Valve and pump devices for expelling fluid from vessels

Abstract

A pump apparatus for use with a vessel to selectively expel fluid from the vessel, the apparatus comprising a housing with an internal chamber having first and second portions, the first portion includes an inlet port and an outlet port that communicates with the outside of the vessel; a conduit connected to the inlet port and in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel; a stopper mounted within the first portion and being movable to seal and unseal the outlet port for regulating the expulsion of fluid from the chamber; a reciprocating member moveably mounted within the second portion and being dimensioned for a close fit therein, and further being connected to the stopper and having a larger exposed surface area than the stopper, such that the reciprocating member moves in a first direction in response to an increase in fluid pressure in the first portion causing the stopper to unseal the outlet port, and moves in an opposite second direction when the fluid pressure in the first portion returns to that of the resting state of the apparatus, thereby enabling the stopper to seal the outlet port; and a means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in the first portion of the chamber to actuate the reciprocating member.

1 . A valve apparatus for use with a vessel for selectively enabling the expulsion of fluid from the vessel, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining an internal chamber having first and second portions, wherein the first portion of the housing includes a fluid inlet port that is in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel when the apparatus is operably connected to the vessel and a fluid outlet port that communicates with the outside of the vessel;    a stopper mounted within the first portion of the housing and being movable to seal and unseal the outlet port for regulating the expulsion of fluid from the chamber;    a reciprocating member moveably mounted within the second portion and being dimensioned for a close fit therein, and further being connected to the stopper and having a larger exposed surface area than the stopper, such that the reciprocating member moves in a first direction in response to an increase in fluid pressure in the first portion causing the stopper to unseal the outlet port, and moves in an opposite second direction when the fluid pressure in the first portion returns to that of the resting state of the apparatus, thereby enabling the stopper to seal the outlet port; and    a means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in the first portion of the chamber to actuate the reciprocating member.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reciprocating member and stopper are moveable in a linear path along the same axis.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the stopper is biased towards sealing the outlet port when the apparatus is in a resting state.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the means for increasing fluid pressure in the first portion communicates with the inlet port.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the reciprocating member and stopper are moveable along the axis of the chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further including a rod mounted for reciprocating movement along the axis of the chamber, and having one end connected to the stopper and an opposite end connected to the reciprocating member.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the reciprocating member is moveable in relation to the rod, and the apparatus further includes a retainer at the opposite end and a biasing means mounted on the rod between the retainer and the reciprocating member for biasing the reciprocating member away from the retainer.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of any one of claims  6  and  7  wherein the second portion is cylindrical and the reciprocating member is a piston within the second portion.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first portion of the chamber is cylindrical, and the first and second portions are coaxial.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the stopper is dimensioned to fit closely within the first portion of the chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are substantially at a right angle to each other.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the stopper is biased by a coil spring having one end connected to the housing and the other end abutting the stopper.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the ratio of the exposed surface area of the piston to the exposed surface area of the stopper is at least 1.5:1.  
   
   
       14 . A pump apparatus for use with a vessel to selectively expel fluid from the vessel, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining an internal chamber having first and second portions, wherein the first portion of the housing includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port that communicates with the outside of the vessel;    a conduit connected to the inlet port and in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel;    a stopper mounted within the first portion of the housing and being movable to seal and unseal the outlet port for regulating the expulsion of fluid from the chamber;    a reciprocating member moveably mounted within the second portion and being dimensioned for a close fit therein, and further being connected to the stopper and having a larger exposed surface area than the stopper, such that the reciprocating member moves in a first direction in response to an increase in fluid pressure in the first portion causing the stopper to unseal the outlet port, and moves in an opposite second direction when the fluid pressure in the first portion returns to that of the resting state of the apparatus, thereby enabling the stopper to seal the outlet port; and    a means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in the first portion of the chamber to actuate the reciprocating member.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the means for increasing fluid pressure in the first portion comprises an impeller mounted for rotation within the conduit, a motor electrically coupled to a power source and connected to the impeller for rotating the impeller, and a remote switch connected to the motor for activating and deactivating the motor.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the reciprocating member and stopper are moveable in a linear path along the same axis.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the stopper is biased towards sealing the outlet port when the apparatus is in a resting state.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the reciprocating member and stopper are moveable along the axis of the chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further including a rod mounted for reciprocating movement along the axis of the chamber, and having one end connected to the stopper and an opposite end connected to the reciprocating member.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the reciprocating member is moveable in relation to the rod, and the apparatus further includes a retainer at the opposite end and a biasing means mounted on the rod between the retainer and the reciprocating member for biasing the reciprocating member away from the retainer.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of any one of claims  19  and  20  wherein the second portion is cylindrical and the reciprocating member is a piston within the second portion.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first portion of the chamber is cylindrical, and the first and second portions are coaxial.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the stopper is dimensioned to fit closely within the first portion of the chamber.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are substantially at a right angle to each other.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the stopper is biased by a coil spring having one end connected to the housing and the other end abutting the stopper.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the ratio of the exposed surface area of the piston to the exposed surface area of the stopper is at least 1.5:1.  
   
   
       27 . A pump apparatus for mounting in transportable firefighting containers for selectively expelling fluid from such container, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining an internal chamber having first and second portions, the second portion being larger in cross-section than the first portion and being in fluid communication with fluid in the container when the apparatus is mounted in the container, the first portion of the housing further including a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid in the container via the inlet port;    connector means cooperating with the housing for mounting the apparatus in the container in a manner that the outlet port communicates with the outside of the container through the wall of the container, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the atmosphere via the outlet port;    a stopper mounted within the first portion of the housing and being movable to seal and unseal the outlet port to regulate the expulsion of fluid from the chamber;    a reciprocating member moveably mounted within the second portion and being dimensioned for a close fit therein, and further being connected to the stopper and having a larger exposed surface area than the stopper, such that the reciprocating member moves in a first direction in response to an increase in fluid pressure in the first portion causing the stopper to unseal the outlet port, and moves in an opposite second direction when the fluid pressure in the first portion returns to that of the resting state of the apparatus, thereby enabling the stopper to seal the outlet port;    a duct connected to the inlet port and communicating with the fluid in the container; and    a means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure in the first portion of the chamber to actuate the reciprocating member comprising an impeller mounted for rotation within the duct, a submersible motor electrically coupled to a power source and connected to the impeller for driving the impeller, and a remote switch connected to the motor for activating and deactivating the motor.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the reciprocating member and stopper are moveable in a linear path along the same axis.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the stopper is biased towards sealing the outlet port when the apparatus is in a resting state.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the reciprocating member and stopper are moveable along the axis of the chamber.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  further including a rod mounted for reciprocating movement along the axis of the chamber, and having one end connected to the stopper and an opposite end connected to the reciprocating member.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the reciprocating member is moveable in relation to the rod, and the apparatus further includes a retainer at the opposite end and a biasing means mounted on the rod between the retainer and the reciprocating member for biasing the reciprocating member away from the retainer.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of any one of claims  31  and  32  wherein the second portion is cylindrical and the reciprocating member is a piston within the second portion.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the first portion of the chamber is cylindrical, and the first and second portions are coaxial.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the stopper is dimensioned to fit closely within the first portion of the chamber.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are substantially at a right angle to each other.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the stopper is biased by a coil spring having one end connected to the housing and the other end abutting the stopper.