US 11,859,612 B2
Fluid transfer and depressurization system
Douglas A. Sahm, Lutz, FL (US)
Assigned to TPE Midstream, LLC, Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed by TPE MIDSTREAM LLC, Lutz, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/349,554.
Application 17/349,554 is a continuation of application No. 16/549,729, filed on Aug. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,111,907.
Application 16/549,729 is a continuation of application No. 16/129,225, filed on Sep. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,443,586, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/670,810, filed on May 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0355924 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. F04B 9/133 (2006.01); F04B 1/02 (2006.01); F04B 7/02 (2006.01); F04B 39/12 (2006.01); F04B 53/16 (2006.01); F04B 17/03 (2006.01); F04B 25/00 (2006.01); F17D 5/02 (2006.01); F17D 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 9/133 (2013.01) [F04B 1/02 (2013.01); F04B 7/0266 (2013.01); F04B 39/122 (2013.01); F04B 39/123 (2013.01); F04B 53/16 (2013.01); F04B 17/03 (2013.01); F04B 25/00 (2013.01); F17D 3/10 (2013.01); F17D 5/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid transfer apparatus comprising:
a drive chamber having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first cylinder;
a first block coupled between the first cylinder and the first end of the drive chamber, the first block having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a first edge between the first side and the second side, the first side facing the first end of the drive chamber, the second side facing the first cylinder, the first block having a first inlet passage extending between the first edge and the second side, the first block having a first outlet passage extending between the first edge and the second side;
a second cylinder;
a second block coupled between the second cylinder and the second end of the drive chamber, the second block having a third side, a fourth side opposite the third side, and a second edge between the third side and the fourth side, the third side facing the second end of the drive chamber, the fourth side facing the second cylinder, the second block having a second inlet passage extending between the second edge and the fourth side, the second block having a second outlet passage extending between the second edge and the fourth side;
a drive assembly moveable in a reciprocal manner between a first movement in a first direction and a second movement in a second direction opposite the first direction, the drive assembly including:
a drive member in the drive chamber;
a rod coupled to and extending from the drive member, a first portion of the rod extending into the first cylinder, a second portion of the rod extending into the second cylinder;
a first piston coupled to the first portion of the rod and disposed in the first cylinder, the first piston dividing an interior volume of the first cylinder into a first interior volume portion and a second interior volume portion, the first interior volume portion fluidly coupled to a fluid inlet port of the fluid transfer apparatus; and
a second piston coupled to the second portion of the rod and disposed in the second cylinder, the second piston dividing an interior volume of the second cylinder into a third interior volume portion and a fourth interior volume portion, the third interior volume portion fluidly coupled to the first interior volume portion, the third interior volume portion fluidly coupled to a fluid outlet port of the fluid transfer apparatus; and
a controller operably coupled to the drive chamber, the controller configured to facilitate the first movement and the second movement of the drive assembly, such that:
during one of the first movement, a volume of fluid is transferred from the fluid inlet port to the first interior volume portion of the first cylinder,
during a subsequent one of the second movement, the volume of fluid is transferred from the first interior volume portion of the first cylinder to the third interior volume portion of the second cylinder, and
during a subsequent one of the first movement, the volume of fluid is transferred from the third interior volume portion of the second cylinder to the fluid outlet port, such that the volume of fluid is transferred from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port.