High pressure solar powered pump

Abstract

A solar powered pump assembly delivers high pressure liquid in relatively small volumes. The assembly includes a d.c. motor powered by the solar panel having a gearmotor output shaft driving a multilobe cam which acts against a lever which in turn acts against a follower assembly to reciprocate an input rod of a small reciprocating pump. A voltmeter or voltage measuring circuit is used to detect the voltage output of the solar panel and battery and interrupt operation of the pump assembly in the event the voltage output thereof falls below a predetermined value. A stroke adjustment mechanism may be used to limit the range of oscillating movement of the lever thereby leading to a wide range of daily volume output of the reciprocating pump.

1 . A high pressure low volume pump assembly comprising 
 a solar panel,    a d.c. motor powered by the solar panel and having an output shaft providing at least one cam lobe,    a lever abutting the cam and pivotable about an axis,    a return mechanism biasing the lever toward the cam, and    a reciprocating pump having an input rod and a follower assembly on the input rod abutting the lever so that rotation of the cam causes reciprocation of the input rod thereby powering the reciprocating pump.    
   
   
       2 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an oil filled compartment having therein the cam, the lever, the return mechanism and the follower, the motor output shaft and pump input rod extending-through a wall of the compartment.  
   
   
       3 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 2  wherein the follower assembly comprises an auxiliary rod coaxial with the input rod of the reciprocating pump, the auxiliary rod extending through a wall of the compartment and a rocker assembly connecting the auxiliary rod and the lever for reciprocating the auxiliary rod upon oscillation of the lever.  
   
   
       4 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cam comprises multiple lobes.  
   
   
       5 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cam comprises three lobes.  
   
   
       6 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a battery for storing electrical energy from the solar panel and a control system for the d.c. motor including a device for measuring voltage output of the battery and a system for interrupting operation of the d.c. motor when the measured voltage output falls below a predetermined value.  
   
   
       7 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein the follower assembly comprises an auxiliary rod coaxial with the input rod of the reciprocating pump and a rocker assembly connecting the auxiliary rod and the lever for reciprocating the auxiliary rod upon oscillation of the lever, the rocker assembly comprising a pair of arcuate abutments loosely mounted on the auxiliary rod and facing and abutting the lever and a backer plate for each arcuate abutment constraining movement of the arcuate abutments away from the lever.  
   
   
       8 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 7  wherein the arcuate abutments are partially spherical.  
   
   
       9 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a selector for limiting pivotal movement of the lever about the axis and thereby limiting movement of the input rod of the reciprocating pump and limiting volume output of the reciprocating pump.  
   
   
       10 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 9  wherein the selector comprises a threaded rod extending into a path of movement of the lever.  
   
   
       11 . The high pressure low volume pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein the follower assembly comprises a body mounted for axial movement and providing a notch therein, a low friction device connected to an output end of the lever and residing in the notch so that oscillation of the lever causes reciprocation of the input rod thereby powering the reciprocating pump.  
   
   
       12 . A high pressure low volume pump assembly comprising 
 a solar panel in circuit with a battery for storing electrical energy produced by the solar panel;    a d.c. motor powered by the solar panel and battery and having an output shaft;    a reciprocating pump having an input rod;    a force transmitting device for converting rotation of the motor output shaft into reciprocation of the pump input rod; and    a control system for the d.c. motor including a device for measuring voltage output of the battery and a system for interrupting operation of the d.c. motor when the measured voltage output falls below a predetermined value.