Patent ID: 12241465

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any independent embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

Relative terminology, such as, for example, “about”, “approximately”, “substantially”, etc., used in connection with a quantity or condition would be understood by those of ordinary skill to be inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (for example, the term includes at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of, tolerances (e.g., manufacturing, assembly, use, etc.) associated with the particular value, etc.). Such terminology should also be considered as disclosing the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints. For example, the expression “from about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4”. The relative terminology may refer to plus or minus a percentage (e.g., 1%, 5%. 10% or more) of an indicated value.

Also, the functionality described herein as being performed by one component may be performed by multiple components in a distributed manner. Likewise, functionality performed by multiple components may be consolidated and performed by a single component. Similarly, a component described as performing particular functionality may also perform additional functionality not described herein. For example, a device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The embodiment(s) described below and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present disclosure. As such, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications to the elements and their configuration and/or arrangement exist within the spirit and scope of one or more independent aspects as described.

FIGS.1-2illustrate a pump10, such as a hydraulic pump, operable to transfer fluid relative to an external device (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder (not shown)). Features of the pump10may be similar to features of the HP-series hand pumps (Model Nos. HP350, HP550, etc.) sold by Enerpac Tool Group Corp., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA, which are hereby incorporated by reference. The illustrated pump10also includes an oil filling assembly14. In other constructions (not shown), the pump10may be operable to transfer other fluids. In the illustrated construction, the pump10is manually-operated (e.g., a hand pump). In other constructions (not shown), the pump10may be powered (e.g., by a motor).

The pump10also includes (seeFIG.2) a rigid cylinder18supporting a bladder22for holding oil and a pump mechanism26connected to one end of the cylinder18and operable to pump oil relative to the bladder22. In the illustrated construction, the oil filling assembly14is connected to the opposite end of the cylinder18and is operable to fill the bladder22with oil.

The bladder22has (seeFIGS.2-3B and8) a flexible wall30defining an interior volume, a bladder outlet34communicating with the pump mechanism26, and a bladder inlet38defined through an end wall42and communicating with oil filling assembly14. With the sealed bladder22, the pump10is operable in substantially any orientation.

A bladder fitting46is positioned in the bladder22and, as illustrated, is operable to connect and seal the bladder22and the oil filling assembly14. The fitting46has a flange50positioned against the inner surface of the inlet end wall42and an externally-threaded stem54extending through the inlet38. A fitting opening58extends through the fitting46and into the bladder22.

The pump mechanism26includes a pump housing62. Externally (seeFIG.1), the illustrated pump housing62provides a support66to support the pump10on a surface (e.g., the ground). A carrying handle70(e.g., a shovel handle) provides a support74spaced along the axis of the pump10and generally aligned with the housing support66.

Internally (seeFIG.2), the pump housing62cooperates with the cylinder18to capture the outlet end of the bladder22. The pump housing62defines a threaded opening78. The pump housing62also defines a chamber82and passages86communicating with the chamber82from a pump mechanism inlet90, communicating with the bladder22, to a pump mechanism outlet94, communicating with a pump port or outlet98.

As shown inFIGS.1-2and9, the pump10includes a single pump outlet98. In other constructions (seeFIG.10), the pump10includes more than one pump outlet98A,98B (a dual outlet, shown). A control valve assembly102(seeFIGS.1and10) is operable to control flow (e.g., direction, other flow characteristics, etc.) relative to the pump10and the outlet(s)98,98A,98B. The valve assembly102is between the pump mechanism outlet94and the pump outlet(s)98,98A,98B. The pump10may include one or more sensors, gauges, etc. (e.g., a pressure gauge (not shown)) to communicate an operating pressure to an operator.

A piston106is movably supported in the chamber82, and an actuator (e.g., a handle110, as shown) is operable to move the piston106in the chamber82and to cause oil flow relative to the bladder22. A check valve assembly114is supported by the pump housing62to control flow into and out of the chamber82during movement of the piston106.

As shown inFIGS.2-4, the oil filling assembly14includes an end cap118, an oil filling plug122, and a cap assembly126. In the illustrated construction, the handle70is connected to the end cap118. The end cap118has an outer end surface130and a funnel134extending inwardly from the outer end surface130to an intermediate step138. In the illustrated construction, the funnel134is defined by a tapering surface between the outer end surface130and the intermediate step138.

A central opening142extends from the step138to an inner surface of the end cap118and has an internally-threaded portion146. The end wall42of the bladder22is captured between the inner surface of the end cap118and the flange50of the fitting46. The threaded stem54of the fitting46threads into the threaded portion146of the end cap118to connect these components and compress the inlet end wall of the bladder22therebetween. The inner end surface of the end cap118defines an annular groove150receiving the end of the cylinder18.

The plug122is constructed to allow oil to flow into the bladder22while simultaneously allowing air to flow out of the bladder22. The plug122has an inner stem154, an outer stem158and an intermediate flange162. The inner stem154is inserted into the central opening142of the end cap118, through the opening58of the bladder fitting46and into the bladder22. The flange162is received in the intermediate step138with an annular space therebetween. In this position, the outer end of the outer stem158extends axially beyond the outer end surface130of the end cap118externally to the funnel134.

A number of oil passages166(8in the illustrated construction) extend through the flange162. The oil passages166are spaced circumferentially about the outer stem158and, when the plug122is positioned in the end cap118, are positioned at the inner end of the funnel134. Each oil passage166communicates with a corresponding flow groove170defined between adjacent ridges174on the outer surface of the inner stem154which guide the flow of oil into the bladder22.

A passage178extends through the plug122from the outer end of the outer stem158and, as illustrated, through the inner stem154. The passage178is threaded along end portions182,186of the stems154,158, respectively. A number of air inlets190(4in the illustrated construction) extend radially through the inner stem154and communicate with the passage178. Each air inlet190is defined in a ridge174between adjacent flow grooves170on the outer surface of the inner stem154. As shown inFIG.4, the outer surface of each ridge174is spaced from the adjacent inner surface of the bladder fitting opening58, and the air inlets190are positioned within the bladder fitting opening58. The outer end of the passage178provides an air outlet194positioned, in the illustrated construction, outside of the funnel134.

A seal gasket198(e.g., a copper gasket) is axially between and an o-ring202is radially between the flange162and the intermediate step138. A tie rod206is threaded, at one end, into the threaded opening78of the pump housing62and, at the opposite end, into the threaded portion182of the inner stem154to connect the oil filling assembly14to the components of the pump10and to compress the sealing components therebetween. The illustrated outer stem158is constructed (e.g., has a non-circular shape (for example, a hexagonal shape, as shown)) to be engaged by a tool (e.g., a wrench, a driver, etc.) to turn the plug122and threadedly engage the tie rod206.

In other constructions (not shown), threadedly connected components of the pump10(e.g., the bladder fitting46and the end cap118, the tie rod206and the pump housing62and/or the plug122, etc.) may be connected in a different manner, such as, for example, via a twist lock, a press fit, welding, etc.

The cap assembly126selectively closes the oil passages166and the air passage178. The illustrated cap assembly126includes a cap member210, a washer214and a fastener218. The cap member210has an axial wall222defining an opening226, a hollow projection230extending from the outer side of the wall222and defining a fastener opening234, and an annular side wall238extending inwardly from the radially-outer end of the wall222.

As shown inFIGS.2and3A, when the cap member210is installed onto the plug122, the outer stem158is received into the projection230, and the wall222covers the oil passages166. The side wall238fits in the annular space between the plug flange162and the intermediate step138of the end cap118and engages the o-ring202. The washer214engages the outer end of the projection230, and the fastener218extends through the opening234and into the threaded outer portion186of the passage178to connect the cap assembly126to the plug122. In other constructions (not shown), the cap member210may include a fastener incorporated into its structure.

To fill the pump10, the pump10is oriented generally vertically with the oil filling assembly14facing upwardly. The fastener218is removed so the cap member210can be removed to open the oil passages166and the air passage178. Oil is poured to fill the funnel134which guides the oil toward the oil passages166. Oil flows the passages166and along the flow grooves170into the bladder22. Simultaneously, air enters the air inlets190, spaced (e.g., circumferentially and radially) from the inwardly flowing oil, into the passage178and through the air outlet194. As mentioned above, the outer end of the outer stem158extends outside of the funnel134so that air can flow from and oil will not enter the air outlet194.

When the bladder22is filled, the cap assembly126is reinstalled. The cap member210is positioned with the outer stem158in the projection230, the wall222engaging the flange162and closing the oil passages166, and the side wall238in the annular space and engaging the o-ring202. The washer214is positioned, and the fastener218is threaded into the threaded portion186of the air passage178, closing the air passage178. The pump10is ready for use, and, with the flexible bladder22, is usable in substantially any orientation.

To use the pump10, the operator fluidly connects (e.g., with a hose (not shown)) the pump10and the external device (e.g., the hydraulic cylinder) with which the pump10will be used. The operator engages and moves the actuator handle110to cause oil to flow between the bladder22and the external device.

It should be understood that one or more features of one construction of a pump10, described above or illustrated in the drawings may be incorporated into another construction and vice versa.

One or more independent features and/or independent advantages of the invention may be set forth in the claims.