US3834835A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double valve vapor push pump
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-11-29
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1992-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a vapor push pump having a housing adapted to be immersed in a liquid to be pumped. Within the housing a chamber is defined; the chamber communicates with the liquid outside the housing via a port provided in the housing. A heater in the chamber vaporizes some of the liquid admitted to the chamber through said port. Vapor pressure in the chamber forces (pushes) the liquid through a liquid delivery conduit, passing through the housing, to a location outside the housing and above the level of the liquid in which the housing is immersed. A buoyant first valve body moves and closes, or opens, said port, as a function of the head of liquid outside the housing, the weight of the first valve body, the level of liquid in the chamber and the vapor pressure in the chamber and surface tension. Also provided is a vapor vent conduit passing through said housing to vent vapor in the chamber to a location outside the housing and above the external liquid level. A buoyant second valve body within the chamber moves to close or open the vapor vent conduit as a function of the weight of the second valve body, the level of liquid in the chamber and the vapor pressure in the chamber and surface tension. Also, the first valve body is caused to open abruptly when the second valve body operates to vent the vapor pressure from the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 H Jaster
- 👤 P Kosky
- 👤 F Staub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:35
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04F; F04F1/00; F04F1/02; F04F1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
398 words
A vapor push pump comprising: a housing having a top cover, at least a portion of said top cover being adapted to be submerged below the liquid level of an external body of liquid to be pumped, said housing including a chamber therein, said portion of said top cover including a port through which liquid from said external body of liquid can enter said housing and at least partly fill said chamber therein; a first conduit having inlet and outlet openings, said inlet opening of said first conduit being within said chamber at a fixed distance below said port and defining a communicating opening between said chamber and said first conduit for venting vapor from said chamber through said first conduit, said first conduit passing in sealed relationship through said housing, said outlet opening of said first conduit being located above said liquid level of said external body of liquid; a second conduit having inlet and outlet openings, said inlet opening of said second conduit being a fixed distance below said inlet opening of said first conduit and submerged in liquid in said chamber, said outlet opening of said second conduit being located above the liquid level of said external body of liquid, said second conduit passing in sealed relationship through said housing; means for vaporizing at least part of the liquid in said chamber to enable the vapor pressure produced therein to push the liquid in said chamber into said inlet opening of said second conduit and through said second conduit until the liquid therein is discharged at said outlet opening of said second conduit; a buoyant first valve body within said chamber, movable in response to the algebraic sum of the force exerted by the liquid head of said external body of liquid through said port on said first valve body, the weight of said first valve body, the buoyant force exerted by the liquid in the chamber on said first valve body, the force on the first valve body due to vapor pressure of vapor in said chamber and surface tension, for closing or opening said port; and, a buoyant second valve body within said chamber, operable as a function of the weight of said second valve body, the level of liquid in said chamber, the vapor pressure in said chamber and surface tension, for closing or opening said inlet opening of said first conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
398 words
A vapor push pump comprising: a housing having a top cover, at least a portion of said top cover being adapted to be submerged below the liquid level of an external body of liquid to be pumped, said housing including a chamber therein, said portion of said top cover including a port through which liquid from said external body of liquid can enter said housing and at least partly fill said chamber therein; a first conduit having inlet and outlet openings, said inlet opening of said first conduit being within said chamber at a fixed distance below said port and defining a communicating opening between said chamber and said first conduit for venting vapor from said chamber through said first conduit, said first conduit passing in sealed relationship through said housing, said outlet opening of said first conduit being located above said liquid level of said external body of liquid; a second conduit having inlet and outlet openings, said inlet opening of said second conduit being a fixed distance below said inlet opening of said first conduit and submerged in liquid in said chamber, said outlet opening of said second conduit being located above the liquid level of said external body of liquid, said second conduit passing in sealed relationship through said housing; means for vaporizing at least part of the liquid in said chamber to enable the vapor pressure produced therein to push the liquid in said chamber into said inlet opening of said second conduit and through said second conduit until the liquid therein is discharged at said outlet opening of said second conduit; a buoyant first valve body within said chamber, movable in response to the algebraic sum of the force exerted by the liquid head of said external body of liquid through said port on said first valve body, the weight of said first valve body, the buoyant force exerted by the liquid in the chamber on said first valve body, the force on the first valve body due to vapor pressure of vapor in said chamber and surface tension, for closing or opening said port; and, a buoyant second valve body within said chamber, operable as a function of the weight of said second valve body, the level of liquid in said chamber, the vapor pressure in said chamber and surface tension, for closing or opening said inlet opening of said first conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vapor push pump according to claim 1 wherein said means for vaporizing the liquid in said chamber is an electric heater located in said housing but energizable from outside said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The vapor push pump according to claim 2 further comprising a shroud of thermal insulation material located within said housing and encompassing said heater, said shroud including a first aperture for admitting liquid from said chamber into contact with said heater so said heater can vaporize at least part of the admitted liquid, said shroud also including a second aperture located a fixed distance above said first aperture for enabling discharge of the vapor into said chamber at a level between said port and said inlet opening of said first conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vapor push pump according to claim 3 further comprising separator means in combination with said shroud, said separator means separating entrained liquid from the vapor produced by said heater in said shroud.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |