Self cleaning pneumatic fluid pump having poppet valve with propeller-like cleaning structure

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a pneumatically driven pump for pumping a fluid. The pump may have a pump housing configured to receive a pressurized fluid signal. An inlet screen may be included at an end of the pump housing for admitting fluid therethrough into an interior area of the pump housing. An inlet casting may be included which is disposed within the pump housing adjacent the inlet screen. A poppet valve may be included which is configured to seat against the inlet casting. The poppet valve may have a propeller structure for creating a fluid pulse when the poppet valve seats, which helps to dislodge particles that have collected on the inlet screen, and thus help to maintain the inlet screen in a clean condition.

1 . A pneumatically driven pump for pumping a fluid, the pump comprising:
 a pump housing configured to receive a pressurized fluid signal:   an inlet screen at an end of the pump housing for admitting fluid therethrough into an interior area of the pump housing;   an inlet casting disposed within the pump housing adjacent the inlet screen; and   a poppet valve configured to seat against the inlet casting to block a flow of fluid into an interior area of the pump housing during a fluid eject cycle of operation of the pump, and to move longitudinally within the pump away from the inlet casting to allow fluid to be admitted into and collect within the pump housing;   the poppet valve including a propeller structure for creating a fluid pulse when the poppet valve is seated against the inlet casting at the beginning of the fluid eject cycle, the fluid pulse operating to help dislodge particles that have collected on the inlet screen, and thus help to maintain the inlet screen in a clean condition.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the propeller structure includes:
 a neck portion configured to be secured to the poppet valve thereof; and   a propeller element at one end of the neck, the propeller element being disposed within an interior area of the inlet screen.   
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the neck portion of the propeller structure extends along a longitudinal center of the pump. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the propeller element includes an edge portion having at least one scalloped section for inducing a turn to the fluid pulse. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the propeller element includes an edge portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced scalloped sections for inducing a turn to the fluid pulse. 
     
     
         6 . The pump element of  claim 5 , wherein the scalloped sections include three scalloped sections spaced circumferentially 120 degrees apart at from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the propeller poppet valve includes at least one bore therethrough for passing a flow of fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet casting includes at least one of a bore, a groove or a slot to help influence motion of a fluid flowing through the inlet casting during a fluid eject cycle. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the neck portion is threadably engaged with a threaded bore in a bottom sealing portion of the poppet valve. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the propeller structure includes a propeller element having a smoothly curving upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the propeller structure includes a propeller element having a smoothly curving lower surface. 
     
     
         12 . A pneumatically driven pump for pumping a fluid, the pump comprising:
 a pump housing configured to receive a pressurized fluid signal:
 an inlet screen at an end of the pump housing for admitting fluid therethrough into an interior area of the pump housing; 
 an inlet casting disposed within the pump housing adjacent the inlet screen; and 
 a poppet valve configured to seat against the inlet casting to block a flow of fluid into an interior area of the pump housing during a fluid eject cycle of operation of the pump, and to move longitudinally within the pump away from the inlet casting to allow fluid to be admitted into and collect within the pump housing; 
   the poppet valve including:
 a propeller structure projecting from the poppet valve so as to be disposed within an area bounded by the inlet screen, the propeller structure including a generally circular propeller element for creating a fluid pulse when the poppet valve is seated against the inlet casting at the beginning of the fluid eject cycle, the fluid pulse operating to help dislodge particles that have collected on the inlet screen, and thus help to maintain the inlet screen in a clean condition. 
   
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the propeller structure further includes a neck portion interposed between the propeller element and the propeller element, to space the propeller element away from the poppet valve. 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the propeller element includes at least one scalloped section at an edge portion thereof, for helping to induce a turn to the fluid pulse. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the propeller element includes a plurality of scalloped sections formed along an edge portion thereof, for helping to induce a turn to the fluid pulse. 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the propeller element includes at least one of a smoothly curving upper surface and a smoothly curving lower surface. 
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the propeller structure includes a neck portion, and wherein the neck portion is threadably engaged with the poppet valve. 
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet casting includes at least one flow bore formed therein for providing a secondary fluid passageway through the inlet casting to influence a directional flow of the fluid pulse. 
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet casting includes at least one of a groove or a slot in a portion thereof to introduce a directional flow of the fluid pulse. 
     
     
         20 . A pneumatically driven pump for pumping a fluid, the pump comprising:
 a pump housing configured to receive a pressurized fluid signal:
 an inlet screen at an end of the pump housing for admitting fluid therethrough into an interior area of the pump housing; 
 an inlet casting disposed within the pump housing adjacent the inlet screen; and 
 a poppet valve configured to seat against the inlet casting to block a flow of fluid into an interior area of the pump housing during a fluid eject cycle of operation of the pump, and to move longitudinally within the pump away from the inlet casting to allow fluid to be admitted into and collect within the pump housing; 
   the poppet valve including:
 a propeller structure including a neck portion and a propeller element projecting from the neck portion, the neck portion projecting along a longitudinal centerline of the pump housing and from the poppet valve to cause the propeller element to be disposed within an area bounded by the inlet screen, the propeller element forming a circular propeller element having at least one edge scalloped portion at an edge portion thereof, the propeller element creating a fluid pulse when the poppet valve is seated against the inlet casting at the beginning of the fluid eject cycle, and the scalloped portion helping to induce a turn to the fluid pulse, the fluid pulse acting to help dislodge particles that have collected on the inlet screen, and thus help to maintain the inlet screen in a clean condition. 
   
     
     
         21 . An integrated fluid coupling assembly comprising:
 a tubular housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an internal valve seat formed within an interior area thereof;   the tubular housing having a threaded lower end for coupling to a threaded port of a pump head assembly, the pump head assembly forming a portion of a fluid pump;   a check ball disposed in the tubular housing for forming a one-way ball check valve in connection with the internal valve seat;   a quick connect fitting coupled to the upper end of the tubular housing, the quick connect housing enabling rapid connecting and detachment of a mating quick connect fitting component associated with a discharge tube; and   a plurality of flow turning vanes formed in the quick connect housing for imparting a swirling motion to a fluid flowing through the quick connect fitting.   
     
     
         22 . The integrated fluid coupling assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a supplemental flow turning element arranged at an inlet end of the tubular housing, to impart an initial swirl to a fluid flow entering the tubular housing. 
     
     
         23 . An integrated fluid coupling assembly comprising:
 a tubular housing having a lower end, an upper end, and an internal valve seat formed within an interior area thereof;   the tubular housing having a threaded lower end for coupling to a threaded port of a pump head assembly, the pump head assembly forming a portion of a fluid pump;   a check ball disposed in the tubular housing for forming a one-way ball check valve in connection with the internal valve seat;   the upper end of the tubular housing having a threaded upper end for coupling with a mating threaded fitting, wherein the mating threaded fitting is associated with a discharge tube; and   a plurality of flow turning vanes formed in the quick connect housing for imparting a swirling motion to a fluid flowing through the quick connect fitting.