US 12,270,397 B2
Pump configuration including a purge valve for removing airlocks
David A Mork, Yorkville, IL (US); Paul R English, Washington, IL (US); and Matthew Mickiewicz, Yorkville, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/394,395.
Application 18/394,395 is a continuation of application No. 17/404,202, filed on Aug. 17, 2021, granted, now 12,025,123.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125323 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F04C 14/24 (2006.01); F04C 2/18 (2006.01); F16K 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC F04C 14/24 (2013.01) [F04C 2/18 (2013.01); F16K 15/025 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pump, comprising:
a housing defining a pump cavity;
an inlet on a first side of the housing in fluid communication with the pump cavity;
an outlet on a second side of the housing opposite the first side and in fluid communication with the pump cavity and defining an operational fluid pathway between the inlet and the outlet;
a pump mechanism arranged within the pump cavity and along the operational fluid pathway;
a purging fluid pathway having a purge inlet formed in the housing on a downstream side of the pump mechanism along the operational fluid pathway, the purging fluid pathway extending through the housing to an exterior surface of the housing and to an inlet of another pump; and
a purge valve arranged along the purging fluid pathway, the purge valve configured to remain open unless a triggering fluid pressure develops in the pump mechanism and remain closed unless a fluid pressure in the pump mechanism drops below the triggering fluid pressure.