be used to allow a screw to enter the screw hole  34  and urge against the shaft  22  to better keep it in place within the adapted pump shaft  24 . 
         [0027]    The adapted pump shaft  24  may be particularly adapted in order to both drive the hydraulic pump  18  and the rotor  21 . In this regard, the adapted pump shaft  24  may include attaching structure such as, but not limited to, a flange  36  having connecting holes  38 . The flange  36  and connecting holes  38  may allow the adapted pump shaft  24  to attach to the rotor  21  which will be described in additional detail below. The adapted pump shaft  24  may also define an opening  40 . In some embodiments, the opening  40  may be encompassed about by a raised lip portion  41 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the opening  40  may also include a keyway  42  which may be dimensioned to engage with a key located on the drive shaft  22  in order to provide a positive rotational connection between the drive shaft  22  coming from the prime mover  12  and the adapted pump shaft  24 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the motorized hydraulic pump  10 . The drive shaft  22  is shown extending from the prime mover  12  through the rotor  21  and stator assembly  26  and connecting to the adapted pump shaft  24 . The attaching bolts or fasteners  46  are shown extending through attaching holes  47  in the rotor  21  and the connecting holes  38  in the adapted pump shaft  24 . In this manner, the flange  36  of the adapted pump shaft  24  is secured against the mounting surface  49  of the rotor  21 . 
         [0029]    The rotor  21  has a receiving hole  48 . In some embodiments, the receiving hole  48  has been modified or formed so that it is dimensioned to permit the raised lip portion  41  of the adapted pump shaft  24  to extend into the rotor  21 . In some embodiments, the receiving hole  48  is modified from a tapered shape common to off-the-shelf parts and is squared off as shown. The adapted pump shaft  24  sits upon a bearing  51  and extends into the hydraulic pump  18 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the power generation assembly  14 . The rotor  21  and the stator assembly  26  are shown with the drive shaft  22  extending through both the rotor  21  and the stator assembly  26 . A rectifier  50  is illustrated as attached to the housing  16 . The rectifier  50  is secured to the housing  16  by holding screw  52 . In other embodiments the rectifier  50  may be mounted in a different manner than what is shown and described herein while still being in accordance with the disclosure. The rectifier  50  may include various attachment points  54  for receiving wires  53  extending out of the stator assembly  26  (as seen in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 8  which is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the power generation assembly  14  the magneto  20  operates by a stator assembly  26  having coils  56  made of coiled wires or conductors remaining stationary while the rotor  21  including magnets rotates around the coils  56 . In this manner, electricity is generated within the conductors in the coils  56  and the electricity flows out of the wires  53  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Magnetos  20  are well known and will not be described in additional detail here. One of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure will understand that magnetos  20  having different construction than that shown and described herein may be used in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0032]    In a nonlimiting example embodiment, the magneto rotor  21  and stator assembly  26  may be obtained from Universal Parts 7300 Bryan Dairy Road, Seminole, Fla., 33777. The rotor  21  is identified by part number 164-191 and the stator assembly  26  is identified by part number 164-289. 
         [0033]    In order to make the power generated by the magneto  20  more suitable for use the electricity may first be run through the rectifier  50 . In some instances, the rectifier may be one provided by FALGOR having part number FB2506 or a rectifier  21  provided by TAITRON (TCI) having part number GBPC25-06. It should be understood that these rectifiers  50  are meant to be examples that are not limiting. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 8  resistors  58  may be mounted to a mounting bracket  60 . The mounting bracket  60  may be mounted to a mounting portion  62  of the housing  16 . The mounting bracket  60  may be equipped with a mounting bracket bolts  64 . In some embodiments, the resistors  58  may be attached to the mounting bracket  60  by a resistor mounting bolt or fasteners  68 . In other embodiments, the resistors  58  may be located in a different location and mounted differently than what is shown and still be used in accordance with the present disclosure. The resistors  58  may be equipped with leads  66  in order to provide attachment point to attach wires or other conductors to the resistors  58 . In some embodiments, the lead  66  at the bottom of the resistor  58  will be an input lead and the lead  66  at the top of the resistor  58  will be an output lead  66 . 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the resistors  58  are wirewound resistors capable of industrial power. They are aluminum housed and chassis mounted. A nonlimiting example resistor  58  that may be used is one provided by Vishay Dale identified by global part number RH050. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example schematic wiring diagram for the power generation assembly  14 . The power generating assembly is shown contained within the housing  16 . The magneto  20  generates electric power. The magneto  20  is conducted by wires  72  and  74  and the power is transmitted to the rectifier  50 . Optionally, the power may be sent via wires  72  and  74  to an inverter  78  to stabilize the voltage level. Once the power is been rectified and optionally sent through the inverter  78 , it is then transmitted by wires  72  and  74  to the resistors  58 . At that point, the power is then outputted from the resistors  58  and transmitted by wires  72  and  74  to the terminal  70 . The terminal  70  may include an outlet  76  which provides a place for users to access the power generated by the magneto  20 . 
         [0037]    The signal processing described above with respect to the power generation assembly  14  is not meant to be limiting but rather an example description. One of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure will understand how to configure various components to achieve a desired level of signal processing. It should be understood that a variety of types of signal processing of the power generated by the magneto  20  may be accomplished in accordance with the disclosure. 
         [0038]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.