Reciprocating pump

Abstract: A reciprocating pump, comprising a reciprocating motor (12) having a housing body (14) which includes an open first end (16) and a base (24) at the first end, the base substantially closing that end of the housing. The motor also includes a reciprocating member (18) which is movable through a housing body chamber (17). The pump includes a pump outlet body (40) having first and second ends (41, 42), a pumped fluid outlet port between the ends and a passage (43) joining said ends and adapted to receive the end of the reciprocating member. The outlet body (40) is connected to the pump base (24) and the pump also includes a pump member (60) flow connected to the second end (42) of the outlet body. The pump member has a movable check (64) for displacing the pumped fluid to the outlet, the movable check being operatively connected to the end of said reciprocating member and the check also having a width that is less than the minimum width of the passage (43) so that the check is serviceable with the reciprocating pump in line.

Description: This invention generally relates to a reciprocating pump, and more particularly to an improved reciprocating pump having an outlet body which permits the pump seals to be serviceable in-line, without disconnecting the pump outlet body from plumbing. Reciprocating pumps are operatively connected to a reciprocating drive means such as a piston type motor by a piston tube. The piston tube is directly connected to the base of the motor. The piston tube encloses a reciprocating pump member which includes a number of seals. Known pump tubes are unitary and serve as the base of the motor and also the fluid outlet. It is difficult to check the seals and provide routine seal maintenance since it is necessary to disconnect reciprocating pump, including the piston tube from supply plumbing in order to gain access to the seals. Such a reciprocating pump is disclosed in US-A-5 435 697. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a reciprocating pump, comprising a reciprocating power source having a housing body which includes an open first end and a base at the first end, said base being for substantially closing the first end of the housing body, said power source actuating a reciprocating member adapted to be movable through a housing body chamber and removed from the housing body chamber along an axis; a pump outlet body having a first end, a second end, a pump base, a pumped fluid outlet between the ends, a passageway joining said ends and adapted to receive a free end of the reciprocating member, and a seat formed in a wall of the passageway between the pump outlet ends, the pump outlet body being connected to the housing body base; first seal means substantially located in the seat for forming a seal with the reciprocating member, said first seal means having an inner periphery located in said passageway in order sealingly to engage the reciprocating member; connecting means for connecting the outlet body to the housing body base; and pump means adapted to be flow connected to the second end of the pump outlet body, said pump means having a movable means for displacing the pumped fluid to the pumped fluid outlet, said movable means being operatively connected to said free end of said reciprocating member, said movable means also having a width that is less than the minimum width of the passageway and greater than the width of the reciprocating member, said movable means being adapted to engage the first seal means when the reciprocating member is removed from the passageway and thereby to lift the first seal means from the seat and out of the passageway; and there being at least one L-shaped opening adapted to accept a pin member located at the end of said reciprocating member; said pump means further including a spring member sandwiched between the movable means and reciprocating member to maintain the pin in said at least one L-shaped opening and thereby prevent the movable means and reciprocating member from disconnecting. For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an end view of a reciprocating pump; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a detailed view showing a connection between a reciprocating member and a check valve cage. Referring to the drawings, a reciprocating pump 10 is shown, which is a non-divorced type of pump. The pump includes a power source 12 which may be a reciprocating piston-type motor or any other suitable motor which provides reciprocating motion. The motor includes a housing 14 which has a first open end 16 and a chamber 17. A reciprocating member 18 is displaced by the motor along a linear path defined by an axis 20 through chamber 17 during motor operation. The reciprocating member has a free end 22 which extends through the open housing end and away from the motor. A motor base 24 is adapted to be located on the first end 16 of the motor housing 14 and in this way substantially closes the open first end. The motor base has a hub 28 that is integral with the base and is inserted in the end of the housing chamber 17 when the base is seated on the end 16 - see Figure 2. In this way, the base is located in the proper position on the housing end 16. The base includes a stepped passageway 30 that extends through the base 24. The passageway is narrowest at the hub and is widest away from the hub. The reciprocating member is adapted to be movable through the passageway. A seal 32 is sandwiched between the base and a bushing 34 that is seated in the wide portion of the passageway 30. A pump outlet body 40 is connected to the motor base 24 by four conventional fasteners 26. The fasteners may be any suitable connector means, for example tie-rods, bolts or the like. The pump outlet has a cylindrical body with a first end 41, a second end 42 and an outlet port 44 located between the ends. A passageway 43 extends between the ends. A service line (not shown) may be flow connected to the outlet port 44 and thereby provide a conduit for the fluid pumped by the reciprocating pump to be flowed to an object of interest. The outlet body includes a shoulder 46 and a seal member 48 is sandwiched between the shoulder and the bushing 34 as shown in Figure 2. The inner periphery of the seal member 48 is located in the passageway 43 of the pump outlet 40. The reciprocating member extends through the passageway 43 formed in the outlet body and is adapted to be movable through the passageway. The passageway 43 has a minimum width identified as 50 in Figure 2. The seals 32 and 48 sealingly engage the reciprocating member 22 during operation of the pump 10. A pump 60 is threadably flow connected to the pump outlet 40 at the second end 42 of the outlet body. The pump includes an elongate pump tube 62 with one end of the tube connected to the outlet body and the opposite end of the tube threadably connected to a conventional foot valve 70. The movable end 22 of the reciprocating member 18 extends into the pump tube adjacent the end of the pump tube connected to outlet second end 42. The cage 69 of a conventional pump inner check valve 64 is operatively connected to the end 22 of the member 18 by a conventional pin connection 66 and is thereby movable through the piston tube chamber 63 with the reciprocating member. The pin is passed through circular openings formed in the cage. A spring member 58 such as a wave washer or bowed washer is sandwiched between the top end of the inner check valve cage and the end of the member 18 as shown in Figure 3. The spring member prevents the cage from becoming disconnected from the end of the member 18. Alternatively, rather than a conventional pin connection, the cage may be provided with a pair of L-shaped slots 56 - see Figure 3. The pin 66 is located in the horizontal portion of the slots to connect the cage 69 and member 18. The slots are formed along the portion of the cylindrical cage body adjacent spring washer 58 and are positioned along opposite sides of the cage. The two slots are separated by approximately 180 degrees. The spring washer maintains the pin 66 in the slot during operation of the pump 10. When it is necessary to separate the cage and member, the cage is manually rotated clockwise approximately 35 degrees until the pin is aligned with the vertical portion of the L-shaped slot, the cage may then be removed from the end of the member 18. The inner check is of known design and includes a check ball 65 which is seated in a seat 67. An annular groove 71 is formed along the inner check body and a seal 72 is seated in the groove. As shown in Figure 2, the check has a width 68. The width of the check is less than the minimum width 50 of the outlet body passageway 43 and is greater than the width or diameter of the reciprocating member. The seal 72 forms a dynamic seal with the piston tube chamber and a static seal with the inner check during operation of the pump 10. The foot valve includes a check ball 74 which is seated in seat 76. The pumped fluid enters the pump 60 through inlet 77 in the bottom of the foot valve. The pump 60 is typically immersed in a fluid such as grease or oil which is stored in a drum, tank or the like. The pump motor is mounted on the outside of the drum or tank. Operation of the pump 10 will now be described. After the pump 60 is immersed in the media to be pumped, the motor 12 is mounted on the drum, power is supplied to the motor and the member 18 is displaced upward along the axis 20. As the member is moved upward, the inner check ball 65 seals against the seat 67 and a vacuum is formed in the chamber 63. This vacuum draws the lower check ball 74 off the seat 76 and fluid is drawn from the drum chamber through the inlet 77 into the piston tube chamber 63. When the pump member 18 is displaced downward, by the motor 12, the lower check 74 is forced to seal on the lower seat 76. The fluid in chamber 63 forces the check ball off seat 67 allowing the fluid to flow to the passageway 43. When the member 18 is displaced upward, the fluid in passageway 43 is forced out of the port 44 through a supply line to an object of interest. The ball 65 is seated in the seat 67, the ball 74 is displaced upward and additional fluid is drawn into the chamber 63. The process is continuously and rapidly repeated. The pump transfers media efficiently when proper seals are formed in the pump. In order to ensure that proper seals are formed, seal members 72 and 48 must be checked and replaced on a regular basis. In known reciprocating pumps, checking the seals can be difficult. However, the present construction simplifies seal maintenance. When it is necessary to supply maintenance to the pump seals, the fasteners 26 are removed and motor housing 14 is slid off the pump. Then the reciprocating member 18 and base 24 are together lifted off the outlet body 40. As the reciprocating member is moved off the outlet body, the inner check moves with the member. Since the width of the inner check is less than the minimum width of the passageway 43, the inner check is movable through the passageway. As the inner check approaches the body end 41, the inner check engages the seal 48 and bushing 34 and displaces the seal and bushing upward and out of outlet 40. In this way, the seals are easily maintained. It is not necessary to disconnect the outlet from the supply line in order to check the seals. The seals are serviceable with the pump in line. Also, the cage of the inner check valve 64 is easily disconnected from the reciprocating member making maintenance to the check valve ball 65 relatively easy.

Claims: A reciprocating pump, comprising a reciprocating power source (12) having a housing body (14) which includes an open first end (16) and a base (24) at the first end, said base being for substantially closing the first end of the housing body, said power source actuating a reciprocating member (18) adapted to be movable through a housing body chamber (17) and removed from the housing body chamber along an axis (20); a pump outlet body (40) having a first end (41), a second end (42), a pump base, a pumped fluid outlet (44) between the ends, a passageway (43) joining said ends and adapted to receive a free end (22) of the reciprocating member (18), and a seat formed in a wall of the passageway (43) between the pump outlet ends, the pump outlet body (40) being connected to the housing body base (24); first seal means (32) substantially located in the seat for forming a seal with the reciprocating member (18), said first seal means having an inner periphery located in said passageway in order sealingly to engage the reciprocating member; connecting means for connecting the outlet body to the housing body base; and pump means (60) adapted to be flow connected to the second end (42) of the pump outlet body, said pump means having a movable means (69) for displacing the pumped fluid to the pumped fluid outlet, said movable means being operatively connected to said free end (22) of said reciprocating member, said movable means (69) also having a width that is less than the minimum width of the passageway (43) and greater than the width of the reciprocating member (18), said movable means (69) being adapted to engage the first seal means (32) when the reciprocating member is removed from the passageway and thereby to lift the first seal means from the seat and out of the passageway (43); and there being at least one L-shaped opening adapted to accept a pin member located at the end of said reciprocating member; said pump means further including a spring member (58) sandwiched between the movable means and reciprocating member to maintain the pin in said at least one L-shaped opening and thereby prevent the movable means and reciprocating member from disconnecting. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump means (60) is a check valve. A pump according to claim 2, wherein the pump has a first seal between the base and the outlet body and a second seal at the check valve (64). A pump according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the housing body base (24) has a stepped opening extending through the base. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump means (60) includes a check valve (64) having a cage (69), and a second seal (72) seated in the cage, wherein said second seal forms a dynamic seal with the check valve (64) and forms a dynamic seal with the pump (10). A pump according to claim 5, wherein said cage (69) includes at least one opening, the or each opening being adapted to accept a pin member (66) located at the end of said reciprocating member (18). A pump according to claim 6, wherein there are two said at least one L-shaped openings. A reciprocating pump according to any one of the preceeding claims , wherein said pump means includes a check valve that includes a cage, said cage being connected to said first end of said reciprocating member to be moveable with said cage, said cage having a cage width that is greater than the diameter of the width of the reciprocating member and is less than the width of the passageway, thereby said cage is adapted to engage the inner periphery of said first seal and move the seal out of said seat when the reciprocating member is removed from the pump.

Inventors: GARDNER RICHARD K, JERMEAY MARK D, WIELAND ROGER D, GARDNER, RICHARD K., JERMEAY, MARK D., WIELAND, ROGER D.
Applicants: INGERSOLL RAND CO, INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F04B53
IPC codes: F04B53