Pumping system with actuator

Abstract

A pumping system is provided which includes a motor coupled with a transmission and a pump. The pump includes a housing with a chamber, a plunger coupled with the motor and the transmission and translatable into and out of the chamber creating pressure changes in the chamber, an entry valve at an inlet in the housing to the chamber, an exit valve at an outlet in the housing to the chamber, and an actuator coupled with the entry valve. The actuator is operable to hold the entry valve in an open configuration independent of pressure changes created by the translation of the plunger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pumping system comprising:
 a motor coupled with a transmission, the transmission having a plurality of gear ranges;   a pump including:
 a housing with a chamber; 
 a plunger coupled with the motor and the transmission and translatable along a longitudinal axis into and out of the chamber by the motor and transmission, the translation of the plunger creating pressure changes in the chamber; 
 an entry valve at an inlet in the housing to the chamber, the entry valve transitionable between an open configuration permitting fluid flow through the inlet to the chamber and a closed configuration preventing fluid flow through the inlet to the chamber; 
 an exit valve at an outlet in the housing to the chamber, the exit valve permitting fluid flow through the outlet from the chamber at a predetermined pressure; and 
 an actuator coupled with the entry valve, the actuator operable to hold the entry valve in the open configuration independent of the pressure changes created by the translation of the plunger. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes an actuation cylinder and a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is coupled with the entry valve. 
     
     
         3 . The pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation cylinder is one of a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation cylinder, when the actuator is actuated, imparts a force on the protrusion against the entry valve, and the protrusion holds the entry valve in the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the entry valve is coupled with an entry bias which biases the entry valve to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The pumping system of  claim 5 , wherein the plunger, when retracting, transitions the entry valve to the open configuration such that a fluid passes through the inlet into the chamber,
 wherein when the actuator is not actuated and as the plunger extends, the entry valve transitions to the closed configuration, and the fluid passes through the outlet when at the predetermined pressure.   
     
     
         7 . The pumping system of  claim 6 , wherein when the actuator is actuated, the entry valve is held in the open configuration independent of the translation of the plunger such that the fluid passes through the inlet, reducing a resistive torque load,
 wherein the transmission, when the entry valve is in the open configuration, shifts gears under the reduced resistive torque load.   
     
     
         8 . A pump comprising:
 a housing with a chamber;   a plunger coupled with a motor and a transmission and translatable along a longitudinal axis into and out of the chamber by the motor;   an entry valve at an inlet in the housing to the chamber, the entry valve transitionable between an open configuration permitting fluid flow through the inlet to the chamber and a closed configuration preventing fluid flow through the inlet to the chamber;   an exit valve at an outlet in the housing to the chamber, the exit valve permitting fluid flow through the outlet from the chamber at a predetermined pressure; and   an actuator coupled with the entry valve, the actuator operable to hold the entry valve in the open configuration independent of the pressure changes created by the translation of the plunger.   
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes an actuation cylinder and a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is coupled with the entry valve. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation cylinder is one of a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation cylinder, when the actuator is actuated, imparts a force on the protrusion against the entry valve, and the protrusion holds the entry valve in the open configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the entry valve is coupled with an entry bias which biases the entry valve to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the plunger, when retracting from the chamber, transitions the entry valve the open configuration such that a fluid passes through the inlet into the chamber,
 wherein, when the actuator is not actuated and as the plunger extends into the chamber, the entry valve transitions to the closed configuration, and the fluid passes through the outlet at the predetermined pressure.   
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 13 , wherein when the actuator is actuated, the entry valve is held in the open configuration independent of the translation of the plunger such that the fluid passes through the entry valve, reducing a resistive torque load. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a motor coupled with a transmission, the transmission having a plurality of gear ranges, and a pump, the pump includes:
 a housing with a chamber; 
 a plunger coupled with the motor and the transmission, the plunger translatable along a longitudinal axis into and out of the chamber by the motor and transmission; 
 an entry valve at an inlet in the housing to the chamber, the entry valve transitionable between an open configuration permitting fluid flow through the inlet to the chamber and a closed configuration preventing fluid flow through the inlet to the chamber; 
 an exit valve at an outlet in the housing, the exit valve permitting fluid flow through the outlet from the chamber at a predetermined pressure; and 
 an actuator coupled with the entry valve, the actuator operable to hold the entry valve in the open configuration independent of the pressure changes created by the translation of the plunger; 
   actuating the actuator to hold the entry valve in the open configuration and permit fluid flow through the inlet such that a resistive torque load is reduced;   shifting gears in the transmission under the reduced resistive torque load; and   releasing the actuator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes an actuation cylinder and a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is coupled with the entry valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the actuation cylinder is one of a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, when the actuator is actuated, imparting a force on the protrusion against the entry valve, and holding the entry valve in the open configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the entry valve is coupled with an entry bias which biases the entry valve to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 retracting the plunger from the chamber which transitions the entry valve, when the actuator is not actuated, to the open configuration such that a fluid passes through the inlet into the chamber,   extending the plunger such that the entry valve, when the actuator is not actuated, transitions to the closed configuration, and the fluid passes through the outlet at the predetermined pressure.