CA3184913A1 - Modular pump system - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular pump system for pumping a pumping media includes a plurality of identical, releasably interconnecting pumps. Each pump has a pump housing with an inlet and an outlet, a suction at the inlet and a discharge at the outlet. The outlet of a first pump releasably and directly interconnects with the inlet of an adjacent second pump of the plurality of pumps, to directly and fluidly interconnect the discharge of the first pump to the suction of the second pump. The pump housing has a cuboid geometry, which may be a rectangular prism, allowing for the efficient stacking, installation, transport and storage of the pumps.
The pumps may be connected in parallel and/or in series, and the pumps may be submersible pumps with dry run capability.

Description

MODULAR PUMP SYSTEM
Technical Field The present disclosure relates to modular pump systems; in particular, the disclosure relates to modular pump systems comprising of pumps which may be directly mounted or otherwise connected, in series and/or in parallel, to one another.
Background Dewatering pumps, such as those used in mines, are known in the prior art and are available in a large horsepower (HP) range; for example, individual pumps may have a horsepower rating in the range of 1 HP to 150 HP. To achieve a desired pumping pressure, or head, and flow rate for an application, a pump manufacturer may provide, for example, 30 pumps of different configurations in a given pump range. The different pump configurations may have different horsepower ratings, and discharge and/or impeller sizes. A performance curve chart may typically be used to select a particular pump configuration that provides the desired head and flow rate for a given application. Examples of performance curve charts, for conventional submersible pumps, are provided at FIGS. 1A to 1C. For example, with reference to FIG. 1A, an application requiring a head of 300 feet and a flow rate of 300 gallons per minute (gpm) may utilize a model DBH 100/75 HH pump, while a second application requiring a head of 100 feet and a flow rate of 3000 gpm may utilize a model DBH 200/150 LH pump.
A user of pumps may therefore conventionally stock an inventory of pumps, having a range of horsepower ratings to suit a variety of applications at the mine. Each configuration would typically have a fixed horsepower rating. In addition, the inventory may also include different types of pumps for different applications; for example, a typical pump inventory may include multi-stage pumps, submersible pumps and horizontal pumps, allowing for different pumping configurations depending on space and clearance considerations.
Using a mining operation as an example, without intending to be limiting, an illustration of the different types of pumps that may be required is as follows. Multi-stage pumps, consisting of a Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 plurality of impellers and casings connected together in a vertical stack and driven by single shaft, may be used to dewater a portion of the mine, provided there is sufficient vertical and horizontal clearance for positioning the multi-stage pump, and also provided that the pumping media has a low solids content, as multi-stage pumps may typically be damaged by solids.
For applications where there is not sufficient clearance for a multi-stage pump, a combination of submersible pumps and/or horizontal pumps may be utilized. At the lowermost level of the mine, a plurality of horizontal pumps may be connected in series, (also referred to as "daisy-chained" together), to gather the liquid collected at the bottom of the mine. In some applications, a plurality of submersible pumps, connected together in series at successive vertical levels of the mine, may be utilized to pump the liquid successively to different levels of the mine, thereby achieving the total required head.
In the prior art, the applicant is aware of pumping systems, for example used in hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry, wherein fracking fluid pumps may be connected together in series to boost the head to sufficient levels for fracturing underground geological structures. Such pumps may also be connected together in parallel, to increase the flow rate of the output of the pumping system.
The applicant is also aware of US patent no. 6,790,017 to Takura eta! (herein, the "017 patent") which discloses an integrated pump comprising a plurality of cell pumps, each cell pump having an inlet to draw pumping media from a consolidated inlet and an outlet to discharge fluid to a consolidated outlet. The integrated pump may thereby obtain a desired output by connecting in series or parallel a plurality of the cell pumps within the integrated pump. The integrated pump has a body or frame forming its consolidated inlet and outlet, and fixing plates to connect the inputs and outputs of each of the individual cell pumps to the consolidated inlet and outlet of the integrated pump. The integrated pump embodiments disclosed in the '017 patent utilize axial impellers.

2 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 Summary The present invention may be characterized, in one aspect, as a system of interconnecting modular pumps, each individual pump having a high internal pressure rating wherein a plurality of such pumps may be hooked up in series; for example, by way of directly stacking one pump on top of the other so as to directly connect the outlet or discharge of a lower pump to the inlet or suction of the pump immediately above the lower pump. As another example, the plurality of pumps may be in a stacked, vertical configuration wherein the inlets and outlets of the pumps are connected to each other through a flexible hose or other fluid conduit.
The plurality of pumps may also be connected in series without stacking them in a vertical configuration; for example, by placing the pumps next to each other and then using flexible hose or other fluid conduits to connect the outlet of one pump to the suction of an adjacent pump.
In such configurations, the pumps positioned side-by-side may be oriented in the same direction, wherein the suction of each of the pumps is facing towards the ground, or in other configurations, some of the pumps may be oriented in a reverse direction whereby the suction of some pumps is facing towards the ground while the suction of other pumps is facing away from the ground.
The plurality of pumps may additionally or optionally be connected in parallel, wherein the pumps may be connected together to a header or manifold through flexible hose or other fluid conduit, to achieve, by various series/parallel combinations, the desired head and flow rate of the pumping system. The individual pump units may be substantially identical to one other to achieve the flexible interconnectivity of the pump units.
Advantageously, a user may stock a plurality of three or four modular pump types for a variety of applications. The flexibility of how the modular pumps may be directly interconnected with each other, either through a direct coupling or a flexible hose or other fluid conduit, combined with the advantages of weight and space savings realized by reducing the inventory of differently rated pumps required to be on hand, may provide increased efficiency and reduce the overall costs associated with having a large inventory of differently rated pumps. For example, a typical inventory may include 20 to 30 differently rated pumps. Whereas, the pumps in a system

3 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 according to the present disclosure may furthermore replace several different pump types, such as horizontal, cantilever, multi-stage and submersible pumps. As well, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that such a pump system may be utilized in a wide variety of pumping applications, including but not limited to dewatering applications.
In one aspect, each pump of the plurality of interconnectable, modular pumps may have a same-sized, rectangular housing with a square cross section (cuboid), providing for the ease of interconnecting the pumps in different configurations, including configurations utilizing a plurality of pumps connected in series and/or in parallel with each other.
Each pump may include a plurality of couplings for mechanically coupling two or more modular pump units via the units' pump housings. Such a system may also provide for ease of maintenance, logistics, and storage, as each pump in the plurality of pumps is substantially identical to one another, featuring the same size and shape of housing and the same couplings and connectors and arrangement of such couplings and connectors, for interconnecting the suctions or discharges of the pumps to the suctions or discharges of other such pumps. In embodiments where the individual pump units have substantially identical rectangular or cuboid-shaped pump housings, the plurality of pump units may be efficiently stacked on top of one another and stored next to one another, to minimize the amount of space required for storing the pump units, or for transporting the pump units to a different location. As well, the plurality of substantially identical, modular pump units would have the same repair parts and require the same maintenance schedule, thereby reducing the complexity of maintaining and repairing the individual pump units of the modular pumping system. In some embodiments, a wet hydraulic pump design may be optimized for variables as would be known to one skilled in the art. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the modular pumps, which may be submersible pumps, may have a dry running capability, such that the pumps may be used in non-submerged conditions, and may operate dry (ie: without pumping any pumping media) without overheating and failing, by incorporating a design that allows the pump unit motor to be sufficiently cooled under such dry run conditions.

4 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 In one aspect of the present disclosure, a modular pump system for pumping a pumping media comprises a plurality of identical, releasably interconnecting pumps, each pump of the plurality of pumps comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet, with a suction at the inlet and a discharge at the outlet. The outlet of a first pump releasably and directly interconnects with the inlet of an adjacent second pump of the plurality of pumps to directly and fluidly interconnect the discharge of the first pump to the suction of the second pump. In some embodiments, the system may include a header fluidly connected to a discharge line, wherein at least two pumps of the plurality of pumps may be connected in parallel by releasably connecting the outlet of each pump of the at least two pumps to the header so as to fluidly interconnect the discharge of each pump of the at least two pumps to the header and the discharge line. In some embodiments, a length of flexible hose fluidly interconnects the discharge of the first pump with the suction of the second pump.
Each pump of the plurality of pumps may include an inlet axis passing through and co-linear with an inlet flow path of the pumping media entering the pump through the suction, and an outlet axis passing through and co-linear with a flow path of the pumping media exiting the discharge via a discharge conduit of the pump. The inlet axis may be spaced apart from and parallel to the outlet axis. Each pump of the plurality of pumps may be configured to be stackable, and the discharge of the first pump may directly interface with the suction of the second pump when the first end of the second pump is stacked on top of the second end of the first pump. Each pump may further include interlocking locators protruding from the first and second ends of each pump such that the locators are interlocked with one another when one pump is stacked on top of another pump. There may be quick-release connectors mounted to the housing adjacent to each of the inlet and outlet of each pump. Some embodiments may include an accessory releasably attachable, to be adjacent to, the inlet of a pump of the plurality of pumps. The accessory may be selected from a group comprising: a strainer plate attachable, to be adjacent to, an inlet of a bottommost pump of the plurality of pumps; a suction piece attachable, to be adjacent to, an inlet of an adjacent pump stacked on an outlet of the bottommost pump; an agitator attachable, to be adjacent to, an inlet of a bottommost pump of the plurality of pumps.

5 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 Some embodiments may include quick connectors to releasably attach the accessory to the pump, so as to be adjacent to the inlet or discharge of a pump of the plurality of pumps.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the pump housing has a geometry chosen from the group comprising: cuboid, cubes. In some embodiments, the pump housing of each pump is a rectangular prism. In some embodiments, each pump of the plurality of pumps may include a discharge conduit positioned adjacent to a motor of the pump and in fluid communication with the discharge, wherein the pumping media flowing through the discharge conduit dissipates heat generated by the motor. In some embodiments, the housing of each pump of the plurality of pumps includes a plurality of cooling fins positioned adjacent to the motor of the pump so as to dissipate heat generated by the motor. Each pump of the plurality of pumps may be driven by an electric motor or by a hydraulic motor, the motor enclosed within the pump housing. In some embodiments, each pump of the plurality of pumps includes a plurality of fork lift slots in the pump housing for lifting, moving and installing the pumps.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIGS. 1A to 1C are examples of performance curve charts for conventional series of submersible pumps.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the interconnection of a plurality of pumps in parallel and in series, in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3A is a sectional view of an embodiment of the modular pump units, showing two pump units connected to each other in series in a vertically stacked configuration.
FIG. 3B is a close-up view of the interface between the two modular pump units of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the vertically stacked modular pump units of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4B is a further perspective view of the vertically stacked modular pump units of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular pump units, showing two pump units connected to each other in parallel in a side-by-side configuration.
FIG. 5B is a further perspective view of the side-by-side modular pump units of FIG. 5A.

6 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular pump units, showing a pair of two pump units connected to each other in series in a vertically stacked configuration, with the pair of two pump units connected together in parallel in a side-by-side configuration to provide a pumping system using four modular pump units.
FIG. 6B is a further perspective view of the pumping system of FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pumping system using an embodiment of three modular pump units connected together in series.
Detailed Description Applicant is aware of a need fora modular pumping system, in which a plurality of modular pump units, comprising of only, for example, three or four differently rated pumps, may be used to configure a variety of different pumping systems that provide the required head and flow rate.
For example, a plurality of modular pump units, having ratings of 15 HP, 40 HP, 100 HP or 150 HP, and each pump in the inventory of pumps features the same flow rate and the same coupling components for directly, modularly coupling one pump to another pump in series, so as to increase the pumping head to a desired level. The pump units may also be coupled in parallel, for example to increase the flow rate of the pumping system or coupled together in a combination of series and parallel connections, as may be required to suit the needs of the application.
When a user desires to double the head of a 15 HP submersible pump, two such 15 HP pumps may be directly stacked, one on top of the other, so that the discharge of the first pump funnels or is otherwise directed into the adjacently positioned, abutting suction of the second pump.
Alternatively, the pumps may be connected in series through a flexible hose or other fluid conduit. Similarly, when a user desires to double the flow rate of the pumping system, two pumps may be directly coupled in parallel, such that the discharge of each pump is connected together through one or several lengths of flexible hose or other fluid conduits such as a pipe and/or a manifold. In some embodiments, the use of flexible hose to connect the pumps together offers additional flexibility in configuring the pump; for example, in tight spaces within a mine where vertically stacking the pumps, or using a multi-stage pump, may not be feasible.

7 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 A user having an inventory of modularly interconnecting pumps may thereby build a pumping system having the desired head and flow rate in a directly integrated, stackable, pumping system comprising a plurality of the interconnectable pump units chosen from only a small range (such as three or four) of different horsepower-rated pumps.
In one aspect, it will be appreciated that a plurality of such submersible, modular pump units may be connected together, with relative ease, in series and/or in parallel. In some embodiments, each pump may be relatively lightweight for manual lifting by two persons, and may be relatively simple to install or replace. The weight of each pump is preferably minimized, for example by using materials such as composites, plastics or aluminum in constructing the pump. A single pump should ideally fit on a standard dolly for ease of transportation, such as for example, a modular pump rated 15 HP. In one aspect, all pump units, including for example the 15 HP, 40 HP, 100 HP and 150 HP units, may include fork lift slots for moving and manipulating the pump units during installation and for moving and storing the pump units.
In one aspect, the impeller design for higher pressure pump units (for example, the 40 HP pump units) would preferably utilize low specific speed designs, whereas, larger HP
models (for example, the 100 HP and 150 HP pump units) would utilize high specific speed designs. Drilled hole, dual sided straight radial vane, or traditional radial impeller designs may be used, depending on which is most efficient for a particular application. The pump unit may also be configured for high head, high pressure horizontal pumping systems. For larger sized pump units (for example, 100 HP and 150 HP designs) would have high head rise to shut off, high efficiency, concentric casing for reduced radial loading, and large solid size capability to provide greater flexibility for the different applications that such pump units could be used for. In one example of a series of pump units, not intended to be limiting, higher pressure units may include the 40 HP pump units, which may advantageously have a lower specific speed impeller design, which may be suitable for pumping media having a high solids content. Whereas, the 15 HP, 100 HP and 150 HP units may be lower pressure units and a higher specific speed impeller design.
It will be appreciated, however, that the above description of different configurations for the

8 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 modular pump units are not intended to be limiting, and that other configurations are possible and intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure. Generally speaking, useful characteristics of the pump units comprising the modular pumping systems described herein includes, but are not limited to, pump units that have both submersible and dry running capabilities, allowing the pump units to be used in vertical and horizontal applications; pump units which include impellers having low and high specific speed designs; and pump units having large solid size pumping capabilities.
In some embodiments, the overall casing design may be rectangular with a square horizontal cross section, such as illustrated in the drawings. Each pump is substantially identical, differing only for example by having a horsepower rating of, for example, 15 HP, 40 HP, 100 HP and/or 150 HP, and each having a single or dual stage impeller. However, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other geometries or configurations for the casing design are possible and included in the scope of the present disclosure, so long as they provide space and storage efficiency and are modularly interconnectable in a variety of series and parallel configurations.
Thus, without intending to be limiting, the housings 11 may be cuboid as illustrated, or may be cubes or other space efficient three-dimensional geometries that are stackable and which may be placed adjacent to one another with a minimal footprint.
A mechanical seal, preferably capable of withstanding pressures in the range of 700-900 psi, is used in the coupling components between adjacent pumps. The seal may be a limiting factor in how many modular pumps may be coupled in series. Pressure relief mechanisms may also be included to mitigate pump explosions and catastrophic pump failure under clogged discharge conditions, and to save the mechanical seal from failing under upset conditions.
Cavitation protection may also be provided, where the modular pumps are to be used in series.
High pressure quick connects may provide the main coupling mechanism between the pumps with high pressure flexible slurry hose. Preferably, in some embodiments the pumps directly physically connect to one another in different orientations, providing for configuration flexibility

9 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 in tight installation spaces. The pumps may be removed and added to one another using lever-style quick connects, for example; however, this is not intended to be limiting, and other mechanisms for coupling the modular pumps together may be utilized, depending on pressure requirements. Single to quad volute designs may be employed for space saving and reduced radial loading. Higher-rated models may have a quad volute for minimal space constraints.
Electrical cable entry into the casings may also be lever-style quick connects oriented for ease of replacement and for putting pumps in series. Cable may be sized according to maximum current for the maximum number of pumps to be connected in series.
Alternatively, each pump may have its own cable, the system having a central portable control unit. In another aspect, the pumps may have lifting lugs and/or fork lift slots, in multiple locations on the pump housing, to allow for ease of maintenance, transportation, installation and logistics.
An illustrative example, shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, includes nine separate modular pumps 10 are shown in a configuration combining the pumps 10 in both parallel and series for pumping fluid in direction A. Specifically, the discharge 16 of each of the pumps 10 numbered #1, #2 and #3 are fluidly connected in parallel to header 12, while a single discharge line 14 leads from header 12. Additionally, pump #1 is fluidly connected in series to pumps #4 and #7, whereby the suction 18 of pump #7 is submerged in a pumping media, such as a slurry S. The discharge 16 of pump #7 is fluidly connected to the suction 18 of pump #4. The discharge 16 of pump #4 is fluidly connected to the suction 18 of pump #1. As mentioned above, the discharge 16 of pump #1 is fluidly connected to the header 12 and discharge line 14.
Similarly, pump #2 is fluidly connected in series to pumps #5 and #8, while pump #3 is fluidly connected in series to pumps #6 and #9. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the series connections between the pumps 10, as shown in FIG. 2, may be accomplished either by directly connecting the suction of one pump to the discharge of an adjacent pump, or by connecting the suction of one pump to the discharge of the adjacent pump by means of a flexible hose or other fluid conduit.
Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 A series combination of two pumps 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. First and second pumps 10a, 10b are shown coupled in series to one another, in a vertically stacked configuration. First pump 10a is shown directly mounted in series to the second pump 10b, wherein the suction 18 of pump 10a is coupled directly to the discharge 16 of pump 10b. The pumps 10a and 10b are identical to each other. Thus, an outlet or second end 36 of each pump 10 includes a discharge 16, wherein the discharge 16 is positioned and configured to connect in fluid communication directly to the suction 18 at the inlet or first end 38 of another pump 10.
(Herein, the phrase "inlet" is interchangeable with "first end" and the phrase "outlet" is interchangeable with "second end"). Thus in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the discharge 16 on the outlet or second end 36 of pump 10b is mated with, to funnel the fluid discharged from pump 10b into, the suction 18 positioned at the inlet or first end 38 of pump 10a.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the direct coupling of two modular pumps in series may be accomplished by configuring each modular pump to have a suction at a first end 38 of the pump 10 and a discharge at a second end 36 of the pump 10, the second end 36 oppositely disposed from the first end 38 of the pump 10 whereby the flow path of a pumping media flowing through the pump 10 is substantially linear between the suction at the first end 38 and the discharge at the second end 36. In such embodiments, the direct coupling between the suction 18 of a second pump and the discharge 16 of a first pump upstream from the second pump may be accomplished, for example, by vertically stacking the second pump on top of the first pump to directly interface or couple the suction 18 of the second pump and the discharge 16 of the first pump. An annular seal 28 may be positioned around, so as to seal the interface between, the discharge 16 of the first pump and the suction 18 of the second pump.
In another aspect, such as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a system of interlocking locators protruding from each of the first and second ends 38, 36 of each of the pumps 10a and 10b may be provided, so as to assist with aligning the suction 18 of the first pump 10a with the discharge 16 of the second pump 10b, and also to provide some additional mechanical stability to the stack of pumps when pump 10a is stacked on top of pump 10b so as Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 to couple suction 18 onto discharge 16. For example, without intending to be limiting, the casing 11 of each pump is preferably identical, and advantageously may be shaped substantially as a cuboid. Specifically, the cuboid geometry of casing 11 includes four rectangular sides 26, wherein each opposite end of the four rectangular sides terminates in a corresponding common plane, thereby forming a square cross-section laterally across the rectangular sides of the casing, the cross-section having constant dimensions along the casing.
The first and second ends 38, 36 of each pump 10 may include interlocking or mating alignment locators such as the illustrated locator feet 40 extending from first end 36 and complementary locator surface 42, having corresponding apertures for receiving a fastener to fasten the second end 36 of the lower pump 10b to the first end 38 of the upper pump 10a.
Therefore, for example, when stacking the first end of 38 of pump 10a onto the second end 36 of pump 10b, the locator surface 42 on the first end 38 of pump 10b mates with the locator feet 40, such that, once so stacked, the side walls of pump casing 11 of pump 10a are substantially flush, so as to be substantially co-planar with, the side walls of pump casing 11 of pump 10b, shown for example in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the embodiment of alignment locators illustrated and described herein is not intended to be limiting and is provided merely as one example of interlocking alignment locators.
For example, complementary, interlocking or mating locator structures, such as are known or may be known to a person skilled in the art, may be utilized and are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the pump units 10a, 10b, which may be submersible pumps, may also have dry run capabilities, allowing the pump system to be used in a variety of different applications and operating conditions. For example, with reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the motor 44 is positioned adjacent to the discharge channel 34 leading to the discharge 16. Additionally, the pump housing may be provided with cooling fins 32 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 positioned adjacent to the motor 44. Thus, if the pump unit 10a is running on dry land (rather than submerged in the pumping media), the pumping media flowing through the discharge channel 34, and/or the cooling fins 32, may cool the motor so as to avoid overheating the motor.
Furthermore, should the pump unit 10a run dry (such that no pumping media is flowing through the pump), the pump impeller 45 acts as a fan, drawing cool air through the discharge channel 34 to cool the motor 44. In some embodiments, the motor 44 may be an electric motor which needs to be cooled under operating conditions; however, in other embodiments, the motor 44 may be a hydraulic motor, in which case cooling the motor may not be required.
As shown in the embodiments illustrated herein, for example in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the casing 11 of each pump 10 is rectangular in side elevation, and square in horizontal cross-section. This is one example of how the casing 11 of the modular pumps 10 may be efficiently shaped and configured to minimize their footprint and provide for ease of configuration of the pumps, which may be particularly advantageous in applications where clearances are tight.
Furthermore, the geometry of pump casing 11, which may for example be a rectangular prism, allows for efficient stacking of the pump units 10 side-by side and stacked on top of one another, which provides for storing a plurality of pump units within a smaller footprint of storage space, providing for economical storage and transportation of the plurality of pump units 10.
As may be appreciated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the embodiment illustrated therein, each pump 10 is rotated about a vertical axis X by 180 degrees relative to the immediately adjacent pump 10.
For example, pump 10a is rotated 180 degrees about axis X relative to pump 10b.
Still a further example of connecting multiple pumps 10 in series is illustrated in FIG. 7, in an application where connecting several pumps 10 in series is required to achieve the required head, but there is insufficient clearance for stacking all of the pumps 10 directly on top of each other.
As viewed in FIG. 7, a pump 10c is partially submerged in the pumping media S
such that the suction of 10c is submerged in the pumping media (the surface of pumping media S shown in dotted line in FIG. 7). A length of flexible hose 2 connects the discharge 16 of pump 10c to the Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 suction 18 of pump 10b, where pump 10b is positioned on a ledge above pump 10c. A third pump 10a is connected directly to pump 10b, whereby the discharge 16 of pump 10b is fluidly connected to the suction 18 of pump 10a. A further length of flexible hose 2 is connected to the discharge 16 of pump 10a so as to direct the discharged pumping media to, for example, a tank or sump for removal of the pumping media S. Additionally, power cables 4 are illustrated for each of the pumps 10a, 10b, 10c, exiting from the power cable port 6 on each pump 10 (the port 6 visible for example on pump 10c in FIG. 7). The opposite end of each power cable 4 is connected to a power source, such as an electrical outlet or a generator (not shown).
At least some embodiments of modular pump 10 may be lifted and positioned by the manual strength of two workmen; for example, pumps 10 having a 15 HP power rating. As seen in the illustrated embodiments, lifting lugs or fork lift slots 20 may be formed in the sides of the pump casing 11.
A removable strainer plate 32 of pump 10 such as seen in FIG. 5A may be secured to the bottom of the pump 10 with bolts or other fasteners. For example, where pump 10 is the bottommost pump in fluid communication with the pumping media, such as a slurry S, the strainer plate 32, as also shown on bottommost pump 10b in FIGS. 4B and 5A, is submerged in the pumping media, and the strainer plate prevents large debris from entering the suction of the bottommost pump in the vertically stacked arrangement. As best viewed in FIG. 5A, some pump units may include an optional agitator 34, which extends through an aperture in the strainer plate 32 for agitation of the media to be pumped. However, where pump 10 is installed on top of another pump 10, for example pump 10a being installed on top of, and connected in series to, pump 10b as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the strainer plate 32 may be substituted for a suction piece (not shown) for connection to the discharge of the pump 10 positioned immediately below. In another aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided different versions of the suction piece, thereby providing increased flexibility in how to connect a plurality of pumps 10 in series to save space by minimizing the footprint required.

Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 In another aspect, the agitator of pump 10 may advantageously comprise a quick disconnect feature, allowing for different types of agitators 34 to be installed on pump

10 for different applications. The agitator's quick disconnect feature further provides the advantage of ease of maintenance, as the agitator may need to be replaced from time to time. A
rubber cap may be provided to protect the agitator threads and keep the sleeve in place.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, two or more modular pump units 10a, 10b may be connected in parallel, such that the discharge 16 of each unit feeds into a common conduit or header 48. The housings 11 of each pump unit 10a, 10b are placed adjacent to one another, and the housings may be physically connected to each other by means of a coupling frame 46, which frame 46 is fastened to the housings 11 of each pump unit 10a, 10b. The common conduit or header 48 may include two or more inlets 48a, which are coupled to the respective discharge 16 of each pump unit, and the common conduit 48 may also include a single outlet 48b, through which the pumped media is discharged in direction A.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a plurality of modular pump units 10 may be connected together both in series and in parallel, so as to configure a pumping system that meets the desired head and flow rate requirements. In this example configuration, pump units 10a and 10b are connected to each other in series, and pump units 10c and 10d are also connected to each other in series, each in a vertically stacked configuration. Additionally, the two vertical stacks, 13a and 13b, are connected to each other in parallel via a coupling frame 46 and a common conduit 48, with the coupling frame 46 fastened to each of the uppermost pumps 10a, 10c of the vertical stacks 13a, 13b respectively.
As will be appreciated from the above examples of different configurations of the modular pumping units to provide different pumping systems, it is possible to create different pumping systems to meet head and flow rate specifications without having to stock a large number of differently rated pumps. It will be appreciated that the above example configurations are not intended to be limiting. For example, it is possible to connect more than two pump units in Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 series, whether in a vertical stack configuration, using conduits to connect two or more pump units together in series, or any combination thereof. Additionally, it is possible to connect more than two pump units in parallel, for example by using a coupling frame and a common conduit that are configured to connect the desired number of pump units together in parallel.

Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23

Claims (16)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A modular pump system for pumping a pumping media, comprising:
a plurality of identical, releasably interconnecting pumps, each pump of the plurality of pumps comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a suction at the inlet and a discharge at the outlet, wherein the outlet of a first pump releasably and directly interconnects with the inlet of an adjacent second pump of the plurality of pumps to directly fluidly interconnect the discharge of the first pump to the suction of the second pump.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a header fluidly connected to a discharge line, wherein at least two pumps of the plurality of pumps may be connected in parallel by releasably connecting the outlet of each pump of the at least two pumps to the header so as to fluidly interconnect the discharge of each pump of the at least two pumps to the header and the discharge line.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a length of flexible hose fluidly interconnects the discharge of the first pump with the suction of the second pump.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps further comprises an inlet axis passing through and co-linear with an inlet flow path of the pumping media entering the pump through the suction and an outlet axis passing through and co-linear with a flow path of the pumping media exiting the discharge via a discharge conduit of the pump, wherein the inlet axis is spaced apart from and parallel to the outlet axis.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps is configured to be stackable, and the discharge of the first pump directly interfaces with the suction of the second pump when the first end of the second pump is stacked on top of the second end of the first pump.

Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps further comprises interlocking locators protruding from the first and second ends of each pump such that the locators are interlocked with one another when the second pump is stacked on top of the first pump.

7. The system of claim 1 comprising quick-release connectors mounted to the housing adjacent to each of the inlet and outlet of each pump.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an accessory releasably attachable, to be adjacent to, the inlet of a pump of the plurality of pumps.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the accessory is selected from a group comprising:
a strainer plate attachable, to be adjacent to, an inlet of a bottommost pump of the plurality of pumps, a suction piece attachable, to be adjacent to, an inlet of an adjacent pump stacked on an outlet of the bottommost pump, an agitator attachable, to be adjacent to, an inlet of a bottommost pump of the plurality of pumps.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising quick-release connectors to releasably attach the accessory to the pump to be adjacent to the inlet or discharge of a pump of the plurality of pumps.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump housing has a geometry chosen from the group comprising: cuboid, cubes.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps includes a discharge conduit positioned adjacent to a motor of the pump and in fluid communication with the Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23 discharge, wherein the pumping media flowing through the discharge conduit dissipates heat generated by the motor.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the housing of each pump of the plurality of pumps includes a plurality of cooling fins positioned adjacent to the motor of the pump so as to dissipate heat generated by the motor.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps is driven by an electric motor enclosed within the pump housing.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps is driven by a hydraulic motor enclosed within the pump housing.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein each pump of the plurality of pumps includes a plurality of fork lift slots in the pump housing for lifting, moving and installing each pump of the plurality of pumps.

Date Regue/Date Received 2022-12-23