Double-Acting Subterranean Pump

Abstract

The invention relates to a double-acting pump system for use in moving a fluid. The pump system includes a means for inputting power at a location remote from the double-acting pump. The system allows for manual power input, such as through a local pumping unit. The double-acting pump may define an interior volume and include a first end chamber in fluid communication with the local pumping unit, a second end chamber in fluid communication with the local pumping unit, a central chamber having a separating section, and a driving element (e.g., a double-ended piston) slidably located within the interior volume of the double-acting pump. The separating section may include an inlet valve section (e.g., two inlet valves) and an outlet valve section (e.g., two outlet valves).

1 . A pumping system comprising:
 a local pumping unit; and   a remote pumping unit, the remote pumping unit defining an interior volume and comprising:
 a first chamber in fluid communication with the local pumping unit; 
 a second chamber in fluid communication with the local pumping unit; 
 a central chamber comprising a separating section, the separating section comprising an inlet valve section and an outlet valve section; and 
 a driving element slidably located within the interior volume of the remote pumping unit, wherein the driving element is adapted to draw fluid into the central chamber through the inlet valve section and force fluid out of the central chamber through the outlet valve section when actuated by forcing a driving medium into one of the first chamber and the second chamber from the local pumping unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the local pumping unit is manually operated. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the local pumping unit comprises a first cylinder assembly and a second cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the first cylinder assembly, and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the second cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving element comprises a piston. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separating section comprises a valve box. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the separating section divides the central chamber into two separate portions and activation of the driving element draws fluid into one of the two portions through the inlet valve section and simultaneously forces fluid out of the other portion through the outlet valve section. 
     
     
         8 . A pumping system comprising:
 a power input unit; and   a remote pumping unit, the remote pumping unit coupled with the power input unit through conduits and comprising:
 a housing unit with a central chamber; 
 a fixed valve box disposed substantially within the central chamber, the valve box containing at least four valves, each of the valves in fluid communication with at least one of an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the central chamber; and 
 a driving element slidably disposed relative to the fixed valve box. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote pumping unit comprises a first chamber and a second chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the power input unit is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber through two hoses. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the remote pumping unit comprises a cylindrical housing with the first chamber and the second chamber located at opposing distal ends thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the valve box comprises an inlet valve section and an outlet valve section. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the inlet valve section and outlet valve section comprise two valves. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the driving element sealingly separates the first chamber, second chamber, and central chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the power input unit comprises a local pumping unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the local pumping unit comprises two pistons. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the valves comprise one-way valves. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least two of the one-way valves allow flow from the inlet into the central chamber and at least two of the one-way valves allow flow out of the central chamber to the outlet. 
     
     
         19 . A method of pumping fluid from a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:
 applying a force to a local pumping unit;   driving a medium to an end chamber of a remote pumping unit, the remote pumping unit comprising a first end chamber, a second end chamber, a central chamber, and a driving element; and   drawing fluid through an inlet of the central chamber and driving fluid out of an outlet of the central chamber through actuation of the driving element, wherein the driving element is actuated by driving the driving medium into one of the first end chamber and second end chamber through the application of force to the local pumping unit.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method is cyclically repeated by alternately driving the driving medium into the first end chamber and then the second end chamber.