Rodder pump

Abstract

A closed loop rodder pump is disclosed which can include a tube assembly and a reciprocating cylinder assembly disposed therein. The cylinder assembly can include a piston portion and a plunger. The piston portion can sealingly engage the tube assembly. In some embodiments, the cylinder assembly can include a second plunger to provide the pump with a dual-acting feature. The rodder pump can be used in a water jetter cleaning system of a vehicle for cleaning catch basins and/or sewers.

1 . A rodder pump comprising: 
 a first tube defining a first pressure chamber;    a second tube defining a hydraulic chamber, the second tube connected to the first tube;    a gland interposed between the first pressure chamber and the hydraulic chamber; and    a cylinder assembly including a piston part and a first plunger, the cylinder assembly reciprocally movable within the first and second tubes;    wherein the piston portion is in sealing contact with the hydraulic chamber and the first plunger is in sealing contact with the gland, the first plunger movable such that the first plunger can extend into the first pressure chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The rodder pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the second tube includes a first hydraulic port and a second hydraulic port, the first and second hydraulic ports being in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber, the piston portion being reciprocally movable within the hydraulic chamber, the cylinder assembly being movable in response to a flow of hydraulic fluid through at least one of the first and second hydraulic ports.  
   
   
       3 . The rodder pump according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 first and second sensors disposed adjacent first and second ends of the hydraulic chamber, the sensors configured to detect when the piston portion is proximal thereto.    
   
   
       4 . The rodder pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the second tube includes a first and a second sensor port, the sensors respectively disposed in the first and second sensor ports.  
   
   
       5 . The rodder pump according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a butt fitting disposed at a distal end of the first tube, the butt fitting having a fluid port in fluid communication with the first pressure chamber.    
   
   
       6 . The rodder pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid port of the butt fitting has a valve disposed therein, the valve being configured to selectively control the flow of fluid through the fluid port in at least one direction.  
   
   
       7 . The rodder pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the valve comprises an integrated dual check valve.  
   
   
       8 . The rodder pump according to  claim 2 , wherein a first fluid port and a second fluid port are in fluid communication with the pressure chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The rodder pump according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a third tube defining a second pressure chamber, the third tube connected to the second tube, the second tube disposed between the first and second tubes;    a second gland disposed between the hydraulic chamber and the second pressure chamber;    wherein the cylinder assembly includes a second plunger, the second plunger being in opposing relationship to the first plunger such that the piston part is disposed between the first and second plungers, the cylinder assembly reciprocally movable within the first, second, and third tubes, the second plunger being in sealing contact with the second gland, the second plunger movable such that the second plunger can extend into the second pressure chamber.    
   
   
       10 . The rodder pump according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 first and second sensors disposed adjacent first and second ends of the hydraulic chamber, the sensors configured to detect when the piston portion is proximal thereto.    
   
   
       11 . The rodder pump according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a first butt fitting disposed at a distal end of the first tube, the first butt fitting having a fluid port in fluid communication with the first pressure chamber;    a second butt fitting disposed at a distal end of the third tube, the second butt fitting having a fluid port in fluid communication with the second pressure chamber.    
   
   
       12 . The rodder pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluid port of the first butt fitting has a first valve disposed therein, the first valve being configured to selectively control the flow of fluid through the fluid port in at least one direction.  
   
   
       13 . The rodder pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the first valve comprises an integrated dual check valve.  
   
   
       14 . The rodder pump according to  claim 11 , wherein a common feed line connects the fluid port of the first butt fitting and the fluid port of the second butt fitting.  
   
   
       15 . A rodder pump comprising: 
 a first tube defining a first pressure chamber;    a second tube defining a hydraulic chamber, the second tube sealingly connected to the first tube, the second tube having first and second hydraulic port respectively disposed adjacent first and second ends thereof, the first and second hydraulic ports being in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber;    a third tube defining a second pressure chamber, the third tube sealingly connected to the second tube, the second tube disposed between the first and second tubes;    a cylinder assembly including a piston part, a first plunger, and a second plunger, the cylinder assembly reciprocally movable within the first, second and third tubes such that the first plunger is reciprocally movable within the first pressure chamber, the piston part is reciprocally movable within the hydraulic chamber, and the second plunger is reciprocally movable within the second pressure chamber;    wherein the cylinder assembly is selectively movable in response to a flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic port to move the cylinder in a first direction wherein the first plunger moves in a direction from the first pressure chamber toward the hydraulic chamber and through the second hydraulic port to move the cylinder in a second direction wherein the second plunger moves in a direction from the second pressure chamber toward the hydraulic chamber, the second direction opposing the first direction.    
   
   
       16 . A vehicle for cleaning a pipe comprising: 
 a reel;    a length of hose that is woundable upon the reel;    a water tank for storing a supply of water;    a water pump in fluid communication with the water tank;    a rodder pump, the rodder pump being in fluid communication with the water pump to receive water from the water tank, the rodder pump being in fluid communication with the hose to deliver supply of pressurized water thereto;    a hydraulic supply in hydraulic communication with the rodder pump to selectively operate the rodder pump;    wherein the rodder pump comprises: 
 a first tube defining a first pressure chamber, the first pressure chamber being in fluid communication with the hose and with the water tank;  
 a second tube defining a hydraulic chamber, the second tube sealingly connected to the first tube, the hydraulic chamber being in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic supply;  
 a cylinder assembly including a piston part and a first plunger, the cylinder assembly reciprocally movable within the first and second tubes in response to the flow of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic chamber such that the first plunger is reciprocally movable over a suction stroke and a discharge stroke;  
 wherein water can flow into the first pressure chamber from the water tank during the suction stroke and water can be discharged from the first pressure chamber to the length of hose during the discharge stroke.  
   
   
   
       17 . The vehicle according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a collection body;    a vacuum hose connected to the collection body; and    a vacuum source operably connected to the vacuum hose line such that a vacuum is selectively generated in the vacuum hose to suck debris through the vacuum hose and store in the collection body.    
   
   
       18 . The vehicle according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a multi-stage blower filtration system disposed between the vacuum source and the vacuum hose.    
   
   
       19 . The vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein the multi-stage blower filtration system includes a centrifugal cyclone and a stainless steel screen strainer for filtering debris from the vacuum source.  
   
   
       20 . The vehicle according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a boom mounted on the vehicle, the vacuum hose being supported by the boom.    
   
   
       21 . The vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein the boom is extendable over a predetermined range.  
   
   
       22 . The vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein the second tube of the rodder pump includes a first hydraulic port and a second hydraulic port, the first and second hydraulic ports being in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber and with the hydraulic supply, the piston portion being reciprocally movable within the hydraulic chamber, the cylinder assembly being selectively movable in response to the flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic port to move the cylinder in a first direction and through the second hydraulic port to move the cylinder in a second direction, the second direction opposing the first direction.  
   
   
       23 . The vehicle according to  claim 22 , wherein the rodder pump further comprises a third tube defining a second pressure chamber, the third tube sealingly connected to the second tube, and the cylinder assembly includes a second plunger, the second plunger movable such that the second plunger can extend into the second pressure chamber, the second pressure chamber being in fluid communication with the water tank and the length of hose, the second plunger being reciprocally movable over a suction stroke and a discharge stroke, the second plunger arranged with the second pressure chamber such that water can flow into the second pressure chamber from the water tank during the suction stroke of the second plunger and water can be discharged from the second pressure chamber to the length of hose during the discharge stroke of the second plunger.  
   
   
       24 . The vehicle according to  claim 23 , wherein the suction stroke and the discharge stroke of the first plunger are in alternating relationship to the suction stroke and the discharge stroke of the second plunger such that when the first plunger is undergoing the suction stroke, the second plunger is undergoing the discharge stroke.  
   
   
       25 . The vehicle according to  claim 24 , wherein the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber are in fluid communication with each other via a common feed line such that water is alternatingly discharged from the first and second pressure chambers into the common feed line during the respective discharge strokes of the first and second plungers, the common feed line being in fluid communication with the length of hose.