Abstract:
An adjustable cooling mechanism is provided. The cooling mechanism may include: a hollow member surrounding, at least in part, a machine to be cooled; the hollow member having holes oriented at the machine; an outlet configured to outlet a compressed fluid from the machine; a conduit connecting the outlet to an interior of the hollow member; and a throttling mechanism configured to throttle a fluid moving through the holes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a cooling system for a pneumatic piece of machinery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system using the exhaust gas from a pneumatic machine to cool the machine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    High performance hydraulic pumps have the ability to generate extra work compared to standard pumps. Some of the unused work from a high performance hydraulic pump is converted to heat. The resulting heat may be transferred to components of the hydraulic system. In some instances, it is undesirable that operators of the system be exposed to the heated components. Further, even if operators of the system are not exposed to heated elements, heating the elements may cause undesirable results. 
         [0003]    Some high performance hydraulic pumps are pneumatically operated. After the compressed air is used to drive the motor it may still be at a higher pressure than the ambient or atmospheric air, thus the exhaust air is pressurized when it is vented to the outside. The exhaust air cools as it expands when reaching the ambient pressure. 
         [0004]    Pneumatic hydraulic pumps sometimes incorporate electrically operated fans to cool them, however, this requires both a pneumatic connection and electric connection to the pump. It would be desirable to provide a hydraulic pump that has fewer connections and/or no need for electrical power to cool the hydraulic pump, but yet performs the same functions of a typical hydraulic pump. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by embodiments in accordance with the present invention. Wherein, in one aspect an apparatus is provided that provides cooling for heated components of the hydraulic pump without requiring electric fans to accomplish the cooling. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable cooling mechanism is provided. The cooling mechanism may include: a hollow member surrounding, at least in part, a machine to be cooled; the hollow member having holes oriented at the machine; an outlet configured to outlet a compressed fluid from the machine; a conduit connecting the outlet to an interior of the hollow member; and a throttling mechanism configured to throttle a fluid moving through the holes. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of cooling a pneumatic machine is provided. The method may include: directing exhaust gas into a hollow member surrounding, at least in part, the machine; providing holes in the hollow member oriented to jet the exhaust gas from the hollow member onto a desired part of the machine; and providing an adjuster to adjust the flow of gas from the holes onto the machine. 
         [0008]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable cooling mechanism is provided. The mechanism may include a hollow means for protecting a machine to be cooled, the hollow means for protecting having means for jetting a fluid oriented at the machine; a means for exhausting a compressed fluid from the machine; a means for directing a gas flow conduit connecting the exhausting means to an interior of the protecting means; and a means for throttling configured to throttle a fluid moving through the jetting means. 
         [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 hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a hydraulic pump shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a schematic diagram of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a portion of a roll cage used in a hydraulic pump. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a portion of a roll cage used in a hydraulic pump. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view showing some aspects of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional view showing some components of a hydraulic pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a partial cross-sectional view of a roll cage used for a hydraulic pump in accordance with some of the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a roll cage used in some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a perspective close up partial view of a roll cage used in some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a perspective close up of a partial view of a roll cage used in some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective close up partial view of a roll cage used in some embodiments in accordance with the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a perspective partial close up view of a roll cage used in some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a partial cross sectional view of a roll cage used in some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a partial cross-sectional view of a roll cage used in some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a roll cage used in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a roll cage used in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a roll cage used in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    A cooling system for a pneumatic piece of equipment will now be described. In some embodiments of the invention, compressed air after it has been used to run a pneumatic machine is still at a higher pressure than ambient or atmospheric air in the environment in which the machine dwells. Thus, when the pneumatic air has operated the machine and is output to the atmosphere it expands and cools. Furthermore, rapid expansion of this air can be noisy. Suppression of this noise in some instances may be dealt with by using a muffler. In order to utilize the cooling of the exhaust gas as it expands to atmospheric pressure some embodiments of the invention include cooling parts of the pneumatic machine by expanding the exhausted compressed air and directing it on various parts of the pneumatic machine. 
         [0036]    These cooling functions in typical machines may be accomplished by the use of electric powered devices such as fans and the like. Some embodiments may eliminate the need for electric power source for some pneumatic powered machines. Other pneumatic powered machines in accordance with the invention may still use electric power for some functions. While the pneumatic machine described herein is a hydraulic pump, the invention is not limited to hydraulic pumps, principles in accordance with the invention may be applied to other pneumatic machines. The hydraulic pumps shown described below are meant to be exemplary only and do not limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  shows a pneumatic hydraulic pump  50  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hydraulic pump  50  includes a base  52 . The hydraulic pump  50  also includes roll bars  54 . The roll bars  54  surround the motor  56  and related components of the hydraulic pump  50  and may provide some protection to the hydraulic pump  50  if tipped on to its side or is bumped by other equipment. The hydraulic pump  50  includes an outlet  58  for exhausting the compressed air (or other fluid) used to drive the pneumatic motor  56  associated with the hydraulic pump  50 . The outlet  58  is connected to a fitting  60 . The fitting  60  directs compressed air expelled from the outlet  58  into the hollow roll bar  54 . In some instances more compressed air may be expended through the outlet  58  than is needed to cool various components of the hydraulic pump  50 . In such instances, the fitting  60  may also connect to a muffler  64 . The air can be expanded and expelled in the muffler  64 . The muffler  64  reduces noises associated with the compressed air expanding and venting out of the outlet  58 . The fitting  60  may attach the roll bar  54  by clamps  62 . In some instances the clamps  62  may also serve to attach the muffler  64  to the roll bar  54 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is the top view of a hydraulic pump  50  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2  hydraulic pump  50  includes a fitting  60  connected to roll bar  54  via clamps  62 .  FIG. 2  also shows how the roll bar  54  attaches to the base  52 . The roll bar  54  includes attaching plates  90 . The attachment plates  90  may include holes  88 . The attaching plates  90  may be attached via fasteners  92  to the base  52 . 
         [0039]    Another embodiment in accordance to the invention is shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a top view of a hydraulic pump  50 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outlet  58  may attach to a hose fitting  94  which allows the expended gas coming out of the outlet  58  to be directed into the roll bar  54 . The hose fitting  94  may be flexible or may be a rigid member depending on the individual needs of a particular application.  FIG. 4  shows another embodiment in accordance with the invention. The hydraulic pump  50  includes the roll bar  54  sitting on top of a base  52 . Holes  96  in the roll bar  54  are shown in broken lines indicating that the holes  96  are oriented on the opposite side of the roll bar  54  than what can be seen in  FIG. 4  and thus face the components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50  upon which cool air is desired to be blown. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment of a hydraulic pump  50 . The hydraulic pump  50  is shown in  FIG. 5  as a top view and is a schematic diagram. The outlet  58  is connected to a flexible hose  95 . In some embodiments a rigid tube may be used. The flexible hose  95  has holes  96  oriented towards components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50  that are desired to be cooled. Gas exiting the outlet  58  expands and is thereby cooled. This cooled gas flows through the flex hose  95  and flows out of the holes  96 , thereby cooling the components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . The hydraulic pump  50  is equipped with a flex hose  95  having holes  96  oriented towards components  78  of hydraulic pump  50  that are desired to be cooled by gas flowing out of the holes  96  and onto the components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50 . The hydraulic pump  50  sits upon the base  52 . In some embodiments of the invention the flex hose  95  may not necessarily be flexible but could also be a rigid component placed in the orientation desired. In other embodiments of the invention feature  95  may be a flexible hose and can be oriented to multiple orientations as desired by a user. The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may or may not be used along with a roll bar  54 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show another embodiment in accordance with the invention. In some embodiments it may be desirable for the roll bar  54  to be modified to include a hand hold  100 . The hand hold  100  may be dimensioned to be structurally strong enough to provide a point for a user to grab a hold of and lift or move the hydraulic pump  50 . As shown in  FIG. 7  a hand hold area  86  of the roll bar  54  is shown. The roll bar  54  includes a break  98 . A hand hold bypass  100  bypasses the break  98  and connects or makes continuous the roll bar  54 . The hand hold  100  may be dimensioned to be strong enough to allow a user to grab the hand hold  100  and lift or move the hydraulic pump  50 . 
         [0043]    In some embodiments of the invention, as shown  FIG. 8  a perforated tube  102  may be installed at the break  98 . The perforated tube  102  may include cooling holes  96  which direct cooling air or fluid located within the roll bar  54  on to components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50  that are desired to be cooled as described above. The perforated tube  102  may be a rigid structure or may be a flex hose. The perforated tube  102  may attach to the roll bar  54  by clamps  84 . 
         [0044]    According to some embodiments of the invention, air moving through the roll bar  54  may go only through the perforated tube  102 . In other embodiments air may go through both the perforated tube  102  and the hand hold  100 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows another hydraulic pump  50  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hydraulic pump  50  includes roll bars  54  surrounding a hydraulic pump  50 . The hydraulic pump  50  is set upon a base  52 . The outlet  58  is connected to an adjustable valve  200 , which can be adjusted to allow compressed fluid flowing from the outlet  58  to the roll bar  54 , the muffler  64 , or combination of the roll bar  54  and muffler  64 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  is a close up of a portion of the hydraulic pump  50  shown in  FIG. 9 . The outlet  58  is shown to be fluidly connected to adjustable valve  200 , to a fitting  204 , and to the roll bar  54 . A fitting  202  connects the outlet  58  with the muffler  64  (not shown in  FIG. 10 ). The adjustable valve  200  is equipped with and adjusting knob  201  which allows a user to adjust how much compressed gas coming from the outlet  58  is sent to the roll bar  54  or the muffler  64 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of the hydraulic pump shown in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 11  the adjustable valve  200  includes an interior passageway which allows the compressed gas coming from the outlet  58  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) to flow into the fitting  204  and ultimately into the interior  212  of the roll bar  54 . In some embodiments of the invention, the fitting  204  to the roll bar  54  is equipped with a strain relief  208  which helps reduce the strain on the fitting  204  to the roll bar  54 . However, other embodiments in accordance with the invention may not include the strain relief  208 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the passageway  210  of the adjustable value  200  and the fitting  204  to the roll bar is dimensioned to be relatively small, thus, not allowing the gases exiting through the outlet  58  to expand fully until the gases exit through the end  206  of the fitting  204  into the interior  212  of the roll bar  54 . 
         [0049]    As is well known, when compressed gases are permitted to suddenly expand they cool. Using this principle, the gases contained within the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  may be cooler than the ambient air and may be used to effectively cool various portions of the hydraulic pump  50 . The fitting  204  to the roll bar  54  may be a rigid tube or may be a flexible hose. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional view of portions of the hydraulic pump. As shown in  FIG. 12  the roll bar  54  is equipped with holes  96  oriented towards various portions  78  of the hydraulic pump  50  which are desired to be cooled. As shown the holes  96  are aligned, in other embodiments of the invention the holes  96  may not be aligned. The holes  96  provide fluid communication between the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  and the outside of the roll bar  54 . Because the pressure within the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  is greater than the pressure outside the roll bar  54  the fluid contained within the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  vents or jets through the cooling holes  96  onto the portions  78  of the hydraulic pump  50  that are desired to be cooled. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  is a partial cross-sectional view of the roll bar  54 .  FIG. 13  shows half the roll bar  54  in cross-section. The hydraulic pump  50  has been removed to better illustrate the aspects of the roll bar  54 . The roll bar  54  includes the attaching plate  90 . The attaching plate  90  has a hole  88 . The attaching plate  90  also includes fastener holes  215  through which fasteners  92  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) attach the attaching plate  90  to the base  52 . The roll bar  54  also includes an inlet  214  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The inlet allows the fitting  204  as shown in  FIG. 10  to pass through the inlet  214  and into the interior  212  of the roll bar  54 . Cooling holes  96  are also illustrated. In some embodiments of the invention, the cooling holes  96  may be located as shown in the FIGS. In other embodiments the cooling holes  96  may be located at other locations on the roll bar  54 . One of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure would understand where to place the cooling holes  96  in order to achieve the goals of a particular application. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  illustrates the roll bar  54  from a perspective view. The hydraulic pump  50  has been removed to better illustrate aspects of the roll bar  54 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14  the roll bar  54  is equipped with an external cooling control sleeve  216 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  is a partial close up view of the roll bar  54  and the external cooling control sleeve  216 . The cooling control sleeve  216  is equipped with a slot  218 . The slot  218  may have a taper  220 . The external cooling control sleeve  216  can rotate either direction as shown by arrow A in  FIG. 15 . The external cooling control sleeve  216  is located so that the slot  218  is aligned with the cooling holes  96 . The external cooling control sleeve  216  may be rotated on the roll bar  54  to selectively expose or conceal the cooling holes  96  as shown in  FIGS. 16-18 . The geometry of the slot  218  may vary in configuration with cooling holes  96  so that a desired controlled sequencing effect may be achieved. 
         [0054]    In  FIG. 16  some of the cooling holes  96  are partially concealed by the external cooling control sleeve  216  which has been rotated on the roll bar  54  so that the slot  218  is misaligned with the cooling holes  96  and conceals parts of the cooling holes  96 . 
         [0055]    In  FIG. 17  the external cooling control sleeve  216  has been further rotated so that the slot  218  is further misaligned with the cooling holes  96 . Some of the cooling holes  96  are completely covered by the control sleeve  216  while other cooling holes  96  are partially concealed the control sleeve  216 . 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 18  the cooling control sleeve  216  has been further rotated to completely conceal the cooling holes  96 . As shown in  FIG. 18  the slot  218  is completely misaligned with the cooling holes  96 . The cooling control sleeve  216  can be rotated by user to vary the amount of cooling the cooling holes  96  apply to various components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50  by rotating the cooling control sleeve  216  on the roll bar  54 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 19 and 20  are a partial cross-sectional views of the roll bar  54  showing the external control sleeve  216  at various radial orientations. The slot  218  is aligned with the cooling holes  96  as shown in  FIG. 19  and misaligned with the cooling holes  96  as shown in  FIG. 20 . When the cooling control sleeve  216  is oriented so that the slot  216  is aligned with the cooling holes  96  the air or fluid within the interior  212  of the role bar  54  is provided with a path to the outside of the roll bar  54 . Therefore, the fluid within the interior  212  and the roll bar  54  cools the components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50 . 
         [0058]    In contrast, while the cooling control sleeve  216  is oriented so that the slot  218  is misaligned with the cooling holes  96  a pathway is not provided from the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  for the fluid within the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  to jet through the cooling holes  96  to cool the various components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50 . As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure, intermediate positions between those shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20  would allow reduced cooling to occur by partially constricting the flow path provided by the hole  96  when the holes are partially aligned with the slot  218 . The taper  220  (as shown in  FIGS. 15-18 ) provides additional advantages in allowing the cooling control sleeve  216  to provide intermediate amounts of cooling as desired by a user. 
         [0059]    In other embodiments of the invention other adjustable means for allowing the control of the amount of cooling applied to the hydraulic pump  50  may be used. For example, in  FIGS. 21-23  an adjustable means is described. In  FIG. 21  the roll bar  54  is shown. The hydraulic pump  50  has been removed to better shown aspects of the roll bar  54 . The roll bar  54  is equipped with a slot  224  through which a cooling control knob  222  extends. 
         [0060]      FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the roll bar  54  shown in  FIG. 21 . As shown in  FIG. 22  an interior cooling control sleeve  226  is located within interior  212  of the roll bar  54 . The interior control sleeve  226  is equipped with a slot  228 . In accordance with some embodiments of the invention this slot  228  may have a taper  230 . The interior cooling control sleeve  226  is attached to the control knob  222  which extends through the slot  224  of the roll bar  54 . A user may rotate the control knob  222  through the slot  224  of the roll bar  54  which causes the interior cooling control sleeve  226  to rotate. Rotation of the interior cooling control sleeve  226  can cause the control slot  228  to selectively align with the cooling holes  96  similar to that described above with respect to  FIGS. 14-20 . The control knob  222  can be moved to various positions within the slot  224  to rotate the interior cooling control sleeve  226  to allow the control slot  228  to align, partially align, or complete misalign with the cooling holes  96 . Moving the control knob  222  allows a user to control how much air or cooling fluid is permitted to flow from the interior  212  of the roll bar  54  to the components  78  of the hydraulic pump  50 . 
         [0061]    It will be understood that exhaust air may also be directed to locations that may not be on the pneumatic machine. For example, an area near the pneumatic machine may be desired to be cooled. The exhaust air may be directed to the area near the pneumatic machine. 
         [0062]    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.