Steam operated, self cycling, diaphragm water pump

A diaphragm pump mechanism is powered by steam generated by an internal heater coil heating the pumped water, which moves the diaphragm and an attached piston to pump water through the pump. The heater coil is turned on-and-off using a switch that is timed to the movement of the pump. The water is pumped through a series of one-way rubber valves and reed valves to prevent a back flow of water. The pressure generated by the steam is released when a reed valve located on the diaphragm makes contact with a pin located on the body of the pump, opening the reed valve and allowing the steam to travel through and to condense. The piston and diaphragm are returned to the starting position when the steam pressure is released by a spring attached to the pump shaft. On the return stroke an accumulator refills the diaphragm chamber with water.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to diaphragm pumps. More specifically, the invention relates to a diaphragm pump that heats the water being pumped into steam to power both a diaphragm and a piston. The novel invention is therefore quiet when it is operated and pumping water, compared to most contemporary diaphragm pumps, which utilize an electric motor to power the diaphragm. The most relevant CPC classes are, F04D13, pumping installations or systems; F04B43, machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members; and FO4B19/24, pumping by heat expansion of pumped fluid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many household devices, such as a steam generator, require a supply of water to be supplied to the appliance in order to operate. Many of these appliances utilize a pump that is driven by an electric motor. These pumps are often large, noisy, and require maintenance. A pump capable of being compact, quiet, with few moving parts that require maintenance would be very useful for most consumers.

Using a piston and piston rod to pump fluids is well known in the art of water pumps. Prior art describes a diaphragm pump that also includes a spring to power the diaphragm on the return stroke in addition to the diaphragm. Prior art has also described attaching a piston system to a diaphragm to power the diaphragm pump and the use of one-way valves to create a flow of liquid.

Prior art describes using water to power a diaphragm pump by heating it to steam using a heater element outside of the pump, and using a spring to help power the return stroke of the diaphragm. The diaphragm also acts as its own pressure release valve by opening at the top of the diaphragm's movement due to a deformation in the center spindle. Prior art also describes using a heating element in direct contact with water to heat it to a boil to pump water using the steam bubble to move the water past the heating element.

Prior art also describes a portable, self-contained pump having a battery carried on board and demonstrates a pump connected to a battery or electrical system

None of the preceding inventions and patents alone or in a combination describe the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is a steam powered diaphragm pump for pumping water. The preferred embodiment of the water pump includes a pump shaft that reciprocates in the pump cylinder. Water is pumped from an inlet downstream inside the pump cylinder to an outlet. The downstream end of the pump cylinder communicates with a cylindrical diaphragm pump chamber. The downstream end of the pump shaft is connected to a hub of a corrugated flexible metal wave diaphragm in the diaphragm chamber. A radially and/or spirally wound cable heater coil is disposed in the diaphragm chamber between the diaphragm and the piston cylinder. Electrical current is supplied to the heater coil through a magnetically operated electrical switch located adjacent to the upstream end of the piston shaft. A magnet is attached to the upstream end of the piston shaft, and opposing magnets on the end of the magnetically operated electrical switch are moved by the magnet on the piston shaft to operate the magnetically operated electrical switch and switch the electrical current on-and-off to the heater coil. When the piston rod is positioned at its upstream starting position, the switch is turned on and electrical current is supplied to the cable heater coil in the diaphragm chamber, to the transformer and the water deionizing coil. At this point the piston is at the beginning of its power stroke.

A piston shaft bearing mount hub is secured to the inside of the piston cylinder and guides the piston shaft as it reciprocates in the piston cylinder. On the downstream side of the hub is a rubber cone through which the piston shaft extends that selectively allows water to flow through the cone around the piston shaft and acts as a seal when water pressure is applied to the cone in the opposite upstream direction. Downstream from the cone on the piston rod is the piston with a double cone shaped outside diameter seal. The piston forces water downstream when the piston shaft moves in the downstream direction, and then allows water to flow past the outside diameter of the piston when the piston is moved in the upstream direction. Downstream from the piston is a conical return compression spring through which the piston shaft extends, and a downstream piston shaft bearing mount hub with a conical seal. The piston shaft thus reciprocates within the cylinder pump cylinder as it is securely axially retained by the two piston shaft bearing mount hubs. When the piston moves downstream, it draws or sucks water through the upstream hub and forces or pushes it through the downstream hub. Downstream from the downstream hub is an external resilient accumulator bladder which is a rubber sheet that stretches and fills with water which is pushed into it by the piston. Downstream from the piston cylinder, the piston shaft enters the upstream portion of the diaphragm chamber where the water is turned into steam by the heater coil. The steam pressure forces an upper diaphragm chamber reed valve closed through which reed valve the piston shaft extends, which prevents water in the upstream portion of the diaphragm chamber from backflowing into the piston cylinder.

There is also a normally open reed valve on the upstream side of the diaphragm hub that covers a through hole defined through the diaphragm hub, which allows the expanding steam and water to force the diaphragm and the connected downstream end of the piston shaft downstream against the restraining force of the conical compression spring and accumulator bladder. When the diaphragm reaches or nears the downstream wall of the diaphragm chamber a pin mounted in the downstream wall projects up through the through hole in the diaphragm. The pin opens the now closed reed valve in the diaphragm hub, which is a normally opened valve. Before the reed valve on the diaphragm hub engages the pin, the water in the downstream side of the diaphragm chamber is forced through a hole in the chamber wall that in turn has an outlet reed valve outside of the wall. The water is then injected from the outlet of the diaphragm chamber under pressure into tubing communicated with the steam generating flash boiler chamber. When the diaphragm reed valve is opened by the pin, the water pressure on both sides of the diaphragm chamber is equalized. This allows the water that is stored under pressure in the accumulator chamber to flow past the upper diaphragm chamber reed valve and also through the normally open reed valve in the diaphragm hub, now being held open against pressure by the pin, into the downstream portion of the diaphragm chamber communicating directly with the outlet.

The outlet reed valve is held closed by the water pressure outside of the pump downstream of the outlet if that pressure is higher. The piston and piston shaft are forced upstream to the cycle starting position by the conical spring between the piston and the downstream hub. When the piston shaft nears its ending position, the magnet on the upstream end of the piston shaft trips the magnetically operated electrical switch, cutting off current to the diaphragm cable heater coil, the transformer and the water deionizing coil. The switch remains off until the piston shaft reaches the starting position and magnetically trips the switch back on to supply current again to the cable heater coil, transformer and water deionization coil, thus starting the steaming and pumping cycle over again.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention can now be understood to include a pump for pumping water with a pump cylinder having an inlet for receiving water, a pump shaft that moves between a starting and ending position, a piston mounted on the pump shaft to move water in a predetermined direction through the pump cylinder, and a spring disposed around the pump shaft to return the piston to the starting position. The pump cylinder is attached to a diaphragm chamber containing a heater coil, a movable diaphragm that divides the diaphragm chamber into two portions that is also attached to the pump shaft, and valving that prevents the back flow of water into the pump cylinder. The heater coil heats the water in the first portion of the diaphragm chamber into steam, which provides pressure to the seals and forces the diaphragm towards the water outlet in the pump body and moving it to its ending position. Once the diaphragm moves to its final position, it comes in contact with a valve release that engages and opens the diaphragm valving, allowing steam to flow past the diaphragm and equalize the pressure on both sides of the diaphragm, which allows the spring to return the piston, pump shaft and diaphragm to its original positions. The heater coil is controlled by a switch that selectively provides electrical power to the heater coil when the pump shaft is moving from its starting position toward its ending position.

The pump also has pump cylinder valving in the pump cylinder to allow water to move only in the predetermined direction in the pump cylinder. The switch that controls the heater coil is a mechanical switch that is toggled by a magnet that is attached to the pump shaft itself, or it alternatively may be controlled by a digital switch and a digital control circuit. The pump also uses a rubber bladder to temporarily store water to be supplied to the heater coil for generation of steam as the pump shaft returns to its starting position. The pump is also attached to a water filter and a water deionization device. The valving in the diaphragm is a reed valve.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention include a method where water is heated with a heater coil, causing it to turn into steam and expand to move a diaphragm, then it turns off the heater coil using a switch, and uses the moving diaphragm to move a piston, which pumps water and compresses a spring, which eventually expands to return the piston and diaphragm to a starting position, and then refills the area around the heater coil and the diaphragm chamber with water and turns the heater coil back on to restart the entire pumping cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description

InFIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the steam operated, self-cycling, diaphragm water pump is illustrated. The water pump is comprised of two sections, the pump shaft assembly in piston cylinder110and the diaphragm pump assembly in the diaphragm pump chamber152.

The operating cycle is described as follows. Starting from the bottom to top ofFIG. 1, the water pump steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140is powered by the steam generating heater coil136through the electrical current controlled by the on-and-off switch102, which is controlled by remote switch activating magnet114on the pump shaft112. Mounted above on-and-off switch102is a voltage transformer104that energizes a water deionizing coil106, located immediately downstream from water inlet108of piston cylinder110. The up and down movement of remote switch activating magnet114cycles AC electricity through on-and-off switch102to transformer104and water deionizing coil106through magnetic repulsion of the two rocker switch magnets in on-and-off switch102by the remote switch activating magnet114on pump shaft112and cycles current to steam generating heater coil136. At the bottom end of the power stroke, remote switch activating magnet114opens on-and-off switch102breaking the electrical current flow through components102,104,106, and136.

Starting at the top of the pump by water inlet108, the pump shaft112goes through the water filter116, and the first of two pump shaft bearing supports118and120. The water flows through the holes of pump shaft bearing support118, going through piston cylinder110to the pump shaft piston126. On the lower side of the bearing supports118and120, are mounted rubber combination one-way cone valves, namely one way rubber valve122and one way rubber valve124. These valves prevent back-flow of water (upstream) by hydraulic compression against the outside diameter of the pump shaft112. The valve section of one way rubber valve122also allows water to flow through piston cylinder110by the expansion of the one way rubber valve122that snugly grips the pump shaft112, allowing the water to be forced by the pump shaft112. On the down stroke the water is pulled by suction through the top valve122, and pushed through the lower valve124, by the pump shaft piston126. On the up, return stroke, the pump shaft piston126lips compress as a valve, to allow water to be forced past the piston126, as the top cone122seals itself against the pump shaft112, and so this transfers the water from hubs118to120, as the pump shaft piston126rises on its return stroke. On the power stroke down, the piston lips are forced out against the inside diameter of the piston cylinder110, making a water tight hydraulic seal. Also, in the down power stroke the pump shaft piston126forces the water into the water accumulator chamber130. On the down power stroke, the water cannot pass through into diaphragm pump chamber152after passing through water pathway132because the reed valve134is closed by the steam pressure in the steam chamber in diaphragm pump chamber152. Therefore, the water is forced into the water accumulator chamber130, and is stored there under the ambient atmospheric pressure on the outside of the rubber accumulator bladder156. The water is stored there until the completion of the downward power stroke of the pump shaft piston126and the steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140, at which time the water is forced from the water accumulator chamber130by ambient outside air pressure, and the elastomer spring effect of the rubber accumulator bladder156forces the open reed valve134on the return stroke up, recharging the system with water.

In the beginning of the power stroke, the steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140, is forced downward by the steam generating heater coil136, heating the water as it traverses around the spiral shaped heater coil136and turning it to steam. On the downstream side of the steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140, is the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146. On the power stroke downward, the steam pressure forces the reed valve134closed against the water pressure in piston cylinder110, the steam leaves generating heater coil136through steam passage hole138and holds closed the normally open reed valve144located in the diaphragm hub142of the power diaphragm140, allowing the expanding steam to force the diaphragm140down, thereby forcing the water in the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146, through the reed valve148on the body of diaphragm pump chamber152, and out of water outlet150at 100 PSI or higher pressure. On the return stroke, normally open reed valve144, allows the steam from the steam chamber and the water to flow through the diaphragm hub125and recharge the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146, which also acts as a steam condenser when the water is later injected into it. There is a sufficient amount of injected water to condense the steam in the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146. On the return stroke, the reed valves134and144are open as the water flows from the accumulator130, refilling the area around the steam generating heater coil136, and the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146. This return stroke is activated when the hub142reaches the bottom of the power stroke, where a hole in the hub142allows the reed valve144to run into the adjustable ejector pin in the wall of the pump body152. At this time the magnet114switches off the electric current to the heater coil136, and transformer104coupled to the water deionizing coil106. When the reed valve144hits pin154, it opens the reed valve144, thereby releasing all pressure in152, as water flows under pressure from the accumulator through the reed valve134and144. Pump shaft and diaphragm pump return spring128, located on the pump shaft in piston cylinder110, pushes the piston rod up to the starting position. At this point the magnet114switches the electrical current back on and the water pump cycle is restarted.

Referring toFIG. 2, the cross-sectional diagram demonstrates how steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140is expanded when steam generating heater coil136creates steam to push down on the diaphragm. Diaphragm140is pushed down onto stroke stopping, adjustable reed valve opening pin154, causing reed valve144to open and let water and steam through hub142.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments.

Drawings

InFIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the steam operated, self-cycling, diaphragm water pump is illustrated. The water pump is comprised of two sections, the pump shaft assembly in piston cylinder110and the diaphragm pump assembly in the diaphragm pump chamber152.

The operating cycle is described as follows. Starting from the bottom to top ofFIG. 1, the water pump steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140is powered by the steam generating heater coil136through the electrical current controlled by the on-and-off switch102, which is controlled by remote switch activating magnet114on the pump shaft112. Mounted above on-and-off switch102is a voltage transformer104that energizes a water deionizing coil106, located immediately downstream from water inlet108of piston cylinder110. The up and down movement of remote switch activating magnet114cycles AC electricity through on-and-off switch102to transformer104and water deionizing coil106through magnetic repulsion of the two rocker switch magnets in on-and-off switch102by the remote switch activating magnet114on pump shaft112and cycles current to steam generating heater coil136. At the bottom end of the power stroke, remote switch activating magnet114opens on-and-off switch102breaking the electrical current flow through components102,104,106, and136.

Starting at the top of the pump by water inlet108, the pump shaft112goes through the water filter116, and the first of two pump shaft bearing supports118and120. The water flows through the holes of pump shaft bearing support118, going through piston cylinder110to the pump shaft piston126. On the lower side of the bearing supports118and120, are mounted rubber combination one-way cone valves, namely one way rubber valve122and one way rubber valve124. These valves prevent back-flow of water (upstream) by hydraulic compression against the outside diameter of the pump shaft112. The valve section of one way rubber valve122also allows water to flow through piston cylinder110by the expansion of the one way rubber valve122that snugly grips the pump shaft112, allowing the water to be forced by the pump shaft112. On the down stroke the water is pulled by suction through the top valve122, and pushed through the lower valve124, by the pump shaft piston126. On the up, return stroke, the pump shaft piston126lips compress as a valve, to allow water to be forced past the piston126, as the top cone122seals itself against the pump shaft112, and so this transfers the water from hubs118to120, as the pump shaft piston126rises on its return stroke. On the power stroke down, the piston lips are forced out against the inside diameter of the piston cylinder110, making a water tight hydraulic seal. Also, in the down power stroke the pump shaft piston126forces the water into the water accumulator chamber130. On the down power stroke, the water cannot pass through into diaphragm pump chamber152after passing through water pathway132because the reed valve134is closed by the steam pressure in the steam chamber in diaphragm pump chamber152. Therefore, the water is forced into the water accumulator chamber130, and is stored there under the ambient atmospheric pressure on the outside of the rubber accumulator bladder156. The water is stored there until the completion of the downward power stroke of the pump shaft piston126and the steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140, at which time the water is forced from the water accumulator chamber130by ambient outside air pressure, and the elastomer spring effect of the rubber accumulator bladder156forces the open reed valve134on the return stroke up, recharging the system with water.

In the beginning of the power stroke, the steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140, is forced downward by the steam generating heater coil136, heating the water as it traverses around the spiral shaped heater coil136and turning it to steam. On the downstream side of the steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140, is the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146. On the power stroke downward, the steam pressure forces the reed valve134closed against the water pressure in piston cylinder110, the steam leaves generating heater coil136through steam passage hole138and holds closed the normally open reed valve144located in the diaphragm hub142of the power diaphragm140, allowing the expanding steam to force the diaphragm140down, thereby forcing the water in the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146, through the reed valve148on the body of diaphragm pump chamber152, and out of water outlet150at 100 PSI or higher pressure. On the return stroke, normally open reed valve144, allows the steam from the steam chamber and the water to flow through the diaphragm hub125and recharge the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146, which also acts as a steam condenser when the water is later injected into it. There is a sufficient amount of injected water to condense the steam in the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146. On the return stroke, the reed valves134and144are open as the water flows from the accumulator130, refilling the area around the steam generating heater coil136, and the water reservoir and steam condensing chamber146. This return stroke is activated when the hub142reaches the bottom of the power stroke, where a hole in the hub142allows the reed valve144to run into the adjustable ejector pin in the wall of the pump body152. At this time the magnet114switches off the electric current to the heater coil136, and transformer104coupled to the water deionizing coil106. When the reed valve144hits pin154, it opens the reed valve144, thereby releasing all pressure in152, as water flows under pressure from the accumulator through the reed valve134and144. Pump shaft and diaphragm pump return spring128, located on the pump shaft in piston cylinder110, pushes the piston rod up to the starting position. At this point the magnet114switches the electrical current back on and the water pump cycle is restarted.

Referring toFIG. 2, the cross-sectional diagram demonstrates how steam powered circular rippled wave diaphragm140is expanded when steam generating heater coil136creates steam to push down on the diaphragm. Diaphragm140is pushed down onto stroke stopping, adjustable reed valve opening pin154, causing reed valve144to open and let water and steam through hub142.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments.