Abstract:
A vibratory pump for transferring fluid is provided. The pump includes an oscillating hollow shaft connected to a motor. The shaft includes a plunger opposite the motor that has a number of openings through which the fluid may pass. The plunger engages a seating member disposed beneath the plunger to cut off fluid entering the plunger when the plunger is submerged. When the plunger disengages from the sealing member, a small vacuum is created which urges fluid into and through the plunger and shaft and onto a hose operably connected to an outlet end of the shaft.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/126,040 filed on Mar. 19, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the mechanical transfer of fluids and more specifically to a vibratory pump used to transfer fluid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When transferring fluid from a container holding the fluid, a pump of some type is normally used. The pump creates a vacuum that draws the fluid from the container and directs it to a desired location. A problem that occurs when using these conventional pumps is that, when the pump is turned off, there is a residual pressure remaining in the pump that forces a small amount of additional liquid out of the pump. If an individual is attempting to fill a container with the liquid, this additional liquid usually spills over the top of the container and is wasted. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a pump that eliminates any residual pressure in the pump when the pump is turned off to avoid losing any of the liquid being pumped. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a vibratory pump that eliminates any residual pressure within the pump when the pump is switched off to avoid excess fluid loss. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a vibratory pump with the aforementioned feature that is inexpensive and simple in constructions. 
     The present invention is a vibratory pump apparatus that allows an individual to pump liquids to a desired location without encountering any problems caused by residual pressure normally remaining in prior art liquid pumping devices after the device has been switched off. Also, due to the use of inert materials in forming the apparatus, the apparatus may be used to pump caustic liquids, such as acids, without damaging the apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a vibratory pump apparatus constructed according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet branch pipe utilized in the vibratory pump apparatus of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a component of an alternative construction of the inlet branch pipe of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the inlet branch pipe of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  5 . is a cross-sectional view of a first alternate embodiment of the outlet opening configuration of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG,  6 . is a cross-sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of the outlet opening configuration of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a vibratory pump apparatus including a new and novel inlet branch pipe  1  attached to a vibration generator  10 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The inlet branch pipe  1  includes a pump case  2  that forms the body of the pipe  1 . The pump case  2  is formed of an inert material, such as plastic, is generally cylindrical in shape, and is comprised of a circular base  4 , a pair of wall members  5  upwardly extending perpendicular to the base  4 , and a cover  6  connected to the wall members  5  opposite the base  4 . The pump case  2  has a generally open interior, with the wall members  5  covering only a small portion of the circumference on either side of the pump case  2 . 
     The cover  6  of the pump case  2  includes a central opening  7  around which is connected an inlet sleeve  8 . The sleeve  8  extends away from the pump case  2  and is adapted to receive and engage a shaft  9  extending from a vibration generator  10 . The generator  10  can be any suitable machine capable of producing regular, steady vibrations in a shaft  9  extending from the generator  10 . Common types of these generators include electromagnetic vibration generators that are electrically or battery operated. 
     The base  4  of the pump case  2  includes a small annular shoulder  11  disposed about the center of base  4 . The shoulder  11  includes a circular opening  12  disposed at its center extending completely through the shoulder  11  and base  4 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Opposite the base  4 , the shoulder  11  supports one side of a flexible member  13 . The member  13  is circular in shape and includes a downwardly extending peripheral ridge  14  which contacts the base  4  around the shoulder  11 . The member  13  also includes a central opening  15  that aligns with the opening  12  in the  22  shoulder  11 . 
     Disposed directly above the flexible member  13  is a stationary plunger  16  which is generally cylindrical in shape. The plunger  16  includes a base  17  positioned against flexible member  13 , an upwardly extending cylindrical wall  18  that includes a number of oval passages  24  extending through the wall, and a cap  19  that includes an outwardly extending radial flange  20 . The plunger  16  has an opening  21  disposed in the center of the circular base  17  that aligns with openings  15  and  12  in the flexible member  13  and raised shoulder  11 , respectively, when positioned within the pump case  2 . The plunger  16  may be secured in this position by threadably engaging a fastener  22  within the respective openings from the lower end of the pump case  2 . In this manner, the plunger  16  is rigidly held within the pump case and serves as a conduit for fluid flow during operation of the pump. 
     Opposite the base  17 , the plunger  16  includes a concave groove  23 a in the outer edge of the radial flange  20 . A resilient O-ring  23  is disposed within the groove and serves to provide a reliable fluid seal between the O-ring and the interior surface of a mobile chamber  25  positioned about the plunger  16 . 
     The mobile chamber  25  is cylindrical in shape and is comprised of a circular side wall  26  having an inner diameter slightly less than the diameter of the O-ring  23 . The chamber  25  includes a bottom, open end  28  and a top, closed end  29 . The open end  28  of the chamber  25  allows the top  19  of plunger  16  to be inserted into the chamber such that the O-ring  23  sealingly engages the interior of the chamber. The open end  28  also includes an outwardly extending radial flange  30  that contacts the flexible member  13  during operation of the apparatus. 
     The closed end  29  includes a raised shoulder  31  extending upwardly from the closed end. The shoulder  31  includes an opening  32  that threadedly engages the lowermost portion  33  of the shaft  9  to secure the chamber  25  onto the shaft  9  such that vibration of the shaft affects the vibration of the chamber. 
     Adjacent the closed end  29  of the chamber  25  is also located an outlet  34  extending perpendicularly to the axis of the chamber  25 . The outlet  34  is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a channel  35  that is in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber  25 . When the plunger  16  is positioned within the chamber  25 , the closed end  29  forms a fluid pumping enclosure  37  between the top  19  of the plunger  16  that is in fluid communication with the outlet  34 . The outlet  34  extends beyond the pump case  2  and includes an outwardly extending angled flange  36  used to securely connect a hose  38  to the outlet  34  to direct the fluid flowing through the outlet to a desired location. 
     In operation, the plunger  16  is inserted with the chamber  25  and both parts are removably positioned inside the pump case  2 . The plunger is then secured to the base  4  by fastener  22  and the shaft  9  is inserted into the sleeve  8  of the pump case  2 . The lowermost portion  33  of the shaft  9  is then threadedly engaged with the opening  32  in the chamber  25  such that the chamber is positioned about 1-2.5 mm above the flexible member  13 , a distance corresponding to the stroke length of the shaft  9 . Next, hose  38  is connected to the outlet  34  about the angled flange  36  in order to direct the outgoing fluid flow. Then pump case  2  is inserted into the liquid that is to be pumped and the vibration vibrator  10  is activated. 
     The configuration of the primary circular opening  12  and secondary openings  13  spaced about the central opening  12  is shown in FIG.  4 . Both the central opening  12  and the secondary openings  13  have a circular cross-section enabling the liquid to be pumped to flow in a path directly downward from the top of the base  4 . 
     While the figuration of the central opening  12  and secondary openings  13  is preferably that shown in FIG. 4, the secondary openings  13  may also have alternative configurations such as those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5, the secondary openings  13  have a wedge shape, or a spiral shape as shown in FIG. 6 to impart a specific motion to the fluid flowing through the secondary openings  13 . 
     Typically, the generator  10  will operate between 30-100 cycles per second, with a convenient value of 60 cycles per second to correspond to conventional AC current. However, as the chamber  25  is positioned a fixed distance from the flexible member  13 , the generator can operate between 10-150 cycles per second, depending upon the use to which the pump is put. Activation of the generator  10  begins a constant upward and downward movement of the shaft  9 . As the shaft  9  is connected to the moveable chamber  25 , the chamber  25  moves in conjunction with the shaft. 
     On the upward stroke, fluid flows past the wall members  5  into the interior of the pump case  2 . When the chamber  25  is positioned above the flexible member  13 , a portion of the incoming fluid flows upwardly into the interior of the chamber  25  and passes through the passages  24  in the cylindrical portion  18  of the plunger  16 . From the plunger, the fluid flows upwardly into the enclosure  37  formed between the top portion  19  of the plunger  16  and the closed end  29  of the chamber  25  to fill the enclosure. 
     On the downward stroke, the O-ring  23  disposed in the radially extending flange  20  on the plunger  16  prevents any liquid from flowing downwardly around the exterior of the plunger between the flange  20  and the side wall  26  of the chamber  25 . This seal, along with the force exerted by the fluid flowing upwardly through the plunger  16 , exerts a pressure on the fluid contained within the enclosure  37 , forcing that fluid through the outlet  34  and into the hose  38 . When the chamber  25  reaches the lowermost extent of the stroke, the outwardly extending flange  30  on the chamber  25  contacts the flexible member  13  to create a momentary fluid seal between the flange  30  and flexible member  13 . In connection with this seal, the outwardly flowing fluid creates a slight vacuum within the chamber  25 , such that when the chamber rises off of the member  13  in the following upward stroke, fluid is drawn into the interior of the chamber to refill the enclosure  37 . 
     To modify the design of this pump case  2  to provide for an increased pressure for the fluid flow exiting the pump, the plunger  16  can be altered to have the configuration shown in FIG.  3 . In this alternative structure, a moveable sealing member  40  is positioned partially within the cylindrical portion  18  of the plunger  16 . The sealing member  40  includes a generally circular, bottom end  42 , a stem  43  extending upwardly perpendicular from the bottom end, and a circular, upper end  41  connected to the stem  43  opposite the bottom end  42  by a fastener  43   a. The sealing member  40  is slidably mounted within the plunger such that the upper end  41  may rest on the top  19  of plunger  16  and bottom end  42  is retained within the plunger by a number of projections  44  extending into the passages  24  in plunger  16 . 
     When the chamber  25  is moving downwardly to expel the liquid out of the enclosure  37 , the upper end  41  of the sealing member  40  abuts the upper portion  19  of the plunger  16 . The upper end  41  thus closes the top of plunger  16 , preventing any liquid contained within the enclosure  37  from flowing outwardly through the plunger  16 . Therefore, as no fluid can escape the enclosure  37  other than through the outlet  34 , the pressure exerted on the fluid contained within the enclosure is increased, resulting in an increased rate of fluid flow through the outlet  34  and hose  38 . 
     When the chamber  25  is moved upwardly, the fluid entering the chamber  25  due to the vacuum formed by the chamber and the flexible member  13  pushes upwardly against the bottom end  42  of the sealing member  40 , disengaging the upper end  41  from the top  19  of plunger  16 . The fluid is then permitted to flow around the bottom end  42  and stem  43  into the enclosure  37 . When the chamber  25  again moves in a downward direction, the pressure exerted by the closed end  29  of the chamber  25  on the upper end  41  forces the sealing member  40  downwardly into contact with the plunger  16 , preventing any fluid flow into the enclosure  37 . 
     To increase the pressure of the outgoing fluid from the pump even further, an alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4 may be used. In this embodiment, the pump case  2  is formed with a pair of angled portions  45  extending upwardly from the wall members  5  to narrow the width of the pump case at the upper end. Similarly, the cylindrical side wall of the mobile chamber  25  also includes a frustoconical upper portion  46  which tapers inwardly generally parallel to the angled sections  45  of the pump case  2 . The outlet  34  is formed similarly to that found in the previous embodiment and extends from the frustoconical section  46  of the moveable chamber  25 . The plunger  16  also includes a number of inwardly tapering side walls  47  extending from the base  17  towards the top  19  narrowing the upper diameter of the cylindrical portion  18 . The outer edge of the outwardly extending flange  20  of the top  19  includes a sloping outer surface  49  that conforms to the slope of the upper angled wall section  45  of the moveable chamber  25 . Disposed on the angled surface  49  is a resilient sealing member  50  that serves to engage the angled wall section  46  when the mobile chamber  25  is moved downwardly in a vibration sequence. 
     In operation, this embodiment increases the pressure at which the fluid is directed outwardly from the pump case  2  as the size of the enclosure  37  formed between the plunger  16  and the mobile chamber  25  is significantly reduced due to the slope given to both the sides of the mobile chamber  25  and the upper end  19  of the plunger  16 . This reduced volume of the enclosure exerts a larger pressure on the fluid contained within the enclosure during the downward stroke of the shaft  9 . The increased pressure within the enclosure translates to an increased rate of fluid flow exiting the pump through the hose  38  attached to the outlet  34 . 
     The apparatus of this invention is particularly well suited for metering small volumes of corrosive liquids, such as acid, from large containers in which such liquids are typically shipped and stored. Also, due to the structure and operation of the pump apparatus, no measurable backpressure is generated during operation of the apparatus, enabling the fluid flow from the pump to terminate simultaneously with the deactivation of the generator.