Self-monitored fluid pressure booster system

Abstract

A booster for a fluid pressure operated system in which relatively low pressure is used in the system and the booster is designed to be positioned immediately adjacent the fluid operated mechanism so as to eliminate the need for high pressure fittings and components. The booster has a spool which is shiftable in response to pressure build up in the mechanism. The spool acts as a sliding valve to direct fluid flow through a pressure converter such as a turbine or volumetric motor-pump located inside the spool.

I claim: 
     
       1. A self-monitored fluid pressure booster device comprising: a. a body having a bore connectable to a fluid pressure operated mechanism and inlet port means and outlet port means connected to the bore;   b. a shiftable sliding means in the bore having means to control fluid flow to and from said outlet and inlet port means in response to pressure in the fluid operated mechanism;   c. pressure converter means associated with said sliding means to convert a high volume low pressure fluid flow into a low volume high pressure flow;   d. said sliding means being mounted to shift from a first position in which the fluid control means directs the fluid flow from the inlet port into the mechanism to a second position in which the fluid control means directs the fluid flow from the inlet port through the pressure converter means to the mechanism and the outlet port means.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 including means to return the sliding means from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2 in which the pressure converter means has a fluid passage therethrough to interconnect the return means with the area of boosted pressure. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 2 in which the return means is biased to operate in response to a change in pressure in the fluid operated mechanism. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 2 in which the return means is a spring and dashpot means cooperating with one end of the sliding means. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1 in which the pressure converter means is a turbine type pump and motor. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 1 in which the pressure converter means is a volumetric type pump and motor. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7 in which the volumetric pump and motor are a gear pump and motor. 
     
     
       9. A self-monitored fluid pressure booster device comprising: a. a body having a bore with connection means at one end for connection to a fluid pressure operated mechanism, inlet port means and outlet port means in the body axially spaced along and communicating with the bore;   b. a shiftable sliding means in the bore having pressure converter means mounted therein the pressure converter means having a motor and pump, the sliding means having an outlet passage from the motor, a discharge passage communicating the pump to said connection means and an inlet passage connected to the motor and the pump;   c. said sliding means being mounted for axial shifting along the bore from a first inactive position in which the inlet port means is connected for fluid to flow directly to the mechanism and the outlet passage are blocked to a second active position in which the inlet port means is aligned with the inlet passage and the outlet port means is aligned with the outlet passage so that fluid pressure in the inlet port means will cause fluid to flow through the inlet passage to both the motor and the pump, the motor driving the pump to create a zone of boosted pressure in the discharge passage, the shifting of the sliding means being a response to the pressure in said zone.   
     
     
       10. The device of claim 9 including means to return the sliding means from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim 10 in which the pressure converter means has a fluid passage therethrough to interconnect the return means with the area of boosted pressure. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 10 in which the return means is biased to operate in response to a change in pressure in the fluid operated mechanism. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 10 in which the return means is a spring and dashpot means cooperating with one end of the sliding means. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 9 in which the pressure converter means is a turbine type pump and motor. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 9 in which the pressure converter means is a volumetric type pump and motor. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 15 in which the volumetric type pump and motor is a gear pump and motor. 
     
     
       17. A self-monitored fluid pressure booster device comprising: a. a body having a circular bore with one end being open to present connection means to attach the body to a fluid pressure operated mechanism, an inlet port and an outlet port in the body axially spaced along and communicating with the bore;   b. a cylindrical sliding means in the bore mounted for axial shifting, a pressure converter in the sliding means having a fluid operated motor directly connected to a fluid pump, an outlet passage from the motor, a discharge passage from the pump to the area of the connection means and an inlet passage connected to both the motor and the pump;   c. a first shoulder on the sliding means adjacent the inlet passage and a second shoulder on the sliding means adjacent the outlet passage;   d. the inlet and outlet ports in the body being positioned in relation to said shoulders so that in a first axially shifted position the first shoulder permits passage of fluid directly from the inlet port to the area of the connection means and the second shoulder blocks off the outlet passage and in a second axially shifted position the first shoulder blocks off direct fluid flow from the inlet port to the area of the connection means, directing the fluid flow from the inlet port to the inlet passage of the sliding means and the second shoulder is positioned to permit fluid flow from the outlet passage of the sliding means to the outlet port of the body;   e. a cylindrical extension from the sliding means on the end opposite the pump, said extension being of smaller diameter than said first shoulder;   f. a cylindrical cavity in the body positioned to receive said extension therein;   g. sealing means between said extension and said cavity to define a dashpot to dampen the shifting of the sliding means;   h. biasing means in said dashpot tending to return the sliding means to said first position upon a decrease in pressure in the area of said connection means.   
     
     
       18. The device of claim 17 in which the pressure converter means is a turbine type pump and motor. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 17 in which the pressure converter means is a volumetric type pump and motor. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 19 in which the volumetric type pump and motor is a gear pump and motor. 
     
     
       21. The device of claim 1 in which the pressure converter means is located within said shiftable sliding means. .Iadd. 22. The device of claim 1 in which the fluid flow in said second position passes directly from said inlet port means to said pressure converter means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. A fluid pressure operated system comprising: pump means to supply a fluid flow under a low pressure and a high volume;   a fluid operated mechanism;   a self monitored fluid pressure booster device in communication with said pump and said mechanism, said device comprising:   a body having a bore in direct fluid communication with said fluid pressure operated mechanism; inlet port means connected to the pump means, and outlet port means,   a shiftable sliding means for controlling fluid flow from said inlet port means;   pressure converter means associated with said sliding means to convert said low pressure - high volume fluid flow to a high pressure - low volume fluid flow; said sliding means being mounted to shift in response to pressure in the operated mechanism from a first position in which the means for controlling the fluid flow permits a free flow of the fluid from the inlet port into and out of the operated mechanism to a second position in which the means for controlling the fluid flow directs a portion of the fluid flow from the inlet port through the pressure converter means directly to the mechanism, and another portion to the outlet port means; said converter means being connected directly to said operated mechanism so that only said booster device and the operated mechanism are subjected to said high pressure - low volume flow. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. The system of claim 23 in which the shiftable sliding means is itself shaped to provide means for controlling the fluid flow. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 25. The system of claim 23 including a reservoir, and a 3 way directional control valve interposed between the pump and the booster device and connected to said reservoir so that in a first position fluid is fed directly from the pump, through the valve to the booster device, and in a second position fluid flow from the pump to the booster is cut off and the booster device is communicated to the reservoir. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 26. The system of claim 25 including means connecting the directional control valve to the opposite end of the fluid operated mechanism and wherein in said second position said pump is communicated with said opposite end of the fluid operated mechanism. .Iaddend.