Pneumatic fluid pump with double-rotating vortex cleaning action

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fluid pump having a pump housing and a top cover that can be fixed to the upper end of the pump housing and has an air intake port and a fluid discharge port. A fluid discharge pipe extends near the lower end of the pump housing. A one-way check valve is provided adjacent to the lower end of the pump and forms a one-way path during the filling cycle of the operation of the pump to allow fluid to enter the pump housing. The one-way check valve at the discharge port permits the release of fluid during the discharge cycle. An auger element is provided inside the pump housing for initiating a vortex and a rotating fluid flow during a fluid ejection cycle in response to a jet stream of compressed air released into the pump housing, wherein the fluid that has been collected in the pump housing is forced into the discharge pipe and upward through the discharge pipe by the jet stream of compressed air and discharged from the pump housing.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 900,879, filed on September 16, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 888,730, filed on August 19, 2019. The entire disclosure of each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to pneumatically actuated fluid pumps, and more particularly, to a fluid pump incorporating a vortex - inducing element for introducing counter - rotating vortex action during the fill and discharge cycles of the pump to assist in cleaning the inner surfaces and internal components of the pump. Background Art

[0004] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

[0005] Pneumatic fluid pumps are used in a wide variety of applications. One particularly important application is pumping water and water mixed with leachate from landfill wells at landfills. This application presents particularly challenging problems in keeping the internal components of the pump clean. The contaminated fluid to be pumped can quickly cause fouling of the pump, and especially fouling of the pump's movable internal components such as internal floats, movable link elements, and other components. Cleaning such pneumatically operated pumps can be both time - consuming and costly.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a strong interest in any improvements and features that help extend the intervals between cleanings of pneumatically driven pumps and contribute to more reliable pump operation. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This section provides a general overview of the present disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0008] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fluid pump. The fluid pump may include a pump housing, a top cover, and a fluid discharge pipe. The top cover may be capable of being fixed to the upper end of the pump housing and may have an air intake port and a fluid discharge port. The fluid discharge pipe extends near the lower end of the pump housing. A one-way check valve may be included, which is adjacent to the lower end of the pump and forms a one-way path during the filling cycle of the pump operation to allow fluid to enter the pump housing. A auger element may be included that is disposed inside the pump housing. The auger element induces a vortex, a rotating fluid flow during the fluid filling or ejection cycle in response to a jet stream of compressed air released into the pump housing. The fluid collected in the pump housing is forced into the discharge pipe by the jet stream of compressed air and passes upward through the discharge pipe and is discharged from the pump housing.

[0009] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fluid pump. The fluid pump may include a pump outer housing and a top cover that can be fixed to the upper end of the pump outer housing and has an air intake port and a fluid discharge port. A fluid discharge pipe may be included that extends to a point adjacent to the lower end of the pump outer housing. A one-way check valve is disposed in the pump outer housing adjacent to the lower end of the pump and forms a one-way path during the filling cycle of the pump operation to allow fluid to enter the pump outer housing. An auger subassembly is included that is disposed inside the pump outer housing. During the fluid filling cycle of the pump operation, the auger subassembly induces a first vortex, a rotating fluid flow, wherein fluid is allowed to enter the pump outer housing through the one-way check valve. During the fluid ejection cycle of the pump operation, the auger subassembly also induces a second vortex, a rotating fluid flow in response to a jet stream of pressurized air released into the pump outer housing. This causes the fluid that has been collected in the pump outer housing to be forced into the discharge pipe by the jet stream of pressurized air and pass upward through the discharge pipe and be discharged from the pump outer housing. The auger subassembly forms an integral subassembly that may slide on the fluid discharge pipe or be integral with the pump housing and be fixed to the pump housing during the assembly of the pump.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for pumping fluid using a pneumatically operated fluid pump. The method may include introducing fluid into the pump outer housing through a one-way check valve located at the lower end of the pump housing. During the introduction of the fluid into the pump outer housing, the method involves applying a vortex, a rotating flow to the fluid in a first rotational direction. When the pump outer housing is filled with fluid, the method involves introducing a jet stream of pressurized air into the pump outer housing and using the jet stream of pressurized air to close the lower end of the pump with the one-way check valve. The method further includes using the jet stream of pressurized air in combination with the auger element to also induce a vortex, a rotating fluid flow in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction when the fluid in the pump outer housing is forced into the fluid discharge pipe and passes upward through the fluid discharge pipe.

[0011] From the description provided herein, other areas of applicability will become apparent. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0013] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0014] Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a pneumatic pump in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 2 is taken from Figure 1 the circled area 2 in Figure 1 and is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the pump of

[0016] Figure 3 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the various components of the pump of

[0017] Figure 3 a shows another embodiment of the auger element, which illustrates a structure using a spiral connector and an attached planar portion;

[0018] Figure 4 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the main components of the pump of

[0019] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a side partial cross-sectional view of the pump of during a filling cycle, where fluid flows into the pump housing at the lower inlet and the auger element induces a swirling flow of the fluid in a first rotational direction;

[0020] Figure 6 is Figure 4 a side partial cross-sectional view of the pump of during an additional fluid ejection cycle, where the auger element creates a strong swirling motion of the fluid as the fluid is forced into the lower end of the discharge pipe;

[0021] Figure 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the auger element in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 8 is Figure 7 a perspective view of the auger element of

[0023] Figure 9 is a simplified side perspective view of the auger element of installed in the pump housing Figure 7 of

[0024] Figure 10 is Figure 8 a side view of an auger element, but the auger element incorporates a spacer element for setting the offset distance of the auger element during installation of the auger element;

[0025] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an auger subassembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 12 is Figure 11 an exploded perspective view of the auger subassembly;

[0027] Figure 13 is a perspective view of only the barrel portion of the auger subassembly;

[0028] Figure 14 is a plan view of one of the auger portions after the auger portion has been formed;

[0029] Figure 15 shows Figure 14 the auger portion after having been cut from a metal sheet;

[0030] Figure 16 is according to Figure 15 a side view along section line 16-16 in , which shows a side view of the auger portion after it has been formed into its final shape;

[0031] Figure 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the auger element is aligned on the discharge pipe using permanently installed locating tabs so as to thereby ensure alignment of the lower inverted U-shaped notch in the auger element body portion with the fluid inlet in the lower end of the fluid discharge pipe;

[0032] Figure 18 is a simplified side cross-sectional view of an auger subsystem that is secured to the fluid discharge pipe using through bolts and nuts (or through pins) that fully extend across the cross-sectional width of the barrel portion;

[0033] Figure 19 shows another method of attaching the auger subassembly to the fluid discharge pipe using one or more rivets; and

[0034] Figure 20 shows yet another method of attaching the auger subassembly to the fluid discharge pipe using threaded bolts that are arranged parallel to the fluid discharge pipe and engage laterally extending flanges of the barrel portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 4 show a pneumatic pump 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "the pump" 10) in accordance with the present disclosure. The pump 10 is particularly suitable for pumping contaminated liquids that may cause the accumulation of contaminants and sludge in the pump, such as in applications in landfill wells, although it should be understood that the pump 10 can be used in any application where "it is important to keep the internal working parts of the pump clean and free of contaminant accumulation."

[0037] As Figure 1 and Figure 4 shown, the pump 10 includes a pump housing 12, a pump cover 14 having an air inlet 16 for receiving compressed air from a compressed air source, and a coupler 18 that forms a one-way check valve for connection to a fluid delivery discharge pipe 20. The lower end of the pump housing 12 includes a one-way check valve assembly 25 and a filter screen 22 fixed to the pump housing 12. The one-way check valve assembly 25 consists of a three-legged tripod assembly 24 having an upper wall portion 24a and a sleeve 24b, a lift valve element 26 captured within the three-legged tripod assembly, a valve seat member 25a' having a valve seat 25a, an O-ring 25b fitted in a circumferential groove 25c on the outer edge of the valve seat, and a three-legged frame 25d with a screen 22 fitted above it. A plurality of threaded fasteners 25e can be used to fix the legs of the three-legged tripod assembly 24 to the valve seat member 25a' via holes 25a1 in the valve seat member 25a'. The one-way check valve assembly 25 allows fluid to flow in only one direction (i.e., from outside the pump 10 into the pump housing 12).

[0038] Further reference Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 4 shows that a discharge pipe 28 is in fluid communication with the coupler 18 to allow the ejection of fluid upward through two oppositely arranged openings 28b (only one visible in the figure) in the discharge pipe 28 and into the fluid delivery discharge pipe 20. A float 30 is provided around the discharge pipe 28. A spring cover 32 is fixed at the end of a control rod 31 by a pin 32a that extends through an opening 32b and enables a spring 31a to be held onto the end of the control rod 31. The control rod 31 is associated with a valve (not shown) that helps control the entry of air into the pump housing 12 through the air inlet 16.

[0039] The float moves up and down along the outer surface of the discharge pipe in response to changes in the fluid level in the pump housing 12. The float 30 actuates a conventional air inlet control valve assembly (not visible in the figure) located near the upper end of the pump housing 12. When the float reaches a predetermined upper limit of travel, the upper end of the pump housing 12 opens the air inlet control valve, indicating that the pump is full of liquid and needs to start the injection cycle. Compressed air as the injection stream is directed towards the lower end of the pump housing 12 through the air inlet 16. The air forces the liquid that has been collected in the pump housing 12 through the port 28a into the discharge pipe 28. As the fluid is pumped upward through the discharge pipe 28, as the float 30 descends to a predetermined lower limit, the air inlet valve closes, an exhaust valve (not shown) opens to exhaust the pump housing 12, and the filling cycle repeats itself. The components 12 - 32 are well-known components commonly used with pneumatic automatic cycle pumps and will not be described further.

[0040] As Figures 2 - 4 Best shown, the pump 10 of the present disclosure is distinguished from conventional pneumatic automatic cycle pumps by incorporating a vortex flow inducing auger element 36. The auger element 36 forms a helical member having an outer diameter only slightly less than the inner diameter of the pump housing 12 so that the helical member can be easily slid into the pump housing during the initial assembly of the pump 10. The auger element 36 can be made of any suitable material, for example, a high-strength plastic (such as PPS), or a metallic material (such as 316 stainless steel or aluminum). The auger geometry can also be integral with the pump housing 12.

[0041] Specific reference Figure 2 and Figure 3, the auger element 36 includes an upper end 38, an intermediate portion 40, and a lower end 42. At the upper end 38, the auger element 36 forms a central opening 44 having a diameter only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 28 such that the discharge pipe can extend at least partially through the auger element. The upper end 38 has an upper radial wall portion 38a having a radial length that generally extends to fill the space between the outer surface 28a of the discharge pipe 28 and the inner surface 12a of the pump housing 12. The intermediate radial wall portion 40a of the intermediate portion 40 is substantially similar or identical to the upper radial wall portion 38a, but the intermediate radial wall portion 40a includes an angled edge 40b. The angled edge 40b provides clearance for the auger element 36 to extend around the tripod assembly 24 when assembled into the pump housing 12. The intermediate radial wall portion 40a narrows significantly downward to a lower radial wall portion 46 that extends in a helical path to the distal end 48 of the auger element 36. In this example, the distal end 48 includes a hole 50 that allows one of the legs of the tripod assembly 24 to pass through when the auger element 36 is installed in the pump housing 12. The upper radial wall portion 38a, the intermediate radial wall portion 40a, and the lower radial wall portion 46 form a continuous radial helical wall portion. The wall portions 38a, 40a, and 46 cooperate from an opening at the radial center of the auger element 36 such that the discharge pipe 28 is centered within the auger element.

[0042] The total length of the auger element 36 can vary to meet the needs of a particular pump application. However, it is contemplated that in most embodiments, the auger element 36 will have a length sufficient to extend upward from the upper wall portion 24a of the tripod assembly 24 and over at least a portion of the discharge pipe 28. The travel amount of the float 30 has a significant impact on the allowable total length of the auger element 36 because the auger element should not interfere with the downward height movement of the float.

[0043] It should be understood that in some applications, it may be desirable to form the auger element 36 as two or more distinct parts to be assembled adjacent to each other, and in some cases, this can even further simplify the assembly of the auger element 36 into the pump housing 12. This is especially true if the auger element 36 is retrofitted into an existing pump. The present disclosure contemplates single-component and multi-component embodiments of the auger element 36. Additionally, the auger element 36 can be formed from one, two, or more helical lines 36a' having attached planar portions 36b', such as in Figure 3as shown by the auger element 36' in a. In this example, the auger element 36a' may further include a plate-like element 36c' separately formed at the lower end, and the plate-like element 36c' has holes 36d of appropriate size so as to be easily attached to one of the three legs of the three-legged tripod assembly 24. Further, the holes 36d may alternatively be formed like clips so that it can slide on one of the three legs of the three-legged tripod assembly 24. Further, the auger element 36 may be formed (e.g., molded) from a suitable strong plastic as a single-piece component, or formed from metal (e.g., stainless steel) as a single-piece component. Therefore, the auger element 36 or 36' is not limited to any specific construction form or any single material.

[0044] Once installed in the pump housing 12, the distal end 48 of the auger element 36 can rest on or be fixed to the flat upper wall portion 24a of the tripod assembly 24 in any suitable manner, while the upper end of the auger element 36 freely rests on the upper wall portion 24a of the three-legged tripod assembly 24 or alternatively engages with threaded features on the upper wall portion 24a of the three-legged tripod assembly 24, or features molded on the outer surface 28a of the discharge pipe 28 or otherwise fixed to the outer surface 28a of the discharge pipe 28. Such features capable of being attached to the upper wall portion 24a can be formed on the upper wall portion 24a itself, or the attachment features can be formed on the upper radial wall portion 38a near the upper end of the auger element 36. Further, the upper radial wall portion 38a can be threaded so that it can be fixed to the upper wall portion 24a using a separate fastener or possibly fixed to the midpoint of the discharge pipe 28. In all of the above configurations, the upper end of the auger element 36 will be captured within the pump housing 12 and remain stationary within the pump housing 12. Therefore, the auger element 36 can be assembled into and disassembled from the pump 10 without any major re-design of the main pump components (e.g., the float 30, the tripod assembly 24, the discharge pipe 28, etc.).

[0045] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 will describe the operation of the pump 10, particularly the operation of the auger element 36. The auger element 36 provides a dual-rotation fluid flow characteristic, where when the liquid fills the lower end of the pump housing 12, the fluid flowing through the lift valve element 26 and into the pump housing 12 flows along a first swirling, rotational direction indicated by the arrow 54. This helps to clean the lift valve element 26, the valve seat 25a, the structure of the tripod assembly 24, and the inner wall 12a of the pump housing 12 to the highest point that the fluid (e.g., water) reaches inside the pump housing 12a. Then the float 30 is cleaned all the way to the top of the buoyancy water line on the float.

[0046] When the liquid entering the pump housing 12 fills to a predetermined upper limit, an air control valve (not shown) allows pressurized air to enter the pump housing 12 through the air inlet 16 to start the fluid injection cycle. This causes a strong swirling fluid flow in the pump housing 12 in the second rotational direction, as indicated by the arrow 56 in Figure 6 . The helical swirling flow 56 rotates in the opposite rotational direction to the swirling flow 54 during the filling cycle. The swirling flow 56 is forced into the opposite discharge port 28a at the lower end of the discharge pipe 28 (only one is visible in Figure 5 and 6 ), and then passes upward through the discharge pipe 28 into the fluid discharge conduit 20. The strong swirling flow 56 provides a significant cleaning effect to help break up loose contaminant particles that may adhere to the outer surface of the float 30, the outer surface 28a of the discharge pipe 28, and on the inner surface 12a of the pump housing 12, on parts of the tripod assembly 24 and the lift valve element 26, and even on the auger element 36 itself during the fluid injection cycle.

[0047] A particular advantage provided by the auger element 36 is that when switching from the fluid filling cycle to the fluid injection cycle, a sudden change in the flow direction occurs within the pump housing 12. This sudden change in flow creates a strong turbulent effect inside the pump 12. As the fluid flow suddenly changes direction by 180 degrees, the flow direction changes from the swirling flow 54 to the swirling flow 56 within a few milliseconds, which produces a particularly strong, instantaneous, turbulent "burst" of the fluid. This sudden "burst" of the turbulent fluid provides a particularly strong cleaning action on the outer surface of the float 30, on the inner wall 12a of the pump housing 12, on the auger element 36 itself, and even on at least a portion of the float 30, without in any way interfering with the implementation of the fluid injection cycle of the operation of the pump 10 and the discharge pipe 28.

[0048] Referring to Figures 7 - 9 , an auger element 36'' according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is presented. The auger element 36'' in this example includes offset step or ramp portions 36a'', which are interconnected by a generally flat portion 36b'' to form a continuous, circumferential, helical, fluid swirling inducing element. One of the ramp portions 36b'' may include a hole 36c'' to enable the use of a threaded bolt to securely fix one end of the auger element 36'' within the pump housing 12.

[0049] The significant advantage provided by the auger element 36’’ is that, due to the relative arrangement of the offset flat portion 36a’’, the auger element 36’’ can be injection molded using a conventional two-part injection molding tool. Another advantage of the auger element 36’’ is that the angle of the ramp portion 36a’’ is substantially smaller than that of the auger element 36 or the auger element 36’. This allows a large number of turns to be achieved with the auger element 36’’ in any given longitudinal space. For the auger element 36’’, as Figure 7 shown, the angle of each ramp portion 36a’’ with respect to the horizontal line A is from approximately 3 degrees to 45 degrees, more preferably from approximately 9 degrees to 15 degrees. Thus, even in pump applications where the auger element 36’’ has limited longitudinal space to generate a strong swirling motion, the additional turns and reduced spacing between the ramp portions 36a’’ significantly contribute to applying a strong swirling motion to the fluid during the exhaust cycle and the intake cycle.

[0050] Figure 8 The auger element 36’’ is shown, but its upper end is truncated to remove the uppermost flat portion 36b. Figure 7 It is also shown that when the three-legged tripod assembly is fully assembled to the valve seat member 25a’ of the one-way valve assembly 25, the threaded fastener 36d’’ can be used to fix the auger element 36’’ to the upper surface 24a of the three-legged tripod assembly 24. Figure 9 The auger element 36’’ is shown fully assembled into the pump 10 by being attached to the upper wall portion 24a of the three-legged tripod assembly 24. Alternatively, the auger element 36’’ can be equally easily attached to the valve seat member 25a’, provided there is sufficient clearance between the sleeve 24b of the three-legged tripod assembly 24 and the inner wall of the pump housing 12. Attaching to the valve seat member 25a’ enables an overall longer length of the auger element 36’’, which can even further enhance the intensity of the swirling flow induced by the auger element during one or both of the fluid suction and fluid ejection cycles.

[0051] The auger element 36’’ can be made of a suitable high-strength plastic. Alternatively, the auger element 36’’ can be made of stainless steel or any other suitable durable material. The auger element 36’’ can be configured to fit multiple components that are positioned adjacent to each other in an interlocking manner, or it can be manufactured as a single-piece component as Figures 7 - 9 shown. This disclosure contemplates both configurations.

[0052] Figure 10Shows a auger element 36'' in another embodiment that includes a spacer element 36e''. The spacer element 36e'' sets an offset distance from the surface (upper surface 34a or valve seat member 25a) to which the auger element 36'' is attached and can further help prevent breakage of the auger element during installation.

[0053] Reference Figure 11 and 12 , shows another embodiment of an auger element that forms a complete auger subassembly 100 for use with a Figure 1 pump 10. The auger subassembly 100 can be concentrically mounted on an existing fluid discharge pipe, as Figure 11 shown in 28, which will be explained in more detail in the following paragraphs. Figure 12 Shows the main components of the auger subassembly 100 separated from each other. The auger subassembly 100 can be constructed as a permanently attached part of the discharge pipe 28. Alternatively, as Figure 11 and Figure 12 shown, the auger subassembly 100 can be formed as a completely separate subassembly and fixed with suitable threaded fasteners, as will be explained in more detail in the following paragraphs. The auger can also be integrated into the pump housing 12.

[0054] The auger subassembly 100 in this embodiment includes a barrel portion 102, and a pair of auger portions 104a and 104b are fixed around the barrel portion. The auger portions 104a and 104b, commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as "flights", form spiral elements that can be permanently fixed to the outer surface 102a of the barrel portion 102. In one embodiment, the auger portions 104a and 104b can be fixed by spot welding 106 such that in this embodiment, the entire auger subassembly 100 forms a single-piece subassembly once fully constructed. Optionally, the auger portions 104a and 104b can be press-fitted onto the barrel portion 102. Other attachment embodiments can also be used, as will be explained in the following paragraphs. Further, although two auger portions 104a and 104b are shown, it should be understood that the present disclosure can use one, three, or more auger portions. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to use with any particular number of auger portions.

[0055] In fact, once the two auger sections 104a and 104b are fixed to the barrel section 102, they form a continuous helical auger element. And while spot welding is a suitable method for attaching the auger sections 104a and 104b to the barrel section 102, a suitable adhesive may also be used to permanently fix the auger sections 104a and 104b. Further, press pins, interference fit geometries, or even possibly rivets may be used to fix the auger sections 104a and 104b to the barrel section 102. If welding is used, V-grooves or butt welds may be required to fix the adjacent ends of the auger sections 104a and 104b, possibly along with a minor degree of surface grinding to leave a smooth continuous transition between the two auger sections. After welding has been performed, honing the interior of the barrel section 102 may also help ensure diameter / cylindricity tolerances.

[0056] The inner diameter of the barrel section 102 is selected to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 28 such that the barrel section can slide over the discharge pipe during the assembly of the pump 10 and further such that once the barrel section is positioned on a portion of the discharge pipe 28, the barrel section has a minimum of play. The barrel section 102 is preferably made of stainless steel or other suitable corrosion-resistant material, or even possibly a high-strength plastic. Given the harsh environment in which the pump 10 is expected to operate, stainless steel is expected to be a particularly preferred material.

[0057] Further reference Figure 12 and Figure 13 Figure, the barrel section 102 can be seen separately. The barrel section 102 includes a pair of generally U-shaped notch portions 108 arranged 180 degrees from each other, the notch portions 108 keeping the openings 28b in the discharge pipe 28 unobstructed to allow fluid to enter the discharge pipe 28 during the fluid injection cycle. Notches 110 and 112 located at the upper and lower ends of the barrel section 102 respectively help facilitate the alignment and attachment of the auger sections 104a and 104b. Threaded openings 114 and 116 can be used to receive threaded alignment screws (not shown), which enable the barrel section 102 to be removably attached to the discharge pipe 28 to allow for easy removal for cleaning purposes. The elongated slots 118 help secure the lower end of the upper auger section 104a and the upper end of the lower auger section 104b, as will be discussed immediately.

[0058] Further referring Figure 12, each of the auger sections 104a and 104b includes a first protruding tab 120 at a first inner edge at its upper end, and a second protruding tab 122 at a second inner edge at its lower end. The auger sections 104a and 104b can be made of stainless steel, high-strength plastic, or any other suitable strong material that is preferably highly resistant to corrosive fluids and sludge. The metal sheet auger sections 104a and 104b allow a small degree of bending of the auger sections 104a and 104b during their assembly onto the barrel section 102. The inner edge 124 of each of the auger sections 104a and 104b forms an opening with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the barrel section 102. In this example, the auger sections 104a and 104b are identical in structure (i.e., the same in size, thickness, shape, and material), although they do not have to be identical in structure.

[0059] As Figure 14 best shown in, each of the auger sections 104a and 104b has a length portion 126 that is selected such that once the auger assembly 100 is fully assembled and installed in the pump, the auger elements 104a and 104b will substantially fill the space between the outermost edges of the auger section 104 inside the housing 12 of the pump 10 (i.e., leaving a minimum clearance of approximately a few thousandths of an inch). In other words, the outer diameter of each of the auger sections 104a and 104b is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the housing 12, which allows the auger sections 104a and 104b to be installed.

[0060] The auger section 104a after being cut at line 128 is shown in Figure 14 . The cut at line 128 helps to create the protruding tabs 120 and 122. Figure 15 A plan view of the auger section 104a after additional material removal at the cut line is shown. The auger section 104a after being bent into its finished shape is shown in Figure 16 .

[0061] For further brief reference Figure 12 , for assembling the auger subassembly 100, the upper auger section 104a can first be assembled onto the barrel section 102. This involves bending the auger section 104a to fit it onto the upper end of the barrel section 102 such that the protruding tabs 120 and 122 engage within the notches 110 and the slots 118, respectively. Then, the lower auger section 104b can be slid onto the lower end of the barrel section 102 such that its first protruding tab 120 also fits into the slot 118, and the second protruding tab 122 fits into the notch 112. At this point, a plurality of spot welds 106 ( Figure 11As shown) can be applied to permanently fix the auger sections 104a and 104b to the barrel section 102. Then, in this embodiment, the entire auger subassembly 100 can subsequently slide over the discharge pipe 28 and threaded set screws (not shown) are used to fix the auger assembly at the desired axial position on the discharge pipe, which keeps the opening 28b unobstructed to allow fluid to flow into the discharge pipe. As mentioned above, other attachment means such as press-fit pins, rivets, or mating geometries can be used to form this attachment. The auger subassembly 100 operates in the same manner as the auger element 36 described above.

[0062] Reference Figure 17 , another embodiment for fixing the auger subassembly 100' to the fluid discharge pipe is shown. This embodiment provides the important advantage of quickly assisting in angularly aligning the barrel section 102 with the opening 28b on the fluid discharge pipe 28. To achieve this, an upper U-shaped notch 108a can be formed in the barrel section 102. A locating tab 150 having a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the upper U-shaped notch 108a can be firmly fixed to the fluid discharge pipe 28 by means such as welding, adhesives, threaded screws, etc. The locating tab can be made of plastic, metal, or any other suitable material, and preferably has a small arcuate portion, the radius of curvature of which generally coincides with the outer diameter of the barrel section 102. In this way, once attached to the fluid discharge pipe 28, the locating tab 150 will be flush with the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe over its entire inner surface. The locating tab 150 is circumferentially positioned such that when the barrel section 102 slides onto the distal end of the discharge pipe 28, the upper U-shaped notch 108a will engage the locating tab 150 and align the lower notch 108 with the opening 28. To hold the auger subassembly 100' on the discharge pipe, a snap ring 152 can be used, which engages a channel (not visible) at the distal end of the discharge pipe 28 in the figure. However, any other suitable attachment method can be provided, such as set screws, or press-fit pins or other types of interference geometric couplings. Preferably, the attachment method used will allow for quick and easy removal of the auger subassembly 100' for cleaning or maintenance purposes. The use of the locating tab 150 connected to the upper U-shaped notch 108a significantly improves the speed and accuracy of the assembly of the auger subassembly 100' and substantially ensures that the auger subassembly is not installed in a manner that would block the opening 28b in the fluid discharge pipe 28.

[0063] Reference Figures 18 - 20 , various additional attachment methods for fixing the auger assembly 100 or 100' to the fluid discharge pipe 28 are disclosed. For convenience only, the auger assembly 100 will be referred to in the following discussion in Figures 18 - 20 .

[0064] Figure 18 Shown is a threaded bolt 160 that can be inserted through aligned, opposing holes 162 in the barrel portion 102 and also through holes 166 aligned in the barrel portion 102 and secured using a threaded nut 164. Optionally, an elongated press-fit pin can be used. The holes 162 and 164 are preferably arranged such that once the threaded bolt (or elongated pin) is inserted, the barrel portion 102 will be correctly positioned on the discharge pipe while the hole 28b is unobstructed.

[0065] Figure 19 Shown is another attachment method that uses at least one rivet or a threaded short bolt 170 extending through the openings 162 and 166.

[0066] Figure 20 Shown is yet another attachment method where a threaded bolt 180 is positioned to extend through an opening in a flange 182, where the flange 182 is rigidly attached to the barrel portion 102 and extends laterally therefrom. In this example, the threaded bolt 180 extends through a hole in the tripod 24, through a tubular spacer 186, and into a threaded hole 184 in a frame member 25 associated with the tripod. The tubular spacer 186 has a selected length so as to properly set the axial position of the auger subassembly 100 on the discharge pipe 28. In this example, the flange 182 is located on the barrel portion 102 such that the barrel portion will be properly circumferentially aligned with the hole 28b in the fluid discharge pipe 28 once attached to the tripod 24. Thus, the auger subassembly 100 is axially and circumferentially aligned on the fluid discharge pipe 28 using the flange 182 and the threaded bolt 180.

[0067] It should be understood that for Figures 18 - 20 the attachment embodiments shown, although shown in the figures, it may not be necessary to use a snap ring 152 to secure the auger subassembly 100 to the fluid discharge pipe 28.

[0068] The auger subassembly 100 provides several important advantages. One advantage is that the auger subassembly 100 can be quickly and easily removed from the discharge pipe 28 for cleaning. This task may not require special tools other than a screwdriver. If a part of the auger subassembly 100 is found to be damaged (i.e., bent), the entire auger assembly 100 can be easily replaced without any modification to the discharge pipe 28 or any other part of the pump 10. The construction of the auger subassembly 100 as a complete subassembly may also enable it to be retrofitted into an existing pump structure with little or no modification to the pump structure.

[0069] The use of two separate auger sections 104a and 104b further significantly facilitates the manufacture of the auger sections from separate metal parts and the assembly of the auger sections onto the barrel section 102. The auger subassembly 100 also forms a relatively inexpensive part of the overall pump 10 and thus helps to maintain a highly economical pump structure while still providing the benefit of generating a strong swirling fluid flow during each pump cycle of the pump, which helps to significantly keep the interior of the pump clean and free of sludge and debris buildup.

[0070] The self-cleaning operation provided by the auger element 36 and the auger subassembly 100 does not significantly increase the complexity, cost, or weight of the pump 10, nor does it significantly complicate the assembly or disassembly of the pump 10. The auger element 36 or the auger subassembly 100 can also be retrofitted into an existing pump, and the only modification that may be required may be to add structure at the tripod assembly 24 or along the discharge pipe 28 to hold the auger element or the auger subassembly in place once assembled. In the event of a breakage of the auger element 36 or the auger subassembly 100, disassembly and replacement can be easily accomplished once the discharge pipe 28 is removed from the pump housing 12.

[0071] For purposes of illustration and description, the foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment and, even if not specifically shown or described, are interchangeable where applicable and can be used in selected embodiments. The same can also vary in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0072] Providing example embodiments enables the disclosure to be detailed and to fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Many specific details (such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods) are set forth to provide a detailed understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, and that the example embodiments can be embodied in many different forms and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies have not been described in detail.

[0073] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may also be intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises", "comprising", "has" and "having" are inclusive and thus specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. Method steps, processes and operations described herein should not be construed as necessarily requiring them to be performed in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0074] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on", "engaged to", "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on", "directly engaged to", "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, intervening elements or layers may not be present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like manner (e.g., "between" versus "directly between", "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent", etc.). As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0075] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or part from another region, layer or part. Terms such as "first", "second" and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply an order or sequence, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or part discussed below may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer or part without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0076] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "inner", "outer", "beneath", "below", "under", "above", "over", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature shown in the figures to other element(s) or feature(s). In addition to the orientation depicted in the figures, the spatial relative terms may be intended to cover different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped over, an element described as "beneath" or "below" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can include both an orientation above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions) and the spatial relative descriptors used herein are to be interpreted accordingly.

Claims

1. A fluid pump, comprising: A pump housing; A top cover that can be fixed to the upper end of the pump housing and has an air intake port and a fluid discharge port; A fluid discharge pipe that extends near the lower end of the pump housing, and the fluid discharge pipe is configured to receive fluid from inside the pump housing through at least one opening adjacent to the lower end of the pump housing; A first one-way check valve adjacent to the lower end of the pump, forming a one-way path during the filling cycle of the pump operation to allow fluid to enter the pump housing, and a second one-way check valve at the discharge port of the pump releases fluid during the discharge cycle; And An auger element disposed inside the pump housing for initiating a vortex and a rotating fluid flow during fluid filling and fluid ejection cycles in response to a jet of compressed air released into the pump housing, wherein the fluid collected in the pump housing is forced into the discharge pipe and upward through the discharge pipe by the jet of compressed air and discharged from the pump housing, wherein a part of the auger element is disposed between the at least one opening and the first one-way check valve, and another part of the auger element is disposed between the at least one opening and the second one-way check valve; Wherein the vortex and the rotating fluid flow during the fluid ejection cycle help clean the inner surface of the pump housing and the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe.

2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein, The auger element includes a helical element having a continuous radially helical wall portion.

3. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein, The auger element includes an auger subassembly configured to slide on the fluid discharge pipe and be fixed to the fluid discharge pipe or be integral with the pump housing itself.

4. The fluid pump according to claim 3, wherein, The auger subassembly includes: A cylinder portion configured to slide on the fluid discharge pipe; and At least one helical auger portion fixed to the cylinder portion.

5. The fluid pump according to claim 4, wherein The auger subassembly includes a pair of auger portions fixed to the cylinder portion to form a single, continuous, helical auger portion.

6. The fluid pump according to claim 5, wherein, The auger portion is spot-welded to the cylinder portion.

7. The fluid pump according to claim 6, wherein: The cylinder portion includes a first notch and a second notch at opposite ends, and a groove at a midpoint along its length; and Each of the auger portions includes a pair of protruding tabs at opposite ends, and a selected one of the protruding tabs is fixed to a selected one of the first notch and the second notch and fixed to the groove to enable the auger portion to be assembled to the cylinder portion.

8. The fluid pump according to claim 7, wherein, The cylinder portion includes at least one U-shaped notch, and wherein the fluid discharge pipe includes at least one fluid inlet, and the U-shaped notch is shaped to prevent covering the fluid inlet on the fluid discharge pipe.

9. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein, The auger element includes a notch at one end; and Wherein, the fluid discharge pipe includes a positioning member fixedly provided on its outer surface for engaging with the notch when the auger element is positioned on the fluid discharge pipe to circumferentially align the auger element at a predetermined angular position on the discharge pipe.

10. The fluid pump according to claim 9, wherein, The positioning member is also used to position the auger element at a predetermined position along the axial length of the fluid discharge pipe.

11. The fluid pump according to claim 9, further comprising a detachable retaining member for detachably fixing the auger element to the fluid discharge pipe.

12. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein, The auger element includes a plurality of relatively sloped portions connected by relatively flat portions.

13. The fluid pump according to claim 12, wherein, The auger element includes an opening formed in one of the relatively flat portions for being attached to an internal portion of the fluid pump via a fastening element.

14. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein, The auger element is positioned against the wall structure of the one-way check valve and induces a rotational swirling flow opposite to the swirling rotational flow induced during the fluid ejection cycle during the fluid filling cycle of the pump; And wherein the auger element forms a one-piece component having an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion.

15. The fluid pump according to claim 14, wherein: The upper portion includes an upper radial wall portion; The middle portion includes a middle radial wall portion; The lower portion includes a lower radial wall portion; and The upper radial wall portion has a wider width than the lower radial wall portion.

16. A fluid pump, comprising: A pump housing; A top cover that can be fixed to the upper end of the pump housing and has an air intake port and a fluid discharge port; A fluid discharge pipe extending to a point adjacent to the lower end of the pump housing; The air intake port is configured to allow a jet stream of pressurized air to enter the pump housing to initiate a fluid discharge cycle of the operation of the pump; A one-way check valve disposed in the pump housing adjacent to the lower end of the pump, forming a one-way path during the filling cycle of the operation of the pump to allow fluid to enter the pump housing; And An auger subassembly disposed inside the pump housing for causing: A first swirling, rotational fluid flow in a first rotational direction during the fluid filling cycle of the operation of the pump, wherein fluid is allowed to enter the pump housing through the one-way check valve; And A second swirling, rotational fluid flow in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction during the fluid ejection cycle of the operation of the pump in response to the jet stream of pressurized air released into the pump housing, wherein the fluid collected in the pump housing is forced into the discharge pipe and upward through the discharge pipe by the jet stream of pressurized air and discharged from the pump housing, and wherein the second swirling, rotational fluid flow in the second rotational direction helps clean the inner surface of the pump housing and the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe by preventing debris from accumulating on the inner surface of the pump housing and the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe; The auger subassembly forms an integral subassembly positioned on the fluid discharge pipe and fixed to the fluid discharge pipe or integral with the pump housing itself during assembly of the pump.

17. The fluid pump according to claim 16, wherein, The auger subassembly includes: a barrel portion configured to slide on the fluid discharge pipe; and at least one auger portion fixed to the barrel portion.

18. The fluid pump according to claim 17, wherein, The auger subassembly includes a pair of auger portions fixed to the barrel portion to form a single helical auger element.

19. The fluid pump according to claim 16, wherein, The one-way check valve includes a tripod assembly and a lift valve element captured within the tripod assembly.

20. The fluid pump according to claim 16, wherein, The outer diameter of the auger subassembly is such that it substantially reaches the inner wall surface of the pump housing.

21. A method for pumping fluid using a pneumatically operated fluid pump, the method comprising: introducing fluid into the pump housing with the check valve at the discharge port of the fluid pump closed through an open one-way check valve located at the lower end of the pump housing, the fluid pump having a top cover that can be fixed to the upper end of the pump housing, the top cover having an air intake port and a fluid discharge port; and the pump having a fluid discharge pipe extending near the lower end of the pump housing, the fluid discharge pipe receiving fluid from within the pump housing at the lower end of the fluid discharge pipe, and an auger element at least partially wrapping around the lower end of the fluid discharge pipe such that the fluid discharge pipe at least partially extends through the auger element and such that the inlet port through which the fluid discharge pipe receives fluid from within the pump housing is provided at a position between the upper end and the lower end of the auger element; during introducing the fluid into the pump housing, applying a swirling, rotational flow of the fluid in a first rotational direction; when the pump housing is filled with fluid, introducing a jet stream of pressurized air into the pump housing; using the jet stream of pressurized air to cause the one-way check valve to close the lower end of the pump and to cause the check valve at the discharge port to open; and when the fluid within the pump housing is forced downward through the auger element and then into the fluid discharge pipe and then upward through the fluid discharge pipe, using the jet stream of pressurized air in combination with the auger element to also induce a swirling, rotational fluid flow in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction between the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe and the inner surface of the pump housing, wherein the swirling, rotational fluid flow in the second rotational direction helps to clean the inner surface of the pump housing and the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe by preventing debris from accumulating on the inner surface of the pump housing and the outer surface of the fluid discharge pipe.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein Applying the swirling, rotational fluid flow in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction includes using an auger element having a helical shape placed within the pump housing.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein, Applying the swirling, rotational fluid flow in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction includes using an auger subassembly disposed on the discharge pipe or integral with the pump housing itself.

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