Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02702235 2010-05-03
[0001] TITLE: PUMP DRIVE SYSTEM
[0002] INVENTOR: Darryl Weflen
[0003] CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0004] This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application
serial no.
61/174,957 filed May 1, 2009.
[0005] TECHNICAL FIELD:
[0006] The present disclosure is related to the field of pumping systems for
use in
pumping fluids to and from tanker trucks, and for use in providing hydraulic
power to
hydraulic tools, cranes, bucket lifts and the like.
[0007] BACKGROUND:
[0008] It is known to use the engine on a tanker tractor hauling a tank to
power a
product pump used to pump fluids or substances into or out of the tank. This
can be
done either through directly mounting the product pump under the chassis of
the tractor
and coupling the product pump to a transmission-driven power take-off ("PTO")
through
shafts, belts or other means of mechanical coupling as well known to those
skilled in the
art. Alternatively, the PTO can drive a hydraulic pump to power a hydraulic
motor, via
hydraulic hoses, to operate the product pump mounted above or on the chassis
of the
tractor. In either of these configurations, the tractor's engine must operate
at an
elevated rotational speed or revolutions per minute ("RPM" or "RPMs") when the
product pump is pumping fluids or substances into or out of the tank.
[0009] The disadvantage of this arrangement is that this can result in
increased fuel
consumption and maintenance costs for the tractor, as the tractor engine is
typically
larger in power capacity (300 to 500 horsepower or more) than is what is
required to
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effectively operate the product pump (up to 50 horsepower). In addition, the
service
intervals for the engine are reduced due to the increased amount of time the
engine is
left running to operate the product pump.
[0010] In addition, some jurisdictions or regions have bylaws that restrict
the idling of
vehicle engines due to noise and/or emission concerns or restrictions.
[0011] It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system for pumping fluids or
substances
into or out of a tank that overcomes these shortcomings and disadvantages.
[0012] SUMMARY:
[0013] A system is provided that comprises an auxiliary engine coupled to a
hydraulic
pump that, in turn, operates a hydraulic motor for operating a product pump.
In one
embodiment, the auxiliary engine can comprise a diesel engine in power range
of up to
50 horsepower that is more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly in
operating the
product pump, or an auxiliary hydraulic circuit, than using the engine of the
tractor.
[0014] In another embodiment, the system can comprise a safety shut-down
mechanism
that monitors the pressure of the hydraulic oil used by the hydraulic pump to
operate the
hydraulic motor. The safety mechanism can comprise a high-limit pressure
setting that
operates to stop the auxiliary engine if the hydraulic oil pressure exceeds
the high-limit
pressure setting. Such a safety mechanism can prevent situations where the
product
pump is pumping fluids or substances into or out of a tank, or the auxiliary
hydraulic
circuit is operating, at a pressure that exceeds the pressure rating of the
hoses used in
the pumping of the fluids or substances thereby avoiding the failure of the
hoses and
the loss of fluids or substances from the failed hoses.
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[0015] In other embodiments, the system can function as an auxiliary power
unit ("APU")
for the tractor by operatively coupling with the tractor's cooling system,
fuel system and
battery pack. In another embodiment, the system can also comprise an air
conditioning
unit or compressor operatively coupled to the auxiliary engine, as well known
to those
skilled in the art, to provide air conditioning for the tractor. In further
embodiments, the
system can also comprise an AC electrical generator operatively coupled to the
auxiliary
engine, as well known to those skilled in the art, for providing electrical
power. By
operating the APU when the tractor is parked or stationary for extended
periods of time,
the consumption of fuel can be reduced thereby resulting in less wear and tear
on the
tractor's engine and a reduction of exhaust emissions being released into the
atmosphere. It can also comply with anti-idling bylaws that have been
introduced in
some jurisdictions.
[0016] In some embodiments, a system is provided comprising: a diesel engine;
a
hydraulic pump operatively coupled to the engine; a hydraulic motor; a product
pump
operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor; and a selector valve operatively
coupling the
hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor whereby hydraulic fluid pumped by the
hydraulic
pump when the engine is running can operate the hydraulic motor to, in turn,
operate
the product pump to pump the fluids or substances.
[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
[0018] Figure 1 is a block diagram depicting a product pump drive system.
[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of a product pump drive system for
installation on a tractor for a tanker-trailer is shown. In this embodiment,
system 10
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comprises engine 12 operatively coupled to hydraulic pump 14. Engine 12 can be
any
suitable diesel engine in the up to 50 horsepower range. Representative
examples of
suitable engines include the Super 03 Series or Super 05 Series of diesel
engines as
manufactured by Kubota Corporation of Osaka, Japan. By using a diesel engine
for
engine 12, engine 12 can use the same fuel used for the engine on the tractor.
[0021] Hydraulic pump 14 pumps hydraulic fluid through hose 16 to selector
valve 18
that is used to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from hydraulic
motor 20 through
hoses 24. Motor 20, in turn, can be operatively coupled to product pump 22 via
clutch
42 and driveshaft 44 to pump fluids or substances into or out of a tank (not
shown)
using hoses (not shown) coupled to pump 22. Lever 17 on valve 18 can be
operated to
circulate hydraulic fluid to motor 20 in either direction so that motor 20 can
turn
clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on whether pump 22 is being operated
to
pump fluids or substances to or from a tank.
[0022] Hydraulic fluid can be circulated through system 10 by flowing from
selector
valve 18 through hose 26 and filter 28 to hydraulic fluid tank 30. Hydraulic
fluid is drawn
from tank 30 by hydraulic pump 14 through hose 32. In an alternate embodiment,
hose
32 can be coupled to hydraulic fluid heat exchanger 34 that can be used in the
transfer
of heat, in either direction, between hydraulic fluid flowing through hose 32
and engine
coolant circulating from engine 12 through hoses 36.
[0023] In another embodiment, system 10 can further comprise high-pressure
switch 40
that can monitor the hydraulic fluid pressure in hose 16. Switch 40 can be
adjustable in
the pressure that operates the switch. When the hydraulic fluid pressure
exceeds the
high-pressure limit set on switch 40, switch 40 can operate shut-off solenoid
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disposed on engine 12 via cable 15 to shut engine 12 down thereby preventing
damage
to system 10 or to pump 22 and the hoses attached thereto for pumping fluids
or
substances.
[0024] In other embodiments, system 10 can also be used in combination with
the
engine of a tractor used to tow the tank (not shown). The heated engine
coolant of
engine 12 can be coupled to the engine cooling system of the tractor engine to
keep the
tractor engine warm during cold weather conditions without having to idle the
tractor
engine. In other embodiments, system 10 can be used to operate an alternator
or
battery charging system (not shown) to keep the batteries of the tractor
charged when
the tractor engine is not running.
[0025] In other embodiments, system 10 can comprise a remote control system
(not
shown) for controlling the operation of engine 12 and system 10 in general as
well
known to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, system 10 can further
comprise
positive air shut-off/over-speed protection mechanism as well known to those
skilled in
the art.
[0026] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications
might be
made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and
expressions
used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of
description and
not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and
expressions of
excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof,
it being
recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims that
follow.
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