Direct Volume-Controlling Device (DVCD) for Reciprocating Positive-Displacement Pumps

Abstract

A volume control device having a housing with an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and an internal chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet passages. An accumulator is movably positioned within the internal chamber and substantially conforms with walls of the internal chamber, the accumulator including an internal passage allowing fluid flow therethrough. An one-way valve is positioned in the internal passage of the accumulator where the valve is biased in a closed position and an adjustable seat is positioned within the housing internal chamber between the accumulator and the housing outlet passage. A positioning mechanism engages the housing and adjustable seat whereby the position of the adjustable seat within the housing internal chamber may be adjustably fixed.

1 . A volume control device comprising:
 a. a housing having an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and an internal chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet passages;   b. an accumulator movably positioned within the internal chamber and substantially conforming with walls of the internal chamber where the accumulator includes an internal passage allowing fluid flow therethrough;   c. an one-way valve positioned in the internal passage of the accumulator where the valve is biased in a closed position;   d. an adjustable seat positioned within the housing internal chamber between the accumulator and the housing outlet passage;   e. a positioning mechanism engaging the housing and adjustable seat whereby the position of the adjustable seat within the housing internal chamber may be adjustably fixed.   
     
     
         2 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator seals against a lower portion of the internal chamber and the internal passage of the accumulator is substantially aligned with the inlet passage of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the valve within the accumulator is a poppet type with a spring biasing it in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein a first position of the adjustable seat holds the accumulator against a lower portion of the housing internal chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The volume control device of  claim 4 , wherein a second position of the adjustable seat allows the accumulator to traverse a first distance within the housing internal chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The volume control device of  claim 5 , wherein a third position of the adjustable seat allows the accumulator to traverse a second, greater distance within the housing internal chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises at least one cam member rotating within the housing internal chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The volume control device of  claim 6 , wherein the accumulator is free to travel the first or second distance subject only to seal friction between the accumulator and wall of the housing internal chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The volume control device of  claim 7 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises two cam members engaging cam pins on the adjustable seat. 
     
     
         10 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first seal positioned between the accumulator and a wall of the housing internal chamber and a second seal positioned between the adjustable seat and the wall of the housing internal chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes a control surface external to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The volume control device of  claim 11 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes a bolt member and the control surface is a gripping surface on one end of the bolt member. 
     
     
         13 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the one way valve allows flow in the direction of the inlet passage toward the outlet passage. 
     
     
         14 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises mating threaded surfaces on a portion of the wall of the housing internal chamber and on the adjustable seat. 
     
     
         15 . The volume control device of  claim 14 , wherein the adjustable seat includes a threaded stem in-line with the inlet passage. 
     
     
         16 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator has a larger first end and a smaller second end, and said smaller second end slides into an aperture in the adjustable seat. 
     
     
         17 . The volume control device of  claim 16 , wherein the second end slides freely within the adjustable seat. 
     
     
         18 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein components positioned within the housing consist essentially of the accumulator, the adjustable seat, and the positioning mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a means for altering the position of the adjustable seat within the housing in order to allow a different degree of travel within the housing by the accumulator. 
     
     
         20 . A reciprocating pump system with adjustable volume control, the system comprising:
 a. a reciprocating pump having a fluid inlet allowing fluid to enter the pump during an intake cycle and a fluid outlet allowing fluid to exit the pump during a discharge cycle; and   b. a volume control device in fluid communication with the pump outlet, the control device comprising:
 i. a housing having an inlet passage communicating with the pump outlet, an outlet passage, and an internal chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet passages; 
 ii. an accumulator movably positioned within the internal chamber and have at least one surface substantially conforming with walls of the internal chamber where the accumulator includes an internal passage allowing fluid flow therethrough; 
 iii. a valve positioned in the internal passage of the accumulator where the valve is biased in a closed position; 
 iv. an adjustable seat positioned within the housing internal chamber; 
 v. a positioning mechanism engaging the housing and adjustable seat whereby the position of the adjustable seat within the housing internal chamber may be adjustably fixed. 
   
     
     
         21 . A volume control device comprising:
 a. a housing having an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and an internal chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet passages;   b. a volume control means for controlling a volume of fluid within the internal chamber, the volume control means further including an internal passage allowing fluid flow therethrough;   c. a flow direction control means for allowing one-way fluid flow, the flow direction control means being positioned in the internal passage of the volume control means and being biased in a closed position;   d. a seating means for adjustably positioning the volume control means within the housing internal chamber, the seating means being between the volume control means and the housing outlet passage;   e. a positioning means for adjustably fixing the position of the seating means within the housing internal chamber.   
     
     
         22 . A volume control device comprising:
 a. an inlet passage and an outlet passage;   b. an accumulator positioned in an accumulator chamber wherein the accumulator chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet passage;   c. a positioning mechanism whereby the position of the accumulator in the accumulator chamber may be adjustably fixed;   d. an one-way valve positioned in an one-way valve chamber wherein the one-way valve chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and   e. wherein the one-way valve chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet passage and the one-way valve is biased in a position closing off the inlet passage from the outlet passage.   
     
     
         23 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , wherein an accumulator passage provides a fluid connection between the outlet passage and the accumulator chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , wherein an adjustable seat holds the accumulator against one end of the accumulator chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The volume control device of  claim 24 , wherein a first position of the adjustable seat allows the accumulator to traverse a first distance within the accumulator chamber and second position of the adjustable seat allows the accumulator to traverse a second distance within the accumulator chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , wherein the one-way valve is a poppet type with a spring biasing it in the closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , further comprising a first seal positioned between the accumulator and a wall of the accumulator chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , wherein the one-way valve allows flow in the direction of the inlet passage toward the outlet passage. 
     
     
         29 . The volume control device of  claim 24 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises mating threaded surfaces on a portion of the wall of the accumulator chamber and on the adjustable seat. 
     
     
         30 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , wherein the accumulator chamber, the one-way valve chamber, the inlet passage, and the outlet passage are formed in a single unitary housing. 
     
     
         31 . The volume control device of  claim 22 , wherein the accumulator chamber and the one-way valve chamber are formed in separate bodies and external conduits connect the inlet passage and the outlet passage to the accumulator chamber and the one-way valve chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The volume control device of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator substantially conforming with walls of the internal chamber includes a seal positioned between the walls and the accumulator.