GB1585073A - Pumping devices - Google Patents

Description

(54) PUMPING DEVICES (71) We, ROBERT AUDLEY ACKERMANN, of 12 Westgate, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, and PETER WILLIAM NICHOLS, of 21 Pinewood Close, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, both British Subjects, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with pumping devices.

According to the present invention, we provide a pumping device for pumping slurry comprising a hopper for containing slurry to be pumped, pump means for pumping slurry to a delivery duct and valve means for controlling the flow of slurry to be pumped from the hopper to the pump means and from the pump means to the delivery duct said valve means comprising at least two valve ports disposed in a wall of the hopper and a valve element disposed within said hopper, said valve ports being connected to pumping means and said valve element comprising at least two arms, each arm defining a duct for pumped slurry and the ducts being arranged to communicate with a common delivery duct, said valve element being arranged to oscillate between a first position in which a first arm duct communicates with a first valve port and a second arm duct is spaced from a second valve port to permit slurry in the hopper to pass therethrough and a second position in which the first arm duct is spaced from the first valve port to allow slurry to pass therethrough from the hopper and the second arm duct communicates with the second valve port.

Conveniently, the valve means comprises a generally Y-shaped arrangement which is arranged to pivot about the longitudinal axis thereof.

In its simplest form the valve means comprises two arms for connection to two outlets but if desired the valve means may include, for example, four arms for connection to four outlets. Usually, in such an arrangement, two arms will be connected to two outlets at the same time.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one arrangement of pumping device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative form of the invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of yet a further form of the invention; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a modified form of the device shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the device includes the pumping means 10 as described in our co-pending patent application No. 40183/75 (Serial No.1507862) filed on 1st October, 1975.

The pumping means comprises two pumping chambers 11 and 12 each provided with a respective piston 13 and 14. The pistons 13 and 14 are driven out of phase with one another by means of a reciprocating hydraulic cylinder 15, thus when matter is being pumped by piston 13 material is being drawn into pumping chamber 12 by the piston 14, and similarly when piston 14 is pumping, material is being drawn into pumping chamber 11 by the piston 13.

The valve means 16 is disposed in a hopper for slurry to be pumped, the hopper being shown schematically in broken lines and being designated 30.

The valve means 16 comprises an inverted Y-shaped structure having an arm 17 which can communicate with chamber 11 and an arm 18 which can communicate with chamber 12. Arms 17 and 18 at their upper end communicate with a delivery duct 19 for delivery pumped slurry.

As shown in the drawing, the arm 18 is disposed to receive material from the chamber 12 but the arm 17 is displaced from the opening 20 of chamber 11. Thus when piston 14 pumps, the slurry is forced into arm 18 through opening 22 and, at the same time, slurry is drawn into chamber 11 by piston 13 through opening 20 from the hopper 30. When piston 13 is pumping, the valve means is pivoted about the vertical axis 21 so that arm 17 communicates with chamber 11 and the opening 22 of chamber 12 is uncovered. In this position as slurry is forced into arm 17 by by the piston 14 draws slurry from the hopper 30 through opening 22 into the chamber 12.

This latter position is shown in broken lines in Figure 1.

Thus it will be appreciated that the charging and discharging of the chambers 11 and 12 take place simultaneously and alternately, and a single delivery of pumped slurry is provided in the delivery duct 19.

The operation of the valve means affords many advantages for pumping slurries particularly those containing relatively large particles, such as concrete. Conventional valve means are found to suffer from undue wear and damage due to the presence of hard particles in materials such as concrete.

As alternative arrangement is shown in Figure 2. This embodiment is similar to that shown in Figure 1 and the similar components are designated by similar reference numerals.

The arrangement, however, comprises two pumping means, the components of the second pumping means being designated with the suffix "a".

The disposition of the pumping chambers is such that as the valve means is oscillated about the vertical axis 21, each arm of the valve means is alternately communicating with the respective pumping chambers on the same side of the device, i.e. arm 17 alternately communicates with chambers 11 and 1 la whereas arm 18 alternately communicates with chambers 12 and 12a.

This device affords the advantage that in each cycle two pistons are pumping simultaneously, i.e. pistons 13 and 14a will pump simultaneously and pistons 14 and 13a will pump simultaneously.

Referring to Figure 3, the valve device is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 but in this case the valve means is used in conjunction with a pair of parellel pumping chambers 23 and 23a. The pumping is effected by means of the pistons 24 and 24a operating alternately by means of the connecting rods 25 and 25a.

As described in connection with Figure 1 the valve means will deliver pumped slurry alternately from chambers 23 and 23a to the delivery duct 19.

Figure 4 shows a modified version of the device shown in Figure 3 with the valve axis parallel with the axes of the pumping chambers. The connecting rods 27 and 27a are operated alternately to pump slurry from chambers 26 and 26a respectively and the valve means can be oscillated about its axis, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, so as to receive pumped slurry alternately from chambers 26 and 26a and deliver it via delivery duct 19.

The pumping devices described above have a number of advantages over prior art proposals such as that described in U.K. Specification No. 978.993. The use of two or more outlet ducts gives a balanced construction which serves to give adequate agitation of the material in the hopper without the use of agitation blades. Furthermore, it avoids the use of S-bend ducts which are disadvantageous as regards wear due to eccentric loads relative to the axis of oscillation of the ducts. This results in the possibility of providing a lighter construction. In addition, each duct is required to take only half of the total quantity of pumped material which again results in reduced wear.

The pumping devices described above are also much more compact due to the use of two or more outlet ducts. This enables the pumping device to be disposed within the hopper if so desired, and in any event offers advantages in space saving and general convenience of storage and operation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A pumping device for pumping a slurry comprising a hopper for containing slurry to be pumped, pump means for pumping slurry to a delivery duct and valve means for controlling the flow of slurry to be pumped from the hopper to the pump means and from the pump means to the delivery duct said valve means comprising at least two valve ports disposed in a wall of the hopper and a valve element disposed within said hopper, said valve ports being connected to pumping means and said valve element comprising at least two arms, each arm defining a duct for pumped slurry and the ducts being arranged to communicate with a common delivery duct, said valve element being arranged to oscillate between a first position in which a first arm duct communicates with a first valve port and a second arm duct is spaced from a second valve port to permit slurry in the hopper to pass therethrough and a second position in which the first arm duct is spaced from the first valve port to allow slurry to pass therethrough from the hopper and the second arm duct communicates with the second valve port.

2. A device according to Claim 1 in which the valve element comprises a generally Y-shaped arrangement defining said two arm ducts and said delivery duct, said valve element being arranged to oscillate about the axis of symmetry of the element.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the pump means comprises two pump chambers each having a respective valve port associated therewith, said pump chambers each having a respective piston and connecting rod, said connecting rods being driven by a common driving means.

4. A device according to Claim 3 in which the driving means comprises a receprocating hydraulic cylinder.

5. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which four outlets are provided and the valve element is arranged to connect two of said valve ports to said delivery duct at the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. by the piston 14 draws slurry from the hopper 30 through opening 22 into the chamber 12. This latter position is shown in broken lines in Figure 1. Thus it will be appreciated that the charging and discharging of the chambers 11 and 12 take place simultaneously and alternately, and a single delivery of pumped slurry is provided in the delivery duct 19. The operation of the valve means affords many advantages for pumping slurries particularly those containing relatively large particles, such as concrete. Conventional valve means are found to suffer from undue wear and damage due to the presence of hard particles in materials such as concrete. As alternative arrangement is shown in Figure 2. This embodiment is similar to that shown in Figure 1 and the similar components are designated by similar reference numerals. The arrangement, however, comprises two pumping means, the components of the second pumping means being designated with the suffix "a". The disposition of the pumping chambers is such that as the valve means is oscillated about the vertical axis 21, each arm of the valve means is alternately communicating with the respective pumping chambers on the same side of the device, i.e. arm 17 alternately communicates with chambers 11 and 1 la whereas arm 18 alternately communicates with chambers 12 and 12a. This device affords the advantage that in each cycle two pistons are pumping simultaneously, i.e. pistons 13 and 14a will pump simultaneously and pistons 14 and 13a will pump simultaneously. Referring to Figure 3, the valve device is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 but in this case the valve means is used in conjunction with a pair of parellel pumping chambers 23 and 23a. The pumping is effected by means of the pistons 24 and 24a operating alternately by means of the connecting rods 25 and 25a. As described in connection with Figure 1 the valve means will deliver pumped slurry alternately from chambers 23 and 23a to the delivery duct 19. Figure 4 shows a modified version of the device shown in Figure 3 with the valve axis parallel with the axes of the pumping chambers. The connecting rods 27 and 27a are operated alternately to pump slurry from chambers 26 and 26a respectively and the valve means can be oscillated about its axis, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, so as to receive pumped slurry alternately from chambers 26 and 26a and deliver it via delivery duct 19. The pumping devices described above have a number of advantages over prior art proposals such as that described in U.K. Specification No. 978.993. The use of two or more outlet ducts gives a balanced construction which serves to give adequate agitation of the material in the hopper without the use of agitation blades. Furthermore, it avoids the use of S-bend ducts which are disadvantageous as regards wear due to eccentric loads relative to the axis of oscillation of the ducts. This results in the possibility of providing a lighter construction. In addition, each duct is required to take only half of the total quantity of pumped material which again results in reduced wear. The pumping devices described above are also much more compact due to the use of two or more outlet ducts. This enables the pumping device to be disposed within the hopper if so desired, and in any event offers advantages in space saving and general convenience of storage and operation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A pumping device for pumping a slurry comprising a hopper for containing slurry to be pumped, pump means for pumping slurry to a delivery duct and valve means for controlling the flow of slurry to be pumped from the hopper to the pump means and from the pump means to the delivery duct said valve means comprising at least two valve ports disposed in a wall of the hopper and a valve element disposed within said hopper, said valve ports being connected to pumping means and said valve element comprising at least two arms, each arm defining a duct for pumped slurry and the ducts being arranged to communicate with a common delivery duct, said valve element being arranged to oscillate between a first position in which a first arm duct communicates with a first valve port and a second arm duct is spaced from a second valve port to permit slurry in the hopper to pass therethrough and a second position in which the first arm duct is spaced from the first valve port to allow slurry to pass therethrough from the hopper and the second arm duct communicates with the second valve port.

2. A device according to Claim 1 in which the valve element comprises a generally Y-shaped arrangement defining said two arm ducts and said delivery duct, said valve element being arranged to oscillate about the axis of symmetry of the element.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the pump means comprises two pump chambers each having a respective valve port associated therewith, said pump chambers each having a respective piston and connecting rod, said connecting rods being driven by a common driving means.

4. A device according to Claim 3 in which the driving means comprises a receprocating hydraulic cylinder.

5. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which four outlets are provided and the valve element is arranged to connect two of said valve ports to said delivery duct at the

same time.

6. A device according to Claim 5 in which the four pump pistons each have a respective piston and connecting rod and two driving means are arranged to each drive two connecting rods.

7. A pumping device for pumping slurries substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.