GB2465392A

GB2465392A - Pumping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2465392A
Application number: GB0820990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Peter Rickaby; Alan Rodney Henderson
Original assignee: Salamander Pumped Shower Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Salamander Pumped Shower Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-17
Filing date: 2008-11-17
Publication date: 2010-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-17
Also published as: GB201317504D0; GB2506280A; GB2465392B; GB2506280B; GB0820990D0

Abstract

Pumping apparatus comprises a first pump driven by a motor 10. The first pump may comprise a first impeller 16 rotatable within a first pumping chamber 20, with the motor 10 comprising a first back-plate 13 which forms part of a boundary of the first pumping chamber 20. The motor 10 may also drive a second pump which comprises a second impeller 17 rotatable within a second pumping chamber 21, with the motor 10 comprising a second back-plate 14 which forms part of a boundary of the second pumping chamber 21. The two pumps may be located at either end of a motor shaft 15. The, or each, back-plate 13, 14 may comprise a volute scroll, and the, or each, pump may have an axial inlet and/or a radial outlet. The motor 10 may be controlled using a printed circuit board (PCB) which responds to a measured outlet flow from the, or each, pumping chamber 20, 21. The pump(s) and motor 10 may be mounted within an integral housing.

Description

Improvements in pumping apparatus This invention relates to pumping apparatus.

The invention provides pumping apparatus comprising a motor which is mounted via at least a first backplate assembly for delivering rotational energy through a shaft, and at least a first pump assembly having an impeller which is rotatable in a pumping chamber to deliver fluid under pressure, wherein the impeller is arranged to be coupled to the motor shaft for rotation therewith, and wherein the motor backplate assembly is arranged to form part of the boundaries of the pumping chamber.

The invention further provides pumping apparatus comprising an electric motor and a fluid pump in which the motor and pump are coupled together and mounted in an integral housing assembly, wherein the housing assembly contains a printed circuit board (PCB) with control circuitry for operating the motor.

By way of example, embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of pumping apparatus according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pumping apparatus of Figure 1.

The pumping apparatus seen in the drawings comprises an electric motor 10 having a stator 11 and rotor 12. The motor 10 is mounted via its stator 11 to first and second backplate assemblies 13,14. The backplate assemblies 13,14 are bolted together from the two axial ends of the motor 10.

The motor 10 has a shaft 15 which is driven to rotate by the rotor 12. The shaft 15 protrudes beyond each backplate assembly 13,14 and has first and second impellers 16,17 keyed or otherwise coupled onto its respective end sections for rotation therewith.

First and second casings 18,19 are bolted onto the outer faces of respective backplate assemblies 13,14. The casings 18,19 and their respective backplate assemblies 13,14 together define pumping chambers 20,21 in which respective impellers 16,17 rotate. The joints between the casings 18,19 and their respective backplate assemblies 13,14 are provided with suitable seals 22,23 to keep each pumping chamber 20,2 1 fluid tight. Also, a suitable rotational seal is provided around the motor shaft 15 where it enters through each respective backplate assembly 13,14.

Each casing 18,19 is formed with a fluid inlet 24,25 and a fluid outlet 26,27 for its respective pumping chamber 20,21. The two inlets 24,25 are arranged in line with the rotational axis of the motor 10. The two outlets 26,27 are arranged to lie in parallel, perpendicular to the motor axis.

The outer face of each backplate assembly 13,14 here has a specially moulded formation: these extend into the interior of respective pumping chambers 20,21 and define in each a volute scroll form 28,29. The volute scroll forms 28,29 define the fluid flow path within their respective pumping chambers 20,21 and thus serve to create the rise in fluid pressure in operation of the respective impellers 16,17, in known manner. It will be noted that in the arrangement here, the respective impellers 16,17, casings 18,19 and volute scroll forms 28,29 are each essentially mirror images of the other.

The various components of the motor and pump arrangement described above are mounted within a housing assembly 30. The housing assembly 30 comprises a number of sections. There is a central section 31, to either side of which are bolted end sections 32,33. The end sections 32,33 comprise feet 34,35 on which the whole apparatus stands. The feet include resilient pads 50,51 of rubber or the like to help dampen vibration and noise, in use. The end sections 32,33 are closed off by respective cover plates 36,37.

Because of the symmetry of the design here, the same cover plate 36,37 can be used at either end of the apparatus. The various sections of the housing assembly 30 are connected together with suitable sealing means in order to protect the motor by preventing ingress of water or dirt etc. Power is supplied to the motor 10 by an electric cable (not shown) which enters into the housing assembly 30 via a grommet 38 in the central section 31. A fan 39 is mounted on the motor shaft 15 to help keep the windings of the motor 10 cool in operation. Finning 52,53 is incorporated into the design of the end sections 32,33 of the housing assembly 30 to assist with heat dissipation from the apparatus in use. The finning 52,53 is situated adjacent vents 54,55, which are provided to allow circulation of air into and out of the interior of the housing 30 under the action of the motor fan 39.

In order to reduce to a minimum the need for a wiring harness inside the housing assembly 30, a printed circuit board (PCB) 40 is provided.

The PCB 40 contains all the necessary circuitry for controlling operation of the motor 10. The PCB 40 is mounted on top of the motor stator 11 and between the two backplate assemblies 13,14.

The design of the PCB 40 here offers a further advantage. The PCB 40 is arranged to extend between the two casings 18,19, specifically, with its ends lying adjacent to the outlets 26,27 of respective pumping chambers 20,2 1. In each of these outlets 26,27 a float 41,42 is arranged. The floats 41,42 are each movable between two end positions: a lower end position, to which the float will fall under gravity when there is no flow of fluid through the pumping chamber, and upper end position, to which the float will be caused to move by action of the fluid flow in operation. Each float 41,42 contains a magnet and at each end of the PCB 40 a reed switch 43,44 is mounted. The reed switches 43,44 are thus caused to be activated by the rising and falling of their respective floats 41,42, depending on the state of fluid flow through the apparatus. The reed switches 43,44 are connected to the circuitry in the PCB 40 and thus form an integral part of the control system for operation of the apparatus.

The above arrangement uses detection of fluid flow in the outlets 24,25 to control operation of the apparatus. It would be possible instead, or additionally, to use detection of fluid pressure in the outlets 24,25.

The pumping apparatus described above could be used in many different applications. In one arrangement, for example, one of the pumping assemblies could be connected to a cold water supply, whilst the other is connected to a hot water supply. This would make the apparatus particularly suitable for use in a shower pump arrangement.

In any given application, it is possible that there may be a demand from time to time for supply of fluid from one of the pumping chambers, but not the other. Because of the nature of the direct coupling of the impellers, both will be operable in their pumping chambers, whether or not fluid is actually being delivered from them. To avoid the possibility that this could cause overheating of the fluid in a pumping chamber that is not delivering fluid, the apparatus may include provision for allowing a release of fluid from the pumping chambers. A suitable such provision could take the form of a small bleed connection between the outlet from each pumping chmaber.

It will be understood that instead of having two pumping chambers as described above, the apparatus could readily be modified to comprise just one pumping chamber.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Pumping apparatus comprising a motor which is mounted via at least a first backplate assembly for delivering rotational energy through a shaft, and at least a first pump assembly having a first impeller which is rotatable in a first pumping chamber to deliver fluid under pressure, wherein the impeller is arranged to be coupled to the motor shaft for rotation therewith, and wherein the motor backplate assembly is arranged to form part of the boundaries of the pumping chamber.
2. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a second pump assembly having a second impeller which is rotatable in a second pumping chamber to deliver fluid under pressure, wherein the second backplate assembly is arranged to form part of the boundaries of the second pumping chamber.
3. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second impeller is arranged to be coupled to the motor shaft for rotation therewith.
4. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the first and second impellers are arranged each at either end of the motor shaft and are mounted directly onto it.
5. Pumping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the motor is mounted by and between said first and second backplate assemblies.
6. Pumping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each backplate assembly comprises a volute scroll form that extends into the or each respective pumping chamber.
7. Pumping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each pumping chamber comprises a fluid inlet which is in line with the axis of rotation of the motor.
8. Pumping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each pumping chamber has a fluid outlet which lies perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor.
9. Pumping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the motor is an electrically powered motor and the apparatus further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) carrying the motor control circuitry.
10. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising a device for sensing fluid flow out of the or each pumping chamber and means for operatively connecting said device to the PCB.
11. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the flow sensing device comprises a float.
12. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the flow sensing device contains a magnet and is arranged to come into proximity to a switching device mounted on the PCB.
13. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and comprising first arid second pumping assemblies, wherein the PCB is arranged to extend between respective outlets of the first and second pumping chambers, with respective switching devices being mounted at its ends.
14. Pumping apparatus comprising an electric motor and a fluid pump in which the motor and pump are coupled together and mounted in an integral housing assembly, wherein the housing assembly contains a printed circuit board (PCB) with control circuitry for operating the motor.
15. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the PCB has a switching device connected into its circuitry which is arranged to be actuated dependent upon detection of fluid flow and/or pressure in an outlet of the pump.
16. Pumping apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the switching device is a reed switch, which is arranged to be in close proximity to a float comprising a magnet arranged in an outlet from the pump.
17. Pumping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the apparatus comprises two pumps which are arranged to be coupled to the motor to either end thereof and the PCB is arranged to extend between the outlets from the pumps.
18. Pumping apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.