U.S. patent number 3,829,248 [Application Number 05/320,985] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-13 for utility pump.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Little Giant Corporation. Invention is credited to Hugh H. Bright, Lee W. Davis, Frank J. Stanaszek.
United States Patent |
3,829,248 |
Bright , et al. |
August 13, 1974 |
UTILITY PUMP
Abstract
A self-priming pump assembly including motor means with a
rotatable drive shaft extending therefrom and pump mounting means
secured to the motor means with the drive shaft extending
therethrough. A pump unit is demountably secured to the pump
mounting means and includes an interchangeable pump cam with a pair
of identical interchangeable pump cam with a pair of identical
interchangeable wear plates disposed at each end thereof within a
pump housing. A flexible vane impeller is secured to the drive
shaft within the pump cam and between the wear plates. The pump
housing has inlet and outlet fittings integrally formed therewith.
The pump assembly is conformed such that it may be completely
disassembled while the pump housing is left in assembled relation
with the inlet and outlet fittings thereof connected to external
inlet and outlet conduits.
Inventors: |
Bright; Hugh H. (Oklahoma City,
OK), Davis; Lee W. (Del City, OK), Stanaszek; Frank
J. (Bethany, OK) |
Assignee: |
Little Giant Corporation
(Oklahoma City, OK)
|
Family
ID: |
23248673 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/320,985 |
Filed: |
January 4, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/410.3;
418/154; 418/149 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C
15/00 (20130101); F04C 11/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F04C
15/00 (20060101); F04C 11/00 (20060101); F04b
035/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;417/410,DIG.1
;418/154,178 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Husar; C. J.
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Leonard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dunlap; Jerry J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A self-priming pump assembly comprising:
motor means for driving the pump assembly, said motor means
including drive shaft means extending outwardly therefrom for
drivingly rotating relative to said motor means;
pump mounting means fixedly secured to said motor means with said
drive shaft means extending therethrough for mounting a pump unit
on said motor means;
seal means carried by said mounting means for sealingly engaging
said drive shaft means extending therethrough and providing a seal
therebetween;
a substantially planar outer end face formed on said mounting means
lying in a plane normal to the axis of said drive shaft means
extending therethrough; and
a pump unit carried by said mounting means adjacent to said outer
end thereof, said pump unit comprising: a pump housing having an
inner end face and an outer end portion with the inner end face
thereof positioned adjacent to said mounting means, said pump
housing having a cavity formed therein intersecting the inner end
face thereof and defined by a planar end wall lying in a plane
substantially normal to the axis of said drive shaft means and by
an inner peripheral surface traced by a straight line moving
parallel to the axis of said drive shaft means and interconnecting
said end wall and said inner end face;
an inlet port formed in said pump housing and communicating between
the exterior thereof and said cavity formed therein;
an outlet port formed in said pump housing and communicating
between the exterior thereof and said cavity formed therein;
a pump cam having an outer end face and an inner end face and
slidably disposed in said cavity, said pump cam having an outer
periphery conforming to and slidably engaging the inner periphery
of said pump housing, and having an inner periphery of non-circular
cross-section and traced by a straight line moving parallel to the
axis of said drive shaft means and intersecting the inner and outer
end faces of said pump cam;
an inlet port formed in said pump cam and communicating between the
inner periphery of said pump cam and the outer periphery thereof
and the inlet port of said pump housing;
an outlet port formed in said pump cam and communicating between
the inner periphery of said pump cam and the outer periphery
thereof and the outlet port of said pump housing;
an impeller, having an inner end face, an outer end face, a hub
portion, and a plurality of flexible vanes extending radially
outward from the hub portion in spaced relation, disposed within
the inner periphery of said pump cam with the outer end portions of
the flexible vanes slidably engaging the inner periphery of said
pump cam and with the outer end portion of said drive shaft means
extending into the center portion of the hub portion;
means for demountably connecting said impeller to said drive shaft
means for rotation therewith; and
a pair of identical wear plates each having an aperture formed
therein for receiving said drive shaft means therethrough and
disposed respectively between said outer end face of said mounting
means and the inner end face of said impeller, and between the
planar end wall of said pump housing and the outer end face of said
impeller.
2. The pump as defined in claim 1 characterized further to
include:
an annular sealing surface formed on said mounting means and lying
in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said outer end
face and spaced a distance therefrom toward said motor means;
annular seal means disposed between the inner end face of said pump
housing and said annular sealing surface of said mounting means for
providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween; and
at least one annular rib means formed respectively on said annular
sealing surface and on the inner end face of said pump housing for
mutually engaging said annular seal means to prevent radially
outward displacement of said annular seal means under conditions of
elevated internal pressure within said pump unit.
3. The pump as defined in claim 1 characterized further to
include:
means for demountably securing said pump unit to said pump mounting
means; and
seal means disposed between the inner end face of said pump housing
and said pump mounting means for providing a seal therebetween.
4. The pump as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for
demountably securing said pump unit to said pump mounting means is
characterized further to include:
a plurality of threaded screws extending through said pump housing
and threadedly engaging said pump mounting means.
5. The pump as defined in claim 4 wherein said pump housing is
characterized further to include:
means communicating with the inlet port thereof for connecting said
pump unit to a source of fluid to be pumped; and
means communicating with the outlet port thereof for connecting
said pump unit to a receiver of fluid to be pumped.
6. The pump as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for connecting
said pump unit to a source of fluid and said means for connecting
said pump unit to a receiver of fluid are each characterized
further to be threaded fittings integrally formed as a part of said
pump housing.
7. The pump as defined in claim 6 wherein said pump mounting means
and said pump housing are each further characterized as being
formed of approximately 30 percent glass filled polypropylene.
8. The pump as defined in claim 7 wherein said pump cam is further
characterized as being formed of Teflon filled acetal resin.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pumps and more
particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a self-priming
integral utility pump and drive motor assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The self-priming utility pumps currently available display a number
of disadvantages. One available utility pump utilizes a pump head
constructed of chrome plated brass which is subject to corrosion.
This particular pump has the pump cam formed integrally with the
brass pump head which results in the replacement of the entire pump
head when the pump cam surface is worn out. This particular pump
further utilizes no replaceable wear plates which again shortens
the overall service life of the pump.
Another form of available utility pump employs a wear plate which
is positioned such that the motor drive shaft can run on it making
burrs which cause metal particles to get into the impeller thereby
causing scoring and wear of the cam surface and wear plate. This
particular pump does not employ interchangeable wear plates or a
replaceable pump cam thereby shortening the overall service life of
the pump. The pump housing of this particular pump is fabricated of
a brittle plastic material and removal and reinstallation of the
mounting screws readily causes the plastic to chip away from screw
holes which can easily render the pump housing unserviceable. The
shaft seal of this particular pump is retained in place by a metal
washer which is difficult to remove for replacement of the seal.
This particular pump further has no facility for direct connection
into a rigid piping system.
A third known form of self-priming utility pump employs a thin
cover and gasket over the outer portion of the pump housing thereby
subjecting the pump the increased possibility of leakage. This
particular pump employs brass inlet and outlet fittings which are
subject to corrosion. The drive shaft seal employed by this pump
comprises a hydraulic cylinder U type cup retained by a loose metal
washer, which washer can be easily displaced to a position where it
would rub against the rotating drive shaft, thereby causing
grooving of the shaft and spreading metal burrs in the area of the
seal thus shortening the service life of the pump. This particular
pump further employs an additional spacer plate between the wear
plate adjacent the drive motor and the shaft seal which must be
removed and accounted for during repair or replacement of the
seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a self-priming utility pump
assembly comprising motor means for driving the pump assembly, with
the motor means including drive shaft means extending outwardly
therefrom for drivingly rotating relative to the motor means. The
pump assembly further includes pump mounting means fixedly secured
to the motor means with the drive shaft means extending
therethrough for mounting a pump unit on the motor means, and seal
means carried by the mounting means for sealingly engaging the
drive shaft means extending therethrough and providing a seal
therebetween. The pump assembly also includes a substantially
planar outer end face formed on the mounting means lying in a plane
normal to the axis of the drive shaft means extending
therethrough.
The self-priming pump assembly of the present invention also
includes a pump unit carried by the mounting means adjacent to the
outer end thereof, with the pump unit including a pump housing
having an inner end face and an outer end portion with the inner
end face thereof positioned adjacent to the mounting means. The
pump housing has a cavity formed therein intersecting the inner end
face thereof and defined by a planar end wall lying in a plane
substantially normal to the axis of the drive shaft means and by an
inner peripheral surface traced by a straight line moving parallel
to the axis of the drive shaft means and interconnecting the end
wall and the inner end face of the pump housing. An inlet port is
formed in the pump housing and communicates between the exterior
thereof and the cavity formed therein, and an outlet port is formed
in the pump housing communicating between the exterior thereof and
the cavity formed therein. A pump cam having an outer end face and
an inner end face is slidably disposed in the cavity, the pump cam
having an outer periphery conforming to and slidably engaging the
inner periphery of the pump housing, and having an inner periphery
of non-circular cross-section and traced by a straight line moving
parallel to the axis of the drive shaft means and intersecting the
inner and outer end faces of the pump cam. An inlet port is formed
in the pump cam and communicates between the inner periphery of the
pump cam and the outer periphery thereof and the inlet port of the
pump housing, and an outlet port is formed in the pump cam
communicating between the inner periphery of the pump cam and the
outer periphery thereof and the outlet port of the pump
housing.
An impeller, having an inner end face and an outer end face, a hub
portion, and a plurality of flexible vanes extending radially
outwardly from the hub portion in spaced relation, is disposed
within the inner periphery of the pump cam with the outer end
portions of the flexible vanes slidably engaging the inner
periphery of the pump cam and with the outer end portion of the
drive shaft means extending into the center portion of the hub
portion. The pump unit further includes means for demountably
connecting the impeller to the drive shaft means for rotation
therewith. Also included are a pair of identical wear plates each
having an aperture formed therein for receiving the drive shaft
means therethrough and disposed respectively between the outer end
face of the mounting means and the inner end face of the impeller,
and between the planar end wall of the pump housing and the outer
end face of the impeller.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
self-priming utility pump which is highly reliable and exhibits a
long service life.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a utility
pump which may be quickly and easily disassembled and reassembled
in the event repairs are required.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a utility
pump which employs a minimum number of parts for simplified
maintenance.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a utility
pump which may be extensively repaired without removal of the pump
housing from the piping system in which it is installed.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a
self-priming utility pump which is not susceptible to corrosion
damage.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
self-priming utility pump which is economical to manufacture and
maintain.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
evident from the following detailed description when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the utility pump of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the utility pump of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the utility pump of the
present invention taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged portion of the partial cross-sectional view
of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a front end elevational view of the utility pump of phe
present invention with a portion of the pump housing shown broken
away to more clearly illustrate details of internal
construction.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the utility pump of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG.
4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing, the self-priming utility pump
assembly of the present invention is generally designated by
reference character 10. The pump assembly 10 generally comprises a
drive motor 12, a pump mounting adapter 14, and a pump unit 16.
The drive motor 12 is preferably an electric motor of either the AC
or DC type. Suitable types of motors are found to be the 115 volt
AC, 230 volt AC, and 12 volt DC types. The drive motor 12 is
suitably equipped with a mounting bracket 18 which is rigidly
secured thereto and which is equipped with a plurality of rubber
vibration isolating grommets 20 to facilitate the installation of
the drive motor 12.
A rotatable drive shaft 22 extends outwardly from the drive motor
12 and includes a water slinger 24 suitably installed thereon, such
as by press fitting, adjacent to the drive motor 12. The outer end
portion 26 of the drive shaft 22 includes a flat surface 28 formed
thereon for engaging the pump impeller as will be described
hereinafter.
The pump mounting adapter 14 is secured to the end of the drive
motor 12 adjacent to the drive shaft 22, with the drive shaft 22
extending therethrough. The adapter 14 is preferably secured to the
drive motor 12 by means of a pair of threaded screws 30 extending
through the adapter 14 and threadedly engaging the drive motor 12.
The adapter 14 includes a cavity 32 formed therein which surrounds
a portion of the drive shaft 22 and the water slinger 24 secured
thereto. An aperture 34 is formed in the lower portion of the
adapter 14 through which fluid, which has been slung from the drive
shaft 22 by the water slinger 24, may drain from the cavity 32.
A seal cavity 36, defined by a planar end wall 38 and a
substantially cylindrically shaped inner periphery 40, is formed in
the outer end portion 42 of the adapter 14. The cylindrically
shaped inner periphery 40 communicates with a substantially planar
outer end face 44 formed on the outer end portion 42 of the
mounting adapter 14. The outer end face 44 lies in a plane normal
to the axis of the drive shaft 22.
An annular shaft seal 46 is disposed within the seal cavity 36
providing a fluid-tight seal between the pump mounting adapter 14
and the shaft 22. The seal 46 comprises an annular reinforcing ring
48 having an L-shaped cross-section and preferably formed of a
suitable metal such as steel. The shaft seal 46 further includes an
annular elastomeric seal member 50, of U-shaped cross-section,
which is integrally molded around and bonded to the reinforcing
ring 48. An annular coil spring member 52 encircles the inner
portion of the elastomeric seal member 50 and urges the inner
portion thereof radially inwardly into sealing engagement with the
drive shaft 22. The annular coil spring member 52 is preferably
formed of stainless steel.
A substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion 54 intersects
the outer end face 44 of the pump mounting adapter 14 and extends a
distance therefrom toward the drive motor 12. The peripheral
portion 54 is interrupted at its uppermost portion by an arcuately
shaped portion 56 defining a peripheral surface spaced radially
inwardly from the outer peripheral portion 54. The arcuately shaped
peripheral portion 56 has an arc length of approximately 1/6th of
the circumference of the outer peripheral portion 54. The arcuately
shaped portion 56 provides a portion of a key way system for the
pump assembly 10 to facilitate the alignment of various parts
thereof as will be described more fully hereinafter.
The outer peripheral portions 54 and 56 intersect an annular
sealing surface 58 which extends radially outward therefrom and
lies in a plane parallel to the outer end face 44.
The pump unit 16 includes a pump housing 60 which is rigidly
secured to the pump mounting adapter 14 by means of a plurality of
threaded screws 62 extending through the pump housing 60 and
threadedly engaging the pump mounting adapter 14. When properly
installed on the mounting adapter 14, the inner end face 64 of the
pump housing 60 is positioned adjacent to the annular sealing
surface 58 of the adapter 14 with a fluid-tight gasket 66 disposed
therebetween to provide a seal between the pump housing 60 and the
pump mounting adapter 14.
The pump housing 60 has a blind cavity 68 formed therein between
the outer end portion 70 and the inner end face 64 thereof. The
cavity 68 intersects the inner end face 64 and is defined by a
planar end wall 72 lying in a plane normal to the axis of the drive
shaft 22 and by an inner peripheral surface 74 traced by a straight
line moving parallel to the axis of the drive shaft 22 and
interconnecting the end wall 72 and the inner end face 64. The
cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface 74 is
substantially identical to the cross-sectional shape of the outer
peripheral portions 54 and 56 of the pump mounting adapter 14.
It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 7, the surfaces 58 and 64
preferably each have a plurality of annular ribs 58a and 64a formed
respectively thereon and extending longitudinally therefrom to
mutually engage the gasket 66 to keep it from being forced radially
outwardly out of position under conditions of elevated internal
pressure within the pump unit. The ribs 58a and 64a are spaced
radially on the respective surfaces 58 and 64 and follow the
contour of the outer peripheral portions 54 and 56 of the adapter
14 and the inner peripheral surface 74 of the housing 60. The ribs
58a and 64a have been found to increase the maximum internal
pressure which the gasket 66 can withstand by approximately 100 to
200 percent over the maximum pressure which can be withstood by an
identical gasket installed between two similar sealing surfaces
having no ribs formed thereon.
Two identical flat wear plates 76, preferably formed of sheet
stainless steel, are disposed within the cavity 68 adjacent to the
outer end face 44 of the pump mounting adapter 14 and the planar
end wall 72 of the cavity 68, respectively. Each wear plate 76
includes an aperture 78 formed in the central portion thereof to
permit passage of the drive shaft 22 therethrough. The outer
periphery 80 of each wear plate 76 is sized and shaped to be
slidingly received within the cavity 68 of the pump housing 60 and
conform to the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral
surface 74. The identical symmetrical configuration of the two wear
plates 76 permits them to be interchanged or reversed when
installed within the pump housing 60 to facilitate parts
interchangeability and increase the service life of the pump
assembly 10.
An inlet port 82 and an outlet port 84 are formed in the pump
housing 60, each communicating between the inner peripheral surface
74 and the exterior of the pump housing 60. The inlet and outlet
ports 82 and 84 include inlet and outlet fittings 86 and 88,
respectively. Each of the fittings 86 and 88 includes a 3/4 inch
standard garden hose external thread and a 3/8 inch FNPT internal
thread. The inlet and outlet ports and fittings are preferably
integrally formed with the pump housing 60 to form a one-piece
unit.
A pump cam 90 is disposed within the cavity 68 of the pump housing
60 intermediate the two wear plates 76, 76. The pump cam 90
includes inner and outer end faces 92 and 94 each positioned
adjacent to a respective wear plate 76. The pump cam 90 is slidably
disposed within the cavity 68 with the outer periphery thereof 96
sized and shaped to conform to and slidably engage the inner
periphery 74 of the cavity 68. The pump cam 90 further includes an
inner periphery 98 having a non-circular cross-section and traced
by a straight line moving parallel to the axis of the drive shaft
22 and intersecting the inner and outer end faces 92 and 94 of the
pump cam 90.
An inlet port 100 is formed in the pump cam 90 and communicates
between the inner periphery 98 and the outer periphery 96 thereof
and further communicates with the inlet port 82 of the pump housing
60. Similarly, an outlet port 102 is formed in the pump cam 90 and
communicates between the inner periphery 98 and the outer periphery
96 thereof and further communicates with the outlet port 84 of the
pump housing 60.
It should be noted that the outer periphery 96 of the pump cam 90
is configured such that it may be slidably received in the cavity
68 of the pump housing 60 only along a line parallel to the axis of
the drive shaft 22. The non-circular contours of the inner
peripheral surface 74 of the cavity 68 and the outer periphery 96
of the pump cam 90 prevent the possibility of any rotational
displacement of the pump cam 90 relative to the pump housing
60.
An impeller 104 is positioned within the inner periphery 98 of the
pump cam 90 and between the two wear plates 76, 76. The impeller
104 includes inner and outer end faces 106 and 108 which slidingly
engage the respective wear plate 76. The impeller 104 includes a
hub portion 110 and a plurality of flexible vanes 112 extending
radially outward from the hub portion 110 in angularly spaced
relation. An aperture 114 is formed in the central portion of the
hub portion 110 for slidingly receiving the outer end portion 26 of
the drive shaft 22. The aperture 114 includes a flat portion 116
formed therein for engaging the flat surface 28 of the drive shaft
22 to provide a suitable connection between the impeller 104 and
the shaft 22 for rotation of the impeller therewith.
When the impeller 104 is installed, as described, on the drive
shaft 22 within the inner periphery 98 of the pump cam 90, the
outer end portion 118 of each flexible vane 112 slidingly engages
the inner periphery 98 of the pump cam 90.
The pump mounting adapter 14 and the pump housing 60 are each
preferably molded of thirty percent glass filled polypropylene. The
wear plates 76, 76 are preferably formed of 22 gauge 302 stainless
steel. The gasket 66 is preferably formed of an elastomeric
material such as Buna N of 70 to 80 durometer hardness having a
thickness of approximately 0.063 inches. The hub portion 110 of the
impeller 104 is preferably formed of brass while the remainder of
the impeller 104, comprising the flexible vanes 112, is preferably
formed of an elastomeric material such as Buna N of 70 to 75
durometer hardness.
The pump cam 90 is preferably formed of a suitable synthetic resin
material having high wear resistance. One such suitable synthetic
resin material is a Teflon filled acetal resin which is marketed
under the name of Fulton 404. Other suitable materials are Delrin
and polypropylene.
Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
To operate the pump assembly 10 of the present invention, a
suitable conduit is threadedly secured to the inlet fitting 86 and
is placed in communication with the fluid to be pumped. Similarly,
a suitable conduit is threadedly secured to the outlet fitting 88
and directed to a suitable receiver for the fluid being pumped. The
drive motor 12 is then energized thereby rotating the shaft 22 and
the impeller 104 secured thereto. As the impeller 104 rotates
within the pump cam 90 fluid is drawn through the first-mentioned
conduit into the inlet fitting 86 and propelled through the pump
unit 16 to exit from the outlet fitting 88 and the second-mentioned
conduit to the receiver of fluid being pumped.
From the foregoing detailed description of the pump assembly of the
present invention, it may be readily seen that the present
invention obtains the objectives set forth herein. Changes may be
made in the arrangement or combination of parts or elements shown
in the drawings and described in the specification without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in
the following claims.
* * * * *