Overflow Check System

Liquid pressure amplifiers such as injectors and hydrokinetic amplifiers often require a start-up overflow. They receive liquid and vapor which they combine into a pressure amplified output liquid; but to achieve maximum pressure amplification, they require a brief overflow during start-up. After start-up, the overflow line is often subject to subatmospheric pressure and so includes a check valve oriented to block inflow.

Liquid pressure amplifiers can be arranged to receive continuously available liquid and vapor inputs and yet deliver output pressure intermittently via a delivery valve that can open and close on demand. A common example of this is a high pressure washing gun powered by a liquid pressure amplifier and having a delivery trigger operated to be on or off. When such a delivery valve temporarily closes, the amplifier cannot deliver output pressure and stops operating. The input liquid and vapor continue to flow, however, and pour out the overflow line, wasting both liquid and energy. When the delivery valve reopens, the amplifier restarts, which stops the overflow.

I have discovered a way of checking the overflow whenever it is not required for start-up. This includes blocking any overflow that occurs while a liquid pressure amplifier is operating and also blocking overflow of liquid and vapor inputs when a closed output line prevents the amplifier from operating. My arrangement limits overflow to a negligible amount that occurs only during an actual startup, and my system otherwise contains all the liquid and vapor except that volume deliberately delivered as pressurized liquid output. My invention thus reduces waste and improves the efficiency of a liquid pressure amplifier while allowing it a start-up overflow that is necessary for maximum pressure amplification.

My system checks all non-start-up overflow of liquid and vapor supplied to a liquid pressure amplifier. I use a check valve oriented to block the overflow and a spring-biased element for holding the check valve open to permit overflow during start-up. I apply amplified output pressure from operation of the amplifier to move the spring-biased element to a position enabling the check valve to close the overflow, and I hold the applied output pressure during an inoperative interval to hold the element against the spring bias and maintain the enablement of the check valve to keep the overflow closed. My preferred way of holding the amplified output pressure is to trap it between a closed delivery valve and an output line check valve blocking backflow. I then use loss of the trapped output pressure upon reopening of the delivery valve to move the element to a position disabling the check valve and opening the overflow, thereby allowing the amplifier to start. Any leakage or accidental loss of the trapped pressure has a similar effect in enabling the amplifier to start and build up an amplified output pressure, which is then applied to close the overflow check valve. The result, from the user's point of view, is that pressurized output delivery can be on or off with no wasted overflow, yet overflow is available to the extent needed for a high gain pressure amplification system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred arrangement of my overflow check system; and

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic, cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of pressure controlled check valve for use in the overflow check system of FIG. 1.

My invention applies to vapor powered, liquid pressure amplifiers. These include injectors such as known in the steam power art and hydrokinetic amplifiers more recently invented by Carl D. Nicodemus as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,635, entitled Hydrokinetic amplifier. Such liquid pressure amplifiers can be supplied with water and water vapor or steam to output water at an amplified pressure for a variety of purposes that can include washing and boiler feed water return. Hydrokinetic amplifiers are not limited to these uses or to water and water vapor, and they can be operated with other liquids and vapors.

The liquid pressure amplifiers to which my invention applies have start-up overflows that enable liquid and vapor to escape during a brief, start-up interval after which overflow is not required. Since an overflow line is often subject to negative pressure after an amplifier starts, a check valve is usually placed in the overflow line to block inflow that would degrade performance. It is also possible for an overflow line to have a positive pressure while the amplifier is operating, but inputs are adjusted to avoid this because of the wasteful overflow that would occur.

It is also possible to start a liquid pressure amplifier without any overflow if the amplifier is made to produce much less pressure amplification than would otherwise be possible with the available input liquid and vapor supplies. Eliminating start-up overflow thus greatly reduces the pressure gain that would be possible if a start-up overflow were used.

My system allows an overflow to occur during start-up as required to enable a liquid pressure amplifier to achieve a high pressure gain. By system otherwise keeps the overflow closed, both to avoid any wasteful overflow during inoperative intervals and also to allow an amplifier to operate at input values producing a positive pressure to the overflow line. For example, supplying vapor in excess of the vapor required for maximum output pressure can increase output temperature and can be desirable in some circumstances, even though it also applies a positive pressure to an overflow line. My invention accommodates this by blocking the overflow line whenever an amplifier is producing amplified output pressure. My invention also keeps an overflow line blocked after an amplifier has stopped operating--all as explained below.

My overflow check system 10 applies to a liquid pressure amplifier 11 receiving a liquid input 12 and a vapor input 13 and having an output line 15 and an overflow line 20. A check valve 16 is oriented in output line 15 to block any backflow, and a delivery valve 17 can open and close output line 15 on demand. Check valve 21 in overflow line 20 is oriented to block any inflow in response to a negative pressure in overflow line 20 during operation of amplifier 11.

A pressure controlled check valve 25 is oriented in overflow line 20 opposite to check valve 21 so as to block overflow output through lines 20 and 22. A shut-off line 26 applies amplified output pressure from line 15 to enable check valve 25 to close whenever adequate pressure exists in shut-off line 26. Otherwise, lack of amplified output pressure from amplifier 11 disables or overrides check valve 25 to open overflow lines 20 and 22.

A preferred arrangement for pressure controlled check valve 25 as shown in FIG. 2 includes a check valve head 27 and its seat 28 and a piston 30 arranged to move a stem 31 that can override valve head 27 and hold it open or move away from valve 27 and enable it to close. A spring 32 biases piston 30 to override or disable check valve 27, and pressure from shut-off line 26 moves piston 30 against spring 32 to enable check valve 27 to close. Overflow via line 20 is either blocked by closure of check valve 27 or allowed to pass through line 22 for a start-up overflow if check valve 27 is held open by spring 32 in the absence of pressure on piston 30.

In operation, pressurized liquid and vapor from supplies 12 and 13 can be continuously available to amplifier 11, which delivers pressurized liquid to valve 17 via output line 15. For a brief interval during start-up, output flows at low pressure in line 15; but once amplifier 11 starts, it quickly increases the pressure in line 15 to an amplified output pressure. This is applied via shut-off line 26 to piston 30 to enable check valve 27 to close, blocking overflow through lines 20 and 22. If delivery valve 17 closes and blocks output line 15, amplifier 11 stops operating. However, closure of delivery valve 17 traps amplified output pressure in line 15 between check valve 16 and closed delivery valve 17. This holds piston 30 against spring 32 and maintains the enablement of check valve 27 to block overflow during inoperative intervals.

When delivery valve 17 reopens in response to a demand for liquid output, this drops the pressure in output line 15 and shut-off line 26, allowing spring 32 to move piston 30 to unseat valve head 27 with stem 31. This overrides check valve 27 and opens a start-up overflow path via lines 20 and 22. Overflow of liquid and vapor then occurs for a brief start-up interval enabling amplifier 11 to start. As soon as this occurs, pressure builds up in output line 15 and shut-off line 26, which reapplies amplified pressure to piston 30, retracting stem 31 and enabling check valve 27 to reclose and block overflow.

During operation of amplifier 11, any positive pressure in overflow line 20 is blocked by check valve 27, and any negative pressure in overflow line 20 is blocked by check valve 21. If trapped pressure in shut-off line 26 leaks away or is otherwise lost during an inoperative interval of amplifier 11, the pressure loss opens check valve 27, which automatically starts amplifier 11, and this quickly reestablishes amplified output pressure, which recloses the overflow.

My system has the advantage of using simple components operated by liquid output pressure available whenever amplifier 11 is operating. By using this amplified pressure during operative intervals and trapping it during inoperative intervals, my system keeps the overflow closed at all times except during start-up when it is required to be open.