Method and Apparatus for Elimination of Gases in Pump Feed/Injection Equipment

Abstract

A pumping apparatus for pumping a liquid from a source to a target including a motor and pump driven by the motor. Sacrificial zinc components are utilized to minimize corrosion due to chlorine vapors. Measures to ensure that liquid is pumped in only one direction include the use of a full wave rectifier and/or a spacer incorporated with a swivel platform to limits the range of the angle between the motor shaft and the pump piston. To minimize the risk of rupturing the pump, the pump piston includes a relieved portion in fluid communication with a transverse bore of the pump housing when the piston is axially inserted within the pump housing in its full forward position. To prevent overheating and damage to the pump components, the pumping apparatus makes use of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor interposed between the motor and a current source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pumping apparatus for pumping a liquid from a source to a target comprising:
 a direct current motor having a rotatable motor shaft, a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal;   a current source supplying electrical current to said motor;   a full wave rectifier interposed between said motor and said current source, said full wave rectifier having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, said positive output terminal being electrically connected to said positive input terminal of said motor and said negative output terminal being electrically connected to said negative input terminal of said motor, whereby a desired polarity of current flows to said motor to ensure that said motor shaft rotates in only one direction; and   a first pump coupled to said motor shaft and driven by said motor for pumping a liquid in only one direction from a source to a target.   
     
     
         2 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second pump driven by said motor; and   a separator in fluid communication with said liquid source and said first and second pumps for separating a liquid solution received from said liquid source into a gaseous component and a liquid component, said separator further diverting said gaseous component to said second pump and said liquid component to said first pump,   wherein said second pump pumps said gaseous component back to said liquid source and said first pump pumps said liquid component to the target.   
     
     
         3 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor interposed between said motor and said current source, said positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor having a current trip value, wherein current from said current source exceeding said current trip value causes a resistance of said positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor to rise to a value such that current to said motor decreases. 
     
     
         4 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising a visual indicator for indicating when said current from said current source has exceeded said current trip value of said positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor. 
     
     
         5 . A pumping apparatus for pumping a liquid from a liquid source to a target comprising:
 a support frame;   a motor mounted on said support frame, said motor having a rotatable motor shaft;   a swivel platform pivotably mounted on said support frame;   a drive assembly connected with said support frame and said swivel platform for pivoting said swivel platform with respect to said support frame, said drive assembly including a drive rod and a spacer, said drive rod being coupled to said swivel platform and said support frame and said spacer being engageable between said support frame and said swivel platform to prevent further pivoting of said swivel platform with respect to said support frame; and   a first pump mounted on said swivel platform, said first pump including a rotatable and axially translatable piston coupled to said motor shaft of said motor,   wherein pivoting of said swivel platform by said drive assembly changes an angle defined between a longitudinal axis of said motor shaft and a longitudinal axis of said pump piston, said spacer of said drive means limiting the range of said angle.   
     
     
         6 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second pump driven by said motor; and   a separator in fluid communication with said liquid source and said first and second pumps for separating a liquid solution received from said liquid source into a gaseous component and a liquid component, said separator further diverting said gaseous component to said second pump and said liquid component to said first pump,   wherein said second pump pumps said gaseous component back to said liquid source and said first pump pumps said liquid component to the target.   
     
     
         7 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said drive rod comprises a threaded rod rotatably retained on opposite sides of said support frame and threadably engaged with said swivel platform, and wherein said spacer comprises a tubular sleeve member surrounding a portion of said threaded rod. 
     
     
         8 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said support frame includes an inner pocket having a width for receiving said swivel platform, said inner pocket defining a range of pivoting of said swivel platform, and wherein said threaded rod and said spacer are disposed within said inner pocket, said spacer having a length substantially equal to half the width of said inner pocket. 
     
     
         9 . A liquid pump comprising:
 a pump housing defining a central longitudinal bore and a transverse bore communicating with said central bore for conveying a liquid through said pump, said transverse bore being defined by a center axis; and   a rotatable pump piston axially slidable within said central longitudinal bore between a fully retracted position and a full forward position for pumping the liquid through said transverse bore, said pump piston including a relieved portion in fluid communication with said transverse bore of said pump housing when said piston is axially inserted within said pump housing in its full forward position.   
     
     
         10 . A liquid pump as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said relieved portion of said pump piston is defined by a planar surface, said planar surface defining a zero reference plane when said piston is axially inserted within said pump housing in its full forward position, said zero reference plane being disposed at an acute angle with respect to said center axis of said transverse bore. 
     
     
         11 . A liquid pump as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said pump housing comprises:
 a piston liner defining said central longitudinal bore and said transverse bore; and   a pump casing surrounding said piston liner, said pump casing having a reference surface aligned with said zero reference plane of said pump piston,   wherein said piston liner is rotated with respect to said pump casing about a center axis of said central longitudinal bore.   
     
     
         12 . A liquid pump as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said acute angle between said zero reference plane and said center axis of said transverse bore is about 5°. 
     
     
         13 . A pumping apparatus for pumping a liquid from a liquid source to a target comprising:
 a motor;   a current source supplying electrical current to said motor;   a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor interposed between said motor and said current source, said positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor having a current trip value, wherein current from said current source exceeding said current trip value causes a resistance of said positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor to rise to a value such that current to said motor decreases; and   a first pump driven by said motor for pumping a liquid from a liquid source to a target.   
     
     
         14 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second pump driven by said motor; and   a separator in fluid communication with said liquid source and said first and second pumps for separating a liquid solution received from said liquid source into a gaseous component and a liquid component, said separator further diverting said gaseous component to said second pump and said liquid component to said first pump,   wherein said second pump pumps said gaseous component back to said liquid source and said first pump pumps said liquid component to the target.   
     
     
         15 . A pumping apparatus is defined in  claim 13 , wherein said motor is a direct current motor having a rotatable motor shaft, a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, and wherein said pumping apparatus further comprises a full wave rectifier interposed between said motor and said current source, said full wave rectifier having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, said positive output terminal being electrically connected to said positive input terminal of said motor and said negative output terminal being electrically connected to said negative input terminal of said motor, whereby a desired polarity of current flows to said motor to ensure that said motor shaft rotates in only one direction. 
     
     
         16 . A pumping apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a visual indicator for indicating when said current from said current source has exceeded said current trip value of said positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor.