Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a water pump system
that is driven by running water. Systems of this type, that
work without the use of external energy sources and use the energy
of the running water -to deliver water to a higher level are bucket
wheels, water wheels or water turbines, and hydraulic rams.
Bucket wheels can only raise water to a small height. Water
wheels or turbines can, it is true, drive a pump and lift water
to a higher level, but they are very complicated in the mechanical
sense. Although the hydraulic ram is simple from the point of
view of construction, it requires a constant and even flow of
water, and is extremely noisy when in operation.
The present invention provides a water pump system that
is driven by running water, is of simple design, will operate
with an uneven flow of feed water, and will resume operation
automatically after the flow of water is reestablished after having
been cut off.
According to the present invention there is provided a
water pump system adapted to be driven by running water, which
includes a float chamber for the running water, in which there
is a main float, this operating a piston pump, and means are pro-
voided whereby the float chamber is emptied, at least in part,
each time a specific level is reached.
In one embodiment of the present invention the means
for emptying the float chamber include an overflow, through
which the water flows into a container, the weight of which opens
an outlet valve of the float chamber by means of a linkage system.
suitably the container has a calibrated outlet opening that en-
surges that the outlet valve remains open for a specific time.
In another embodiment of the present invention the
means for emptying the float chamber is an outlet valve that is
operated by means of a valve lift float. Desirably, the valve
lift float has a free travel that is loaded by a spring that
ensures that the valve stays open for a specific length of time
when the water level drops.
In another embodiment of the present invention the means
for emptying the float chamber is an outlet valve that is opera-
ted by the main float.
Desirably, the piston pump is arranged so as to be
adjacent to the float chamber and is operated through a linkage
system by means of the main float. Alternately, the piston pump
is connected directly to the float.
Suitably the piston pump is a double acting pump, and
the main float is sufficiently heavy that its weight can operate
the pump when -the water level in the float chamber drops.
The present invention is further illustrated, simplified
and schematically by way of the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 illustrates a pump system with a simple piston pump;
Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment for an automatic
outlet valve in two operating positions;
Figure 3 illustrates a system with a double-action piston
pump; and
Figure 4 illustrates the outlet valve of the system as
in Figure 3 on an enlarged scale.
The water pump system as in Figure 1 has a large float
chamber 1 into which running water flows after a slight drop,
as is indicated by the arrow W. The main float 2 is located in
the float chamber, and this is guided by the guides 3. This main
float 2 is connected to the piston 7 by the rods 4,5 and the
rocker beam 6. The piston 7 is housed in the pump barrel 8. A
suction valve 81 and a pressure valve 82 are connected to the
pump barrel 8, said pressure valve 82 leading to the pressure line
83.
In the bottom of the chamber 1 there is an outlet valve
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15, and this opens automatically when the water in the chamber
reaches a certain level. This outlet valve 15~ shown here as a
simple flap valve, must be held in the open position for a con-
lain length of time in order that sufficient water can flow from
the float chamber 1, the float 2 can fall, and the piston 7 of
the pump has a sufficient stroke. In the present embodiment this
is arranged with the help of an overflow 10, through which water
flows from the float chamber 1, as soon as a specified level is
reached. The water flows through the overflow pipe 10 into the
vessel 11. This vessel becomes heavier as a result and is then
able to open the outlet valve 15 through the medium of the link-
age 12,13 and the rocker beam 14. In order that the valve does
not remain open all the time, but closes after a specified inter-
vet has elapsed, the vessel 11 is provided with a calibrated
outlet opening 11' so that it empties in a specified time.
A catch basin 16 that has an overflow is arranged
beneath the float chamber 1, and the water that flows periodically
from the float chamber 1 is caught in this catch basin. The
piston pump 7,8 draws water from this basin and pumps it to a
higher level through the line 83.
During operation, water W flows constantly into the
float chamber 1, and this raises the main float 2. This acts
through the rods 4 and 5 and the rocker beam 6 to push the piston
7 downwards, and this forces the water located beneath the piston
into the pressure line 83. If the level of the water in the
float chamber 1 has reached the level of the overflow pipe 10,
water flows into the vessel 11 and the outlet valve 15 is opened.
Since the outlet valve 15 has to open against the
static pressure of the water in the float chamber 1 but subset
quaintly, however, only exerts a small amount of force in the direction of closure on account of its weight a large part of
the water will have flowed from the vessel 11 in its open position.
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it is only when the vessel 11 has emptied completely that the
flap valve 15 closes once again. The appropriate selection of
the closing force of the valve 15, the size of the vessel 11, and
appropriate calibration of the outlet opening 11' makes it posse
isle to adjust the duration of the time the outlet valve 15 no-
mains open.
It is not essential that the suction line of the piston
pump 7,8 be connected to the catch basin 16. Instead of pumping
a portion of the running water to a higher level, the piston pump
7,8 can be used to draw the water that is to be pumped to a
higher level from another source.
The main problem with a piston pump of this kind, opera-
ted by a float is that the outlet valve is opened at the proper
time and remains open for a specific time until the float chamber
has emptied to the extent that the float is lying on the bottom
of the chamber. Of course, the chamber does not have to be
completely empty for this to be the case.
Figure 2 illustrates how an outlet valve can be opened
with the aid of a valve lift float. Such an arrangement could be
incorporated in a pump system as in Figure 1, and would replace
the parts numbered 10-15.
The right-hand half of Figure 2 illustrates a valve
lift float 20 in its lowest position, and the left-hand half shows
this in a position in which the water level has risen to a level
that the float 20 has opened the valve. The
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float 20 can move smoothly along the valve guide rod 21.
The rod 21 is connected rigidly to the valve body 22 and has
two Rudy stop plates 23, 24. The rod is guided top and
bottom by the guide elements 25, 26. Between the float and
the upper stop 23 there is a compression spring 27.
In the right-hand hat f of the drawing, the water has
risen to the level marked No, the float 20 is floating and
its displacement is sufficient to lifts its weight, Should
the water rise to the level marked No (left-hand half of
Figure I the spring 27 is compressed. If the water level
rises to level No, the f foal develops its maximum buoyancy
and this force suffices to open the valve 22 against the
static pressure of the water and its own weight.
if the level of the water now falls to level No, the
spring 27 forces the f foal down against the lower stop 24.
The buoyancy it still sufficient to keep the valve open
until the level of the water falls to the level I when the
valve 22 closes the outlet. The difference between the rise
and fall of the water level is explained by the fact that it
order to open the valve, in addition to the weight of the
valve itself it is also necessary to overcome the static
pressure of the water on the valve, and once it is open, the
static pressure is eliminated. For this reason, in the open
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state, the spring 27 is released and move the valve body 22
closer to the float. Thus, during emptying, the outlet
remains open until the level No is reached.
Figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the pump stymie as
in Figure 1, in which the emptying valve is controlled by
the main float 30 itself. The drawing shows slightly
sloping terrain G with a stream from which water W flows
into and slowly fills the float chamber 31, whereupon the
main Lotte it raised and the piston 40 of the double-action
piston pump 41 is lifted. Water is drawn through a lower
suction valve beneath the piston I and forced through an
upper pressure valve into the line 42.
In order that the pump can generate pressure even
during lowering, the main float must be of a certain weight.
In this connection it is advantageous if the effective lower
surface ox the piston 40 is reduced by the cross-sectional
area of the piston rod 43.
Figure 4 shows the installation of the purge valve 50
in the base 32 of the main float 30. The valve 50 is
connected to a guide rod 51, that can slide in the base of
the float. The guide rod is surrounded by a compression
spring 52. In order to provide additional security, the
parts are surrounded in the interior of the float by a
sleeve. The spring 52 can be so secured that it is under
tension when the float is in its lowest position.
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The spring works as described above on the basis of
Figure 2, so that once opened, the outlet is opened, it
remains open for a specific length of time. The force
required to open the valve is greater than the force that is
required to keep it in the open position.
In Figure 3 an outlet pipe 33 is provided for the
outflowing water.
The pump system that is shown in Figure 1 is simple and
clearly arranged. All of the valves can be simple flap
valves. Only a few essential parts are required; many parts
can be of wood. Such a pump system is well-suited for use
in developing countries or in remote areas.
