Abstract:
The present invention is a vibratory pumping apparatus that increases the ease and effectiveness of use of the apparatus. More specifically, the apparatus includes an adapter engageable with a conventional motive member, such as an electric drill, in order to enable the apparatus convert the rotational motion of the motive member into oscillatory motion for the pump, such that the pump can be operated using any number of different motive members. In addition, the mechanism within the apparatus is formed of a pair of piston-like members that operate in conjunction with one another to increase the pressure at which the fluid pumped by the mechanism is dispensed from the apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is related to pumps, and more specifically to a pump capable of using a vibratory or oscillating motion in order to pump a fluid at a desired rate and pressure.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     With regard to the pumping of fluids, a wide range of fluid pumping devices have been developed in order to meet this need. However, with regard to certain situations, the prior art pumping mechanisms do not provide the range of pumping pressures desired with a minimum of expense desired with such devices.  
         [0003]     Thus, a number of vibratory pump mechanisms have been developed, which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,315,533; 6,364,622; 6,428,289; and 6,604,920, and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/863,713 and 11/063,677, each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety, in order to provide a pumping mechanism which provides the wide range of fluid pumping flow rates with a low cost and adaptable mechanism. Nevertheless, it is desirable to further improve upon these vibratory pump mechanisms in order to increase their usefulness and efficiency over a wide range of potential uses, particularly with respect to their ability to be utilized with readily available motive mechanisms and to dispense fluids at high pressures  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to one aspect of the present invention, an improved vibratory pumping mechanism is disclosed in which the mechanism includes a chamber is which the fluid pumping mechanism and fluid to be pumped are located that can be easily connected to an existing motive mechanism, such as a drill. The pumping mechanism includes an adapter operably connected to the oscillating shaft of the pumping mechanism. The adapter includes a rotatable member engageable with a rotating component or member disposed on the motive mechanism and connected to a transfer rod. The transfer rod is pivotably connected to the rotatable member at one end, and to a hinge at the opposite end. The hinge is connected between a transfer rod and an oscillating rod such that the rotation of the rotating member can be transmitted along the transfer rod and hinge to the oscillating member such that the oscillating rod moves in a generally vertical oscillating manner when the rotatable member is rotated due to its connection to the rotating member. Thus, through utilizing the adapter, the pumping mechanism can be operably connected to a wide range of existing motive mechanisms, such as electric drills, for use therewith.  
         [0005]     According to another aspect of the present invention, the pumping mechanism is formed with a pair of aligned fluid dispensing members that increase the pressure at which a fluid dispensed by the mechanism is discharged. The fluid dispensing members are spaced from one another, such that one of the members is located outside of the outlet chamber for the mechanism and the other member is located within the outlet chamber, thereby creating two separate pressure generating mechanisms within the single pumping mechanism.  
         [0006]     Numerous other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.  
         [0008]     In the drawings:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a pumping apparatus constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a high pressure pumping mechanism of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the mechanism of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the mechanism of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the mechanism of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the mechanism of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of a sixth embodiment of the mechanism of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a pumping apparatus is indicated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  10  includes a container  12  within which is disposed a pumping mechanism  14  and on which is secured a cover  16 , such as by a threaded collar  17 . The cover  16  includes a handle  18  at one end  19  and serves to selectively retain a fluid  20  to be pumped by the mechanism  14  within the container  12 . The cover  16  also supports an adapter  22  utilized to operably connect the pumping mechanism  14  with a motive member  24 . The motive member  24  in a preferred embodiment can take the form of an electric drill  26  including a manually engagable chuck  28  and an operating trigger  30  and that is operated by a battery (not shown) or a plug  31  ( FIG. 3 ) connectable to a conventional power outlet (not shown), as is known in the art. The chuck  28  is engageable with a rotating shaft  32  rotatably positioned within a housing  34  affixed to the cover  16  by a support  36 . The shaft  32  is rotatably mounted within the housing  34  and extends outwardly from each end of the housing  34 . One end of the shaft  32  is releasably engageable within the chuck  28  for rotation therewith, and the opposite end of the shaft  32  terminates in a circular member  38  from which extends a pin  40  which is pivotably secured to a transfer shaft  42 . The circular member  38  is secured to the shaft  32  adjacent the outer circumference of the circular member  38  so that the circular member  38  rotates in a generally eccentric manner with regard to the shaft  32 . In turn, the pin  40  causes the transfer shaft  42  to oscillate in an upward and downward manner along with the rotation of the circular member  38 . Opposite the pin  40 , the transfer shaft  42  is connected to a hinge  44  that is secured opposite the transfer shaft  42  to an oscillating shaft  46  of the pumping mechanism  14 . The pivoting of the hinge  44  enables a certain amount of lateral movement of the transfer shaft  42  with respect to the oscillating shaft  46 , while effectively transferring the rotation of the circular member  38  to the oscillating shaft  46  in a manner which causes the shaft  46  to move in a strictly vertically oscillating manner in order to operate the mechanism  14 .  
         [0017]     The ability of the adapter  22  to simply and easily convert rotary motion to vertical oscillating motion enables the pumping mechanism  14  to be releasably secured to a number of motive members  24  having various configurations such that the pumping mechanism  14  can be utilized in conjunction with a variety of motive members  24 .  
         [0018]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2-6 , a pumping mechanism  14  is illustrated in a number of varying embodiments. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment for the mechanism  14 , the oscillating shaft  46  extends into a generally open housing  48  for the mechanism  14  that is submerged within the fluid  20  to be pumped. The housing  48  allows fluid to flow directly into the housing  48  and includes an upper end  50  through which the shaft  46  extends and a lower end  52  forming an outlet  54  of the mechanism  14 .  
         [0019]     The lower end  52  includes an outlet member  56  secured to the housing  48  and that defines a central passage  58  extending therethrough. At an inlet end  60  of the passage  58 , a flexible diaphragm  62  is secured over the inlet end  60  which defines an opening  64  at the center thereof. The opening  64  allows fluid flowing into the housing  48  to flow through the diaphragm opening  64  into the passage  58 . Below the diaphragm  62 , the passage  58  includes a middle or central section  66  connected to the inlet end  60  by an inwardly sloping wall  65  and defining an annular shoulder  68  on the outlet member  56  opposite the inlet end  60  between the central section  66  and an outer end  70 . The shoulder  68  reduces the diameter of the central section  66  to enable the pressure of the fluid entering the central section  66  past the diaphragm  62  to be raised as it is directed from the central section  66  into the outlet end  70 . From the outlet end  70 , the fluid is directed into a nozzle  72  for dispensing from the mechanism  14 . The nozzle  72  also has a reduced diameter from the outlet end  70  in order to further increase the pressure of the fluid exiting the mechanism  14 .  
         [0020]     In order to move the fluid through the mechanism  14 , the oscillating shaft  46  includes a pair of piston members  74  and  76  secured to the oscillating shaft  46 . The first piston member  74  is attached to the shaft  46  within the housing  48  adjacent the diaphragm  62  but outside of the outlet member  56 . As the shaft  46  oscillates, the first piston member  74  urges or pushes fluid through the opening  64  in the diaphragm  62  and ultimately contacts the diaphragm  62  closing the opening  64 . Due to the flexible nature of the diaphragm  62 , the first piston member  74  flexes the diaphragm  62  inwardly, thereby imparting additional pressure on the fluid that is pushed through the opening  64  and into the inlet end  60  of the outlet member  56 .  
         [0021]     The second piston member  76  is disposed inside of the outlet member  56  within the central section  66 . The second piston member  76  is formed of an enlarged portion  78  attached to or integrally formed with the end of the shaft  46  and is surrounded by a flexible ring  80  having a diameter greater than the diameter of the outlet end  70 . As the shaft  46  oscillates, the second piston member  76  urges fluid that has entered the outlet member  56  through the opening  64  in the diaphragm  62  from the inlet end  60  into the central section  66  and outlet end  70 . The flexible ring  80  of the second piston member  76  allows the second piston member  76  to sealingly engage the shoulder  68  separating the central section  66  from the outlet end  70  to further compress and urge the fluid into the outlet end  70  and through the nozzle  72 . The functioning of both of the piston members  74  and  76  provides a dual compression of the fluid within the outlet member  56 , thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid  20  dispensed by the mechanism  14 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in a second embodiment of the mechanism  14 , the mechanism  14  is spaced from the fluid to be pumped such that the housing  48  is formed as an enclosed housing  82  from which extends an inlet tube  84  that is positionable within the container  12  holding the fluid  20 . In addition, the central section  66  is formed to be co-extensive with the outlet end  70  such that the second piston member  76  is formed solely of the enlarged portion  78  which has a diameter approximately equal to that of the central section  66  and outlet end  70 . However, in this embodiment the outlet member  56  includes a pair of fluid channels  86  formed in the central section  66  that extend from the inlet end  60  to the outer end  70  and allow for fluid communication between the inlet end  60  and outer end  70  around the enlarged portion  78 . Thus, during oscillation of the shaft  46 , fluid entering the inlet end  60  due to the compression of the first piston member  74  against the diaphragm  62  is urged through the fluid channels  86  and into the outlet end  70 . Simultaneously, the movement of the second piston member  76  within the central section  66  forces the fluid into the outlet end  70  from the fluid channels  86  into the nozzle  72 .  
         [0023]     In a third embodiment of the mechanism  14  shown in  FIG. 4 , the nozzle  72  is formed with a plug  88  disposed over a nozzle opening  90  separating the nozzle  72  from the outlet end  70 . The plug  88  is biased over the opening  90  by a spring  92  extending between the plug  88  and the nozzle opening  93  through which the fluid  20  is ultimately dispensed from the mechanism  14 . The spring  92  selectively allows the plug  88  to move away from the opening  90  when the pressure of the fluid in the outlet end  70  exceeds the bias of the spring  92 . When a plug  88  moves away from the opening  90 , the fluid can pass through the opening  90  and through the nozzle  72 .  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the fourth embodiment of the mechanism  14 , the fluid channels  86  are replaced by a fluid housing  94  disposed around the central section  66  and outlet end  70  of the outlet member  56 . The housing  94  is in fluid communication with the inlet end  60  and the outlet member  56  via openings  96  in the inlet end  60  and is in fluid communication with the central section  66  and outlet end  70  via openings  98 . In operation, the first piston member  74  urges fluid past the diaphragm  62  into the inlet end  60  and through the openings  96  and into the fluid housing  94 . Under pressure from the fluid moved into the inlet end  60  by the first piston member  74 , fluid from the housing  94  passes through the openings  98  into the central section  66  or outlet end  70 . Movement of the second piston member  76  toward the nozzle  72  urges fluid in the outlet end  70  forwardly through the nozzle  72 . However, when the second piston member  76  is moved toward the central section  66 , fluid is expelled from the central section  66  through the openings  98  into fluid housing  94  and is simultaneously drawn into the outlet end  70  from the fluid housing  94  via the openings  98 .  
         [0025]     In a fifth embodiment of the mechanism  14  shown in  FIG. 6 , the mechanism  14  is formed only of the fluid housing  94  disposed around to a central section  66  and outlet end  70  of the outlet member  56  which includes openings  98  allowing fluid housing  94  to be in fluid communication with the central section  66  and outlet end  70 . An inlet tube  84  extends from the fluid housing  94  into a container  12  holding an amount of the fluid  20  to be dispensed by the mechanism  14  to supply fluid  20  to the mechanism  14 . The nozzle  72  includes a plug  88  disposed against a nozzle opening  90  by a spring  92 . As described previously, when the second piston member  76  compresses the fluid against the plug  88 , the plug  88  moves against the bias of the spring  92  when a sufficient pressure in the fluid  20  has been reached to overcome the bias of the spring  92 , thereby allowing the fluid to be dispensed through the nozzle opening  90  and out of the nozzle  72 .  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 7 , a sixth embodiment of the mechanism  14  is illustrated in which the mechanism  14  is attached to a firearm  100 . The firearm  100  includes a modified fluid housing  94  secured to the barrel  102  of the firearm  100 . The shaft  46  is connected to an extension  104  extending from the barrel  102 . The extension  104  is connected to an oscillating portion of the firearm  100 , such as the firing pin (not shown), such that movement of the extension  104  caused by the firing of the firearm  100  also moves the shaft  46  in an oscillatory manner. This movement, in turn, causes the shaft  46  and first piston member  74  on the shaft  46  to draw a preferably combustible fluid into the housing  94  through a pipe  108  connected to a tank  110 . The fluid is drawn into and discharged from the housing  94  in the manner previously described with regard to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , such that the fluid is dispensed into contact with the projectiles (not shown) and combusted gases (not shown) exiting the firearm  100 . The contact of the fluid with the projectiles and gases causes the fluid to ignite, such that the ignited fluid is sprayed in the direction the firearm  100  is pointed.  
         [0027]     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.