Valving for controlling a fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus
Abstract
A pair of control valve assemblies for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve assembly 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. Each of the valve assemblies uses an intake-exhaust valve and a signal valve with the signal valve of one pump being connected to be pressure responsive to the piston of the opposite cylinder or pump.
- Inventors:
-
- Davis, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869946
- Patent Number(s):
- 5427507
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- 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:
- valving; controlling; fluid-driven; reciprocating; apparatus; pair; control; valve; assemblies; alternately; actuating; free-piston; devices; fluid; pressure; communication; therebetween; assembly; 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; intake-exhaust; pump; connected; responsive; opposite; cylinder; pressure signal; signal depending; power load; substantially constant; flow rates; flow rate; control valve; valve assembly; fluid pressure; constant pressure; mechanical power; reciprocating apparatus; valve assemblies; load applied; piston device; pressure responsive; free-piston devices; liquid delivery; fluid-driven free-piston; intake-exhaust valve; fluid-driven reciprocating; pressure communication; piston pump; alternately actuating; communication therebetween; /417/91/137/
Citation Formats
Whitehead, John C. Valving for controlling a fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Whitehead, John C. Valving for controlling a fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus. United States.
Whitehead, John C. Sun .
"Valving for controlling a fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869946.
@article{osti_869946,
title = {Valving for controlling a fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus},
author = {Whitehead, John C},
abstractNote = {A pair of control valve assemblies for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve assembly 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. Each of the valve assemblies uses an intake-exhaust valve and a signal valve with the signal valve of one pump being connected to be pressure responsive to the piston of the opposite cylinder or pump.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Free piston pumps for miniature rocket propulsion
conference, August 1991
- Whitehead, John
- 27th Joint Propulsion Conference