| Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vesselsRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, External Condition Responsive Pumped Fluid ControlValve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070031265, Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to devices for pumping fluid, and more specifically, to devices for expelling fluid from a vessel or other fluid containers, and even more specifically to pump devices for use with firefighting containers transportable by helicopter for carrying fire retardants, foams, gels or water wherein the pump devices selectively expel said fluid material from the firefighting container. [0002] It is often desirable to expel quantities of fluid from a vessel or other fluid container having fluid therein in order to control the amount of fluid remaining in the vessel. For example, large fires are often fought using aircraft to drop fire retardants, foams, gels or water, either directly on the fire or at nearby locations to create a fire break. A very effective approach to this kind of fire fighting uses a large vessel or bucket suspended from a helicopter. Helicopters are generally used for sustained fire fighting operations because they are more versatile than fixed wing aircraft. Since a helicopter does not require a landing strip, the bucket can be filled, without landing the helicopter, at a nearby body of water or at a temporary staging area set up to maintain a supply of fire retardant fluid close to the fire by simply dunking the bucket into the source. This reduces the amount of time required between drops, which likewise reduces the time required to extinguish the fire. [0003] The lifting capacity of any given helicopter, hence the amount of fluid the helicopter is able to carry in a bucket at any given time, varies with the amount of fuel in the helicopter and with the weight of other cargo on board. Accordingly, after having filled the bucket from a source, it would be desirable for the pilot to be able to expel fluid from the bucket in order to reduce the weight of the load to a desired level before lifting off with the loaded bucket, thereby being able to maximize the amount of fluid carried based on the lifting capacity of the helicopter at that particular moment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention provides valve and pump devices that are compact so that they are useable with a vessel, tank or other fluid container, such as inside a firefighting bucket, that are efficient, and that are remotely controllable, such as from the cockpit of an aircraft or the like. [0005] Accordingly, in some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a pump device for use with a vessel for selectively expelling fluid from the vessel comprising a housing defining an internal chamber having first and second portions, the second portion being larger in cross-section than the first portion and being in fluid communication with fluid in the vessel when the apparatus is operably mounted with the vessel, the first portion of the housing further including a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid in the vessel via the inlet port; connector means cooperating with the housing for mounting the apparatus on the vessel in a manner that the outlet port communicates with the outside of the vessel through the wall of the vessel, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the atmosphere via the outlet port; a stopper mounted within the first portion of the housing and being movable to seal and unseal the outlet port to regulate the expulsion of fluid from the chamber, the stopper being biased towards sealing the outlet port when apparatus is in a resting state; a piston reciprocating within the second portion and being connected to the stopper, the piston further having a larger exposed surface area than the stopper, wherein the piston moves in a direction away from the outlet port in response to an increase in fluid pressure in the first portion causing the stopper to unseal the outlet port, and moves in the opposite direction in response to the biasing force acting on the stopper when the fluid pressure in the first portion returns to that of the resting state of the apparatus, thereby enabling the stopper seal the outlet port; and a means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in the first portion of the chamber with fluid from the vessel via the inlet port. The piston and stopper may be moveable in a linear path along the same axis. In some embodiments, the piston and stopper are moveable along the axis of the chamber. The apparatus may include a rod mounted for reciprocating movement along the axis of the chamber, and having one end connected to the stopper, and an opposite end connected to the piston. The piston may be moveable in relation to the rod, and the apparatus further includes a retainer at the opposite end and a coil spring mounted on the rod between the retainer and the piston for biasing the piston away from the retainer. [0006] In some embodiments, the first portion of the chamber is cylindrical, and the first and second portions are coaxial. The stopper may be dimensioned to fit closely within the first portion of the chamber. [0007] In some embodiments, the inlet port and the outlet port are substantially at a right angle to each other. The stopper may be biased by a coil spring having one end connected to the housing and the other end abutting the stopper. [0008] In some embodiments, the means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in the first portion comprises a duct connected to the inlet port and communicating with the fluid in the vessel, an impeller mounted for rotation within the duct, a submersible motor electrically coupled to a power source and connected to the duct for driving the impeller, and a remote switch connected to the motor for activating and deactivating the motor. Stator vanes may be included within the duct and located downstream from the impeller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which: [0010] FIG. 1 is a medial section view of an embodiment of the present invention shown mounted in the vertical wall of a vessel or other fluid container; [0011] FIG. 2 is a medial section view of the device in FIG. 1 shown with the outlet port in a sealed position; [0012] FIG. 3 is a medial section view of the device in FIG. 1 shown with the outlet port in an open position; [0013] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the device in FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the device in FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 6 medial section view of another embodiment of the present invention shown with the outlet port in a sealed position; and [0016] FIG. 7 is a medial section view of the device in FIG. 6 shown with the outlet port in an open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention. [0018] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and is shown mounted inside a vertical wall 12 of a vessel or other fluid container, adjacent the bottom 13 of the vessel. In particular, device 10 is well suited to being mounted inside a water tank or bucket of the kinds typically transported by helicopter for use in fighting fires, wherein device 10 is advantageously employed to remotely reduce the weight of the tank or bucket by expelling water therefrom to achieve a desired weight. However, the device may be used in a multitude of other applications than those discussed herein. [0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, device 10 has a valve housing 20 comprising of two longitudinally aligned tubular portions 22 and 24, and defining an internal chamber having two longitudinally aligned coaxial cylinder portions or sub-chambers 26 and 28 of differing cross-sectional dimensions. Sub-chamber 28 is larger in cross-section than sub-chamber 26. At the juncture of tubular portions 22 and 24, there is defined circumferential internal shoulder 30 in the housing wall. At end 32 of the housing adjacent sub-chamber 26 is a tubular outlet port 34 that is centered on the axis 36 of the chamber, and which communicates with sub-chamber 26. The diameter of the outlet port 34 is less than the diameter of tubular portion 22, and the juncture of the two defines a shoulder 38 having a flat outer surface 40 and a tapered inner surface 42 that provides a seating and sealing surface. Outlet port 34 includes threads 44 adjacent said shoulder and a gland nut 46 cooperating with the threads for mounting the device within a bore of a vessel wall 12 (as shown in FIG. 1) such that the portion of the wall adjacent the bore is sandwiched between nut 46 and flat surface 40. While the device is described herein as being mounted inside a vessel, it is to be understood that the device may be used externally of the vessel provided that a conduit communicates fluid from the vessel to the chamber of the device for the purpose of emptying the vessel. [0020] The housing 20 along the length of tubular portion 22 is provided with an inlet port 50 that communicates with sub-chamber 26, and which is substantially aligned at right angle to the outlet port 34. To the inlet port 50 is connected a means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in sub-chamber 26, such as for example, an axial flow pump 54 that draws fluid from the vessel and delivers it under pressure to said sub-chamber. Continue reading about Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels... Full patent description for Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Double-headed piston type compressor Next Patent Application: Self-closing valve with adjustable activation Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.16654 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
