U.S. patent application number 10/006910 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-08 for disk pump assembly.
Invention is credited to Lodico, Joseph T., Moorehead, Jack.
Application Number | 20030086782 10/006910 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21723214 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030086782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moorehead, Jack ; et
al. |
May 8, 2003 |
Disk pump assembly
Abstract
A disk pump assembly having a transparent housing and a
transparent disk assembly within. The disks of the disk assembly
have apertured bosses and indents corresponding to one another for
registering the disks into single assembly. The rear disk has a
rearward extension with an imbedded a metal insert having a central
threaded bore. The rear housing component of the housing has a
flanged rear which attaches to a corresponding square-flanged front
end of an external motor having an extending shaft with a threaded
end and an internally reverse-threaded central bore. The housing
components are connected together with v-clamps; the suction port
and discharge port each are flanged and also connected to external
components with a v-clamp. A securing fastener further fastens the
rear disk to the shaft through the internally reverse-threaded
central bore at the end of the shaft.
Inventors: |
Moorehead, Jack; (San Diego,
CA) ; Lodico, Joseph T.; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANK G MORKUNAS
7750 DAGGET ST
SUITE 203
SAN DIEGO
CA
92111
|
Family ID: |
21723214 |
Appl. No.: |
10/006910 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/1 ;
29/888.024; 29/889; 415/200; 415/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49243 20150115;
F01D 1/36 20130101; F04D 5/001 20130101; Y10T 29/49316
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/1 ; 415/90;
415/200; 29/888.024; 29/889 |
International
Class: |
F01D 001/36 |
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A disk pump comprising: (a) a rear housing having a rearward
protruding first axial extension and a flanged rear end; (b) a
transparent front housing having rearward extending perimeter
walls, said perimeter walls having a radial flange around its
rearward end which connects to said rear housing defining an inner
chamber therein; (c) a flanged suction port on said front housing;
(d) a flanged discharge port on said front housing; (e) a rear disk
having a rearward protruding second axial extension and an insert
permanently imbedded within said second extension, said insert
having a threaded aperture therein and adapted to thread onto a
cooperating shaft of an external motor; (f) a front disk and one or
more internal disks in between said front disk and said rear disk;
(g) registration means for registering and connecting together said
front disk, said one or more internal disks, and said rear disk
thereby forming a disk assembly for placement into said inner
chamber; and (h) connection means for connecting said front housing
to said rear housing, for connecting said suction port to an
external inlet source, and for connecting said discharge port to an
external outlet source.
2. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said front housing is
made of a polymer.
3. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said front housing is
transparent.
4. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said rear housing is
made of a polymer.
5. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said rear housing is
transparent.
6. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said one or more
internal disks are made of a polymer.
7. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said one or more
internal disks are transparent.
8. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said front disk is
made of a polymer.
9. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said front disk is
transparent.
10. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said rear disk is
made of a polymer.
11. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said rear disk is
transparent.
12. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said registration
means comprises a plurality of cooperating apertured bosses and
apertured indents on said front disk, said rear disk, and said one
or more internal disks removably secured together in a spaced
fashion by a fastener assembly.
13. The disk pump according to claim 12 wherein said apertured
bosses are on one side of each of said one or more internal disks
and said apertured indents are on another side of each of said one
or more internal disks.
14. The disk pump according to claim 12 wherein said apertured
bosses are on one side of said rear disk and said apertured indents
are on one side of said front disk.
15. The disk pump according to claim 14 wherein said fastener
assembly comprises a nut imbedded within each of said apertured
bosses of said rear disk and a cooperating bolt inserted through
the apertured indents of the front disk and through the apertured
bosses and apertured indents of the one or more internal disks.
16. The disk pump according to claim 12 wherein said apertured
indents are on one side of said rear disk and said apertured bosses
are on one side of said front disk.
17. The disk pump according to claim 16 wherein said fastener
assembly comprises a nut imbedded within each of said apertured
indents of said rear disk and a cooperating bolt inserted through
the apertured bosses of the front disk and through the apertured
bosses and apertured indents of the one or more internal disks.
18. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said connection
means comprises a v-clamp.
19. The disk pump according to claim 1 wherein said connection
means comprises a fastener selected from the group consisting of
bolts, screws, and rivets.
20. The disk pump according to claim 1 further comprising guide
means for maintaining a smooth rotation of said disk assembly when
said disk pump is being operated.
21. The disk pump according to claim 20 wherein said guide means
comprises a forward extending axial lip on said front disk and a
rearward extending axial lip on said front housing, said forward
extending axial lip adjacent to said rearward extending axial lip
and extending past said rearward extending axial lip.
22. A method of suction pumping liquids from one source to another
source comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a motor having a
square-flanged receiving end, a protruding shaft having a threaded
end and a threaded central bore; (b) connecting a rear housing
having a radial perimeter and a rearward protruding first axial
extension with a flanged rear end thereat, adapted to mate with
said square-flanged receiving end of said motor, by aligning said
square-flanged receiving end of said motor to said flanged rear end
of said rear housing and by connecting said square-flanged
receiving end to said flanged rear end; (c) placing a sealing
member over said shaft; (d) assembling a disk assembly comprising:
(1) a rear disk having a rearward protruding second axial extension
and an insert permanently imbedded within said second extension,
said insert having a threaded aperture therein and adapted to
thread onto the threaded end of said shaft of said motor; (2) a
front disk and one or more internal disks in between said front
disk and said rear disk; and (3) registration means for registering
and connecting together said front disk, said one or more internal
disks, and said rear disk thereby forming said disk assembly; (e)
connecting and tightening said threaded insert onto the threaded
end of said shaft; (f) attaching a transparent front housing over
said disk assembly, said front housing having rearward extending
perimeter walls, said perimeter walls having a radial flange around
its rearward end which connects to said rear housing defining an
inner chamber therein; (g) connecting said front housing to said
rear housing by placing and tightening a housing v-clamp over said
radial flange of said perimeter walls and said radial perimeter;
(h) connecting first either said flanged suction port on said front
housing to an external inlet source by placing and tightening an
inlet v-clamp over said flanged suction port and said external
inlet source followed by connecting said flanged discharge port on
said front housing to an external discharge source by placing and
tightening a discharge v-clamp over said flanged discharge port to
an external discharge source or by reversing, or by first
connecting said flanged discharge port as defined above followed by
connecting said flanged suction port as defined above; and (i)
operating said disk pump.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of observing
the operation of said disk pump through its transparent housing to
detect any problems associated with said operation, said problems
selected from the group consisting of worn component parts, loose
component parts, damaged component parts, mis-aligned component
parts, and obstructions to any component parts.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of ceasing
said operation upon detection of said problem and removing said
housing v-clamp, pulling said motor, with rear housing and disk
assembly connected thereto, away from said front housing, and
correcting said problem detected.
25. The method of claim 22 further comprises the step of selecting
said registration means to comprise a plurality of cooperating
apertured bosses and apertured indents on said front disk, said
rear disk, and said one or more internal disks removably secured
together in a spaced fashion by a fastener assembly.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of ensuring
said apertured bosses are on one side of each of said one or more
internal disks and said apertured indents are on another side of
each of said one or more internal disks.
27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of ensuring
said apertured bosses are on one side of said rear disk and said
apertured indents are on one side of said front disk.
28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of ensuring
said fastener assembly comprises a nut imbedded within each of said
apertured bosses of said rear disk and a cooperating bolt inserted
through the apertured indents of the front disk and through the
apertured bosses and apertured indents of the one or more internal
disks.
29. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of ensuring
said apertured indents are on one side of said rear disk and said
apertured bosses are on one side of said front disk.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of ensuring
said fastener assembly comprises a nut imbedded within each of said
apertured indents of said rear disk and a cooperating bolt inserted
through the apertured bosses of the front disk and through the
apertured bosses and apertured indents of the one or more internal
disks.
31. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of further
securing said disk assembly to said shaft by placing a fastener
with a washer thereon into said threaded central bore and
tightening said fastener thereat.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This present invention relates to an improvement in disk
pumps, and more particularly to disk pumps used for and in water
treatment facilities. Conventional disk pumps all have a housing,
suction [or inlet] ports, discharge ports, impeller blades of some
configuration, and a drive means [or motor]. Of particular interest
are the Gurth device [U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,994], the Possell device
[U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,032], the Effenberger device [U.S. Pat. No.
4,402,647], another Gurth device [U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,139], and the
Dial device [Publication Number U.S. Ser. No. 2001/0019693 A1].
These devices are all well-suited for the intended purposes but
fall short in flexibility of use, ease of manufacture, and
simplicity of maintenance; particularly if the disk pumps are used
in conjunction with water treatment systems involving a dissolved
air separation system [DAS] where raw influent water is pumped into
a mixing or blending unit along with whitewater microbubbles
wherein the influent and whitewater mix or blend together and pass
into a hydro-cyclone separator. Disk pumps I have found to be an
important component to the DAS process.
[0004] Ordinary impeller-type pumps apply stress to the water
combination [influent and whitewater] it is pushing. This can shear
the microbubbles or cause them to merge into larger bubbles thereby
reducing their efficacy. Using a disk pump in the DAS process pulls
the water combination into the separator, rather than pushes it in,
and thereby prevents this shearing and merger effect. To further
reduce the shearing and merger effect, the disks inside the disk
pump should have smooth flat surfaces. Tapering, slotting, ribbing,
angling, and the like, on the disk surfaces will reduce the
efficiency of the disk pump in the DAS process.
[0005] With such smooth surfaces, as the water combination passes
through the disk pump, less of the influent water comes into direct
contact with the spinning disk surfaces. The molecular layer of
fluid in direct contact with the disk surfaces creates a viscous
drag effect that pulls the rest of the water combination through
the pump housing and between the disk surfaces. Only a small
fraction of the influent portion of the water combination actually
touches any surface of the spinning disks and the fluid is not
under any compression until it enters the disk pump housing after
the microbubbles have already formed therein. As a result, minimum
shearing is realized. Using disk pumps in the DAS process increases
the efficiency levels of performance.
[0006] Regardless, the disks and other component parts of the disk
pump can, through operation, become damaged, worn, misaligned, and
clogged with debris or build-up of slime, calcium, or other
particulants of the influent water. When any of the above problems
occur, the efficiency of performance diminishes. Oftentimes, a
problem of such nature is not detected until it has become worse,
even to the point of causing damage to other component parts.
Cleaning or repairing a disk pump assembly usually requires
disassembly of the pump housing and impeller units. The cleaning,
repairing process is compounded generally by threaded connectors
holding the unit together which eventually "weld" together over
time. They may become difficult to unthread and are often damaged
in the process or the threads stripped when a wrench is applied to
the jammed threaded connections. Any damage to the threaded parts
will result in costly replacement of the damaged parts.
[0007] Additionally there are a number of different contaminants
suspended in the influent process water stream that can eventually
cause a blockage between the smooth disks inside the disk pump
housing, including slime or calcium scale coating the disk's
surface. Organic slime can cause silt and other organic or
inorganic particles to adhere to the disk surface, building up
until the space between the disks is completely blocked. Sand and
silt grit can damage the smooth surface of the disk pack, thereby
reducing the efficiency of the viscous drag effect, which pulls the
raw process water stream saturated with whitewater microbubbles
through the disk pump housing. In most opaque metal or plastic disk
pack pump housings, none of this is discernible until too late and
the disk pump unit and one or more of its component parts are
damaged.
[0008] In operation, when the smooth disks of a disk pump are
rotated within its chamber, fluid [or gas as the case may be] is
pulled into the pump through the suction port and out the discharge
port. Such is the purpose of this pump; i.e., to move fluid or gas
from one source to another. Most smooth rotating disks are made of
thick metal. Whether used to pump fragile articles, slurry, or
waste water, over time, the disks within the pump can become
clogged, damaged, misaligned, or corroded. As stated above, such
problems are not immediately nor readily detected; not until the
efficiency and effectiveness of the unit have diminished
significantly that the problems are detected, appreciated, and
corrected. Corrective action requires shutting down the pump,
dismantling it, locating the root of the problem, correcting the
problem, and reassembling the pump. In the prior art devices
referenced above, the corrective actions required are daunting
tasks. In many cases, based on the particular configuration of the
pump and the disks therein, removing the housing or removing the
pump from the motor can be hampered by `frozen` or locked fasteners
coupling the housing unit to the pump or connecting the pump to the
motor. Inlet and discharge lines also must be disconnected, the
disk assembly removed from the housing, and the disks disassembled
from the disk assembly. The same problems will be faced.
[0009] Ease of removal of the housing, ease of removal of the pump
from the motor, ease of removal of the inlet and discharge lines,
ease of removal of the disk assembly renders the operation and
maintenance of a disk pump more efficient, more economical, and
more effective. The ability to see the efficacy of the disk pump,
or lack thereof, in real-time operation provides an unprecedented
advantage in this regard. First, a problem can be detected at its
incipient stages rather than at its critical stages thereby
engaging in pre-emptive or pro-active maintenance rather than
reactive maintenance. Depending on the problem involved, a user may
only be required to remove the external feed lines and the front
housing; or to leave the external feed lines in tact; or any
combinations thereof. If necessary, ease of removing the disk
assembly and easy of replacing any one or more disks, simplify
maintenance.
[0010] The present invention, with its transparent housing,
flange-shaped rear housing, flange-shaped front housing, and
flange-shaped suction and discharge ports combined with an o-ring
and a v-clamp connection member provide for dis-assembly and
re-assembly simplification. The transparency of the housing and the
disk assembly within further simplify maintenance by alerting a
user to an upcoming need before a real problem or disaster strikes
for want of this information. Assembling or re-assembling the disk
assembly is further facilitated by the registration projections and
cooperating recesses on the disk surfaces.
[0011] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present
invention are to:
[0012] a. simplify manufacture of disk pumps;
[0013] b. simplify operation and maintenance of disk pumps;
[0014] c. provide the user with the ability to see the pumping
operation in `real time`; and
[0015] d. reduce the costs associated with the manufacture,
maintenance, and repair of disk pumps.
[0016] The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent
objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed
to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features
and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial
results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a
different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of
the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller
understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the
summary of the invention and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention
defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the
present invention. Briefly stated, the present invention
contemplates a disk pump assembly having a transparent housing made
of a polymer and a disk assembly therein, also transparent and made
of a polymer. The disks comprising the disk assembly have apertured
bosses and indents corresponding to one another d for registering
the disks into single assembly. The rear disk has a rearward
extension into which is imbedded a metal insert having a central
threaded bore. The rear housing component of the housing has a
flanged rear which attaches to a corresponding flanged front end of
an external motor having an extending shaft with a threaded end and
an internally reverse-threaded central bore. These flanged
components may be circular or the more conventional square-shape.
Most external motors have a square-flanged front end. In such
cases, the rear housing could have a corresponding square-flanged
rear end or a suitable adapter may be used over the square-flanged
front end of the motor. Since with the present invention, it is not
necessary to remove the rear housing to service the internal
components of the disk pump, the rear housing may be bolted onto
the motor rather than clamped thereon with v-clamps as are the
other external connectors of the disk pump [i.e., housing
components connected to each other with v-clamps, suction port
connected to external inlet source with a v-clamp, and discharge
port connected to external outlet source with a v-clamp]. The
threaded insert of the disk assembly is threaded onto the threaded
end of the shaft. A securing fastener further fastens the rear disk
to the shaft through the internally reverse-threaded central bore
at the end of the shaft. The transparent housing permits viewing
the operation of the disk pump. Any problems will be detected at
their incipient stages thereby preventing critical damage to the
units component parts and reducing down time of operation.
[0018] The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important
features of the present invention in order that the detailed
description of the invention that follows may be better understood
so the present contributions to the art may be more fully
appreciated. Additional features of the present invention will be
described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It
should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily
utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and
methods for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the disk pump
assembly.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side elevation cross-section view of the disk
pump assembly.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the disk sections.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-section side elevation view of
the disk pump assembly.
[0024] FIG. 5, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3, is an elevation view of
a disk.
[0025] FIG. 6, taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3, is an elevation view of
a disk.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to
FIG. 1, reference character 10 generally designates a disk pump
assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention. Further reference should be made to FIGS.
2-4. The disk pump assembly 10 has a rear housing unit 21, a front
housing unit 11, and a disk assembly unit 31, 32, 34 within the
inner chamber as defined therein when the front housing unit 11 and
the rear housing unit 21 are connected. The disk pump assembly 10
is attached to an external motor 53 by way of the rear housing 21.
The suction port 13 attaches to an external inlet line and the
discharge port 43 attaches to an external discharge line [or to
another device such as, but not limited, to a hydro-cyclone
particle separator unit]. Connecting the disk pump assembly 10 to
the motor 53 may be by conventional means of bolting or screwing
the components together or, if a suitable adapter is used, may be
by clamping the components together using a conventional v-clamp;
such as, but not limited to, a CLAMPCO brand v-clamp with quick
connect fastener bolt. Use of such v-clamp component, however, is
the preferred means of connect the housing units 11, 21 together,
and for attaching the suction port 13 and the discharge port 43 to
their respective external sources.
[0027] The motor 53 to which attached preferably should have a
square-flanged end 59 and a shaft 58 with a threaded outside end
and an internally threaded aperture or central bore. The rear
housing 21 has a rearward protruding axial extension 23 and,
preferably, a square-flanged rear end 29 matable to the
square-flanged end 59 of the motor 53. The flanged rear end 29
mates with the flange 59 of the motor 53 and it secured thereat by
suitable fasteners, such as, but not limited to bolts. This is the
first step of the attachment process. Generally a suitable sealing
member, such as, but not limited to, an o-ring is placed in between
the two flanged surfaces [as well as in between the other flanged
surfaces later described when being connected together] before the
two flanged surfaces are joined together by and with the
v-clamp.
[0028] Once so attached, the rear housing 21 is secured to the
motor 53. The shaft 58 of the motor 53 extends forward into the
inside cavity 26 of the rear housing 21. The disk assembly 31, 32,
34 [after it has first been assembled] next is secured to the shaft
58 followed by placing the front housing 11 over the disk assembly
31, 32, 34 and securing the front housing 11 to the rear housing 21
by the v-clamp 17A. The attachment process is facilitated by the
structural components of the front housing 11 which include the
rearward extending side wall 12 around the outer perimeter of the
front housing 11. A radial flange 9 extends outward of and around
the side wall 12 at its rear most end. Flange 9 mates with the
perimeter of the rear housing 21. A suitable sealing member [such
as, but not limited to, an o-ring] is placed at the point of
contact between the rear housing 21 and the front housing 11. The
v-clamp 17A sealingly secures the two housing members 11, 21
together. The perimeter of the rear housing 21 may, but need not,
have a forward protruding lip 19 therearound which is adapted to
mate with flange 9 of the front housing 11.
[0029] The suction port 13 has a flange 39 around its perimeter and
the discharge port 43 also has a flange 49 around its perimeter.
The suction port 13 is sealingly connected to an external inlet
line by v-clamp 17B and the discharge port 13 is sealingly
connected to an external discharge line [or other device] by
v-clamp 17C. Suitable sealing members [such as, but not limited to,
an o-ring] are placed in between the two flanged connecting
components.
[0030] The disk assembly 31, 32, 34 within the inner chamber of the
connected housing units 11, 21 has a rear disk 32, a front disk 31,
and any number of disks 34 [internal disks] in between the rear
disk 32 and the front disk 31. The rear disk 32 has an axial
rearward projecting extension 33. An insert 38 is imbedded within
the rearward extension 33. Insert 38 has a threaded central bore
therethrough. After the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is assembled, a
washer or spring-loaded seal assembly 48 is placed over the shaft
58 and the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is then threaded onto the shaft
58. A typical seal assembly 48 suited for this purpose is a
mechanical seal, part number MS1-600V, manufactured by U.S. Seal
Manufacturing Company. Shaft 58 also has a threaded central bore at
its end. The threading of this threaded central bore of the shaft
58 should be reverse-threaded from the rotation of spin of the
shaft 58. The disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is further held fast to the
shaft 58 by fastener 68; preferably a reverse-threaded bolt. A
washer 69 may, but need not, be inserted over the shank of the
fastener 68 before threading fastener 68 into the central bore of
the shaft 58. The front disk 31 and the internal disks 34 may be
removed from the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 without need to un-thread
or remove the rear disk 32 from the motor shaft 58. These features
combine to greatly facilitate assembly and dis-assembly of the disk
pump assembly 10 for maintenance, repair, and replacement of one of
more components as necessary.
[0031] The disk assembly 31, 32, 34 comprises the front disk 31,
the rear disk 32, the internal disks 34 in between the front and
rear disk 31, 32, and the retaining assembly 14, 15 holding the
disks 31, 32, 34 together as a unit. Attention is now invited to
FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. The internal disks 34 each have an axial
aperture 36C with a plurality of projections or bosses 35 around
the axial aperture 36C on one side of the internal disk 34 and
corresponding recesses or indents 37 on the opposite side of the
internal disk 34. The bosses 35 and indents 37 are distal to the
axial aperture 36C. Each side of the internal disks 34 are, except
for the bosses 35, circular, smooth, flat, of equal diameter, and
relatively parallel to one another. The bosses 35 and indents 37 of
each internal disk 34 corresponds and cooperates with the bosses 35
and indents 37 of each other internal disk. With this as a
registration component of the internal disks 34, any number of
internal disks 34 may be accurately aligned together.
[0032] The front disk 31 and the rear disk 32 may, but need not,
have only a set of bosses 35 or a set of indents 37 [or in some
cases both] which correspond and cooperate with the bosses 35 and
indents 37 of the internal disks 34. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the
rear side of the front disk 31 has the bosses 35 and the front side
of the rear disk 32 has the indents 37. In this configuration, the
internal disks 34 are aligned with the front disk 31 and the rear
disk 32 with the bosses 35 of the internal disks 34 facing
rearward. It must be understood, however, that the front disk 31
may have the indents 37 and the rear disk 32 may have the bosses 35
in which case the internal disks 34 would be aligned with the front
disk 31 and the rear disk 32 with the bosses 35 of the internal
disks 34 facing forward. The front disk 31 and the rear disk 32
also have an axial aperture, 36A and 36C, respectively around which
are located their respective bosses 35 and indents 37.
[0033] All of the boss/indents 35, 37 have an aperture through
which a suitable fastener 15 inserts to securingly hold the disk
assembly 31, 32, 34 together. Any fastener 15 suited for the
intended purpose will suffice such as, but not limited to, a bolt
15-nut 14 combination, a bolt 15 and threaded-indent 37
combination, and the like. In practice, the disk assembly 31, 32,
34 is assembled by placing either the front disk 31 [front side
down] or the rear disk 32 [rear side 33 down] on a surface,
preferably a relatively flat surface. For clarity, the disk used
for this purpose will be referred to as the primary disk rendering
the other disk the final disk. One or more internal disks 34 are
the aligned with and placed onto the primary disk. By way of this
example only and not by limitation, the rear disk 32, with insert
38, will be the primary disk. It is placed on a flat surface with
rear side 33 down. After a suitable number of internal disks 34,
with bosses 35 facing toward and into the indents 37 of the primary
disk, are aligned with the primary disk, the front disk 31, as the
final disk with bosses 35 also facing the primary disk, is aligned
with and onto the indents 37 of the last-placed internal disk
34.
[0034] A bolt 15, of suitable length and beginning at the front
disk 31, is inserted through each boss/indent 35, 37 alignment down
through and to the primary disk 32. The bolt 15 is of such length
to pass through the primary disk 32 exposing the threaded end of
the bolt 15 thereat for accepting a nut 14 to thereby secure the
disk assembly 31, 32, 34 as a viable unit made up of its plurality
of component parts. The nut 14 may also be imbedded into the
primary disk such thereby eliminating the need to manually hold the
nut 14 in place when removing the bolt 15 or re-inserting it. In
this example, the nut 14 may be compression-fitted into the primary
disk or may, in the manufacture process of the primary disk, be
molded therein as illustrated in FIG. 4. The indent 37 on the
primary disk instead may have an internally threaded indent 37 or
boss 35 which is adapted to accept the threaded end of the
inserting bolt 15 thereby eliminating the need for a nut 14. the
imbedded nut 14 and the internally threaded indent 37 or boss 35 of
the primary disk are the preferred embodiments as they facilitate
the repair, replacement, and maintenance of the disk pump 10 and
its component parts.
[0035] After the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is so assembled, it is
ready to be attached to the shaft 58. First the seal assembly 48 or
other suitable sealing member is inserted over the shaft 58. Then
the disk assembly 31, 32, 34, is threaded onto the shaft 58 by way
of the insert 38 at the rear disk 32. This is followed by inserting
a suitable fastener 68 with or without a washer 69 through the
axial apertures 16A, 16C, 16B of the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 and
into the threaded central bore of the shaft 58. Though the threaded
insert 38 tightened onto the external threading of the shaft 58 is
sufficient to hold the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 on the shaft 58,
the fastener 68 and washer 69 provide, with reverse threading, for
greater retention thereon.
[0036] As described above, the front housing 11 is then placed over
the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 and connected to the rear housing 21
followed by connecting the suction port 13 and the discharge 43 to
their respective external objects [not shown]. Depending on the
nature and configuration of these external objects, a suitable
adapter to mate the flanges of the suction port 13 and the
discharge port 43 should be used. For example, a conventional pipe
flange connector matable to the suction port 13 and the discharge
port 43 may have a conventional pipe fitting, threaded or glued
thereto, which pipe fitting is attached or attached to the external
object.
[0037] All the disks [front 31, rear 32, and internal 34] and the
front 11 and rear 21 housing units are preferably made of a
polymer; of particularly suited functionality of purpose include
conventionally available transparent ABS, transparent PVC, or other
transparent plastic materials.
[0038] A unique feature of the present invention also lies in the
transparency of the front housing 11. In this regard, the rear
housing 21 and the disks [front 31, rear 32, and internal 34] also
may be transparent. The insert 38 imbedded within the axial
extension 33 of the rear disk 31, however, should be made of a
suitable metal, such as, but not limited to, number 303 or number
316 stainless steel, with the rear disk 31 molded around the insert
38.
[0039] Making the housing units 11, 21 and the disks [front 31,
rear 32, and internal 34] of a polymer which is transparent permits
the user to observe the internal operation of the disk pump
assembly 10 under real-time operational conditions. This ability
can prevent problems before the problem, unseen, can escalate and
cause a major breakdown of equipment and operations. A user would
be able to see if the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is coming undone
from the shaft 58; would be able to see if the bolt fasteners 15
are coming undone; would be able to see if the imbedded nut 14 is
coming undone; would be able to see if the washer 48 is worn; and
would be able to discern any obstructions within the interstitial
spacing between the disks 31, 32, 34.
[0040] On the front side of the front disk 31 is an axial lip or
ridge 73. On the rearward side of the front housing 11 is a
rearward extending axial lip or ridge 75. The respective axial lips
73, 75, though not in direct contact with one another, are adjacent
to one another and in close proximity thereto as to function as a
guide mechanism for the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 as it rotates
within the inner chamber and liquid flows through thereby
facilitating smooth operation of the disk pump 10.
[0041] In view of the component parts comprising the present
invention, one can readily see how simplified is the assembly and
dis-assembly of the disk pump and how efficient and effect this
unit is in operation and maintenance. In simplified terms as
gleaned from the above detailed description, assembling a disk pump
comprised of these component parts entails using a motor having a
square-flanged housing 59 and first attaching the rear housing 21
of the present invention onto the motor's flanged housing 59 using,
for example, bolts. After the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is assembled
as above described, a suitable sealing assembly 48 is placed over
the shaft 58 and against the rear housing 21. Next, the disk
assembly 31, 32, 34, with rear disk 32 first with its threaded
insert 38, is threaded onto the threaded end of the shaft 58 of the
motor 53. A washer 69 and a reverse-threaded bolt 68, which
cooperate with the threading of the central bore at the end of the
shaft 58, more firmly secures the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 to the
shaft 58. The front housing 11 is then placed over the disk
assembly 31, 32, 34 and attached to the rear housing 21 by using a
v-clamp. This is then followed by first attaching, with a v-clamp,
the suction port 13 to an external inlet component after which the
discharge port 43 is attached, with a v-clamp, to an external
discharge component; or the order may be reversed.
[0042] As described above, the ability to view the operation of the
disk pump, particularly in water treatment operations, cannot be
overstated--it is paramount to the efficiency of the present
invention. Problems are detected at their most basic incipient
stages. Corrective action is simplified. A user of the present
invention may elect to attached the suction port 13 and the
discharge port 43 with bolts or other fasteners rather than the
v-clamp fastening. Of course, dis-assembly is more onerous. In such
cases, one need only remove the v-clamp 17A securing the front
housing 11 to the rear housing 21 and pull the motor 53 rearward
until the disk assembly 31, 32, 34 is clear of the front housing 11
side walls 12. This exposes the entire working structural component
parts of the disk pump 10 and permits one to correct any problem
encountered. Re-assembly is just as easy and quick by mere pushing
the motor 53, with its attached component parts, back into mating
communication between the front housing 11 and the rear housing 21,
re-inserting the original sealing member 48 or a new one
therebetween [if warranted or desired], and replacing the v-clamp
17A thereover.
[0043] The present disclosure includes that contained in the
present claims as well as that of the foregoing description.
Although this invention has been described in its preferred forms
with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the
present disclosure of the preferred forms has been made only by way
of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and
combination and arrangement of parts and method steps may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be
determined not by the embodiment[s] illustrated, but by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents.
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