Plunger pump for lubricants

Abstract: A lance pump, particularly for lubricant, having a fixed plunger (11) and a pump tube (101) reciprocable in cycles through a downstroke and an upstroke on each cycle on the plunger (11), operable to deliver metered charges of lubricant on each downstroke as well as on each stroke.

Description: Background of the Invention This invention relates to pumps, more particularly to an expansible chamber pump of a type which may be referred to as a lance pump, particularly adapted for pumping lubricant, including grease, from a supply thereof (e.g. lubricant in a drum). The pump of this invention is generally in the same field as the pumps shown in the following U.S. patents: Patent No. Issue Date Title 1. 2,187,684 01/16/40 Lubricating Apparatus 2. 2,631,756 03/17/53 Lance Type Pump Mounting 3. 2,636,441 04/28/53 Lubricant Pump 4. 2,787,225 04/02/57 Pump 5. 3,469,532 09/30/69 Pump 6. 3,502,029 03/24/70 Pumps 7. 3,945,772 03/23/76 Pumps for Tranferring Small Quantities of Dosed Liquids 8. 4,487,340 12/11/84 Adjustable Metering Oil Pump 9. 4,762,474 08/09/98 Pump Having Reciprocating Pipe And Slidably Supported Hollow Body The pumps shown in items 2, 4 and 5 listed above are identified as lance pumps. U.S. Patent No. 2,895,421 shows a pump for delivering high viscosity materials. That pump includes a cylindric pump casing and a stationary tubular cylinder concentrically arranged in the casing. A piston is driven by an air motor and reciprocates within the cylinder. Pumpable material is directed upwardly through an annular space between the stationary tubular cylinder and the casing. Brief Summary of the Invention Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an improved pump generally of the lance pump type especially adapted for operation at relatively high speed, e.g. 600 cycles per minute, in respect to prior pumps of this type; the provision of such a pump especially adapted for more reliable pumping of hard-to-pump grease, including pumping of grease which is thicker because of being subject to low temperature; the provision of such a pump operable with a relatively short pump stroke (e.g. 0.75 inches [1.91 cm]) and with relatively high volumetric efficiency, i.e. higher volume delivery in relation to the size of the pump; the provision of such a pump adapted for operation by a rotary hydraulic motor and especially by a readily commercially available rotary hydraulic motor instead of a special driving means, for cost reduction; the provision of such a pump which is double-acting, i.e. operable to deliver a metered volume of lubricant on a downstroke as well as an upstroke; and the provision of such a pump which is especially suitable for use in an automated lubrication system wherein metered charges of lubricant are delivered to different points of lubrication which may require different amounts of lubricant at different time intervals. In general, a pump of this invention, for pumping a pumpable product, particularly lubricant including grease, from a supply thereof, comprises a head adapted for placement above said supply, an elongate member constituting a pump plunger extending down from the head having an upper end and a lower end, said plunger being fixed at its upper end with respect to the head, an elongate pump tube surrounding the plunger extending down from adjacent the upper end of the plunger to and below the lower end of the plunger and reciprocable up and down through a pump stroke relative to the plunger, and motor-driven means associated with the head for reciprocating the tube through said pump stroke between a raised position relative to the plunger and a lowered position relative to the plunger. The tube has an upper end closure slidable up and down on an upper portion of the plunger adjacent the upper end of the plunger in sealed relation thereto, and a lower closure slidable up and down on a lower portion of the plunger adjacent the lower end of the plunger in sealed relation thereto, closing the tube above its lower end. The tube is of larger internal cross-section than the cross-section of the plunger throughout the length of the tube between said closures thereby defining an elongate annular pump chamber between the plunger and tube extending from said upper end closure to said lower closure. The tube is open at its lower end and has an inlet check valve adjacent its said open lower end below the lower end of the plunger defining in conjunction with the lower end of the plunger an expansible and contractible lower end chamber. The cross-sectional area of said upper portion of the plunger is different from the cross-sectional area of said lower portion of the plunger. The inlet check valve opens on a downstroke of the tube for entry of the pumpable product to said lower end chamber. The pump has a passage for outflow of pumpable product from said elongate annular pump chamber to and through an outlet in the head on a downstroke and also on an upstroke of the tube, and further has a passage with a check valve therein adapted to open on each upstroke of the tube with the inlet check valve closed for delivery of pumpable product from said lower end chamber to said elongate annular pump chamber. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pump of this invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 3 is a view of the pump in side elevation on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 on a smaller scale than Fig. 1, illustrating the pump in place for pumping lubricant (e.g. grease) from a container of lubricant; Fig. 4 is a view of the pump in side elevation on line 4--4 of Fig. 1, on the scale of Fig. 3, also illustrating the pump in place for pumping lubricant from a container, and with parts broken away and shown in section; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5--5 of Figs. 1 and 3 on the scale of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the pump tube of the pump in raised position at the upper end of its stroke; Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6--6 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away; Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 showing the pump tube in lowered position at the lower end of its stroke; Fig. 8 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 5; Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views in horizontal section on lines 9--9, 10--10, 11--11 and 12--12, respectively, of Fig. 5, on a larger scale than Fig. 5; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing check valves of the pump in the position occupied in an intermediate position of the pump tube in its downstroke; and Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing the check valves in the position occupied in an intermediate position of the pump tube on an upstroke. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Detailed Description Referring to the drawings, a pump of this invention, constructed particularly for pumping lubricant especially grease from a supply thereof, is shown to comprise a hollow head or housing indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 1 adapted for placement above the supply, and a lance structure indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 3 extending down from the head into the supply of lubricant L. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the supply may be contained in a container such as a drum 5, the head being mounted on the lid 7 of the drum with the lance structure 3 extending down into the drum generally to the bottom 9 of the container through a hole in the lid. Here it is to be noted that, while the pump has been developed particularly for pumping lubricant and especially grease, it is adapted to pump other pumpable products in general. An elongate member constituting a pump rod or plunger, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 11 extends down from the head 1, having an upper end portion 13, a lower end portion 15 and an intermediate portion 17, these portions being colinear on the vertical central axis of the lance structure 3. As shown, the upper end portion 13 of the plunger comprises a relatively short tubular element constituted by a tube 19 and a bore 21 extending all the way from its lower end 23 to its upper end 25, which extends into a pipe 27 extending crosswise of the head. Tube 19 may be referred to as the outlet tube. The cross-pipe 27, which may be referred to as the outlet pipe, has reduced-diameter ends 29 and 31 fixed in bores 33, 35 of tubular retainers 37, 39 threaded in tubular formations 41, 43 extending horizontally outward from opposite inclined walls 45, 47 of the head, the tubular retainers being sealed in the tubular formations 41, 43 by O-rings as indicated at 49. The reduced-diameter ends 29, 31 of the cross-pipe 27 are sealed in the bores 33, 35 of the tubular retainers 37, 39 by O-rings as indicated at 51. The upper end 25 of the tubular element or outlet tube 19 is fixed in a vertical opening 53 in the cross-pipe 27 extending up from the bottom of the cross-pipe, this opening 53 terminating short of the top of cross-pipe 27. The tube 19 has a flange 57 engaging the bottom of the cross-pipe and is sealed in the opening 53 by an O-ring 59. The bore 21 of tube 19 opens at its upper end 25 to the bore 61 of the cross-pipe for flow of product being pumped (as will appear) up through the bore 21 of tube 19 to the bore 61 of cross-pipe 27 and thence out of bore 61 of cross-pipe 27 to the right as shown by the arrows in Fig. 5, the left end of the cross-pipe 27 being plugged as indicated at 65. As particularly illustrated in Fig. 9 the tube 19 has an outside (external) diameter D1 and an overall area A1 in transverse cross section (the entire area bounded by the outer periphery of the tube 19). It has a reduced-diameter lower end portion suitably fixedly received in a cylindric recess 67 in the upper end 71a of the stated intermediate portion 17 of the plunger 11. For outflow of product being pumped into the lower end of the bore 21 (constituting an outlet passage) in the tube 19 and thence upwardly therethrough, the upper end 71a of the intermediate portion 17 of the plunger 11 has a short axial passage 69 extending down from the bottom of the recess 67 and lateral ports 70 just below the bottom of the recess 67 for communication from the space (to be subsequently described) surrounding said intermediate portion 17 to passage 69 and thence to outlet passage 21 in tube 19. The intermediate portion 17 of the pump plunger 11 comprises an elongate solid cylindrical plunger member or rod 71 considerably longer than the outlet tube 19. Thus, for example, the entire pump plunger 11 may measure generally 19.15 inches [48.64 cm] from the upper end of outlet tube 19 to the lower end of the pump plunger 11 indicated at 73 (see particularly Fig. 8) and the tube 19 may measure generally 4.0 inches [10.16 cm] from its upper end 25 to the upper end at 71a of the elongate member or rod 71. Member 71 per se is of uniform circular cross section with a diameter D2 (see Fig. 9) throughout most of its length extending down from tube 19, and has a lower end extension designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 75 having an upper reduced-diameter portion 77, an intermediate portion 79 further reduced in diameter, and a lower end portion 81 still further reduced in diameter terminating at its lower end. The stated lower end portion 15 of the pump plunger 11 comprises an elongate cylindric sleeve 83 surrounding the lower end extension 75 of the solid rod member 71 having essentially the same external diameter as the diameter D2 of the solid rod member 71. Thus, the external surface of the pump plunger 11 throughout its intermediate portion and lower end portions 17, 15 is cylindrical, i.e. of uniform circular form in transverse cross-section, of diameter D2, with a cross-sectional area A2 (see particularly Fig. 9). The sleeve 83 has an elongate cylindrical bore 85 extending axially from adjacent its lower end (which is the lower end 73 of the pump plunger 11) to its upper end. The bore 85 has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the upper end portion 77 of the lower end extension 75 of the solid rod member 71. The sleeve 83 is secured at its upper end on the upper end portion 77 of extension 75, extending down from portion 77 and providing an annular space 87 between the intermediate and lower portions 79 and 81 of extension 75. The sleeve 83 is of such length that its lower end, constituting the lower end 73 of the pump plunger 11, is spaced down from the lower end of the lower end portion 81 of extension 75, being formed at said lower end 73 as a check valve seat with a check valve port 89 (see Figs. 13 and 14) which may be referred to as the inlet port. A ball check valve 91 is biased downwardly against the seat to close the port 89 by a coil compression spring 93 surrounding the lower end portion 81 of the extension 75 reacting from the shoulder at the lower end of intermediate portion 79 of extension 75. As will become clear, the annular space 87 constitutes a passage for flow of lubricant upwardly therethrough from the inlet port 89 to the upper end of said annular space or passage 87 at the upper end of the intermediate portion 79 of extension 75 (the lower end of upper portion 77 of extension 75) where the sleeve has lateral ports 97 for lateral exit of lubricant from the passage 87. An elongate pump tube indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 101 surrounds the pump plunger 11 extending down from adjacent the upper end thereof and reciprocable up and down through a pump stroke relative thereto. Motor-driven means indicated generally at 103 is carried by the head for reciprocating the pump tube 101 through a pump stroke between the raised position relative to the fixed pump plunger in which the pump tube is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 and the lowered position relative to the pump plunger in which it is illustrated in Fig. 7. By way of example, in an embodiment with the pump plunger 11 19.15 inches [48.64 cm] long from its upper end to its lower end and with diameter D1 0.275 inch [0.699 cm], diameter D2 0.390 inch [0.99 cm], and with the pump tube 101 18.8 inches [47.75 cm] long from its upper end to its lower end, and having an internal diameter 0.562 inch [1.427 cm], the pump stroke, indicated at S in Figs. 5-7, may be 0.75 inch [1.91 cm] . The pump tube 101 has an upper end closure indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 105 slidable up and down on the upper end portion 13 of the pump plunger, i.e. on the outlet tube 19, in sealed relation thereto. This upper end closure 105 comprises a cylindric member having a bore 107 dimensioned for sliding on the tube 19, this cylindric member having a lower portion or stem 109 fixedly fitted in the upper end of the pump tube and an upper head portion 113 on the stem. A seal 115 constituted by a ring of elastomeric material is provided at the lower end of the stem 109 of the closure member 107, the ring being held in place at the lower end of the stem as indicated at 116 surrounding the tube 19, being slidable on the tube in sealed relation thereto. As shown, the ring 115 may be of U-shape in cross-section in a radial plane thereof, and may be referred to as a cup seal. The pump tube 101 has a lower closure indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 117 slidable up and down on the lower end portion 15 (sleeve 83) of the pump plunger 11 closing the pump tube above the lower end of the pump tube. This closure 117 comprises an elongate generally cylindric tubular member 119 fixedly fitted in the pump tube adjacent but spaced above the lower end of the pump tube. A seal constituted by a ring 125 of elastomeric material is provided at the upper end of closure member 119, the ring being held thereon by a retainer as indicated at 127. The ring 125 surrounds the sleeve 83, being slidable thereon in sealed relation thereto, and may be a cup seal as shown (of U-shape in cross section in a radial plane). An O-ring seal is indicated 128. The pump tube 101 is of larger internal diameter D3 and larger internal cross-sectional area than the pump plunger 11 throughout the length of the pump tube between its upper and lower closures 105 and 117 thereby defining an elongate annular pump chamber indicated generally at C between the surface of the fixed pump plunger 11 and the interior surface of the pump tube extending from the upper closure to the lower closure. The pump tube 101 is of such length relative to the pump plunger 11 as to extend down below the lower end 73 of the pump plunger 11 not only in its lowered position (Fig. 7) but also in its raised position; and is of larger internal cross-section than the cross-section of portions 17 and 15 of the pump plunger 11 throughout the length thereof. The pump tube 101 comprises an elongate tubular member 129 which, in its raised position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, extends all the way down from its upper end closure 105 to and for some distance below the lower end of the lower closure member 119, the lower end of said member 129 being indicated at 131. Fitted in the lower end portion of tubular member 129 is a tubular cylindric check valve fitting 133. This fitting is fixed in the lower portion of tubular member 129 with an O-ring seal as indicated at 135 and extends down out of the lower end 131 of member 129, having a passage 137 extending up from its lower end, where it is open as indicated at 139. Passage 137 has a tapered throat 141 forming an internal annular shoulder 143 on which is provided an annular valve seat 145 for a ball check valve 147 constituting an inlet check valve. The valve seat 145 and the ball 147 occupy an upwardly opening recess 149 in the upper end of the fitting 133, the ball being retained in the recess by a retainer 151 fixed on the upper end of the fitting 133. The ball retainer is formed as shown in Fig. 12 to allow the ball to move up off the ball seat 145 and provide for flow of lubricant up around the ball to the space in the pump tube 101 below the lower end at 73 of the fixed plunger 11, said space constituting an expansible and contractible lower end chamber 153. The opening or inlet port 154 in the ball seat 145 has an area at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the pump plunger 11 at the lower end 73 of the pump plunger, i.e. at least 70% of area A2, for the purpose of reducing the pressure drop across the seat 145. The head 1 has an upper portion 155 of generally rectangular shape in horizontal section and a lower portion 157 tapering down toward its lower end where it has an outwardly extending flange 159 serving as a base for mounting the head on the lid 7 of a drum 5 containing lubricant with the lance structure 3 of the pump extending down through a hole in the lid generally to the bottom of the drum, and further has a bottom part 161 having a central circular opening 163 therein. The inclined walls 45, 47 of the head extend down from vertical upper walls 165, 167 and the head further comprises side walls 169, 171 having tapered lower portions which in conjunction with the inclined walls 45, 47 define the tapering lower portion 157 of the head. The head is closed at the top by a top plate 173 secured to the walls of the head as indicated at 175. A tubular stem 177 extends from the base, this stem having an opening or bore 179 extending axially therethrough from its lower to its upper end at the circular opening 163 in the bottom closure 161 of the head. The pump tube 101 extends down from within the tapered lower portion 157 of the head through the opening 163 at the bottom of said lower portion and thence down through the stem 177, being slidable in a bronze brushing 181 lodged in the bore 179 in the stem. The bore 179 in the stem has a counterbore 183 extending up from its lower end in which is affixed the upper end of an elongate tubular casing 185 constituting part of the lance structure 3 which extends down from the head (more particularly from the lower end of the stem) surrounding the pump tube 101 generally all the way down to a level just above the lower end 131 of the pump tube when the pump tube is in its raised position at the upper end of its stroke in which it is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. The casing 185 is of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the pump tube so that there is an elongate annular space 187 therebetween. At 188 is indicated an O-ring seal at the upper end of the tubular casing 185. The pump tube 101 (more particularly the elongate tubular member 129) is sealingly slidable in a bronze bushing 189 fixed in the lower end of the tubular casing 185. The bushing 189 functions as a guide for the pump tube and also as a seal blocking entry of lubricant into the space 187 between the pump tube and the casing. A motor 201 mounted on the side wall 171 of the head has a rotary output shaft 203 extending horizontally across the head 1, the motor-driven means 103 for reciprocating the pump tube 101 up and down through its pump stroke S comprising a rotary-to-reciprocating mechanism interconnecting the rotary output shaft 203 and the upper end of the pump tube 101. In detail, this mechanism is shown to comprise an eccentric 205 keyed on the shaft 203 as indicated at 207 within the head rotary with the shaft on the horizontal axis of the shaft. The eccentric comprises a circular disk eccentrically mounted on the shaft. The motor 201 is preferably a rotary hydraulic motor, more particularly a commercially available rotary hydraulic motor such as a Roller Vane rotor hydraulic motor sold by Parker Hannifin Corp. of Greeneville, Tennessee, U.S.A. The rotary-to-reciprocating mechanism further comprises a follower designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 209 comprising a ring 211 surrounding the eccentric with a ball bearing indicated generally at 213 therebetween, and an arm 215 in the form of a yoke or fork extending from the ring straddling the cross-pipe 27 and pin-connected as indicated at 217 to the upper end of the head portion 113 of the upper end closure 105 of the pump tube 101. The ball bearing comprises an inner race 219 surrounding the eccentric 205 and secured thereto for rotation therewith, and an outer race 221 surrounding the inner race secured to the ring 211 on the inside thereof, and a series of balls 223 between the races which roll in grooves 225 and 227 (see Fig. 6) in the inner and outer races, respectively. The eccentric 205 has a hole 229 therein and inner and outer counterbalancing weights 231 and 233 secured on opposite sides thereof. Retainer rings such as indicated at 235 grip opposite sides of the inner race 219; retainer rings such as indicated at 237 grip opposite sides of the outer race 221. The eccentric/follower mechanism 205/209 is such that on rotation of the eccentric through each revolution thereof, the follower 209 is raised and lowered (it also oscillates back and forth as permitted by the pin connections 217) to reciprocate the pump tube 101 linearly up and down through pump stroke S, as determined by the throw of the eccentric (for example, 0.75 inch [1.91 cm]). As illustrated, the motor 201 is mounted on the side wall 171 of the head 1 by having a circular boss indicated at 241 (Fig. 6) on its end at side wall 171 fitted in a circular opening 243 in side wall 171, and a flange 245 at said end receiving bolts indicated at 247 for fastening the motor to side wall 171. The shaft 203 extends partway across the head 1 toward a tubular formation 249 on the side wall 169, this formation being plugged as indicated at 251 in Fig. 6. As clear from the above and from the drawings, the outside diameter D2 of the intermediate and lower portions 17, 15 of the pump plunger 11 is greater than the outside diameter D1 of the outlet tube 19 (the upper end portion of the pump plunger 11), and the overall cross-sectional area A2 of the intermediate and lower portions 17, 15 of the pump plunger is greater than the overall cross-sectional area A1 of the outlet tube 19. More specifically, D2 and D1 are such that the area A2 is twice A1. By way of example, D2 may be 0.390 inch [0.990 cm], D1 may be 0.275 inch [0.699 cm], area A2 thereby being 0.120 square inches [0.774 cm 2 ] and area A1 being 0.060 square inches [0.387 cm 2 ]. The pump is operable in cycles, each occurring on a revolution of the eccentric 205, and each of which may be regarded as starting with the pump tube 101 in its uppermost raised position at the upper end of its stroke S shown in Figs. 5 and 6, as a result of the eccentric being at that point in a revolution thereof where its high point is uppermost and its low point is down. With the pump tube 101 in its stated raised position, the seal 115 of its upper end closure 105 is in the raised position in which it appears in Figs. 5 and 6 a distance somewhat greater than S above the upper end 71a of member 71, and the seal 125 of its lower closure 115 is in the raised position in which it appears in Fig. 5, 6 and 8 a distance greater than S above the lower end 73 of the plunger 11. Chamber C is fully charged with lubricant as a result of the preceding cycle (as will be described). The inlet check valve ball 147 is in its fully raised position in close proximity to the lower end 73 of the plunger and the lower chamber 153 is in its fully contracted state. As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, ball check 91 is closed. Passage 87 is full of lubricant, check valve ball 91 being closed down on its seat as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. On rotation of the eccentric 205 from its Fig. 5 position, the pump tube 101 is driven downward, its lower end including the check valve fitting 133 plunging down into the lubricant L. As illustrated in Fig. 13, chamber 153 expands, the ball check 147 opens for entry of lubricant to fill the chamber 153 as it expands, and the ball check 91 remains closed. As the pump tube is driven down through its downstroke a portion of the outlet tube 19 (constituting the upper end portion of the plunger) equal in length to the pump stroke S is, in effect, withdrawn from the pump chamber C and a portion of the lower end portion of the plunger equal in length to the pump stroke S is, in effect, entered in the pump chamber. Thus, a volume equal to the pump stroke times the cross-sectional area A1 of the tube 19 (S×A1) is withdrawn from the pump chamber and a volume equal to the pump stroke time the cross-sectional area A2 of the lower end portion of the plunger (SxA2) is entered in the pump chamber, to the effect that a volume of lubricant equal to SxA2 minus S×A1 is delivered through the passage 21 in tube 19 to the outlet pipe 27. Since A2=2A1, the volume discharged from the pump chamber equals S×A1 (pump stroke times the cross-sectional area A1 of the upper end portion of the plunger. As the eccentric rotates through the first half of a revolution from its Fig. 5 position to its Fig. 7 position, the pump tube 101 moves down through its downstroke. As it moves downward, its lower end cuts through the lubricant and, particularly in the case where the lubricant is grease (and thick heavy viscous grease) expedites the loading of the lower chamber 153 which, at the lower end of the downstroke of the pump tube is expanded to its full extent as shown in Fig. 7 and completely filled with lubricant. As the eccentric rotates through the second half of a revolution, i.e. from the point where its high point is down and its low point is up as shown in Fig. 7 back to the point where its high point is up and its low point is down as shown in Fig. 5, it pulls the pump tube back up through an upstroke of length S. As the pump tube 101 moves up, the lower ball check 147 closes, and lubricant is forced up from chamber 153, opening the check valve 91 as shown in Fig. 14, and lubricant is delivered from chamber 153 through passage 87 and ports 97 to the pump chamber C. Also, as the pump tube 101 moves up, a portion of the length of the outlet tube 19 (constituting the upper end portion of the plunger 11) equal to the stroke S is in effect re-entered in the pump chamber C and a portion of the length of the lower end portion of the plunger equal to the stroke S is in effect withdrawn from the pump chamber. Thus, a volume equal to the pump stroke S times the cross-sectional area A1 of tube 19 (S×A1) enters the pump chamber. In addition, a volume equal to SxA2 is transferred from chamber 153 to pump chamber C through passage 89 to the effect that a volume of lubricant equal to SxA2 minus SA1 is delivered through passage in tube 19 to the outlet pipe. Here again, since A2=2A1, the volume discharged from the pump chamber equals S×A1 (the same as on a downstroke). The chamber 153, which may be referred to as the intake chamber, is at least 85% exhausted on the upstroke, i.e. it is unswept no more than 15%, to take care of use of the pump to pump grease having air in it. With the intake chamber 153 unswept less than 15%, reduction of pump output which might otherwise be caused because of air in the grease is avoided. The pump as above described with the fixed plunger 11 and reciprocable pump tube 101 is capable of reliable operation at relatively high speed, e.g. 600 cycles (600 strokes of the pump tube) per minute, even with heavy viscous grease at low temperatures. It is operable with a relatively short stroke, e.g. a 0.75 inch [4.84 cm] stroke as above noted, and acts to deliver a metered volume S×A1 of lubricant on each downstroke as well as on each upstroke of the pump tube. In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims: A pump for pumping a pumpable product, particularly lubricant (L) including grease, from a supply thereof, said pump comprising: a head (1) adapted for placement above said supply; an elongate member constituting a pump plunger (11) extending down from the head (1) having an upper end and a lower end; said plunger (11) being fixed at its upper end with respect to the head (1); an elongate pump tube (101) surrounding the plunger (11) extending down from adjacent the upper end of the plunger (11) to and below the lower end of the plunger (11) and reciprocable up and down through a pump stroke (S) relative to the plunger (11); motor-driven means (103) associated with the head (1) for reciprocating the tube (101) through said pump stroke (S) between a raised position relative to the plunger (11) and a lowered position relative to the plunger (11); said tube (101) having an upper end closure (105) slidable up and down on an upper portion (13) of the plunger (11) adjacent the upper end of the plunger (11) in sealed relation thereto; said tube (101) having a lower closure (117) slidable up and down on a lower portion (15) of the plunger (11) adjacent the lower end of the plunger (11) in sealed relation thereto, closing the tube (101) above its lower end; said tube (101) being of larger internal cross-section than the cross-section of the plunger (11) throughout the length of the tube (101) between said closures (105, 117) thereby defining an elongate annular pump chamber (C) between the plunger (11) and tube (101) extending from said upper end closure (105) to said lower closure (117); said tube (101) being open at its lower end and having an inlet check valve (133) adjacent its said open lower end below the lower end (15) of the plunger (11) defining in conjunction with the lower end (15) of the plunger (11) an expansible and contractible lower end chamber (153); the cross-sectional area of said upper portion (13) of the plunger (11) being different from the cross-sectional area of said lower portion (15) of the plunger (11); the inlet check valve (133) opening on a downstroke of the tube (101) for entry of the pumpable product to said lower end chamber (153); said pump having a passage (19) for outflow of pumpable product from said elongate annular pump chamber (153) to and through an outlet in the head (1) on a downstroke and also on an upstroke of the tube (101); said pump having a passage with a check valve (147) therein adapted to open on each upstroke of the tube (101) with the inlet check valve (133) closed for delivery of pumpable product from said lower end chamber (153) to said elongate annular pump chamber (C). A pump according to claim 1, wherein the plunger (11) is of circular cross-section and said upper portion (13) of the plunger is of reduced diameter with respect to the diameter of said lower end portion (15) of the plunger (11) and the bore of the pump tube (101) is of circular cross-section of larger diameter than the lower portion (15) of the plunger (11) throughout the length of the tube (101). A pump according to claim 2, wherein said diameter and said reduced diameter are such that the cross-sectional area of said lower portion (15) of the plunger (11) is generally twice the cross-sectional area of said upper portion (13) of the plunger (11). A pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a motor (201) having a rotary output shaft (203), and wherein said motor-driven means (103) comprises a rotary-to-reciprocating mechanism interconnecting the rotary output shaft (203) and the upper end of the tube (101) for reciprocating the tube (101). A pump according to claim 4, wherein said motor (201) is a rotary hydraulic motor and said rotary-to-reciprocating mechanism comprises an eccentric rotary (205) with said rotary output shaft (203) and a follower (209) comprising a ring (211) surrounding the eccentric (205) and an arm (215) extending from said ring (211) pivotally connected to said tube (101). A pump according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion (13) of the plunger (11) comprises a tubular element fixed at its upper end (13) in a cross-pipe (27) in the head (1) providing said outlet in the head (1), with said tubular element having a bore (21) which opens at its upper end (25) into the bore of the pipe (27), said arm (215) having a yoke straddling the pipe (27) and pin-connected (217) to said tubular element, the bore (21) in said tubular element being in communication with said elongate annular pump chamber (C). A pump according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said check-valved delivery passage is in said lower portion (15) of the plunger (11). A pump according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having an elongate tubular casing (129) extending down from the head (1) surrounding the pump tube (101), said casing (129) having a seal (135) therein adjacent its lower end (131) in which the pump tube (101) is slidable and which seals the casing (129) from entry therein of pumpable product. A pump according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said outflow passage (19) is in said upper portion (13) of the plunger (11) A pump according to claim 9, wherein said upper portion (13) of the plunger (11) comprises a tubular element having a bore (21) in communication with said elongate annular pump chamber (C) providing said outflow passage (19) . A pump according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said inlet valve (133) comprises a valve seat (145) having an inlet port (154) therein and a ball (147) biased against the seat (145), said inlet port (154) having an area at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the pump plunger (11) at the lower end (15) of the plunger (11). A pump according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said lower end chamber (153) is exhausted at least 85% on each upstroke of the pump tube (101).

Inventors: CONLEY PAUL G, DICARLO LEONARD J, CONLEY, PAUL G., DICARLO, LEONARD J.
Applicants: MCNEIL CORP OHIO, MCNEIL (OHIO) CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F04B5
IPC codes: F04B23, F04B5, F04B9, F04B53, F04B19, F16N13