GB2468887A

GB2468887A - Apparatus including a vessel containing a body of liquid essential for the proper functioning of the apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2468887A
Application number: GB0905131A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marthinus Petrus Conway; Alan James Roddis
Original assignee: AES Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: AES Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-25
Filing date: 2009-03-25
Publication date: 2010-09-29
Also published as: GB0905131D0; US20110236239A1

Abstract

An apparatus, typically a pump 10 including a bearing chamber or a support system 40 for a mechanical seal 41, which includes a first vessel 12 for containing a main body of liquid and a second vessel 20 which is in fluid communication with and located below the first vessel 12. The second vessel 20 has means 27, 55 for draining liquid therefrom and a vessel wall 21 allowing the liquid within the vessel 20 to be viewed. The apparatus may be, for instance, a support system 40 for a mechanical seal 41 in which a vessel 40 contains a reservoir of a liquid such as water for providing barrier or cooling fluid to the seal 41.

Description

LIQUID CONTAINING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus which, in use, include a vessel containing S a body of liquid essential for the proper functioning of the apparatus. By way of examples, the apparatus may be a pump including a bearing chamber which contains a significant quantity of oil or it may be a support system for a mechanical seal in which a vessel contains a reservoir of a liquid such as water for providing barrier or cooling fluid to the seal. J0

Background to the Invention

Oil contained within the bearing chamber of a pump is subjected, typically, to considerable deterioration factors. As a result debris may accumulate within the liquid and this in turn will lead to degradation of performance of the system. Furthermore the oil may become contaminated, for instance, with water which again leads to degradation of performance.

Similar consideration supplied to a reservoir vessel for forming part of a support system for a mechanical seal.

In both cases it would be of value to have sortie means of ensuring that the integrity of the liquid is both monitored and maintained.

Statements of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus including a first vessel for containing a main body of liquid and a second vessel, in fluid communication with and located below said first vessel, said second vessel having means for draining liquid therefrom and for allowing the liquid within the vessel to be viewed.

The first vessel may be, for instance, a bearing chamber, of a pump or a reservoir vessel for a liquid support system for a mechanical seal.

Preferably the second vessel includes a top plate, a bottom plate and, extending therebetween, a cylindrical wall, Preferably the cylindrical wall is at least partially transparent or translucent.

Preferably the ends of the cylindrical wall are each located in a groove provided in a respective one of the top plate and the bottom plate.

Preferably a sealing washer, such as and 0-ring, is provided between each of io the cylindrical wall and the respective one of the top plate and the bottom plate.

Preferably the top plate and the bottom plate are inter-connected by sa plurality of elongate fastening means, such as bolts, arranged around the is outside of the cylindrical wall.

Preferably a helical coil, for instance a coil spring, extends around said bolts to provide protection to the cylindrical wall, Preferably a magnet is provided at the base of the cylindrical wall in order to attract magnetically attractable particles of debris downwardly into and within the second vessel.

Preferably, the apparatus includes means for isolating the second vessel from the first vessel so that they are no longer in fluid communication.

Preferably said isolating means includes a ball valve.

The present invention also provides a device, for use with apparatus including a first vessel for containing a main body of liquid, the device comprising a second vessel having means for providing fluid communication with said first vessel and for locating the second vessel below the first vessel, the second vessel having means for draining liquid therefrom, and a vessel wall allowing the liquid within the vessel to be viewed.

Brief description of the drawings the accompanying drawings are as follows:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pump an according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a debris collection vessel of the pump of Figure 1; And Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view of a mechanical seal support system.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, Is Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a pump 10 includes a beanng chamber 12 and, connected thereto and located therebeneath, a vessel 20 which is for use in collecting debris from the oil in the bearing chamber and also for viewing the liquid within the vessel 20.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, the vessel 20 depicted in Figure 1 indudes a circular cylindrical glass wall 21 located between a bottom plate 24 and a top plate 25, both made of stainless steel.

The top and bottom ends of cylindrical wall 21 locate in grooves 51 and 53 in top and bottom plates 25 and 24 respectively. Located between the ends of the cylindrical wall 21 and the blind ends of grooves 51 and 53 are 0 rings 22 and 23 which provides sealing between the components.

Bottom plate 24 is provided with a central frusto-conical hole 55 to which may be attached a drain device (not shown) which may be moved between a position in which hole 55 is dosed and a further position in which fluid may drain from the vessel.

Extending between plate 24 and top plate 25 is a series of bolts 26, there being 4 such bolts circumferentially spaced around the wall 21. Surrounding bolts 26 is a helical spring 28 which provides additional protection to the glass wall 21.

Top plate 25 is provided with a central bore 57 through which liquid may enter s vessel 20. Extending upwardly from top plate 25 is a short cylindrical member 59 which has a central bore 61 aligned with bore 57 of plate 25. Member 59 is provided with a ball valve 30 which may be operated to open and close bore 61. At its top end member 59 is provided with means for connecting the member to the bottom of bearing chamber 12 so that1 subject to the position of ball valve 30 the interior of bearing chamber 12 is in fluid contact with the interior of vessel 20.

Situated at the bottom of vessel 20, within glass wall 21, is a ring shaped magnet 27. This magnet may be secured in position on plate 24 by means of, is for instance, a suitable adhesive. Alternatively it may be positioned as shown in Figure 2 simply by means of magnetic attraction between the magnet 27 and the bottom plate 24. The centre of magnetic ring 27 is aligned with bore of bottom plate 24. During operation of the apparatus which includes bearing chamber 12, any debris formed within the bearing oil will tend to find its way by gravity, assisted by magnetic attraction where appropriate, into vessel 20. Vessel 20 may be periodically emptied to remove the debris. In addition any water collecting in the bearing chamber will, being more dense than oil, also tend to collect within vessel 20 and can be periodically removed.

The ball valve 30 may be used to close off the bearing chamber from vessel 20. The vessel may then be removed from the member 59 for emptying and/or replacement by an empty vessel 20.

The glass waIl 21 may be transparent or translucent but should allow the liquid in the vessel to be seen sufficiently to enable monitoring of its condition.

Referring to the Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings support apparatus for a mechanical seal 41 includes a container 40 holding a body of a liquid such as water which is used a baffler fluid or cooling liquid for the mechanical seal 41.

Attached to the bottom of container 40 is a vessel 20 similar to that described s above with reference to Figure 2. The vessel 20 may be used for essentially the same purposes, that is to say, monitoring the condition of liquid and collecting debris from the vessel.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus including a first vessel for containing a main body of liquid and a second vessel, in fluid communication with and located below said first vessel, said second vessel having means for draining liquid therefrom and a vessel wall allowing the liquid within the vessel to be viewed.
2. Apparatus according to Claim I wherein the first vessel is a bearing chamber.
3. Apparatus according to Claimi wherein the first vessel is a reservoir for a liquid support system for a mechanical seal.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the second vessel includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and, extending therebetween, a cylindrical wall.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the cylindrical wall is at least partially transparent or translucent.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the ends of the cylindrical wall are each located in a groove provided in respect of one of the top plate and the bottom plate.
7. Apparatus according Claim 6 wherein a sealing washer is provided between each end of the cylindrical wall and the respective one of the top plate and the bottom.
8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 7 wherein the top plate and bottom plate are inter-connected by a plurality of elongate fastening means arranged the outside of the cylindrical wall.
9. Apparatus according to Claim S wherein a helical coil extends around said bolts to provide protection to the cylindrical wall.
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a magnet is provided at the base of the cylindrical wall.
11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein isolation means are provided between the second vessel and the first vessel.
12. Apparatus according to Claim I and substantially as herein described.
13. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 in conjunction with Figure 2 or Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
14. A device for use with apparatus including a first vessel for containing a main body of liquid, the device including a second vessel, in fluid communication with and located below said first vessel, said second vessel having means for draining liquid therefrom and a vessel wall allowing the liquid within the vessel to be viewed.
15. A device according to Claim 14 and with any one or more of the features provided in Claims 2 to 12.