Fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus and valving for controlling same
Abstract
A control valve assembly for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve is switched by a pressure signal depending on the state of its counterpart's piston. The communication logic is arranged to provide overlap of the forward strokes of the pistons, so that at least one of the pair will always be pressurized. Thus, uninterrupted pumping of liquid is made possible from a pair of free-piston pumps. In addition, the speed and frequency of piston stroking is entirely dependent on the mechanical power load applied. In the case of a pair of pumps, this enables liquid delivery at a substantially constant pressure over the full range of flow rates, from zero to maximum flow. One embodiment of the invention utilized two pairs of fluid-driven free-piston devices whereby a bipropellant liquid propulsion system may be operated, so as to provide continuous flow of both fuel and oxidizer liquids when used in rocket applications, for example.
- Inventors:
-
- Davis, CA
- East Aurora, NY
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868826
- Patent Number(s):
- 5222873
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01L - CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02K - JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- fluid-driven; reciprocating; apparatus; valving; controlling; control; valve; assembly; alternately; actuating; pair; free-piston; devices; fluid; pressure; communication; therebetween; switched; signal; depending; counterpart; piston; logic; arranged; provide; overlap; forward; strokes; pistons; pressurized; uninterrupted; pumping; liquid; pumps; addition; speed; frequency; stroking; entirely; dependent; mechanical; power; load; applied; enables; delivery; substantially; constant; range; flow; rates; zero; maximum; embodiment; utilized; pairs; whereby; bipropellant; propulsion; operated; continuous; fuel; oxidizer; liquids; rocket; applications; example; pressure signal; signal depending; power load; continuous flow; substantially constant; flow rates; flow rate; control valve; valve assembly; fluid pressure; constant pressure; mechanical power; reciprocating apparatus; provide continuous; load applied; piston device; free-piston devices; liquid delivery; fluid-driven free-piston; fluid-driven reciprocating; pressure communication; piston pump; alternately actuating; communication therebetween; /417/60/91/137/
Citation Formats
Whitehead, John C, and Toews, Hans G. Fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus and valving for controlling same. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Whitehead, John C, & Toews, Hans G. Fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus and valving for controlling same. United States.
Whitehead, John C, and Toews, Hans G. Fri .
"Fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus and valving for controlling same". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868826.
@article{osti_868826,
title = {Fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus and valving for controlling same},
author = {Whitehead, John C and Toews, Hans G},
abstractNote = {A control valve assembly for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve is switched by a pressure signal depending on the state of its counterpart's piston. The communication logic is arranged to provide overlap of the forward strokes of the pistons, so that at least one of the pair will always be pressurized. Thus, uninterrupted pumping of liquid is made possible from a pair of free-piston pumps. In addition, the speed and frequency of piston stroking is entirely dependent on the mechanical power load applied. In the case of a pair of pumps, this enables liquid delivery at a substantially constant pressure over the full range of flow rates, from zero to maximum flow. One embodiment of the invention utilized two pairs of fluid-driven free-piston devices whereby a bipropellant liquid propulsion system may be operated, so as to provide continuous flow of both fuel and oxidizer liquids when used in rocket applications, for example.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Free piston pumps for miniature rocket propulsion
conference, August 1991
- Whitehead, John
- 27th Joint Propulsion Conference