U.S. patent application number 11/561186 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for two stage conical liquid ring pump having removable manifold, shims and first and second stage head o-ring receiving boss.
Invention is credited to Carl G. Dudeck, Louis Lengyel, Ramesh B. Shenoi.
Application Number | 20080038120 11/561186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38656993 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080038120 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lengyel; Louis ; et
al. |
February 14, 2008 |
TWO STAGE CONICAL LIQUID RING PUMP HAVING REMOVABLE MANIFOLD, SHIMS
AND FIRST AND SECOND STAGE HEAD O-RING RECEIVING BOSS
Abstract
A first head of a liquid ring pump has an inlet, an outlet, a
shaft receiving aperture extending there through, and an internal
end. The internal end includes a boss with a side wall. The boss is
received by a pump body. An interstage manifold is removeably
coupled to the pump without being integral with or connected to the
pump body. An o-ring can be located between a side wall of the boss
and an internal side wall of the body.
Inventors: |
Lengyel; Louis; (Fairfield,
CT) ; Shenoi; Ramesh B.; (Orangeburg, NY) ;
Dudeck; Carl G.; (Newtown, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES B. CONTE
22nd FL, 120 S. RIVERSIDE PLAZA
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
38656993 |
Appl. No.: |
11/561186 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60822147 |
Aug 11, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 23/001 20130101;
F04C 19/00 20130101; F04C 19/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/68 |
International
Class: |
F04C 19/00 20060101
F04C019/00 |
Claims
1. A liquid ring pump comprising: a first head, said first head
having an inlet, an outlet, a shaft receiving aperture extending
there through, and an internal end, wherein said internal end
includes a boss, said boss having a side wall; a second head having
an inlet, an outlet and an internal end; a body having a first end
coupled to said internal end of said first head and a second end
coupled to said internal end of said second head, and wherein said
first end of said body receives said boss.
2. The liquid ring pump of claim 1, wherein said first head outlet
is removably coupled to a first end of an interstage manifold, and
wherein said second head is removably coupled to a second end of
said interstage manifold.
3. The liquid ring pump of claim 2, wherein said body is without
said manifold integral thereto.
4. The liquid ring pump of claim 1, wherein said first head is a
first stage head.
5. The liquid ring pump of claim 1, wherein said internal end of
said first head has a shim receiving surface, said shim receiving
surface not forming a surface of said boss.
6. The liquid ring pump of claim 5, wherein the shim receiving
surface has a plurality of apertures there through.
7. The liquid ring pump of claim 6, wherein a plurality of shims
are between an end wall of said body and said shim receiving
surface.
8. A head for a liquid ring pump, said head comprising; an internal
end wherein said internal end has a rabbet and a recessed portion,
said rabbet has a side wall; an inlet; an outlet; a shaft receiving
aperture extending through said head, and wherein said recessed
portion is between said shaft receiving aperture and said rabbet
side wall.
9. The head of claim 8, wherein said head is a first stage head of
a two-stage liquid ring pump and wherein said head includes a
manifold mating flange at said outlet.
10. The head of claim 8, wherein said head is a second stage head
of a two-stage liquid ring pump, and wherein said head includes a
manifold mating flange at said inlet, and wherein said inlet is
separated into an air receiving chamber and a liquid receiving
chamber.
11. The head of claim 8, wherein said rabbet side wall has a groove
therein.
12. The head of claim 8, wherein said internal end has a shim
receiving surface, said boss between said shim receiving surface
and said recessed surface.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority from provisional
application 60822147 filed Aug. 11, 2006.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure concerns a liquid ring pump and more
particularly, a conical two stage liquid ring pump.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present disclosure is related to pumps. In particular,
the present disclosure relates to two stage liquid ring pumps that
are used to create a vacuum. Liquid ring pumps can be used in wet
industrial environments and, as they are inherently low in
friction, have a long service life. Liquid ring pumps remove air or
gases by means of an impeller rotating freely in an eccentric
casing. Operating liquid, usually water, is fed into the pump and
is thrown by centrifugal force to form a moving ring along the
internal casing wall, creating a sealed pumping chamber. Sealing
liquid is also fed into the pump to seal interstices between the
rotor and other parts. Industrial users employ these highly
reliable pumps for a variety of uses, such as forming wet paper
pulp into egg cartons and nursery planting containers, soil
remediation where contaminated ground water is drawn by vacuum from
the earth for treatment, and a host of other applications. Examples
of liquid ring pumps can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,161, Olsen
et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,688, Shenoi. Both of the patents are
hereby incorporated in this application by reference.
SUMMARY
[0004] A two-stage liquid ring pump, in accordance with the present
disclosure, includes a two chambered body connected to a first
stage head at a first end, and a second stage head at a second end.
In the illustrative embodiments, the first and second stage heads
each include an internal face, side or end. Each end is adapted to
engage an opposite side of the body. At least one end has a surface
designed to accept a plurality of gaskets that act as shims to
enable one to set the clearance between the rotor and cones within
the body. To enable the setting of clearance, shims are used to
form an axial spacing between the internal face of the head and an
end of the body. The clearances between the cones and the rotor are
critical for maximum performance. The first and second stage heads
also each include a circular rabbet or boss on their faces. The
bosses are adapted to accept an o-ring to allow sealing in more
demanding applications.
[0005] In the illustrative embodiments the first and second stage
heads are interconnected by a removable interstage manifold that is
separate from the body. The interstage manifold incorporates an
air/water separation construction for improved efficiency. Use of a
removable interstage manifold simplifies head and body castings for
better core support, better castability and lower casting defect
rates, resulting in lower costs. The interstage manifold has a
varying cross-section design for separating air and water ejected
from the first stage. The removable manifold allows for use of the
0-rings on the heads. The removable manifold has flanges for o-ring
or gasket sealing with corresponding flange faces on the heads.
Through holes for the bolts in the flanges are sized to accommodate
variations in end travel settings.
[0006] In the illustrative embodiments, a first stage cone includes
an auxiliary discharge port consisting of two timed vent holes
formed in the first stage cone. The vent holes provide low speed
stability, which improves water handling capabilities and hydraulic
noise reduction. The vent holes are positioned so that high vacuum
capacity is not affected. The vent holes, also, under hogging
conditions, at low vacuum, reduce excessive compression in the
rotor buckets, thereby reducing peak power requirements at low
vacuum.
[0007] Additional features of the present disclosure will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-stage liquid ring pump
having a two chambered body connected at a first end to a first
stage head and, at a second end, to a second stage head, wherein
the first and second stage heads are interconnected by a removable
interstage manifold;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an irregular cross-sectional view taken along the
pumps longitudinal axis and through the first stage inlet, showing
the first and second chambers of the body and the first and second
stage heads, and further showing a drive shaft extending through
the body and heads, the shaft being coupled to a two stage rotor
that is positioned between a pair of cones;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the liquid ring pump shown in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the two-stage liquid ring
pump with the body, shaft, and rotor removed from the pump to show
the first stage cone with respect to the first stage head and
further showing the flow of air and water through the interstage
manifold;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but with the
interstage manifold removed from the first and second stage heads,
and further showing the two chambered inlet port on the second
stage head that accepts air and water from the interstage
manifold;
[0014] FIG. 6a is a perspective end view of the first stage cone
conical member shown in FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6b is a side perspective view of the cone shown in FIG.
6a;
[0016] FIG. 6c is a side plan view of the cone shown in FIG. 6a
[0017] FIG. 7a is a perspective view of the interior side of the
first stage head showing the air inlet port and the outlet port to
the interstage manifold, the first stage head also showing the face
for shimming and setting the clearance between the cone and the
rotor and the circular rabbet or boss on the head for o-ring
sealing;
[0018] FIG. 7b is a plan rear view of the exterior side of the
first stage head;
[0019] FIG. 7c is a cross sectional view of the first stage head
taken along view lines 7-7;
[0020] FIG. 7d is a plan view looking at the discharge port of the
first stage head;
[0021] FIG. 8a is a plan front view of the interior side of the
second stage head;
[0022] FIG. 8b is a side perspective view of the interior side of
the second stage head;
[0023] FIG. 8c is a cross sectional view of the second stage head
taken along view lines 8-8;
[0024] FIG. 9a is an end plan view of the interstage manifold;
[0025] FIG. 9b is a cross sectional view of the manifold shown in
FIG. 9a taken along view lines 9-9;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] A two-stage liquid ring vacuum pump 10 adapted to handle
large quantities of material carry over without affecting
continuous air-flow is shown. Pump 10 includes a rotor 12 that is
positioned eccentric relative to body 14. The body 14 has first
chamber housing 16 enclosing chamber 16a. The body further has
second chamber housing 18 enclosing chamber 18a. As viewed in FIG.
2, the first stage 38 is on the right side of the illustration and
the second stage 36 is on the left side of the illustration. A
manifold 34 joins the first and second stage.
[0027] The body 14 is adapted to house rotor 12 that includes an
intermediate circular wall 48 which separates first stage 38 from
second stage 36. The rotor 12 is coupled to drive shaft 49 and is
rotated by shaft 49 when power is applied to input shaft 50. The
rotor 12 includes first stage blades 52 and second stage blades 54.
The rotor 12 and drive shaft 49 are positioned within body 14 so
that space 56 is created within first chamber 16a, and space 58 is
created within second chamber 18a.
[0028] Also positioned within body 14 are first and second stage
cones 60, 62. First stage cone 60 is positioned in first chamber
16a and second stage cone 62 is positioned in second chamber 18a.
First stage head 32 is coupled to body 14 at an end 201 of first
stage housing 16. Second stage head 33 is coupled to body 14 at an
end 206 of second stage housing 18, for example, see FIG. 2.
[0029] The first stage head or end shield 32 is adapted to be
coupled to first chamber housing 16 of body 14. Face 79, of first
stage head 32, includes a plurality of apertures 92 that permit
first stage head 32 to be secured to first chamber housing 16 of
body 14. The first stage face, end or side 79, has a surface 179,
which is adapted to accept shims 200. The shims 200 create axial
spacing or distance between and end wall 201 of first body 14 and
internal face surface 179. The spacing is to set end travel
clearance between cones 60, 62 and rotor 12. In conical liquid
rings pumps, it is critical to properly set the clearance and
travel between rotor 12 and first and second stage cones 60, 62.
Failure to properly orient these components can cause premature
wear and internal leaking which can reduce vacuum pump
efficiency.
[0030] The first stage head 32 also includes a circular rabbet or
boss 110 on face 79 that is adapted to accept an O-ring 202 to
permit sealing between the first stage head 32 and body 14. The
O-ring seals between the boss's circumferential side wall 203 and
an inner side wall 204 towards an end of body 14. A groove 203a to
receive the O-ring 202 is in the sidewall 203. An O-ring can be
used since the interstage manifold is detachable from first stage
head 32.
[0031] The first stage head 32 includes recess 80 that is adapted
to accept flange 82 of first stage cone 60 as shown, for example,
in FIGS. 4 and 5. Recess 80 includes a plurality of apertures 84
that allow first stage cone 60 to be attached to first stage head
32. The first stage head 32 also includes a central opening 86
adapted to accept rotor shaft 49. The recessed portion is between
aperture 86 and boss side wall 203. The first stage head also
includes a seal water supply passage 88 to allow seal water to
enter first stage cone passage 88a. The first stage head also
includes air inlet 26 in fluid communication with inlet port 70.
The first stage also includes discharge port 30 in fluid
communication with discharge port opening 66.
[0032] The first stage head also includes a pair of bracket members
90 that permit pump 10 to be secured.
[0033] First stage cone 60 includes passage 20 into which inlet
port 70 opens. The fist stage cone also includes main discharge
port 64 opening into discharge port opening 66. First stage cone 60
further includes auxiliary discharge ports 68. Auxiliary discharge
ports 68 include two timed vent holes for low speed stability,
which improves water handling capabilities and results in hydraulic
noise reduction. Auxiliary discharge ports 68 are positioned so
that high vacuum capacity is not effected. The vent holes, also,
under hogging conditions, at low vacuum, reduce excessive
compression in the rotor buckets or spaces 28 between the blades of
rotor 52. Correspondingly, peak power requirements at low vacuum
are also reduced. The pump can operate at lower than normal tip
speeds with these vent holes in the first stage cone The cone 60
also has 4 linearly aligned skew holes 67 to reduce hydraulic
noise.
[0034] Second stage head or end shield 33 includes intake port 71a,
71b that includes a first chamber 71 a adapted to accept compressed
air from interstage manifold 34 and second chamber 71b which is
adapted to accept water from interstage manifold 34. Second stage
head 36 also includes outlet port 81. The second stage head is
adapted to be coupled to second chamber housing 18 of body 14.
[0035] The second stage head 33 includes a circular rabbet or boss
110a on face 79a that is adapted to accept an O-ring 202 to permit
sealing between the second stage head 33 and body 14. An O-ring 202
can be used since interstage manifold is detachable from second
stage head 33. The o-ring 202 seals in the same manner as in the
first stage head, i.e., between boss 110a's side wall 207 and an
internal side wall 208 of body 14. The o-ring sits in groove
210.
[0036] First and second stage heads 32, 33 include outboard bearing
carriers 94, 96 that are adapted to the support drive shaft, as
shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Bearing carriers 94, 96 include
bearings 98, 100 that are adapted to support drive shaft 9. To seal
first and second stage heads 32, 33 from leaking along drive shaft
49, seals 102, 104 are used in first and second stage heads 32, 33
between the rotor and the rest of the pump.
[0037] Both discharge port 30 and intake port 71a, 71b include
mating faces 77, 78 that are adapted to accept an O-ring or gasket
to seal ports 30, and 71a, 71b to interstage manifold 34.
[0038] Mating faces 77, 78 can include a plurality of apertures 76
that are sized to accommodate variations in end travel settings of
first and second stage heads 32, 33. Since interstage manifold 34
is removable, it provides the option of being made in lightweight
and corrosion resistant materials for cost effective
manufacture.
[0039] The modular design of pump 10 permits gaskets to be used
between the first stage internal face 79 and body end wall 201. The
gaskets serve the dual purpose as shims 200 and gaskets 200 when
the pump is used in general applications such as those applications
used in the power industry. The modular design also permits the use
of O-rings using the same casting, but with some additional
machining, for more demanding applications, such as those
applications in the chemical industry. In demanding industry
applications, the shims 200 are used to set end travel only, and
O-rings 202 are used to seal between the first stage head 32,
second stage head 33 and body 14.
[0040] With a gasket only configuration , ie., no o-rings, the
gaskets on the first or second stage head could also serve as shims
for setting end travel clearance. Any gaskets/shims used on the
second stage head would have to be configured to seal around
conduit 205. Although the shims or gaskets used in this
configuration would not interfere with the use of O-rings 202, in
general, when one uses gaskets for sealing duty they do not want
o-rings. Thus O-rings 202 would likely be omitted. Conversely when
one uses O-rings for sealing they do not want to use gaskets for
sealing duty. Any gaskets used would strictly serve as shims.
[0041] With an O-ring configuration, the shown second stage
internal face end, or side 79a, having surface 179a, is not adapted
to accept shims to allow for setting end travel between cones 60,62
and rotor 12. The operating liquid conduit 205 in the second stage
head prevents the effective use of shims. The conduit is bordered
by a groove 205a to accept an o-ring 209 .
[0042] The o-ring 209 seals the conduit 205 to an end face 206 of
body 14. A shim, if used, would interfere with the o-ring's ability
to seal conduit 205 to end face 206 . Therefore to allow for the
use of shims on the second stage head 33, in an o-ring
configuration, one would have to reconfigure the second stage head
33, so that it would be compatible with the use of shims.
[0043] For instance, one could remove conduit 205 and use an
alternative conduit configuration.
[0044] In operation the rotation of rotor 12 draws air or gas into
inlet 26 of the first stage head and progresses in the direction
shown by arrows 112. The air enters first cone passage 20 through
inlet port 70. As rotation progresses, the liquid (not shown) from
the liquid ring is forced into rotor buckets 28 compressing the air
or gas, and a mixture of gas and liquid is then forced out of cone
discharge port 64 through first stage head port 66 in the direction
shown by arrows 114. The air and gas mixture is discharged from the
first stage head through port 30 and enters interstage manifold 34
and progresses as shown by arrows 116.
[0045] As the air/gas mixture travels along manifold 34 the mixture
enters an expanded region 42 which is characterized by a downwardly
sloping ramp 44 leading to a bottom portion 46. The bottom portion
is opposite the upper portion 47. In the expanded portion, the
liquid portion of the mixture, falls towards the bottom 46 and the
air remains above the liquid in upper portion 47. The separation
occurs due to velocity reduction and gravity effects. The air
enters second stage 33 through chamber 71a. The liquid enters
second stage 33 through chamber 71b. Arrows 118 show the air
passing from the manifold to the second stage. Arrows 120 show the
water passing from the manifold into the second stage.
[0046] While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the
drawings and foregoing description, such illustrations and
descriptions are considered to be exemplary and not restrictive in
character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments
have been shown and described and that all changes and
modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are
desired to be protected. The applicants have provided description
and figures which are intended as illustrations of embodiments of
the disclosure, and are not intended to be construed as containing
or implying limitation of the disclosure to those embodiments.
There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure
arising from various features set forth in the description. It will
be noted that alternative embodiments of the disclosure may not
include all of the features described yet still benefit from at
least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary
skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of
the disclosure and associated methods, without undue
experimentation, that incorporate one or more of the features of
the disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure and the appended claims.
* * * * *