Pumping of collected liquids in systems

摘要

A system includes at least one fluid volume in which pressure varies, a retention volume for collecting a liquid used in operating the system; and a pump device in fluid connection with the retention volume and in operative connection with the fluid volume. The pump device includes a housing, a movable pressurizing mechanism within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid volume, a biasing mechanism in operative connection with the pressurizing mechanism to bias the pressurizing mechanism in a first direction, and a pump volume within the housing. The volume of the pump volume is defined by a position of the pressurizing mechanism, wherein the position of the pressurizing mechanism is controlled by pressure within the fluid volume and the biasing mechanism. The pump device further includes an inlet port in fluid connection with the pump volume and an outlet port in fluid connection with the pump volume.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a first liquid used in operating the system, a second liquid being contained within a fluid volume in which pressure of the second liquid varies in the fluid volume upon a change in operating state of the system, including upon a change from an on state to an off state; a drip pan for collecting the first liquid which is freed during operating the system; and a pump device in fluid connection with the drip pan and in operative connection with the fluid volume, the pump device comprising:
a housing;a movable pressurizing mechanism within the housing powered by a closed system in which the movable pressurizing mechanism is in fluid connection with the fluid volume via a closed fluid path wherein no fluid is exchanged between the fluid volume and a pump volume within the housing or between the fluid volume and the environment via the closed fluid path;a biasing mechanism in operative connection with the pressurizing mechanism to bias the pressurizing mechanism in a first direction; a volume of the pump volume being defined by a position of the pressurizing mechanism wherein the position of the pressurizing mechanism is controlled by pressure within the fluid volume and the biasing mechanism, wherein pressure variation in the fluid volume upon a change in the operating state of the system causes a change in the position of the pressurizing mechanism, including upon the change from the on state to the off state;an inlet port in fluid connection with the pump volume and in fluid connection with the liquid within the drip pan; andan outlet port in fluid connection with the pump volume and in fluid connection with a recovery volume into which the liquid within the drip pan is pumped via the pump device.