Anti gas-lock pumping system

Abstract

An improved fluid pumping system is described. The pump is designed such that any gas present in the fluid being pumped is completely displaced from the pumping chamber with each downstroke of a pump plunger. This prevents pump failure due to gas-locking by preventing gas build-up within the pump, thereby improving long-term pumping efficiency and increasing pump life.

1 . An anti gas-lock valve for operative mounting within a pump having a pump housing with at least one outflow port, the pump having a plunger for upstroke and downstroke motion within the housing, the anti gas-lock valve comprising: 
 a. a valve shaft having an inlet port, for allowing fluid inflow in a first direction towards the plunger, the valve shaft oriented within the pump housing such that a first end of the valve shaft is proximal to the plunger and a second end of the valve shaft is distal to the plunger; and    b. a valve head attached to the first end of the valve shaft, the valve head having at least one outlet port for allowing fluid outflow in a second direction away from the plunger; and    c. a valve plug slidably engaged with the valve shaft for reversible seating against the at least one outlet port of the valve head to permit fluid flow through the at least one outlet port during downstroke of the plunger, and out through the outflow port.    
   
   
       2 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve head has a top surface proximal to the plunger and a bottom surface distal to the plunger, and wherein the valve head includes a plurality of outlet ports arranged circumferentially around the valve shaft for communication of fluid from the top surface to the bottom surface of the valve head.  
   
   
       3 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve plug is maintained in seating relationship to the at least one outlet port of the valve head by a compression spring mounted slidably along the valve shaft below the valve plug.  
   
   
       4 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve plug has a diameter less than the diameter of the pump barrel for allowing particulate matter to flow around the valve plug.  
   
   
       5 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the valve plug is tapered for facilitating settling of any particulate matter present in the pumped fluid.  
   
   
       6 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve shaft has at its second end a one-way valve assembly for allowing fluid entry into the inlet ports of the valve shaft on plunger upstroke, and preventing fluid backflow from the inlet port of the valve shaft on plunger downstroke.  
   
   
       7 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve shaft has at its second end a base, the base being defined by a steel ring.  
   
   
       8 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve plug is maintained in seating relationship to the outlet ports of the valve head by a compression spring mounted slidably along the valve shaft below the valve plug.  
   
   
       9 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 8 , wherein the valve plug has a diameter less than the diameter of the pump barrel for allowing particulate matter to flow around the valve plug.  
   
   
       10 . An anti gas-lock valve according to  claim 9 , wherein the lower surface of the valve plug is tapered to facilitate settling of any particulate matter present in the pumped fluid.  
   
   
       11 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump comprising: 
 a. a longitudinal pump barrel having at least one pump discharge port;    b. a plunger and piston slidably and sealingly engaged within the pump barrel for reciprocal movement within the pump barrel;    c. a valve shaft having at a first end a valve head in sealable contact with the pump barrel, located proximally to the plunger, and defining a pumping chamber between the valve head and the plunger; the valve shaft and the valve head having an inlet port for allowing fluid into the pumping chamber on upstroke of the plunger; and the valve head also having at least one valve head outlet port through which fluid may be expelled from the pumping chamber on plunger downstroke; and    d. a valve plug in sliding engagement with the valve shaft for reversible seating with the valve head on upstroke, and unseating with the valve head on downstroke to allow fluid to be expelled from the pump barrel through at least one pump discharge port.    
   
   
       12 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve head comprises a plurality of valve head outlet ports arranged circumferentially around the valve head inlet port.  
   
   
       13 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve plug is maintained in seating relationship to the at least one outlet port of the valve head by a compression spring mounted slidably along the valve shaft below the valve plug.  
   
   
       14 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve plug has a diameter less than the diameter of the pump barrel for allowing particulate matter to flow around the valve plug.  
   
   
       15 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the lower surface of the valve plug is tapered for facilitating settling of any particulate matter present in the pumped fluid.  
   
   
       16 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve shaft has at its second end a one-way valve assembly for allowing fluid entry into the inlet port of the valve shaft on plunger upstroke, and preventing fluid backflow from the inlet port of the valve shaft on plunger downstroke.  
   
   
       17 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the plunger includes at least one seal around its circumference for preventing fluid flow between the plunger and the pump barrel.  
   
   
       18 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve shaft has at its second end a base, the base being defined by a steel ring.  
   
   
       19 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve plug is maintained in seating relationship to the outlet ports of the valve head by a compression spring mounted slidably along the valve shaft below the valve plug.  
   
   
       20 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 19 , wherein the valve plug has a diameter less than the diameter of the pump barrel for allowing particulate matter to flow around the valve plug.  
   
   
       21 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the lower surface of the valve plug is tapered to facilitate settling of any particulate matter present in the pumped fluid.  
   
   
       22 . An anti gas-lock fluid pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the pump has a plurality of pump discharge ports located circumferentialy around the pump barrel at its end distal to the plunger.