US2222954A - Pump - Google Patents

Description

Nav. 26, 1940. l 1 053mg 2,222,954

PUMP

Filed March 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v c/OHN'e/eM/C Il: s. BY'

Nov. 26, 12940.

PUMP

Filed March 15, 1,938 2 'Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 26, 1940' PATENT F" 6 Claims.

This vinvention relates to pumps of the centrifugal type, and more especially to an improvement in centrifugal pumps whereby greater pumping efciency and greater pumping pressure may be developed.

As is Well known by those skilled in the art, centrifugal pumps embody a series of vanes, which as they rotate, project fluid from the spaces dened by the vanes outwardly from the said l0 spaces, because of the centrifugal force developed by the rotation of the impeller of which the vanes are a part. In reality, the vanes of the centrifugal impeller really throw the pumped fluid outwardly and keep it there by constantly beating it,

l5 so that considerable friction is developed with resulting eddy currents, keeping down of course, the efdciency of the pump, and limiting the pressure head which it will develop.

Because-of this defect inherent in centrifugal pumps, it is generally necessary where high lifts are required, to use several stages of pumps, and thus develop the necessary pressure and lift. Certain prior art constructions have considered the possibility of limiting the opening through which the liquid escapes from each of thespaces dened by the varies of the impeller. This naturally increases the velocity of the liquid leaving the impeller, and undoubtedlyincreases the pressure head.

The improvement which I have developed is best adapted foruse with a centrifugal impeller, in which the openings through which the liquid must escape from the spaces between the vanes,

is restricted as just set forth, but it should be 85 understood that my invention may be utilized with the usual type of centrifugal pump well known in the art, if that is desired.

Before describing my invention generally, and

then specically, I should like to indicate that I have not as yet developed the entire theory on which my pump structure is based, my experience with my improved pump being a practical one, ,and based entirely on the building of structures embodying what I now believe to be preferred 5 embodiments of my basic conception. I do not wish this fact to limit the patent monopoly which I may be granted, since undoubtedly, my basic conception may be embodied in various pump structures by those highly skilled in this art.

My centrifugal pump embodies conning means spaced between the impeller and the discharge side of the pump, which I shall term pressure,

chamber in this specification, these confining means havingports which alternately shut ol the l flow from the spaces between the impeller vanes,

(Cl. ID3- 103) and then allow` the flow of liquid from the said spaces to the pressure chamber. Because of this arrangement, the fluid in each of the spaces defined by the vanes of the impeller is released for outward movement at periodic spaced points in 5 the rotation of the impeller, so that the centrifugal pressure is allowed to build up and then to be suddenly released, thereby giving the action which I so much desire to obtain.

As a preferred embodiment of my invention, I 10 use an impeller formed by a circular plate having a. rim and a series of varies extending from the plate and terminating in the rim. In one modification of the invention, it is the plate portion of the impeller which has openings through 15 which the uid escapes from the spaces between the vanes into the pressure chamber. A valve plate is interposed between the plate of the impeller and the pressure chamber, and functions as the conning means to which I haveV alluded 20 above. This valve plate has a series of ports which alternately allow ow from the impeller and shut off the flow from the impeller to the pressure chamber.

In a second modication, the openings 'are 25 formed in the rim portion of my impeller, and a circular sleevelike member having ports, controls the flow from the impeller to the pressure chamber, in the same manner as the valve plate above described. It should be made quite clear at this 30 point, that the circular rim and the circular plate may conceivably be formed separate from the vanes of the impeller and act as part of the conning means without being integral with the vanes of the impeller. A11 this is a natural de- 35 velopment which may follow my basic disclosure and concept.

I shall now refer to the drawings in which two preferred modifications of my invention are shown. Fig. 1 is a section taken along lines I-I 40 of Fig. 2, while Fig. 2 is taken along lines 2--2 of Fig, 1, Figs. 1 and 2 showing one form of my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 show a second form of my invention, Fig. 3 being taken along lines'3-3 of Fig. 4, while Fig. 4 is taken along lines 4-4 of 45 Fig. 3.

--Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially Figs. 1 and 2, the intake pipe of my pump is designated by reference numeral I0, a ball check Il being placed to restrict an 50 opening l2 in a control sleeve I3, the purpose being to maintain uid in the pump structure so as to keep the pump primed. It is obvious that the ball Il will lift to a pointlimited by a pin I4 as the pump operates, the stoppage of the pump allowing the ball to drop and shut off the downward flow of uid.

The intake pipe III is screw threaded into a lower housing plate I5, relatively to which rotates the impeller I6 which has a series of vanes I1 extending from an integral plate portion I8. The vanes terminate in a rim I 9, as is clearly shown in the drawings, and to this rim I9, through screws 20, there is secured a plate 2I. 'Ihis plate 2| has a central opening 22 through which the fluid ows into the various spaces 23 defined by -the`vanes I1, the uid being projected from the said spaces by the centrifugal force developed as the impeller I6 rotates. It is conceivable, of course, that the plate 2|, like many of the other parts that I have described and shall describe, may be eliminated without affecting very much the operation of my pump. It is only possible to determine empirically whether certain of my parts .are absolutely essential, or may be modified or eliminated without affecting the basic operation of my pump.

In the modification of Figs. 1 and 2, an opening 24 is formed leading from each of the spaces 23 through part ofthe rim I9, and then through the plate I8, terminating on the upper surface 25 of the said plate. A central 'shaft 26 is screw threaded at 21 to a central lug 28 of the impeller, and acts to rotate the impeller through this'connection. The shaft 26 passes at 29 through a valve plate 30 which is secured by bolts 3| to the bottom housing plate I5. A stuffing box construction is denoted in general by reference numeral 32, .and acts to prevent leakage of any fluid from the pump along the bearing of the shaft 26.

The valve plate 30 has a series of openings or ports 33 preferably shaped as is shown in Fig. 2,

these ports lying in position to communicate with the openings 24 leading from each of the spaces 23 defined by the vanes I1. It is quite obvious that rotation of the impeller will force fluid through the openings 24 and through the ports 33 into the pressure chamber, to be described presently. It is quite obvious, furthermore, that during part of the rotation of the impeller, some of the openings 24 will be under the solid portion of the valve plate 30, so that no fluid may flow at that time from the said spaces 23, which are then shut off.

During such time, the pressure will be built up in the shut off spaces 23 toapproach the maximum, so that the fluid will flow outwardly nder said pressure through the openings 24 when the saidopenings come into communication with the ports 33. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, three of the spaces 23v will be shut off against the flow of liquid therefrom, While three are in communication through the ports 33 with the pressure chamber. In view of what I have indicated generally above, and in view of the specic explanation just set forth, the action of the pump will now appear quite obvious to those skilled in the art. y

The pressure chamber of my pump is defined by a casting 35 secured through stud bolts '35a to the rim portion 30a of the valve plate 30. The fluid will flow from the pressure chamber 36 defined by the casting 35 into the outlet pipe 31, all as is quite clearly shown.

I shall now describe a second form of my invention in which the impeller construction is the same as that of Figs. 1 and 2, except that for openings 24 leading from the 'spaces 23 of the impeller, I substitute openings 24a. which extend through the rim I9 of the impeller, all as is quite clearly shown. Instead of a valve plate such as the valve plate 30 of Figs. 1 and 2, I uotilize a sleevelike valve 40 secured by stud bolts 4I to the base plate I5, and having ports 42 therein which function exactly as do the ports 33 of the valve plate in Figs. 1 and 2.

Instead of the casting 35 of Figs. 1 and 2 used to define the pressure chamber there, I use a casting 43 into which the fiuid will flow through the openings 24a and ports 42, and into the outlet pipe 31, all as is quite clear.

I now claim:

1. In a combination of the class described, an impeller of the centrifugal type having a series of vanes defining a series of separate compartments, relatively small discharge openings formed in the impeller and leading to each of said compartments, a pressure chamber into which the fluid carried between the vanes of said impeller is discharged through said openings, and means whereby the fluid in each of the compartments is placed into communication with said pressure chamber at least twice during each revolution of the impeller and each time during a substantial portion of each revolution of said impeller while placing said spaces out of communication during the remaining portion of each revolution.

2. In a combination of the class described, an impeller of the centrifugal type having a series of vanes defining a series of separate compartments, relatively small discharge openings formed in the impeller and leading to each of said compartments, a pressure chamber into which the fluid carried in said impeller compartments is discharged, at least two ports functionally interposed between the said impeller compartments and the said pressure chamber, said ports being of such size and so positioned as to place the fluid carried in the said compartments into communication with said pressure chamber during a substantial portion of each revolution of said impeller while placing said compartments out of communication during the remaining portion of each revolution.

3. In a pump of the class described, an impeller of the centrifugal type having a series of vanes projecting from a circular plate, a rim projecting from said plate and into which said vanes extend whereby each pair of vanes define with said rim and plate a compartment in which fluid is moved as said impeller rotates, a pressure chamber, a portion of one of the surfaces defining ,each of said compartments having a relatively small opening through which fluid may be forced out of said compartments by centrifugal force and into said pressure chamber, at least two ports functionally interposed between said openings and said pressure chamber, sai`d ports being of such size and so positioned as to place the fluid carried in the compartments into communication with said pressure chamber during a substantial portion of each revolution of said impeller while placing said compartments out of communication during the remaining portion of each revolution.

4. In a pump of the class described, an impeller of the centrifugal type having a series of vanes projecting from a circular plate, a rim projecting from said plate and into which said vanes extend whereby each pair of vanes define with said rim and plate a compartment in which fiuid is moved as said impeller rotates, a pressure chamber, a portion of one of the surfaces deflning each of said compartments having a relatively small opening through which uid may be forced out of said compartments by centrifugal force and into said pressure chamber, a series of 'ports functionally interposed between said openings and said pressure chamber, said ports placing the said openings alternately into and out of communication with said pressure chamber several times during each revolution as said impeller rotates.

5. In a pump Iof the class described, an impeller of the centrifugal type having a series of vanes projecting from a circular plate, a rim projecting from said plate and into which said vanes extend whereby each pair of vanes define with said rim and plate a compartment in which uid is moved as said impeller rotates, a pressure chamber, the plate portion of each of said compartments having a relatively small opening through which fluid may be forced out of said compartments by centrifugal force and into said pressure chamber, a valve plate relatively to which said impeller plate rotates and functionally interposed between said openings and said pressure chamber, said valve plate having a series of ports in communication with each of said openings several times in each revolution and during a substantial portion of each revolution of said impeller, whereby uid will be placed under centrifugal pressure in each of said compartments during rotation of said impeller and will be forced periodically by said centrifugal pressure from said compartments through said openings and said ports into said pressure chamber.

6. In a pump of the class described, an impeller of the centrifugal type having a series of vanes projecting from a circular plate, confining means preventing the outward iiow of fluid by centrifugal pressure from the spaces between said vanes, transverse openings in said plate in each of ythe spaces outlined by said vanes through which the iiuid is forced outwardly by said impeller as said impeller rotates, a valve plate juxtaposed to said impeller plate and having a series of elongated slots acting as ports and relatively to which the openings of said impeller plate move during the rotation of said impeller, whereby when said openings are opposite the solid part of said valve plate the flow of uid from said impeller spaces is shut off, while when the 'said openings are opposite said elongated slots the fluid will flow from said impeller spaces, said elongated slots being arranged so that certain of the openings are opposite elongated slots when others of the openings are opposite solid portions of the valve plate, each of said openings communicating with all of said slots during each revolution of the impeller.

JOHN OGRINC.

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