US 12,110,911 B1
Ejector with integrated isolation valve
Joel Cy Scott, Lone Tree, CO (US); and Jeffrey J. Rogers, Littleton, CO (US)
Assigned to United Launch Alliance, L.L.C., Centennial, CO (US)
Filed by United Launch Alliance, L.LC., Centennial, CO (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/850,839.
Application 17/850,839 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/584,738, filed on Jan. 26, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/147,092, filed on Feb. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/147,097, filed on Feb. 8, 2021.
Int. Cl. F04F 5/10 (2006.01); F04F 5/02 (2006.01); F04F 5/48 (2006.01)
CPC F04F 5/10 (2013.01) [F04F 5/02 (2013.01); F04F 5/48 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly for pumping fluids, comprising:
a. an ejector having a body, the body defining a suction chamber having a suction chamber inlet, and a nozzle extending from the ejector body, the ejector body configured to operate when the ejector body is submerged in a liquid volume;
b. the suction chamber inlet disposed within a liquid volume;
c. a valve disposed within the ejector body and in fluid communication with the liquid volume via the suction chamber, the valve having an open position that permits passage of the liquid volume to the suction chamber and a closed position that isolates the suction chamber from the liquid volume;
d. a motive fluid in fluid communication with the ejector, wherein transmission of the motive fluid at or above a threshold pressure causes an actuator of the valve to mechanically translate from the closed position to the open position by application of a motive fluid pressure to the valve and which motive fluid also causes a suction effect when passing through the nozzle which draws a portion of the liquid volume into the suction chamber, and the actuator is mechanically translated to the closed position by reducing the motive fluid pressure below the threshold pressure.