Patent Abstract:
A water pump assembly includes a lower housing configured for being positioned within a well. The lower housing includes a bladder therein. The bladder expands to force water within the housing into an outlet of a valve apparatus and the bladder contracts to draw water into the housing. A cylinder and piston fluidly coupled to an inlet of the valve apparatus and the inlet is fluidly coupled to the bladder. A one way valve is positioned within the valve apparatus and fluidly connects an inlet chamber including the inlet to an outlet chamber including the outlet. The one way valve allows water to flow from the outlet chamber into the inlet chamber and restricts water from flowing from the inlet chamber into the outlet chamber. An outlet conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlet of the valve apparatus to carry the water where desired.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of the provisional application 62/337,114 filed May 16, 2016. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
       [0005]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
       [0006]    The disclosure and prior art relates to pump devices and more particularly pertains to a new pump device for drawing fluids efficiently out of a wall while preventing contaminants from entering the well. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a lower housing configured for being positioned within a well. The lower housing includes a bladder therein. The bladder expands to force water within the housing into an outlet of a valve apparatus and the bladder contracts to draw water into the housing. A cylinder and piston fluidly coupled to an inlet of the valve apparatus and the inlet is fluidly coupled to the bladder. A one way valve is positioned within the valve apparatus and fluidly connects an inlet chamber including the inlet to an outlet chamber including the outlet. The one way valve allows water to flow from the outlet chamber into the inlet chamber and restricts water from flowing from the inlet chamber into the outlet chamber. An outlet conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlet of the valve apparatus to carry the water where desired. 
         [0008]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0009]    The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0010]    The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a water pump assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a plate of a one way valve of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective of an embodiment of the disclosure of a valve apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure of a valve apparatus of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is cross-sectional view taken along  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a lower housing of an embodiment of the disclosure of a valve apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of area “ 8 ” of  FIG. 7  of an embodiment of the disclosure of a valve apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the valve apparatus taken perpendicular to  FIG. 8  and through ball valve  50  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of area “ 10 ” of  FIG. 7  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a side view of an actuator of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure of a valve apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a top perspective of an embodiment of the disclosure of an upper housing. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is side view of the upper housing of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of a first plate of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a rear view of the first plate of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of a second plate of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is rear view of the second plate of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a cross-section showing an outlet fitting of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a cross-section showing the actuator and a piston rod of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a broken cross-section of a cylinder of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a top perspective of a cage of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is a top view of the cage of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  is a side view of the cage of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 25  thereof, a new pump device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0037]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 25 , the water pump assembly  10  generally comprises a lower housing  12  that is positionable into a well and which includes an upper end  13 , a lower end  14  and a perimeter wall  15  extending between the upper  13  and lower  14  ends. The lower end  14  includes a one way valve  16  for allowing water (or other fluid and hereafter fluid is being used to designate any fluid and in particular any liquid being moved with the assembly  10 ) into the lower housing  12  but restricting water from leaving through the lower end  14 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 10 , the one way valve  16  includes a plate  17  with a plurality of apertures  18  extending therethrough on top of which a gasket  19  is mounted so that as a vacuum is formed within the lower housing  12 , the edge of the gasket  19  lifts to allow water or other fluid to enter the lower housing  12  through the apertures  18  and around the flexible gasket  19 . However, not shown, a pump may be attached to the plate  17  without the gasket and used for powered movement of fluids into the lower housing  12 . 
         [0038]    Within the lower housing  12  is a bladder  20  attached to the upper end which is filled and emptied during the operation of the assembly  10 . As the bladder  20  is filed it moves toward the lower end  14  to drive fluid within the lower housing  12  outwardly of the upper end  13 . As the bladder  20  retracts away from the lower end  14 , a vacuum is created within the lower housing  12  to pull fluid through the one way valve  16 . The bladder  20  comprises a structure which restricts stretching in any direction but longitudinally from the upper end  13  to the lower end  14  of the lower housing  12 . 
         [0039]    A valve apparatus  22  shown in  FIGS. 4-6, 8 and 9  and is attached to the upper end  13  of the lower housing and is in fluid communication with the lower housing  12  and bladder  20 . The valve apparatus  22  includes an inlet  23  fluidly coupled to the bladder  20  and an outlet  24  for receiving a fluid from the lower housing  12 . The valve apparatus  22  includes an inlet chamber  25  fluidly coupled to the inlet  23  and an outlet chamber  26  fluidly coupled to the outlet  24 . The inlet chamber  25  is in fluid communication with a cylinder  27  and piston  28  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) for forcing fluid downwardly into the bladder  20  as well as pulling fluid outwardly of the bladder  20 . As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the inlet chamber  25  is fluidly coupled to a connector  29  which in turn is fluidly coupled to a supply line  30  at the bottom of the cylinder  27  which includes a threaded male connector as shown in  FIG. 12  for attachment to the supply line  30 . The supply line  30  is in fluid communication with the cylinder  27  such that fluid is forced into the supply line  30  when the piston  28  is moved downwardly and then the fluid is then moved into the bladder  20  to expand the bladder  20  and drive water into the outlet  24 . When the piston  28  is moved upwardly a vacuum is created within the cylinder  27  to draw the fluid outwardly of the supply line  30  and the bladder  20  to retract the bladder  20 . 
         [0040]    The cylinder  27  is mounted to a plate  31 , or plates  31 ,  32  and covered with an upper housing  33 . The upper housing  33  includes an actuator  34  mounted thereto which is attached a piston rod  35  of the piston  28 . The actuator  34  may include conventional handle  36  as shown in  FIG. 1  which is pivotally coupled to the upper housing  33 . However,  FIG. 13  shows attachment points  37  for the actuator  34  so that the actuator  34  may be coupled to a motor or windmill to drive the piston  28 . Moreover, it should be understood that the upper housing  33  and the components directly attached thereto may be positioned up to several hundred feet from the valve apparatus  22  and lower housing  12  and may not be positioned directly over the lower housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 16-20  show that plates  31  and  32  may be used so that the upper housing  33  may be removed along with plate  32  while leaving the cylinder  27  in place. 
         [0041]    As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , a lumen  40  is formed between and fluidly couples the inlet chamber  25  and outlet chamber  26 . The lumen  40  is angled upwardly from the outlet chamber  26  to the inlet chamber  25  and includes a one way valve  41 , which may be formed by a ball, to prevent flow of fluid from the inlet chamber  25  to the outlet chamber  26 . When fluid pressure increases within the lower housing  12 , the fluid is driven upwardly into the outlet chamber  26  and a small amount of the fluid in the outlet chamber  26  is pushed through the lumen  40  and into the supply line  30  where it can be used for filling the cylinder  27 , supply line  30  and bladder  20  in a process of “priming” the assembly  10 . 
         [0042]    As can be seen in  FIG. 22 , which is a detail of a cross-section of a portion of the cylinder  27 , the cylinder  27  has an inner surface with a depression  42  therein which may have a depth of less than 0.02 inches and height of less than 1.0 inches, though the height is greater than a seal formed between the piston  28  and the cylinder  27 . The width of this depression is typically less than 0.1 inches. Since the depression  42  has a height greater than the seal between the piston  28  and cylinder  27 , when the piston  28  travels downwardly to drive fluid into the supply line  30  and cylinder  27 , fluid moves between the piston  28  and the cylinder  27  via the depression  42 . This fluid forms a pool on top of the piston  27  to retain pressure within the system and, importantly, prevents contaminated fluid and debris from moving around the piston  28  and back down into the well. The one way valve  41  further prevents contaminated fluid from entering the lower housing  12 . Thus, the piston  28 , cylinder  27  and supply line  30  are effectively sealed off from the outlet chamber  26 . 
         [0043]    As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the outlet chamber  26  includes a ball valve  50  which prevents fluid from moving back into the lower housing  12 . Additionally, when the piston  28  is creating a vacuum in the cylinder  27 , any fluid positioned within the outlet chamber  26  between the ball valve  50  and an exit opening  51  will be drawn through the lumen  40  if there is sufficient negative pressure within the inlet chamber  25 . A cage  52 , shown in  FIG. 9  is placed within the outlet chamber  26  to prevent the ball valve  50  from closing the exit opening  51 . 
         [0044]    An outlet fitting  53  is fluidly coupled to the exit opening  51  and an outlet conduit  54  coupled to the outlet fitting  53 . The outlet conduit  54  may be directed where needed to deliver the fluid, though it may be fluidly coupled to a spigot  56  mounted on the upper housing  33 . As can been seen in  FIGS. 13 and 20 , the outlet conduit  54  would be connected to an outlet fitting  55  which would remain with the plate  31  should plate  32  and upper housing  33  be removed. As fluid is forced outwardly of the lower housing  12  by the bladder  20  expanding, it moves through the outlet chamber  26 , around the ball valve  50 , into the outlet conduit  54  and finally outwardly of the spigot  56 . 
         [0045]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0046]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5