This complete specification claims priority from the Indian patent application Nos. 2704/MUM/2010, 2799/MUM/2010, 404/MUM/201 1 , and 1377/MUM/201 1.

This patent application is a further improvement of the inventions disclosed in the above mentioned patent applications.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein constitutes a single invention concept based on all above patent applications and included in this complete specification.

The disclosures of all these patent applications are incorporated as reference, for defining the scope of the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for transferring energy between a driving fluid and a driven fluid with high efficiency and without contacting or mixing.

The device utilizes the energy of driving fluid to increase the pressure of the driven fluid in order to pump it. The driving fluid and driven fluid may be similar or dissimilar fluids.

PRIOR ART

The available prior art devices for increasing the pressure of fluids, such as - pumps or intensifies, are mostly powered by electric motors or fuel engines. The devices for pumping fluids which work without any fuel or electricity, such as- a hydraulic ram, use the energy of working fluid to pump the same fluid (generally water). However, these types of devices are unable to pump another fluid.

The prior art devices cannot pump large quantity of fluid available at lower heights by using the energy of small quantity high pressure fluid, e. g. by using small quantity water stored at heights in lakes/dams, large quantity water cannot be pumped, e.g. from river to the river bank with a high efficiency.

In the prior art devices, the pistons of different diameters housed in chambers/cylinders are connected by connecting rods to transfer energy from one fluid to the other, in order to increase the pressure. Similarly, in diaphragm pumps, the diaphragms are interconnected by connecting rods passing through both the pumping chambers and a sealing is provided to avoid leakage of fluid from one of the chamber to the other. Such sealing arrangements or the like, need frequent maintenance and special lubrication system, because of which, these devices are less efficient and unsuitable for low, very low pressures and are thus expensive. Moreover, in operation of prior art devices, components like, piston, reciprocating assembly housing, pumping chambers, linking rod for connecting pistons or diaphragms, always come in contact with the working fluids, which causes contamination or mixing of fluids, which is unacceptable, particularly in pharmaceutical/chemical industry.

In the prior art devices, working fluids are not acting along the piston axis, causing loss of pressure or energy. Further, inlet and outlet pipes for fluid flow connected to these devices have abrupt openings and contractions, which also cause a loss of pressure or energy. Fluid driven hydraulic/pneumatic pumps transfer the energy of one of the fluid (e.g. air) to another fluid. However, none of the prior art devices teach or suggest a friction-free movement of reciprocating means for transferring energy of one working fluid to another with high efficiency.

U. S. Patent No. 5,558,506, issued to John M. Simmons on sep. 24, 1996 shows a pneumatically shifted reciprocating pump, actuated by air pressure, including reciprocating left and right bellows attached to fluid pumping pistons located in pumping chambers connected together by a connecting rod passing through both pumping chambers which needs special lubrication arrangement. This invention suggests use of Teflon or other soft material. Sealing or precise arrangement is needed for rod and its housing to avoid leakage, since connecting rod passes through pumping chambers at different pressure, this special arrangement increases cost of device and needs frequent maintenance. No means are provided for preventing ballooning, tilt and wobbling of bellows at high pressure. Bellows are connected to piston of same surface area, so intensification is impossible. The piston and connecting rods slidably move in the housing, causing friction and wear and tear.

Therefore, there was a long-felt need for a device to overcome these problems. As such, there is a need of a highly energy efficient and inexpensive device for transferring energy between the same or different fluids, without contacting or mixing with each other. The above problems and limitation of the prior art devices are successfully overcome by the present invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on utilizing the potential (pressure) energy of one of the fluid to enable the pumping of another fluid with high pressure, i.e. the novel device utilizes the energy of the primary or driving fluid to increase the pressure of the secondary or driven fluid for pumping it with high efficiency, without contacting or mixing. However, these fluids may also be the same fluids.

A further object of the invention is to enable vertical and/or horizontal delivery of a driven fluid by optimally transferring the energy available in a driving fluid to the driven fluid.

A still further object of the present invention is to use the available line pressures as energy of a driving fluid by transferring at least a portion of the energy available in this driving fluid, to pump the same or a different fluid, which would have otherwise remained unutilized.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The device for transferring energy between a driving fluid and a driven fluid without contacting or mixing with each other, the device comprising: an elongate central body with a profiled cavity on either side having a respective fluid passage; a pair of composite outer bodies having a respective fluid IN/OUT passage for fluid communication with IN line and OUT line of one of the fluids via a flow diverter valve assembly; a pair of assembly of moveable chambers, each fixed on either side of said central body and disposed inside respective composite body; a plurality of guiding and connecting means passing through a respective inner annular end plate of said composite outer body for connecting and reciprocating said pair of assembly of moveable chambers in a friction minimizing manner and disposed on either side of said central body; in which said flow diverter valve assembly alternatively diverts the direction of reciprocating motion of said pair of assembly of moveable chambers by diverting the flow direction of one of said fluids by means of actuation or pulses received on reaching the respective end positions on either side of said central body; and flow directing valves for alternatively switching the flow direction of the other fluid from its IN line to respective moveable chamber and from respective moveable chamber to an OUT line via said fluid passages of said central body.

Typically, the composite outer body comprises: a cylindrical outer body with flanges extending outwardly at each end and having fasteners, and at least partially conical outer end plate connected via said respective fluid passage at either outer end to said IN line or OUT line and having a flange at respective inner end, which is fastened on a respective flange of said cylindrical outer body for fixing a partition to form a respective moveable chamber on either side of said central body; an inner annular end plate closing the operative inner end of the respective composite body and fixed with its inner circumference on the outer surface of said elongate central body, said inner annular plate having a plurality of apertures for fixing a plurality of bearing means for the passage of said guiding and connecting means through the same.

Typically, the respective composite outer body surrounds a cylindrical inner body having flanges extending outwardly at either end, and an outer pot-like rigid body having a flat closed outer end and an annular flange extending outwardly at inner end; a respective inner annular diaphragm being fixed at its outer circumference between an outer flange of said cylindrical shell and inner annular flange of said pot-like body by fasteners, said inner annular diaphragm being fixed at its inner circumference under a respective annular plate on said central elongate body by fasteners to form a respective inner moveable chamber; a circular diaphragm being fixed at its outer circumference as said partition between an outer flange of respective cylindrical body and said flange of respective partially conical outer end plate; said circular diaphragm being centrally supported and fixed under fixing plates by fasteners outside the base of said outer pot-like body to form a respective outer moveable chamber.

Typically, the moveable chambers being a pair of assembly of outer bellows and inner bellows, each of said bellows having a flat closed end and an open end, said flat closed ends abutting on either side of a flat circular partition; said pair of assembly of bellows enclosed within said composite outer body disposed on either sides and moveable in a friction minimizing manner; said open ends of outer bellows having an annular portion extending outwardly and fixed as said partition between said flange of respective conical outer end plate and outer flange of respective cylindrical outer body, to form a respective outer chamber; said inner bellows having a respective cylindrical open end extending parallel to the axis of said assembly and fastened on the external circumference of said central body by fasteners to form a respective inner chamber; said bellows being provided with disc-like reinforcing means at regular intervals, having anti friction means on outer circumference abutting the inner circumference of respective cylindrical inner body at one end and supporting said bellows at inner circumference; said guiding and connecting means being supported on said flat circular partition and passing through a plurality of apertures provided in said disc-like reinforcing means of inner bellows. Typically, a rigid inner cylindrical shell being disposed and moveable inside respective outer composite body, by abutting its extended base having anti friction sealing means on its outer circumference at one end and forming a respective outer moveable chamber with said conical outer end plate; the other annular end of said cylindrical shell being supported and moveable on said central body in a friction minimizing and sealing manner and forming a respective inner moveable chamber.

Typically, the device comprising: a central body with profiled inner cavities on either side, being connected by a respective fluid passage to an IN line 2 via driving fluid IN line and an OUT line; a respective cylindrical outer body disposed on either side of said central body, said cylindrical outer body having flanges at both ends and closed at outer end by a respective outer annular plate fitted with cylindrical bodies having a profiled conical cavity, closed at inner ends by a respective inner annular plate, said inner annular plate being also fixed at its inner circumference on said central body; a pair of composite inner bodies disposed on either side of said central body, each composite inner body respectively having an inner pot-like rigid body and an outer cylindrical shell, said pot-like body having a flanged end open towards said cylindrical shell and its base towards said central body; said outer cylindrical shell having flanges on either side, the inner flange abutting the flange of said pot-like body for fixing an outer annular diaphragm by fasteners to form a respective outer moveable chamber with a profiled conical cavity of respective cylindrical bodies, and having an outwardly extending outer flange; a pair of bracket like bellow supporting cylinders, each fixed on respective inner annular end plate by plurality of fasteners for fixing and supporting an inner circular diaphragm at its circumference, the middle portion of said diaphragm being supported and fixed by fasteners under fixing plates outside the base of said pot-like rigid body to form a respective inner moveable chamber; guiding and connecting means passing through said inner annular end plates and supported on bearing means for imparting friction- minimized reciprocating movement to said pair of assembly of moveable chambers; wherein, the driving fluid is directly supplied via a flow diverter valve assembly into one of the inner moveable chambers, in order to reciprocate the moveable assembly in one of the longitudinal direction of said assembly, said flow diverter valve assembly diverting said flow to the other inner moveable chamber on receiving actuation or pulses from the said pair of assembly of movable chambers on reaching a respective end position of said reciprocating movement of said assembly; a directing valve alternatively directing the flow direction of the other fluid from its IN line via driven fluid IN line to respective chamber and chamber to an OUT line from said profiled outer conical cavity, in order to facilitate said reciprocating movement of said pair of assembly of chambers in a reversed direction.

Typically, the flow diverter valve assembly comprises: a pilot operated ball-type 4-way large orifice valve, and a pulse operated flow diverter assembly, wherein, the pilot pressure is controlled by said pulse operated flow diverter assembly by means of actuation or pulses received on reaching the respective end position of said reciprocating movement of said pair of assembly of moveable chambers.

Typically, the pilot operated ball type 4-way valve comprises: an IN port D; an exhaust port; an IN-OUT port A, B disposed on either side; pilot ports; said ball type 4-way large orifice having IN chambers; Exhaust chambers; a pair of ball assemblies, each ball assembly having a pair of balls, each pair of balls fixed on respective freely movable and centrally guided rods which are centrally supported by a respective spring, and passing through either end of a lever and fixed on a respective diaphragm at one of the ends which is fixed at the other end of said rods, sandwiching between two rigid fixing plates; ball seats; and said lever being pivoted about a pivot.

Typically, the pulse operated diverter assembly comprises: a pair of 3-way valves; a 4-port floating piston valve; and a pair of non-return valves, said 3-way valves being disposed on either of said 4-port floating piston valve, wherein each of said 3-way valves having an intermediate chamber connected to an IN port of said 4-way floating piston valve via an OUT port, a respective outer chamber axially disposed on either side of said intermediate chamber and connected via an exhaust port to a common exhaust port, a respective inner chamber axially connected to each other and to a common IN line via an IN port; and an axially moveable plunger with a profiled portion having a plunger tail, a middle body supported at one end by a spring fixed on it by a fixing disc and having a flange at its other end, and sealing means surrounding said profiled portion, further wherein said 4-port floating piston valve comprises a flat floating piston having axial cylindrical projections with sealing means, said piston reciprocating within a 4-port cylindrical chamber having two axial IN ports and two radial OUT ports; said IN ports alternatively connecting a common IN line via said respective 3-way valve to a pilot port of said pilot operated ball type 4-way valve via one of said OUT ports by positioning of said floating piston on either side of said 4-port cylindrical chamber at respective ends thereof. Typically, the non-return valves comprises: three chambers formed by two partitions, a pilot port, an IN port and an OUT port, a poppet valve having a stem with a poppet fixed at one end and a diaphragm attached in the middle and fixed at the other end, both fixed by fasteners, said diaphragm biased by means of a spring for directing fluid flow in one direction to connect said pilot port to said IN port.

Typically, the flow diverter valve assembly comprises: a pilot operated ball-type 4-way valve, and a pulse operated flow diverter assembly having a pair of 3- way valves and a 5 -port floating piston valve; said 3 -way valves being disposed on two opposite sides of said 5 -port floating piston valve, which comprises a floating piston with a circumferential groove in the middle, reciprocating within a 5 -port cylindrical chamber having two axial IN ports and two radial OUT ports and an exhaust port and said exhaust port alternatively in fluid communication with one of the OUT port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention in which, the device for transferring energy from large quantity fluid at low pressure (e.g. rain water collected on top of buildings) to low quantity fluid to increase its pressure (e.g. to pump tap water to a reservoir located above the terrace [top] from base reservoir) includes moveable chambers partitioned by means of a plurality of pairs of diaphragms.

Fig. 2 shows schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention in which the device for transferring energy from low quantity fluid at high pressure (e.g. water in dams) to large quantity fluid to increase its pressure (e.g. to pump river water to river bank) includes moveable chambers partitioned by means of a plurality of pairs of diaphragms.

Fig. 3 shows schematic view of the third embodiment of the present invention in which the device for transferring energy includes moveable chambers formed by means of a plurality of pairs of bellows.

Fig. 3a shows an assembly of respective pair of bellows fixed on either side of disc 63a, 63b as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3b shows a detailed view of the reinforcing discs provided on the pair of bellows and disc 63a, 63b shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3c shows a further detailed view of the anti-friction means 58 shown in Fig. 3 and 3b.

Fig. 4 shows schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention in which the device for transferring energy includes pairs of moveable chambers formed by means of respective rigid cylinders.

Fig. 5 shows schematic view of the fifth embodiment of present invention, in which the device for transferring energy includes a centrally disposed body directly in fluid communication with driving fluid through fluid passages provided on it and having a reversed position of diaphragm and pot-like chamber assembly with respect to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.6 shows schematic detailed view of fluid diverter valve assembly shown in Figures 1 to 5, which includes: a pair of 3-way valves, a 4-port floating piston valve, a pair of pilot operated non-return/check valves and one ball type 4-way large orifice valve, all shown in their operative configurations.

Fig. 6a shows schematic detailed view of fluid diverter valve assembly 15, in which the floating piston valve is a 5-port valve, which includes a circumferentially centrally grooved piston and an additional exhaust port connected to the groove on it.

Fig. 7 shows schematic view of the non-return/check valves shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7a shows schematic view of the ball type 4-way large orifice valve for diverting fluid flow by pulse operated diverter valve assembly shown in Fig. 6.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention in which, the device can transfer energy from a large quantity fluid present at low pressure (e.g. rain water collected on top of buildings) to low quantity fluid to increase its pressure (e.g. to pump tap water to a reservoir above top of buildings from base reservoir), i.e. a driven fluid without contacting or mixing with each other. The device includes: an elongate central body 44 with profiled cavities, here the central body 44 has respective conical cavities 37, 38 with a fluid passage 46, 45 on either side for fluid communication via pipes 11, 12 with IN/OUT lines 1, 13 of a secondary or driven fluid via a flow directing or switching valve 80, 81, 82, 83, to be explained later. The central body 44 is fixed in its position, and a pair of composite outer bodies is fixed on either side thereof. Each composite outer body includes a cylindrical body 40a, 40b with flanges on both ends extending outwardly, and a plurality of holes for fixing fasteners 62a, 62b. A partially conical outer end plate 60a, 60b is also provided for forming a respective outer chamber. The outer pointed end of the end plates 60a, 60b has an IN/OUT passage 35, 36 for fluid communication with a primary or driving fluid via connection line 7, 5, to flow diverter valve assembly 15 and the respective fluid IN line 2 or fluid OUT line 14. The operators of said flow diverter valve assembly 15 are linked to pair of assembly of movable chambers by means of mechanical or electrical actuations so as to divert the driving fluid flow from one of the outer chambers to other. The inner end of the end plates 60a, 60b also has a flange with corresponding holes for fixing it on an outer flange of respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b by fasteners 62a, 62b. A respective circular diaphragm 9a, 9b is fixed between the respective outer flange of cylindrical body 40a, 40b and the respective flange of the end plates 60a, 60b. A respective fixing plate 20a, 20b keeps the diaphragms 9a, 9b fixed outside the extended base of the respective outer pot-like body 41, 42 by means of fasteners 21a, 21b. Therefore, an outer chamber is formed for containing said primary or driving fluid volume within the respective composite outer body disposed on either side of said central body 44. A respective inner annular plate 47, 48 is fixed on said central body 44, and an inner flange of the respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b is fastened by fasteners 43a, 43b. A plurality of guiding and connecting rods 25, 26, duly supported on respective bearing means 17 fixed in apertures is provided in the respective inner end plates 47, 48 to connect and reciprocate said pair of assembly of inner and outer moveable chambers within a respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b.

Another pair of composite inner bodies disposed on either side of said central body 44 each includes a respective pot-like rigid body 41, 42 having a closed end and a flange on one side and one cylindrical inner body 41a, 42a having outwardly extending flanges on both ends. A respective inner annular diaphragm 10a, 10b is fastened with its peripheral end by fasteners 22a, 22b between the respective outer pot-like body 41, 42 and inner cylindrical body 41a, 42a. The other inner circumferential end of the respective diaphragm is fixed on the annular face of said central body 44 by fasteners 23a, 23b pressed under the annular plate 24a, 24b. Therefore, a respective inner chamber is formed in conjunction with each conical cavity 37, 38 of central body 44 for containing a secondary or driven fluid volume. The respective combined volume of the moveable outer chambers and the moveable inner chambers is always constant. However, individual volumes of outer chambers can vary amongst themselves as per the reciprocating movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers. Similarly, the individual volumes of inner chambers can vary amongst themselves as per the reciprocating movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers.

Fig. 2 shows schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention in which the device for transferring energy from low quantity fluid at high pressure (e.g. water in dams) to large quantity fluid to increase its pressure (e.g. to pump river water to river bank) includes moveable chambers partitioned by means of a plurality of pairs of diaphragms. This device also includes a plurality of pairs of moveable chambers partitioned by means of a plurality of pairs of diaphragms as shown in Figure 1. However, this embodiment differs from that shown in Fig. 1 only in that, that the driving fluid volume is now contained in the moveable inner chambers and the driven fluid volume is contained in the moveable outer chambers. Accordingly, driving fluid IN line 1 and OUT line 13 are respectively in fluid communication with fluid pipes 11, 12 disposed on central body 44 via flow di verier valve assembly 16 and the driven fluid IN line 2 via control valve 51 and fluid OUT line 14 are respectively connected to the flow directing valves 76, 77, 78, 79 via pipes 5, 7 for changing the flow direction on reaching the respective end positions of the reciprocating movement of said pair assembly of moveable chambers. All other constructional details are the same as in Fig. 1 already discussed above.

Fig. 3 shows schematic view of a third embodiment of the present invention, in which device for transferring energy includes: a composite outer body similar to that shown in Fig. 1 or 2, with the only difference that conical outer plate is conical in shape and not partially conical. The assembly of moveable chambers disposed on either side of central body 44 includes a pair of bellows, i.e. a respective outer bellow 52a, 52b and an inner bellow 54a, 54b. Each of the bellow has a flat closed end and a flanged open end. The flat closed ends of outer bellows abut the respective two sides of flat circular partition 63a, 63b. The open end of outer bellows 52a, 52b have a flanged open end 68a, 68b extending outwardly, which is fixed as partition between the flanges of said conical outer end plates 60a, 60b and the outer flange of respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b for forming a respective outer chamber on either side of said central body 44. The open ends of the inner bellows 54a, 54b have a cylindrical end 70a, 70b extending parallel to the axis of assembly, which is fixed on the external circumference of said central body 44 in a sealing manner by fasteners 21g, 21h for forming a respective inner chamber. All these bellows are provided with disc-like reinforcing means 56, 57 supporting their outer surface at regular intervals. Anti-friction means 58, such as roller bearings (refer Fig. 3b, 3c) are also provided on the outer circumference of these reinforcing means, which abut the inner circumference of respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b in order to minimize friction during movement of assembly of moveable chamber. At their inner circumferences, these disc-like reinforcing means 56, 57 also support the respective bellows, in order to prevent any uncontrolled bulging due to fluid contained inside. The reinforcing means 57 provided on the inner bellows also have apertures for passage of a plurality of connecting rods 25, 26. The operators of said flow diverter valve assembly 15 are linked to the pair of assembly of movable chambers by means of mechanical or electrical actuations, so as to divert the flow of the respective driving fluid and driven fluid from one direction to the other, in order to obtain a reciprocating movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers about said central body 44.

Fig. 3a shows an enlarged view of an assembly of respective pair of bellows 52a, 54a; 52b, 54b fixed on either side of flat circular partition 63a, 63b shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3b shows a detailed view of the reinforcing discs 56 with apertures provided on the pair of outer bellows 52a, 52b shown in Fig. 3. It also shows a detailed view of the reinforcing discs 57 with apertures provided on the pair of inner bellows 54a, 54b shown in Fig. 3. The figure also shows the roller bearings 58 fixed on the circumference of these reinforcing discs for support and friction minimized movement of each assembly of moveable chambers inside the respective cylindrical body 40a, 40b. It should be noted that these aperture profiles are merely for representation purposes and may include various other profiles within the scope of this invention.

Fig. 3c shows a further detailed view of the roller bearings 58 shown in Fig. 3 and 3b. Here, the bearings 58 are fixed on the outer circumference of the reinforcing discs for making a rolling contact with the inner circumference of the respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b for a friction minimized reciprocating movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers.

Fig. 4 shows schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which an inner cylindrical shell 41c, 41d is disposed inside the respective outer cylindrical body 40a, 40b, each of which is disposed on either side of the central body 44. The extended circular base of the respective inner cylindrical shell 41c, 4 Id has anti friction sealing means 31 on its outer circumference, which abuts the inner circumferential surface of the respective cylindrical outer body 40a, 40b in a sealing manner. Therefore, the respective outer chambers are formed between said extended circular base and the conical outer end plate 60a, 60b. The other annular end of the inner cylindrical shell 41c, 41 d also has anti friction sealing means 32, which is also supported and moveable on said central body 44 in a sealing manner. Therefore, each of the inner cylindrical shell 41c, 41 d forms a respective inner moveable chamber in conjunction with the respective conical cavity 37, 38 disposed on either side of the central body 44.

Fig. 5 shows schematic view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the driving fluid is supplied to the inner moveable chambers directly via fluid passages 45a, 45b provided on the central body 44c in order to connect to the respective profiled cavities on either sides of the central body 44c. In this embodiment, the device has a reversed construction of the moveable chambers assembly, i.e. the inner moveable chamber is filled with the driving fluid and outer chamber is filled with the driven fluid. The inner circular diaphragm 10c, lOd form the inner chambers and the outer annular diaphragms 9c, 9d form the outer chambers. The orientation of the inner pot-like body 42d, 42f is also reversed. Here, each of the cylindrical outer body 40c, 40d enclosing the respective pair of moveable chambers is composed of a cylindrical outer body 40c, 40d which is closed at outer ends by outer annular plates 44d, 44e fitted with a cylindrical bodies 44a, 44b having respective inwardly extended conical cavity 35e, 36e to form an outer chamber with the respective inner pot-like body 42d, 42f in conjunction with the outer annular diaphragms 9c, 9d. Each cylindrical outer body 40c, 40d is closed at the inner end by an inner annular plate 48a, 48b fixed with its inner circumference on said central body 44c. A respective inner composite cylindrical body is disposed inside each cylindrical outer body 40c, 40d for forming a respective moveable chamber on either side of said central body 44c. In contrast to arrangement shown in Figure 1, here each of the inner pot-like body 42d, 42f is open outwardly to form the respective outer moveable chamber in conjunction with outer annular diaphragms 9c, 9d. The respective outer cylindrical shell 42 c, 42e has a corresponding smaller flange near the inner pot-like body 42d, 42f for fixing the annular outer diaphragm 9c, 9d and a respective outwardly extending larger flange 35c, 35d at its end away from the inner pot-like body 42d, 42f. A plurality of connecting rods 25c, 26c are fixed on the outwardly extending larger flanges 35c, 35d of the outer cylindrical shell 42c, 42e. A respective bellow supporting cylinder 41e, 4 if is fixed on the inner annular plates 48a, 48b for fixing the inner circular diaphragm 10c, lOd on its circumference and also for preventing any uncontrolled bulging due to high fluid pressure inside the respective inner moveable chambers. Similar to Figure 1, the middle portion of this inner circular diaphragm 10c, lOd is supported and fixed outside the base of said inner pot-like body 42d, 42f by means of fasteners 21c, 2 Id and fixing plates 20c, 20d.

Fig. 6 shows a typical fluid diverter valve assembly 15, 16. It consists of a pair of 3-way valves 25a, 25b disposed on either side of a 4-port floating piston valve 27a; a pair of nonreturn/check valves 43c, 43d connected to OUT ports 9e, 9f of said floating piston valve 27a; and a ball type 4-way large orifice valve 27b. Each of said 3-way valves 25a, 25b comprises an OUT port 19a, 19b, an IN port 36a, 36b and an exhaust port 20e, 20f connected to a common exhaust port 24. Said OUT ports 19a, 19b are connected to respective IN ports 33 a, 33b of said 4-port floating piston valve 27a, and said IN ports 36a, 36b of said 3-way valves 25a, 25b are connected to a common IN line 23. Two inner chambers 35a, 35b are disposed axially on inner sides of an intermediate chamber 18a, 18b. Therefore, the inner chambers 35a, 35b are connected to each other and to a common IN line 23. Similarly, two outer chambers 27c, 27d are disposed on outer sides of the intermediate chambers 18a, 18b connected via connection pipes 20g, 20h. A respective axially moveable plunger having a plunger tail (operator) 21e, 2 If, a middle body supported at one end by a spring 15a, 15b by discs 14a, 14b fixed on it and a respective flange 12a, 12b supported at its other end by profiled portion 37a, 37b, and sealing means surrounding flange 12a, 12b. Said 4-port floating piston valve 27a comprises, a floating piston 28 with axial cylindrical projections having sealing means, said floating piston 28 reciprocates within a cylindrical chamber 28c having two IN ports 33a, 33b, two OUT ports 9e, lOf.

Fig. 6a shows a typical fluid diverter valve assembly 15, which is similar in construction to the valve shown in Figure 6 except that here, the floating piston valve 27aj has a piston 28a having a centrally disposed cylindrical groove on its external circumference, which is connected to an additional exhaust port 24e provided on said floating piston valve 27ai. In this embodiment, two non-return/check valves 43c, 43d used in Figure 1 are omitted; thereby a simplified flow diverter assembly is obtained.

Fig. 7 shows a typical non-return/check valve 43c, 43d shown in Fig. 6. Each of the nonreturn valves 43c, 43d comprises three chambers formed by two partitions, a pilot port 45c, an IN port 47c and an OUT port 46c, a poppet valve with a stem 49c having a poppet 48c fixed at one end by fasteners and a diaphragm 44f attached in the middle and fixed at the other end by fasteners, said diaphragm 44f is biased by means of a spring 49d to direct fluid flow in one direction, i.e. connecting said IN port 47c to said OUT port 46c.

Fig. 7a shows schematic view of the ball type 4-way large orifice valve 27b for diverting driving fluid flow from one direction to the other by means of a pulse operated diverter valve assembly shown in Fig. 6 and 6a. Said ball type 4-way 27b comprises: an IN port D; an exhaust port C; two oppositely disposed IN-OUT ports A, B; pilot ports 56a, 56b in fluid communication with pilot chambers 55a,55b; said 4-way valve 27b having IN chambers 58a, 58c; Exhaust chambers 58b, 58d; a pair of ball assembly each assembly having two balls 66a, 66b; 66c, 66d fixed on the respective freely movable centrally guided rods 54c, 54d, which are supported on a diaphragm 57a, 57b at one of the ends by a spring 49d; said diaphragms 57a, 57b being fixed at the upper end of said rods 54c, 54d and sandwiched between two rigid plates 65; ball seats 67a, 67b; 67c, 67d ; a lever 61 pivoted about a pivot 61b and said rod 54c, 54d passes through the apertures 62c,62d at the ends of lever 61, and also supported and biased by stopper 65a,65b and spring 64a,64b.

Following tables illustrate different numerals used in this invention and names of respective part for convenience.

Ref. No. Name of the Part Ref. Name of the Part

No.

1 Fluid IN line 2 Fluid IN line

5, 7 Connection pipe 9a, 9b Circular diaphragm

9c, 9d Outer annular diaphragm 9e, 9f OUT ports of floating piston valve

27a 10a, 10b Inner annular diaphragm 10c, Inner circular diaphragm

lOd

11 Pipe connecting fluid passage 45 12 Pipe connecting fluid passage 46 to to flow directing valves flow directing valves

12a, 12b Flange of plunger of 3 -way valve 13, 13c Fluid OUT line

14a, 14b Disc for fixing plunger spring 14, 14c Fluid OUT line

15, 16 Flow diverter valve assembly 17, 18 Bearing means

15a, 15b Spring for 3 -way valve plunger 18a, Intermediate chamber of 3 -way

18b valve

19a, 19b OUT port of 3 -way valve 20a, Fixing plate

20b

20c, 20d Diaphragm fixing plate 20e, Exhaust port of 3 -way valve

20f

20g, 20h Connection pipe of 3 -way valve 21a, Fasteners

21b

21c, 21d Fasteners 21e, Plunger tail of 3 -way valve

21f

Ref. No. Name of the Part Ref. Name of the Part

No.

21g, 21h Fasteners 21j, Fasteners

21k

22a, 22b Fasteners 23 Common IN line

23a, 23b Fasteners 24 Exhaust port of 3 -way valve

24a, 24b Annular plate of central body 44 24c, Fasteners

24d

24e Exhaust port of valve 27ai 25, 26 Guiding and connecting means

25a, 25b 3 -way valve 25c, Guiding and connecting rod

26c

27a 4-port floating piston valve 27b 4-way large orifice valve

27a _t 5-port floating piston valve 27c, Outer chamber of 3 -way valve

27d

28 Flat floating piston for valve 27a 28a Grooved floating piston for valve 27 c 4-port Cylindrical chamber 28d 5-port Cylindrical chamber, 32 anti friction means on 41c, 41 d 33a, IN port of floating piston valve 27a

33b

, 36 IN/OUT passage at conical end 35a, Inner chambers of 3 -way valve plate 35b

c, 35d Outer cylindrical shell 35e, Conical cavity

36e

a, 36b IN port of 3 -way valve 37a, Profiled portion of 3 -way valve

37b plunger

, 38 Profiled cavity on first and 37c, Profiled inner cavity on body 44c second side of central body 44 37d

a,38b Sealing means on plunger flange 40a, Cylindrical outer body

40b

, 42 Outer pot-like rigid body 40c, Cylindrical outer body

40d (5 ^th embodiment)

c, 41d Rigid inner cylindrical shell 41a, Cylindrical inner body

42a

d, 42f Inner pot-like rigid body 41e, Bellow supporting cylinder

41f

Elongate central body 43a, Fasteners

43b

a,44b Cylindrical body 43c, Non-return/check valve

43d

f Diaphragm of poppet valve 44c Central body (5 ^th embodiment), 46 Fluid passage on central body 44 44d, Outer annular plate

44e

c OUT port of non-return valve 45a, Fluid passages on central body 44c

45b

c IN port of non-return valve 45c Pilot port of non-return valvec Poppet 47, 48 Inner annular end plate

c Stem of poppet valve 48a, Inner annular plate

48b

f Spring of poppet valve 49d Spring of 4-way valve 27b Control valve 50c Driven fluid IN line in body 44c

Control valve 51c Driving fluid IN line in body 44ca, 52b Outer bellow 54a, Inner bellow

54b

a, 55b Pilot chambers of 4-way valve 54c, Centrally guided rods

27b 54d

Reinforcing means on outer 56a, Pilot port of 4-way valve 27b bellows 56b

Reinforcing means on inner 57a, Diaphragm of ball assembly bellows 57b

Roller bearing on discs 56, 57 58a, IN chambers of 4-way valve 27b

58c

b, 58d Exhaust chambers of valve 27b 58e, Fasteners

58f

a, 60b Conical outer end plate 61 Lever of valve 27b

a Pivot of valve 27b 62a, Fasteners

62b

a, 63b Flat circular partition 62c, Apertures in lever 61

62d

c, 63d Disc-like reinforcing means 64a, Spring for ball valve 27b

64b

Diaphragm fixing plates 65a,65b stopper

Aperture in reinforcing means 66a, Balls of first ball assembly

66b

a, 67b Ball seat of first ball assembly 66c, Balls of second ball assembly

66d

c, 67d Ball seat of second ball assembly 68a, Flanged open end of outer bellows

68b

, 77 Flow directing valve 70a, Cylindrical open end of inner

70b bellows

,80c Flow directing valve 78, 79 Flow directing valve

,82c Flow directing valve 81,81c Flow directing valve

,83c Flow directing valve 88a, First, Second pair of bellows

88b assembly The working of the invention will now be described with reference to the constructional features shown in the drawings as described above.

In Figure 1 , the outer moveable chambers formed between the respective conical outer end plates 60a, 60b and circular diaphragms 9a, 9b disposed on either side of the elongate central body 44 are in fluid communication with fluid IN line 2 via control valve 51 and OUT line 14 of the primary or driving fluid via flow diverter valve assembly 15 through the respective fluid IN/OUT passages 35, 36. The total volume of these outer moveable chambers is constant, thus a change (increase or decrease) in the volume of driving fluid present in one of the outer moveable chamber causes a corresponding decrease or increase in the volume of the other outer moveable chamber. Similarly, the inner moveable chambers formed between the respective conical cavities 38, 37 on the central body 44 and the respective outer pot-like body 41, 42 by means of inner annular diaphragms 10a, 10b disposed on either side of said central body 44 are in fluid communication with IN lines 1 of the secondary or driven fluid via fluid directing valves 80, 82 through the respective fluid passages 45, 46 and control valve 50 and is also in fluid communication with OUT line 13 via flow directing valves 81, 83. The total volume of these inner moveable chambers is also constant, so a change (decrease or increase) in the volume of driven fluid present in one of the inner moveable chamber causes a corresponding increase or decrease in the volume of the other inner moveable chamber. Therefore, an increase or decrease in the volume of a respective outer moveable chamber on one of the side causes a corresponding decrease or increase in the volume of the inner moveable chamber in that side and vice versa.

When, the primary or driving fluid enters through fluid IN/OUT passage 35 into the first outer moveable chamber, it initiates a rightward movement of this moveable chamber since, the conical outer end plate 60a and the central body 44 are fixed. The only way, by which this driving fluid entering the outer moveable chamber can be accommodated, is by increasing its volume, i.e. by the displacement of circular diaphragm 9a by moving the inner composite cylinder assembly towards right. By this rightward movement of the first outer moveable chamber, the volume of driven fluid (required to be continuously pumped with high efficiency by utilizing the energy of said driving fluid present in the outer moveable chamber) is continuously reduced in the first inner moveable chamber. This drives out the driven fluid from said first inner chamber through pipe 12, which is connected to a flow directing valve assembly comprising of four flow directing valves 80, 81, 82, 83 herein described and arrangement is such that when the four way valve 15 attains a second position, the fluid communications through passages 35, 36, 45, 46 changes input to output and output to input of fluids respectively. In fact, when the driving fluid is moving the first moveable chamber from left to right, said flow directing valve assembly causes the entry of the driven fluid into the second inner moveable chamber through the other IN/OUT passage 46, which further aids the movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers towards right, as shown in Figure 1. All the while, the driving fluid is entering the first outer moveable chamber on the left; the driving fluid is flowing out from the second outer moveable chamber disposed on the right side of the central body 44 and flows out via flow diverter valve assembly 15 via fluid OUT line 14. The suction effect of the driving fluid flowing out of this second outer moveable chamber also enhances this rightward movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers. Simultaneously, the driven fluid is flowing out of said first inner moveable chamber, the flow directing valve 82 causes entry of the driven fluid into said second inner moveable chamber. Further, mechanical actuators or electrical sensors are disposed at predefined positions on said assembly of moveable chambers, which actuate the flow diverter valve assembly 15 (to be described subsequently in details), by which the movement of the pair of assembly of moveable chambers is reversed after reaching a respective end position, then causes the driving fluid inflow from fluid passage 36 provided on the right side of the central body 44 and the reversed operation continues to pump driven fluid present in said second inner moveable chamber. In this manner, the driven fluid is continuously pumped by the inflow of driving fluid via fluid IN line 2 and its energy is continuously transferred to the driven fluid flowing in via its fluid IN line 1.

The operation is similar for all the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, except in Figure 2 and 4, in which the driving fluid is filled in the inner moveable chambers and the driven fluid is filled in the outer moveable chambers, rest of the fluid energy transfer operation is the same.

Now, Figure 6 showing the flow diverter valve assembly 15 will be discussed for explaining its operation. In its normal position, the plunger tails 21e, 21f are extending out of the 3-way valves 25a, 25b by the respective preloaded spring 15a, 15b. On reaching a respective end position of the respective assembly of moveable chambers, a momentary actuation or pulse is given to the plunger tail of one of the 3-way valves 25a, e.g. plunger tail 21e here. By this actuation, this plunger moves towards right and plunger flange 12a momentarily blocks the fluid communication between the common IN line 23 and the intermediate chamber 18a of this 3-way valve 25a and a fluid communication is established between the IN port 33a of the 4-port floating piston valve 27a and exhaust port 24 via connection pipe 20g. This causes an imbalance of fluid pressures acting on two IN ports 33a, 33b of the floating piston valve 27a, and thus, brings the flat floating piston 28 to its left most position, to block the fluid- communication of this common IN line 23 with pilot port 56a of said 4-way ball type large orifice valve 27b. Immediately afterwards, because of the biasing force of spring 15a and due to the reversed movement of respective assembly of moveable chambers, said plunger comes back to the normal resting position and even though the fluid IN line pressure is again acting on both sides of the floating piston 28, the effective piston area on the left side (IN port 33a) being smaller than that on the right side (IN port 33b), the piston remains in its left most position, still blocking the fluid flow via left side OUT port 9e and allowing the fluid flow only via right side OUT port 9f. This is reversed when the other plunger tail is actuated on reaching the other respective end position.

Accordingly, driving fluid entering via IN line 23 is forwarded via OUT port 19b of 3-way valve 25b and via IN port 33b of 4-port floating piston valve 27a and further via OUT port 9f to the ball type 4-way ball type large orifice valve 27b and also to one of the non-return valve 43c. This driving fluid reaching the pilot port 56b of said ball assembly disposed on the right side of said 4-way ball type large orifice valve 27b pushes the diaphragm 57b down, thereby closing the fluid communication of the IN line port D with IN-OUT port A and opens its fluid communication with the IN-OUT port B. Simultaneously, removal of pressure at pilot port 56a causes closing of the fluid communication of the IN line port D with the port A and opens the fluid communication of said port A with the exhaust port C, upward movement of one of the ball assembly due to IN line pressure also assists the downward movement of the other ball assembly by means of lever 61. Here, it is pertinent to mention that ports A and B are respectively connected to one of the fluid IN/OUT passages 35 and 36 on the conical outer end plates 60a, 60b are disposed either side of said central body 44.

IN line fluid pressure is also acting on non-return valves 43c, 43d. However, as shown in Figure 7 and discussed above, the effective area of diaphragm 44f of the poppet valve 48c exposed to this pressure is more than the pressure working on poppet valve 48c on the other non-return valve 43 d. Therefore, fluid entering through pilot port 45 c of non-return valve 43 c opens the fluid communication between the IN port 47c and OUT port 46c with exhaust or atmospheric pressure.

Further, a 5-port floating piston valve 27ai is shown in Figure 6a. This valve has a 5-port cylindrical chamber and its piston 28a has a central circumferential groove and an exhaust port 24e, which is in fluid communication with one of the OUT ports 9e, 9f. This construction simplifies the diverter assembly by omitting two non-return/check valves 43c, 43d.

The flow diverter valve assembly operates in a reversed manner and the plunger of the other 3 -way valve 25b is actuated, when said assembly of moveable chambers reaches the other end position of movement. In this manner, the driving fluid energy is continuously transferred for pumping the driven fluid.

The present invention device is having resemblance between it and electric transformer. In step up transformer high current, low voltage is converted into low current, high voltage and in step down transformer low current, high voltage is converted into high current, low voltage. While the present invention transfers energy of less quantity (volume), high pressure secondary fluid to large quantity (volume) primary fluid for increasing its pressure which is less than applied pressure, also transfers energy of large quantity, low pressure primary fluid to less quantity secondary fluid for increasing its pressure which is greater than applied pressure. In pumping, pressure of fluid pumped depends on volume and density ratios of respective fluids in outer and inner respective chamber.

EXEMPLARY USE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the product, it will be appreciated that further alterations can be done and that many modifications can be done in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the present invention.

These and other changes in the preferred product in accordance with the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the present invention and not as a limitation thereof.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES & ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The potential (pressure) energy of one of the fluid can be utilized for pumping the same or different fluid with high pressure by increasing the pressure of the secondary or driven fluid with high efficiency, without contacting or mixing of the two fluids. A vertical and horizontal delivery of a driven fluid by means of the energy available in a driving fluid can be achieved with optimum energy utilization. The available line pressures energy of one fluid can be used to pump the same or a different fluid, which energy would have otherwise remained unutilized.