Air-Operated Pump

Abstract

An air-operated pump for pumping material such as oil or grease. The pump is powered by an air motor which operates to reciprocate a piston and plunger to effect a pumping action. The air motor is modular in that the air valve system is contained in a single housing fastened to the pump head. The housing is removable as a unit from the pump head to facilitate servicing of the air valve system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to lubrication equipment, and more particularly to pumps operated by air motors for pumping lubricant such as oil or grease.[0002]FIG. 1 shows a conventional pump 1 operated by an air motor. The pump includes a head 3 comprising a cylinder 5, a piston 7 reciprocal up and down in the cylinder, and a plunger 9 connected at its upper end to the piston and extending down from the piston generally co-axially with respect to the cylinder. A pump tube 11 is connected to the head and surrounds the plunger. An air motor 13 supplies air under pressure to the head for reciprocating the piston in the cylinder to move the pump plunger up and down in the pump tube through pumping strokes, as will be understood by those skilled in this field. In general, the air motor includes an air valve system comprising a pair of air signal valves 15, a relay valve or amplifier 17 and a power valve 21, all of which are enclosed in respective hou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]In one embodiment, this invention is directed to an air-operated pump for pumping material, particularly a lubricant such as oil or grease. The pump comprises a head defining a cylinder, a piston reciprocal up and down in the cylinder, and a pump plunger having an upper end connected to the piston and a lower end. An elongate pump tube is connected to the head and surrounds the plunger. The pump tube extends down below the lower end of the plunger. An air motor module supplies air under pressure to the head for reciprocating the piston in the cylinder to move the pump plunger up and down in the pump tube through pumping strokes. The air motor module comprises a housing at one side of the head and an air valve system in the housing for supplying air under pressure to the head for reciprocating the piston in the cylinder. The air valve system comprises air signal valves, a relay valve and a power valve. A fastening system is provided for securing the housing to the head such that the housing may be removed as a unit from the head (e.g., to facilitate servicing of the air valve system).

Problems solved by technology

Isolation of the problem component may not be possible or practical in the field (i.e., the site where the pump is in operation).

These options are inconvenient.

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