Pump control valve

Abstract

A pump control valve for use between a motor driven pump and a fluid storage and supply tank. The pump control valve is operative to control the run time of the pump by controlling the fluid supplied to the tank between a maximum of fluid supplied to a minimum of fluid supplied during the time period in which the tank pressure is brought to the desired limit.

1 . A pump stop valve for variably controlling the flow of fluid between a motor driven pump and a distribution tank to control the run time of said pump, said valve comprising:
 a housing having a first chamber having an inlet connected with said pump and a second chamber having an outlet connected with said tank;   said first chamber connecting with said second chamber through a first opening allowing a continuous flow rate and a second opening having a greater but interruptable flow rate;   a diaphragm arranged over said second opening, said diaphragm being operative to seal said second opening to prevent fluid flow through said second opening between said first and second chambers and to unseal said second opening and allow fluid flow between said first and second chambers;   a third chamber arranged adjacent said first and second chambers and above said diaphragm;   an inlet opening connecting said third chamber with said first chamber allowing fluid at a fixed rate to enter said third chamber wherein sufficient of said fluid within said third chamber causes said diaphragm to seal said second opening of said first chamber;   an outlet opening provided in said third chamber providing an adjustable rate of fluid flow out of said third chamber into said second chamber, said third chamber outlet variably controlling the time required for said fluid within said third chamber to cause said diaphragm to seal closing said second opening; whereby,   the run time of said pump is controlled to selected time periods by controlling the rate of fluid flow to said tank to vary by as much as ⅔ between start and stop.   
   
   
       2 . The pump stop valve of  claim 1  wherein said third chamber includes a dial overactive to adjust said rate of fluid flow through said outlet opening to cause closure of said diaphragm to coincide with a pre-selected tank pressure. 
   
   
       3 . The pump stop valve of  claim 2  wherein said dial includes a pointer and indicia indicating tank pressures wherein said pointer is positioned to point at selected indicia causing said diaphragm to close said opening upon said tank reaching the selected pounds of pressure. 
   
   
       4 . The pump stop valve of  claim 1  wherein said valve housing is made of plastic. 
   
   
       5 . A system for increasing the run time of a fluid pump including a fluid storage and delivery tank, a motor driven fluid pump for delivering fluid to said tank and a pump stop valve for controlling the length of run time of said pump, said system comprising:
 a fluid delivery line carrying fluid from said pump to said pump stop valve and from said pump stop valve to said tank;   a pressure switch with said tank operative to actuate said pump when pressure within said tank drops below a set point and to deactivate said pump when said pressure, within said tank, rises above a set point;   said fluid stop valve having an intake chamber for receiving fluid from said pump, an output chamber for expelling fluid to said tank, and a flow regulating control including a regulating dial for automatically controlling the rate of fluid flow through said pump stop valve between high and low volumes; whereby,   said pressure switch activates said fluid pump to deliver fluid to and through said pump stop valve at said high volume until a selected intermediate pressure is obtained within said tank, whereupon said pump stop valve is actuated to reduce the fluid flow through said valve to said low volume until said fluid pressure switch deactivates said pump.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said pump stop valve includes a housing made of plastic. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said pump stop valve includes a third chamber adjacent said first and second chambers, said third chamber controlling a diaphragm operative to open and close a main opening interconnecting said first and second chambers. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5  including a first opening interconnecting said intake and output chambers, a second and smaller opening interconnecting said intake and output chambers and a diaphragm controlled by said flow regulating control operative to move between open and closed positions to allow or stop fluid flow through said first opening.