SELF-PRIMING, POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit to provisional patent application serial no.

5 61/647,694, filed 16 May 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its

entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Field of the Invention

i o This invention relates to a pump; and more particularly, relates to a compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement pump.

2. Description of Related Art

The pumping devices that are known in the art are larger units with heavy 15 batteries.

Some shortcomings of the prior art pumping devices include: The usual use of the battery operated pumps is for air mattresses and moving air. There are few known devices that may be used for fluid transfer, and that are usually submersible and require their batteries to be changed. These known units for fluid transfer are 20 typically vane or centrifugal pumps and cannot generate much discharge pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments, the present invention may take the form of apparatus including a compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive 25 displacement pump that has a combination of

an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis L _aX i _S ; a positive displacement pump assembly, including a diaphragm pump, configured in the elongated housing, and configured to respond to a motor assembly drive torque, to self-prime, and to pump fluid from an input port to an output port; a motor assembly configured in the elongated housing and configured to respond to signaling and provide the motor assembly drive torque;

a pump control interconnect assembly configured in the elongated housing, and configured to provide the signaling to control the operation of the motor assembly by current based on run dry mode or over current, by time based on a timer set to run for a given amount of time, by voltage based on over/under voltage, or some combination thereof; and

a rechargeable battery housing/assembly configured to respond to recharging signaling and configured with a rechargeable DC power supply and power control module for providing inrush, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuit, over current protection, or some combination thereof.

The positive displacement pump assembly, the motor assembly, the pump control interconnect assembly and the rechargeable battery housing/assembly all configured in-line with (or along) the longitudinal axis of the elongated housing so that the compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement pump is configured and dimensioned to be easily and conveniently stored in a toolbox or a pouch of a tool belt.

According to some embodiments, the present invention may include one or more of the following features:

The apparatus may further include a charging base configured to receive an end of the compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement pump and to provide the recharging signaling to the rechargeable battery. The housing may be configured with two pieces that seal together to form at least an IPX4 water resistant rating.

The pump control interconnect assembly may be configured to provide and implement the inrush, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuit and over protection current.

The apparatus comprises a retention clip configured to allow the compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement pump to be held on a belt or a toolbox.

The motor assembly may be configured with a power switch assembly to turn the motor assembly on and off.

The power control functionality may include voltage cutoff and switching functionality.

The input port and the output port may include a quick connect input port and a quick connect output port to allow the compact, lightweight, battery operated, self- priming, positive displacement pump to have multiport port configurations.

The quick connect input and output ports may be configured along an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated housing.

The positive displacement pump assembly may be, or take the form of, a diaphragm pump assembly.

The term "in-line" is under at least to mean "having the parts, items or components substantially arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal axis L

The term "lightweight" is understood at least to mean "one of less than average weight," especially when compared to other similar positive displacement pumps in its class, e.g., pumps having substantially the same pumping power, including when measured in gallons per minute (GPM). The term "compact" is understood at least to mean "having a dense structure, parts, items, or units closely packed or joined," especially when compared to other similar positive displacement pumps in its class, e.g., pumps having substantially the same pumping power, including when measured in gallons per minute (GPM).

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing, which is not necessarily to scale, include the following Figures: Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of a positive displacement pump shown without a -top cover, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2a shows a top perspective view of a charging base for the positive displacement pump shown in Figure 1 , according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2b shows an exploded view of the charging base shown in Figure 2a, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3a shows a bottom perspective view of an arrangement that includes a diaphragm pump assembly, a pump control printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and a rechargeable battery housing /assembly for a positive displacement pump shown in Figure 1 , according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3b shows a top perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3a, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4a shows a bottom frontal perspective view of a positive displacement pump without a bottom cover, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4b shows a bottom backwards perspective view of a positive displacement pump without a bottom cover, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5a shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a positive displacement pump, along a top-to-bottom plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5b shows a longitudinal side-to-side cross-sectional view of a positive displacement pump, along a side-to-side plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration of an embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, as structural and operational changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Details of the Present Invention

As shown in Figures 1 - 5b, the present invention is a positive displacement pump that utilizes a rechargeable battery pack and is self-priming, and able to generate pressure.

The pump includes the following items/elements that are labeled in the Figures below: Item #1 : Rechargeable battery housing/assembly configured with a power supply and a power control module for inrush, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuit and over current protection. Rechargeable batteries configured with a power supply are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Techniques for inrush, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuit and over current protection are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, a person skilled in the art without undue experimentation would be able to implement such a power control module for inrush, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuit and over current protection, based at least partly on, and consistent with, that disclosed herein.

Item #2: Pump control printed circuit board (PCPCB), configured with an interconnect assembly (with a microprocessor) that controls voltage cut-off and switching. The PCPCB 2 could also be used to control the pumping unit by current (run dry mode or over current), time (timer set to run XX secs/minutes), voltage (over voltage/under voltage) and other types or kinds control functions either now known or later developed in the future. Techniques for controlling voltage cut-off and switching are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, a person skilled in the art without undue experimentation would be able to implement such a PCPCB configured with such an interconnect assembly (with a microprocessor), based at least partly on, and consistent with, that disclosed herein. Techniques for controlling the pumping unit by current (run dry mode or over current), time (timer set to run XX secs/minutes), voltage (over voltage/under voltage) and other types or kinds control functions are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, a person skilled in the art without undue experimentation would be able to implement such a PCPCB for controlling the pumping unit by current (run dry mode or over current), time (timer set to run XX secs/minutes), voltage (over voltage/under voltage) and other types or kinds _. control functions are known in the art, based at least partly on, and consistent with, that disclosed herein.

Item #3: Power switch assembly configured as an On/Off switch to turn the positive displacement switch on/off. Power switch assemblies like element 2 are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future.

Item #4: Diaphragm pump assembly, e.g., including a diaphragm pump that consists of, or is configured with, a pump head labeled A, a pressure switch labeled B and a motor assembly labeled C. Diaphragm pump assemblies like element 4 are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, a person skilled in the art without undue experimentation would be able to implement such a diaphragm pump assembly like element 4, based at least partly on, and consistent with, that disclosed herein.

Item #5: Retention clip configured to allow the overall pumping unit or positive displacement pump to be simply held on a belt or tool box, etc.

Items #6, #6', #8 and #9: Plastic bottom/middle housing cover or portion, top/front housing cover or portion and battery cover or portion, e.g., configured with a four part constructions, including the top housing cover or portion 8, a battery housing cover or portion 9, the bottom/middle housing cover or portion 6 and a top/middle housing cover or portion 6' (see Figures 4a and 4b). Embodiment are envisioned, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, using other types or kinds of housing configurations, e.g., including a two part housing construction 5 having either a combination of a front half housing cover or portion and a back half housing cover or portion, or an alternative combination of a top half housing cover or portion and a bottom half housing cover or portion.

Item #7, #7': Quick connect ports on the pump allow for the pumping unit or positive displacement pump to have multiple port configurations, including an input i o port and an output port.

Item #10: Charging base configured to receive the positive displacement pump and recharge the rechargeable battery 1. By way of example, the charging base may be configured as a two-part construction having a an upper charging based portion 10a and a lower charging base portion 10b. Charging bases like

15 element 10 for recharging rechargeable batteries are known in the art, and the

present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, a person skilled in the art without undue experimentation would be able to implement such a charging base like element 10, based at least partly on, and consistent with, that disclosed herein.

20 In Figure 1 , the positive displacement pump or pumping unit may be

configured to be enclosed in a 4-part plastic housing configuration, elements 6, 6', 8, 9 (Figures 4a, 4b) consisting of pieces that seal together to form a IPX4 water resistant rating, e.g., constrained by self-threading screws. This 4-part plastic housing configuration may be configured to enclose the battery 1 ; pump control 5 PCBA 2; and the diaphragm pump assembly 4, which consists of the pressure switch 4A, the pump housing 4B and the motor assembly 4C, as shown. The pressure switch 4C may be capped with the top/front housing 8. By way of example, the battery housing/assembly 1 may be configured to be over-molded with a durable material. The battery housing/assembly 1 may be charged in the charging base 10. The power from the battery 1 may be sent to the motor assembly 4C through the pump control PCBA 2, which received on/off signals from the power switch 3, and then passes power to the motor assembly 4C. The pump control PCBA 2 may be configured to contain a microprocessor or processor that can provide and implement the variety of functions set forth above.

The compact, lightweight, rechargeable, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement utility pump can be stored in a tool box, tool belt, belt. The compact, lightweight, rechargeable, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement utility pump can be used in small confined spaces or, due to the self- priming ability, can be located remotely from a work area and a hose placed in the fluid can be drawn from a source and pumped. The pump is a positive displacement pump that can pump fluid long distances and generate head pressure, allowing it to be used as a sprayer to rinse areas.

Figures 1 - 5b are also understood to include items, parts and/or components that are not described in detail and not labeled since they do not form part of the underlying invention, including screws and fasteners for coupling, e.g., the housing items, parts or components 6, 6', 8 and 9 together, or the pressure switch 4A and the pump housing 4B together; suitable wiring for providing signaling and power between items, parts or components, e.g., the rechargeable battery 1 , the pump control PCBA 2 and the motor assembly 4C; items, parts or components for rotational coupling the motor assembly 4C and diaphragm pump that forms part of the diaphragm pump assembly 4; etc.

5 The Basic Invention

By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may take the form of apparatus including a compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement pump as shown in Figures 1 - 5b that features the combination of the following:

i o the elongated housing 6, 6', 8, 9 having the longitudinal axis L _ax i _S ;

the positive displacement pump or pump assembly, including a diaphragm pump (see element 4B re the diaphragm pump contained in pump housing 4B), configured in the elongated housing 6, 6', 8, 9, and configured to respond to a motor assembly drive torque, to self-prime, and to pump fluid from the input port to the 15 output port;

the motor assembly 4C configured in the elongated housing 6, 6', 8, 9 and configured to respond to signaling and provide the motor assembly drive torque; the pump control interconnect assembly 2 configured in the elongated housing 6, 6', 8, 9, and configured to provide the signaling to control the operation of 20 the motor assembly 4C by current based on run dry mode or over current, by time based on a timer set to run for a given amount of time, by voltage based on over/under voltage, or some combination thereof; and the rechargeable battery housing/assembly 1 configured to respond to recharging signaling and configured with a rechargeable DC power supply and power control module for providing the inrush, overcharging, over-discharging, short circuit, over current protection, or some combination thereof.

The positive displacement pump assembly, the motor assembly, the pump control interconnect assembly and the rechargeable battery housing/assembly may all be configured in-line with (or along) the longitudinal axis L _ax i _S of the elongated housing 6, 6', 8, 9 so that the compact, lightweight, battery operated, self-priming, positive displacement pump may be configured and dimensioned to be easily and conveniently stored in a toolbox or a pouch of a tool belt.

Implementation of the Functionality

of the Pump Control PCBs 2 and Associated Signal Processor Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future for implementing the runtime functionality of the present invention.

By way of example, the functionality of the pump control PCB 2, the associated signal processor, and any associated signal processing may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, although the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular embodiment thereof. For example, in a typical software implementation, the signal processor may take the form of one or more microprocessor-based architectures having a processor or microprocessor, a random and/or read only access memory (RAM/ROM), where the RAM/ROM together forming at least part of the memory, input/output devices and control, data and address buses connecting the same. A person skilled in the art would be able to program such a microprocessor-based implementation with computer program code to perform the functionality described herein without undue experimentation. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular implementation using technology either now known or later developed in the future. Moreover, the scope of the invention is intended to include the signal processor being a stand alone module, or in some combination with other circuitry for implementing another module. Moreover still, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind of signal processor used to perform the signal processing functionality, or the manner in which the computer program code is programmed or implemented in order to make the signal processor operate. A person skilled in the art without undue experimentation would appreciate and understand how to develop or write a suitable software program or algorithm for running on such a pump control PCB so as to implement the functionality set forth herein.

The pump control PCB like element 2 and the associated signal processor may include one or more other sub-modules for implementing other functionality that is known in the art, but does not form part of the underlying invention per se, and is not described in detail herein.

Possible Applications:

Fluid transfer, maintenance applications, any use that requires a positive displacement pump. Scope of the Invention

Although described in the context of particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications and various changes to these teachings may occur. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to one or more preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain modifications or changes, in form and shape, may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth above.