Hydraulic pump comprising a pumping mechanism for pumping a second fluid toward the distal end of a suction line

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydraulic pump (10) for mixing a flow of water and a second fluid (41), the hydraulic pump (10) being provided with a water inlet (14), a mixing chamber (16) and a water outlet (15), and comprising a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using the flow of water through the hydraulic pump (10), said mechanism comprising a suction member (17) for drawing the second fluid (41) into the mixing chamber (16) through a suction line (21).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: HYDRAULIC PUMP INCLUDING A PUMPING MECHANISM FOR PUMPING A SECOND FLUID TO THE DISTAL END OF A SUCTION LINE

[0003] Scope of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a hydraulic pump for mixing water and a second fluid, in which the hydraulic pump is provided with a water inlet, a mixing chamber and a water outlet, and in which the hydraulic pump includes a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using the flow of water through the hydraulic pump, in which said mechanism includes a suction member for drawing the second fluid into the mixing chamber through a suction line.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] A hydraulic pump as described above is a known, state-of-the-art type of pump. Such a pump is also known as a "metering pump".

[0007] The basic principle for the operation of a hydraulic pump or dosing unit according to the invention is, for example, described in French patent applications FR2896281 and FR3042235.

[0008] The aforementioned documents FR2896281 and FR3042235 describe a pump comprising a pump body in which is positioned a piston adapted to perform a reciprocating motion controlled by a pressurized water flow progressing from the pump inlet to the pump outlet.

[0009] The piston is connected to a rod-shaped suction member. This suction member follows the reciprocating motion imparted by the piston. The resulting back-and-forth movement of the suction member creates a vacuum in the suction line. This vacuum forces the second fluid to flow through the suction line into the mixing chamber of the hydraulic pump.

[0010] A first drawback of the known solutions of the prior art lies in the fact that when the suction line is empty, it is necessary to wait for it to fill up before the second fluid is actually injected into the mixing chamber of the hydraulic pump.

[0011] The suction line is typically empty before the hydraulic pump is started. The line is also empty after a new installation and after the hydraulic pump has been shut down, for example, to perform pump maintenance.

[0012] Once the hydraulic pump is started, the said filling of the suction line is done solely by the suction created by the back-and-forth movement of the suction member.

[0013] In practice, a certain number of cycles must be exceeded, therefore a certain quantity of water must be used, and a certain amount of time must be waited before the suction line is completely filled and before the second fluid can actually be injected into the mixing chamber of the hydraulic pump.

[0014] The fact that a certain amount of water has to pass through the pump to fill the suction line represents a loss of water, a financial loss, and a loss of time.

[0015] Therefore, in light of the above, it appears necessary to propose a solution allowing a user of a hydraulic pump to fill the suction line with the second fluid in an accelerated manner, preferably without having to start the hydraulic pump. Object of the invention

[0016] The object of the present invention relates to a hydraulic pump for mixing a stream of water and a second fluid, the hydraulic pump being provided with a water inlet, a mixing chamber and a water outlet, and comprising a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using the stream of water through the hydraulic pump, said mechanism comprising a suction member for drawing the second fluid into the mixing chamber through a suction line, in which the suction line comprises a proximal end in communication with the mixing chamber and a distal end adapted to be in contact with said second fluid, said suction line, between said proximal end and said distal end, being provided with a pumping mechanism for pumping the second fluid from the distal end of the suction line to the proximal end of the suction line.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction line comprises, viewed in the direction of flow of the second fluid from said distal end to said proximal end, a first and a second check valve, respectively, the pumping mechanism being connected to the suction line between said first and said second check valve.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pumping mechanism comprises a piston and a cylinder, the piston being adapted to perform a reciprocating movement in the cylinder so as to exert alternating negative and positive pressure on the portion of the suction line located between the first and second check valves, respectively.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pumping mechanism is in the form of a syringe.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pumping mechanism is removably connected to the suction line. According to another embodiment of the invention, the pumping mechanism is adapted to be operated manually.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic pump, said hydraulic pump being provided with a water inlet, a mixing chamber and a water outlet, the hydraulic pump comprising a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using a flow of water through the hydraulic pump, said mechanism comprising a suction member for drawing the second fluid towards the mixing chamber via a suction line, said suction line comprising a proximal end connected to the mixing chamber and a distal end adapted to be positioned in contact with said second fluid, the suction line, between said proximal end and said distal end, being provided with a pumping mechanism for pumping the second fluid from said distal end to its proximal end, said method comprising the following steps:

[0022] connect the water inlet to a pressurized water supply pipe,

[0023] Connect the water outlet to a pipe to drain the water, and place the distal end of the suction pipe in contact with the second fluid.

[0024] use the pumping mechanism to pump the second fluid from the distal end of the suction line to its proximal end.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the step of pumping the second fluid from the distal end of the suction line to its proximal end is carried out before connecting the water inlet to the pressurized water supply line.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pumping mechanism is operated manually. Brief description of the drawings

[0027] The purpose, object, and characteristics of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, made with reference to the figures in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] schematically shows a hydraulic pump according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Detailed description of the invention

[0030] The detailed description below is intended to set out the invention in a sufficiently clear and complete manner, in particular by means of examples, but should in no way be regarded as limiting the scope of protection to particular embodiments and to the example presented below.

[0031] This description refers to hydraulic pumps. In the context of this description, the term "hydraulic pump" refers to any hydraulic machine, more particularly to hydraulic motors, comprising an outer body, creating a casing, and a piston capable of sliding, in a reciprocating motion, inside said casing.

[0032] Within this description, the term "hydraulic pump" refers more specifically to a pump adapted to mix a primary flow, such as a flow of water, and a secondary flow, such as an additive, which additive is added to this primary flow using the back-and-forth motion exerted by the piston through the flow of water through the hydraulic pump.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a hydraulic pump 10 for mixing a first fluid, such as water, and a second fluid, such as an additive.

[0034] The hydraulic pump 10 is provided with a pump body 11, which defines the volume of the hydraulic pump 10. The pump body 11 is closed by means of a cover 12, which allows the opening and closing of the internal space of the hydraulic pump 10.

[0035] Inside the hydraulic pump 10 is a piston 13, adapted to slide back and forth between a first and a second position. The water pressure between a water inlet 14 and a water outlet 15 enables the piston 13 to perform its back-and-forth movement by means of a mechanism known in the prior art and which will not be described in detail herein.

[0036] To allow the flow of water to enter and exit, the hydraulic pump 10 includes a water inlet 14 and a water outlet 15. The water inlet 14 is adapted to connect a water pipe (not shown in Figure 1) to supply pressurized water to the hydraulic pump 10. The water outlet 15 is adapted to connect a water discharge pipe (not shown in Figure 1). Thus, the water, mixed with the second fluid, is directed to its final destination via the water discharge pipe.

[0037] A hydraulic pump 10, as described above, can be used in agriculture. In this case, the second fluid is, for example, a fertilizer. Another example of the use of a hydraulic pump 10 is water treatment.

[0038] In this case, the second fluid contains, for example, a disinfectant. Another possibility is to use the hydraulic pump 10 for medical applications. In this case, the second fluid contains, for example, a medication.

[0039] Between the water inlet 14 and the water outlet 15, the hydraulic pump 10 includes a mixing chamber 16 adapted to mix the water flow with a second fluid or additive 41.

[0040] As shown in Figure 1, the second fluid 41 is drawn towards the mixing chamber 16 by means of a suction member, such as a rod 17. Said suction member 17 is connected to the piston 13 and follows the reciprocating motion imposed by said piston 13.

[0041] The rod 17 is positioned inside a control unit 18. This control unit 18 allows the dosing of the second fluid in the water flow passing through the pump 10 to be controlled.

[0042] The control unit 18 and its operation are well known in the prior art and will not be described in detail in this description.

[0043] At its lower end, the control unit 18 is connected to a suction line 21. The back-and-forth movement of the rod 17 creates a vacuum and thus a suction of the second fluid 41 towards the mixing chamber 16.

[0044] As shown in Figure 1, the suction line 21 extends between a proximal end 210, in communication with the mixing chamber 16, and a distal end 211, adapted to be in contact with the second fluid 41. The distal end 211 may, for safety reasons, be fitted with a filter. Such a filter is not shown in Figure 1.

[0045] According to Figure 1, the distal end 211 of the suction line 21 is located in a reservoir 40 containing said second fluid 41.

[0046] Figure 1 shows that the suction line 21 is connected, between its proximal end 210 and its distal end 211, to a pumping mechanism 30 to pump the second fluid 41 from the distal end 211 of the suction line 21 to the proximal end 210 of the suction line 21.

[0047] The said pumping mechanism 30 is adapted to pump the second fluid 41 from the distal end 211 of the suction line 21 to the proximal end 210 of the suction line 21, for example, at the time when the pump 10 is put into operation and at the time when the suction line 21 is not completely filled by the second fluid 41.

[0048] The said suction line 21 is typically empty after a new installation and after a shutdown of the hydraulic pump 10, for example to carry out maintenance of the hydraulic pump 10.

[0049] Without the presence of a pumping mechanism 30, the filling of the suction line 21 is carried out solely by the suction created by the back-and-forth movement of the rod 17.

[0050] In practice, in the prior art, it is necessary to exceed a certain quantity of water and wait a certain time before the suction line 21 is completely filled and before the second fluid 41 can actually be injected into the mixing chamber 16 of the hydraulic pump 10.

[0051] The fact that a certain amount of water must pass through the hydraulic pump 10 to fill the filling line 21 represents a loss of water, a financial loss, and a loss of time.

[0052] Using the pumping mechanism 30 according to the invention, the pipe can be filled with the second fluid 41, even before starting the pump 10.

[0053] According to the example in Figure 1, the pumping mechanism 30 comprises, viewed in the direction of flow of the second fluid 41 from the distal end 211 of the suction line 21 to its proximal end 210, a first check valve 22 and a second check valve 23, respectively. The pumping mechanism 30 is connected to the suction line 21 between said first 22 and said second check valve 23.

[0054] According to the example in Figure 1, the pumping mechanism 30 comprises a piston 32 and a cylinder 31; more specifically, the pumping mechanism 30 is shaped like a syringe 30. The piston 32 is adapted to perform a reciprocating movement in the cylinder 31 so as to exert alternating negative and positive pressure on the portion of the suction line 21 located between the first 22 and the second check valve 23, respectively.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pumping mechanism 30 is adapted to be operated manually.

[0056] Referring to Figure 1, the operation of the pumping mechanism 30 is as follows:

[0057] From the position shown in Figure 1, a user pulls on the end 33 of the piston 32 to move said piston 32 relative to the cylinder 31. Through this movement, a certain negative pressure is created inside the suction line 21, more specifically inside the suction line 21 located between the first 22 and the second check valve 23.

[0058] Thanks to the presence of the check valves 22, 23, no fluid that is in the part of the suction line 21 between the second check valve 23 and the proximal end 210 of the suction line 21 is aspirated.

[0059] On the other hand, the presence of negative pressure, created using the pumping mechanism 30, has the effect that a determined quantity of the second fluid 41 is drawn through the first check valve 22 into the part of the suction line 21 located between the first 22 and the second check valve 23.

[0060] Once the movement of piston 32 is complete, the user reverses its direction. This means that the user pushes piston 32 back into cylinder 31. This movement creates positive pressure inside suction line 21, specifically in the section of suction line 21 located between the first 22 and the second check valve 23. Due to the presence of the first check valve 22, no fluid is directed towards the reservoir 40. However, the positive pressure created by the pumping mechanism 30 causes a specific amount of the second fluid 41 to be directed through the second check valve 23 towards the proximal end 210 of suction line 21.

[0061] By performing the back-and-forth movement described above, once or several times, the suction line 21 is filled with the second fluid 41. The technical advantage of this solution lies in the fact that as soon as the hydraulic pump 10 is started, with the suction line 21 filled with the second fluid, the suction member 17, connected to the piston 13, can immediately correctly draw a defined quantity of the second fluid 41 towards the mixing chamber 16.

[0062] According to one embodiment, it is possible that the pumping mechanism 30 is removably connected to the suction line 21. This means that the pumping mechanism 30 is connected to the suction line, for example, after the installation of the hydraulic pump 10 and / or after the shutdown of said hydraulic pump 10.

[0063] Once the suction line 21 is filled with the second fluid, the user can disconnect the pumping mechanism 30 and either store it pending future use, or use it together with another hydraulic pump.

[0064] The invention also relates to a method for operating a hydraulic pump 10, wherein said hydraulic pump 10 is provided with a water inlet 14, a mixing chamber 16 and a water outlet 15, and wherein the hydraulic pump 10 comprises a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using the flow of water through the hydraulic pump 10, wherein said mechanism comprises a suction member 17 for drawing the second fluid 41 towards the mixing chamber 16 via a suction line 21, wherein said suction line 41 comprises a proximal end 210 connected to the mixing chamber 16 and a distal end 211 adapted to be positioned in contact with said second fluid 41, wherein the suction line 21, between said proximal end 210 and said distal end 211,is provided with a pumping mechanism 30 for pumping the second fluid 41 from said distal end 211 to its distal end 210.

[0065] The method includes the following steps:

[0066] Connect the water inlet 14 to a pressurized water supply pipe,

[0067] Connect the water outlet 15 to a pipe to drain the water.

[0068] - place the distal end 211 of the suction line 21 in contact with the second fluid 41,

[0069] use the pumping mechanism 30 to pump the second fluid 41 from the distal end 211 of the suction line 21 to its proximal end 210.

[0070] It should be noted that the embodiments described above are given as examples only.

Claims

Demands 1. Hydraulic pump (10) for mixing a stream of water and a second fluid (41), the hydraulic pump (10) being provided with a water inlet (14), a mixing chamber (16) and a water outlet (15), and comprising a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using the stream of water through the hydraulic pump (10), said mechanism comprising a suction member (17) for drawing the second fluid (41) into the mixing chamber (16) through a suction line (21), in which the suction line (21) comprises a proximal end (210) in communication with the mixing chamber (16) and a distal end (211) adapted to be in contact with said second fluid (41), said suction line (21), between said proximal end (210) and said distal end (211),being provided with a pumping mechanism (30) for pumping the second fluid (41) from the distal end (211) of the suction line (21) to the proximal end (210) of the suction line (21), characterized in that the suction line (21) comprises, viewed in the direction of flow of the second fluid (41) from said distal end (211) to said proximal end (210), a first (22) and a second check valve (23), respectively, and wherein the pumping mechanism (30) is connected to the suction line (21) between said first (22) and said second check valve (23).

2. Hydraulic pump (10) according to claim 1, in which the pumping mechanism (30) comprises a piston (32) and a cylinder (31), the piston (32) being adapted to perform a reciprocating movement in the cylinder (31) so as to exert alternating negative and positive pressure on the portion of the suction line (21) located between the first (22) and the second check valve (23), respectively.

3. Hydraulic pump (10) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the pumping mechanism (30) has the shape of a syringe.

4. Hydraulic pump (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pumping mechanism (30) is removably connected to the suction line (21).

5. Hydraulic pump (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pumping mechanism (30) is adapted to be operated manually.

6. Method for operating a hydraulic pump (10) to mix a stream of water and a second fluid, wherein said hydraulic pump (10) is provided with a water inlet (14), a mixing chamber (16) and a water outlet (15), and wherein the hydraulic pump (10) includes a mechanism adapted to perform a reciprocating motion using a stream of water through the hydraulic pump (10), wherein said mechanism includes a suction member (17) for drawing the second fluid (41) to the mixing chamber (16) via a suction line (21), wherein said suction line (21) includes a proximal end (210) connected to the mixing chamber (16) and a distal end (211) adapted to be positioned in contact with said second fluid (41), wherein the suction line (21), between said proximal end (210) and said distal end (211),is provided with a pumping mechanism (30) for pumping the second fluid (41) from said distal end (211) to its proximal end (210), wherein the suction line (21) comprises, viewed in the direction of flow of the second fluid (41) from said distal end (211) to said proximal end (210), a first (22) and a second check valve (23), respectively, and wherein the pumping mechanism (30) is connected to the suction line (21) between said first (22) and said second check valve (23), and wherein the method comprises the following steps:, connect the water inlet (14) to a pressurized water supply pipe, Connect the water outlet (15) to a pipe to drain the water, place the distal end (211) of the suction line (21) in contact with the second fluid (41), use the pumping mechanism (30) to pump the second fluid (41) from the distal end (211) of the suction line (21) to its proximal end (210).

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the step of pumping the second fluid (41) from the distal end (211) of the suction line (21) to its proximal end (210) is carried out before connecting the water inlet (14) to the pressurized water supply line.

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, the pumping mechanism (30) being operated manually.

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