US2329495A - Pump primer - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14, 1943. P. E. VAN PELT PUMP PRIMER Filed NOV. 26, 1941 N K Q Q ml m y m N J "HQ 3 n L m QM o w h 8 Q E m, N\ Q Q 4 NFMWN a ON mm INVENTOR PercyE.UanPeZz: BY

ATTYS Patented Sept. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP PRIMER Percy E. Van Pelt, Oakdale, Calif.

Application November 26, 1941, Serial No. 420,466

,, 1 Claim.

This invention relates in general to a pump primer, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, an

'improved pump primer for centrifugal pumps and especially for the centrifugal pump of fire engines in which the pump is normally dry and must at times draw water from a pressureless source, 1. e. a source which in itself will not prime the pump of the engine.

Various types of pump primers have heretofore been used, but these have been subject to certain objections, such as requiring multiple hand operation or manipulation of par'ts-diflicult to accomplish under the stress of an emergency-and being slow in creating the necessary prime.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pump primer for the centrifugal pump of fire engines or the like, which is actuated by means of a single control lever; such lever being arranged to effect opening of the valve of the priming pump, and to simultaneously close the switch which controls the operation of the drive motor for the priming pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to automatically feed a limited quantity of lubricating oil into the priming pump when the same is in operation, and for the purpose of assuring the immediate creation of suction, and also preventing wear of the moving parts of said priming pump.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive pump primer and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as indicated at 6, the shaft 1 of motor 5 being alined with but spaced from the shaft 4 of the pump 3, which is the priming pump, as will hereinafter appear. The spaced shafts 4 and I are connected in driving relation by means of a flexible coupling 8.

A three-way pipe fitting 9 connects at one end with the intake port ill of pump 3, and one end of a globe valve II is threaded into the other end of said fitting. The end of globe valve ll opposite fitting 9 is connected by a suitable fitting l2 with one end of a pipe 13 which leads to the top of the centrifugal pump M which is to be primed, as shown in Fig. 2. The discharge port of the gear pump 3 is provided with a suitable discharge conduit [5.

The globe valve II is of the spring closed type and includes a projecting depressible operating stem l6; depression of this stem effecting opening will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawing, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the pump primer assembly as mounted on a supporting base.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the priming system.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit employed.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, my improved pump primer comprises a flat elongated base I having an upstanding bracket 2 mounted adjacent one end thereof; there being a gear type pump 3rigidly secured to said bracket with its drive shaft 4 overhanging the base lengthwise thereof. An electric motor 5 is mounted on the base adjacent its other end by suitable means of the valve. The stem l6 projects horizontally and outwardly from the assembly and in a direction longitudinally of the base. An upstanding actuating lever i1 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a rigid L-shaped bracket member 18 havin one leg thereof secured with the neck 19 through which actuating stem l6 slides. The lever I! adjacent its lower end engages the outer end of stem l6, whereby upon a pull of lever H at its upper end and away from the valve, the stem I6 is depressed and globe valve I I opened.

A push button switch 20 is mounted on another bracket member 2| which depends from neck l9 so as to position the switch in substantial vertical alinement with stem IS. A finger 22 is secured on and projects downwardly from the lower end portion of lever I'I whereby, when this lever is swung to depress stem l6, finger 22 engages and moves the push button of switch 20, closing the latter. This switch is connected in a circuit 23 which operates the magnet 24 of a relay switch 25. This switch is enclosed in a housing 26 mounted on top of the motor 5 and is interposed in the battery circuit 21 of the motor; the circuit 23 also deriving its current from the battery of circuit 21,

An oil reservoir 28 is disposed in a plane below the gear pump 3 and a pipe 29 connects the oil reservoir with the remaining opening 30 of the three-way fitting 9, there being a check valve 3i interposed in pipe 29 and opening towards the pump 3. A plug 32 having a restricted orifice therein is disposed in pipe 29 adjacent fitting 9, whereby to limit the quantity of oil which may flow from reservoir 29 through fitting 9 and pump 3. I

In operation the above described pump primer functions as follows:

The centrifugal ump I4 is normally dry and when connected with a pressureless source of water must be primed before it becomes operative. To prime pump M as the latter is connected with the pressureless source of water and is turning, the operator need only grasp lever I1 and pull the same as above described. This depresses both stem l6 and the push button of switch 20, opening the valve H and causin switch 25 to close, which in turn effects actuation of motor 5. 7

With motor running, the gear pump 3 immediately creates a suction in the housing of centrifugal pump l4 and in the oil feed line 29. Oil in limited quantity from reservoir 28 immediately is drawn into the gear pump 3, assuring a positive seal between the gears of the pump and a maximum priming suction on centrifugal pump H. In addition, the 011 being fed into the gear pump prevents wear, as well as corrosion from the water which is drawn therethrough and discharged from the pump through conduit l5.

As soon as the suction created by pump 3 results in priming of centrifugal pump [4, which is of course driven from the outlet, the operator releases lever I'I, causing a closing of valve II and a shutting oil of motor 5,

The primer here disclosed isof especial value for rural fire engines which must draw water from a pressureless source.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent ls: ,7

In a pump priming apparatus which includes a suction pump having conduit means extending from the intake side of the suction pump to the pump to be primed, an electric motor to drive the pump and a circuit for the motor; a selfclosing valve interposed in the conduit means and including a projecting stem adapted to be depressed to open the valve, a. bracket unit mounted on the valve and having legs projecting in opposite directions from the stem, a control lever pivoted intermediate its ends on one leg and having one end engaged with the valve stem,

an extension projecting from said end of the lever in facing and spaced relation to the other leg of the bracket unit and a self-opening normally open switch in the motor circuit mounted on said other leg of the bracket and including a depressible element positioned for engagement by said lever extension upon movement of the lever in a direction to depress the valve stem to open the valve.

PERCY E. VAN PELT.

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