US2820413A

US2820413A - Deep well self-priming system and pump unit assembly therefor

Info

Publication number: US2820413A
Application number: US487953A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jacuzzi Candido
Original assignee: Jacuzzi Brothers Inc
Current assignee: Jacuzzi Brothers Inc
Priority date: 1955-02-14
Filing date: 1955-02-14
Publication date: 1958-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1975-01-21

Description

Jan. 21,1958 c. JACUZZI DEEP WELL SELF-PRIMING SYSTEM AND PUMP UNIT ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1955 JNVENTOR.

GANG/00 JAGUZZ/ HIS A 7' TOR/VETS Jan. 21, 1958 c. JACUZZI 2,820,413

' DEEP WELL SELF-PRIMING SYSTEM AND PUMP UNIT ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed 'Fe b.. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 span/0100' M 0022/ Hi5 ATTORNEYS INVENTORE United States are DEEP WELL SELF-PRIMING SYSTEM AND PUMP UNIT ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Candide Jacuzzi, Lafayette, Califl, assignor to Jacuzzi Bros., Incorporated, a corporation of California Application February 14, 1955, Serial No. 487,953

7 Claims. (Cl. 103-5) My invention relates to pump systems and more particularly to deep well self-priming pump systems.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved deep well selfpriming pump system;

(2) To provide a novel and improved deep well selfpriming pump system requiring no foot valve and which will handle gas and air without losing prime;

(3) To provide a novel and improved deep well selfpriming pump system having no valves or movable component parts below the ground level;

(4) To provide a novel and improved deep well selfpriming pump system in which all movable parts are readily accessible for servicing;

(5) To provide a novel and improved pump unit assembly for a deep well self-priming pump system;

(6) To provide a novel and improved pump unit assembly for a deep Well self-priming pump system, which assembly includes all the movable components of the system.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction. with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a schematic view depicting the deep well self-priming pump system of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of that portion of the system appearing above ground;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the system depicted in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken in the plane 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken in the plane 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view in section taken in the plane 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a view in section taken in the plane 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a view in section taken in the plane 8-8 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the system involves a pump unit assembly 1 including a pair of impeller stages 3 and 5, having their

respective impellers

7, 8 on a common shaft 9, with each stage having an independently associated input passage 11 and 13 respectively and an associated

discharge passage

15 and 17 respectively.

Associated with the pump unit assembly is a pressure tank 19 having a substantially horizontal partition 21 therein, to define an upper or storage chamber 23 and a lower or air separation chamber 25.

The lower or air separation chamber has an opening 27 toward the bottom thereof to permit of a connection or coupling to the intake end of the lower impeller 7 by way of the input passage 11 included therein.

A second opening 31 in the air separation chamber located at a higher elevation than the first opening, prorides for a connection to the input end of the second imice peller 8 by way of the input passage 13 associated with that impeller.

At a point preferably intermediate the two aforementioned openings in the air separation chamber, I provide another opening 33 to provide for the coupling of the air separation chamber to a suction pipe 35 by way of a coupling passage 37.

The lower impeller is connected by means of its associated discharge passage 15, to a pressure pipe 39 which connects down in the well to the nozzle of a conventional injector assembly 41. The intake end 43 of the injector assembly, which in a normal installation, would be coupled to a foot valve, is in the present system, maintained submerged in the water of the well without a foot valve coupled thereto.

During quiescent periods of the pump unit, water is maintained in both the air separation chamber and the storage chamber of the tank by a check valve 45 in the portion 37 of the suction line connecting the air separation chamber to the suction pipe, and a diaphragm type valve 47 in the portion 15 of the pressure line from the lower impeller to the pressure pipe.

The system, as thus far described, provides an impeller stage 3 for supplying the injector assembly down in the well, and an independently functioning impeller stage 5 for pumping water into the storage chamber of the pressure tank, and in conjunction with both stages, the system provides an air separation chamber which is so coupled to the impeller stages as to supply air free water to the first impeller stage and air mixed water to the sec- 0nd impeller stage.

Upon termination of a pumping cycle in a system of the type described, both valves 45 and 47 close, and the suction and pressure pipes could, depending on the depth of water level in the well, partially empty themselves of Water below these valves, thus creating a vacuum or a condition of partial vacuum in such pipes.

When the pressure in the storage chamber drops to its lowest permissible value, as determined by the setting of a conventional pressure switch (not illustrated), the pump unit is energized and begins to function. However, in view of the existence of the voids in the suction and pressure pipes at this point in the operation of the system, Water cannot be lifted from the well to the air separation chamber until such pipes become filled with water and the voids thereby eliminated.

This is accomplished by filling such pipes, if voids exist, with water from the storage chamber during the starting up portion of the pumping cycle. For this purpose I provide a passage 51 interconnecting the discharge passages of the first and second impellers, and insert a check valve 53 in such connecting passage and in such direction as to block flow from the first impeller stage to the second impeller stage, but permit fiow from the storage chamber to the pressure line.

In this connection, the diaphragm valve 47 otters no problem, for upon starting of the pumps, the resulting reduction in pressure on the suction side of the diaphragm, supplemented by the positive pressure of the water from the storage chamber, acting against the other side of the diaphragm will cause this valve to open and permit filling of the pipes to eliminate such voids.

When this condition is reached, the impeller can then start pumping water, whereupon the back pressure on the check valve in the connecting passage created by the first stage, coupled with that of the valve weight or spring, as the case may be, will substantially balance out any existing opening pressure against the valve and thereby permit the check valve to close and cause substantially the entire output of the second impeller to be directed into the storage chamber, while the entire output of the first stage will go down the pressure line to operate the injector assembly.

Any air or gas carried into the air separation chamher with water drawn from the well, will automatically rise to the surface and separate out, to ultimately find its way into the storage chamber with the water pumped by the second impeller stage. In the storage chamber, such air or gas will rise to the upper regions of the tank to replenish the air cushion.

As previously indicated, the aforementioned valves and flow passages are all incorporated with the impeller stages into a pump unit assembly for installation at or above ground level in a pump system. As such, all passages leading to or from the pressure tank, terminate in a flange 55 at locations to match the openings in the pressure tank, which openings are incorporated in a matching flange 57 on the tank and to which the pump unit assembly may be bolted.

The check valve 45 and diaphragm type valve 47 are located in a common housing 58 having a dividing wall 60 which defines the chambers 61 and 63 in which the respective valves are located. Each chamber in turn has a horizontal partition 65 with a valve seat opening therethrough bounded by a valve seat 67. Above and below such partition is an intake opening and a discharge opening respectively. To these lower openings, the suction and pressure pipes are connected, the suction pipe to the check valve chamber, and the pressure pipe to the diaphragm type valve chamber.

A common cap 75 for the valve housing, serves to clamp the valve diaphragm 49 in position, and is formed to provide a communicating passage 77 between the check valve chamber and the space above the diaphragm of the valve in the other chamber.

The pump unit assembly described above, makes it a rather simple procedure to install a deep well self-priming system of the type described, and when installed, all moving components are above ground and readily accessible for servicing.

The pump unit in such system becomes primed in a minimum of time because of the permitted flow from the storage chamber to the pressure line during interims when the pressure and suction lines contain voids.

While I have described my invention in its preferred form and in considerable detail, the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved. Therefore, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multi-stage deep Well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump unit having at least a pair of stages, each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a tank providing an air separation chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages, means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said air separation chamber at the lower of said connection openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said air separation chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for connecting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, and means for retaining water in said air separation chamber for priming purposes.

2. A multi-stage deep well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump unit having at least a pair of stages, each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a pressure tank having a substantially horizontal partition therein to provide an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages, means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said lower chamber at the lower of said connection openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said lower chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for connecting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, means connecting the discharge passage of said second stage to the storage chamber of said tank, means for connecting said lower chamber to the suction pipe of a pump system, and means for retaining water in said lower chamber for priming purposes, said means including a check valve in said suction pipe connecting means and a normally closed valve in said pressure pipe connecting means and adapted to open in response to pressure from the first impeller stage.

3. A multi-stage deep well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump unit having at least a pair of stages, each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a pressure tank having a substantially horizontal partition therein to provide an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages, means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said lower chamber at the lower of said connection openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said lower chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for con necting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, means connecting the discharge passage of said second stage to the storage chamber of said tank, means for connecting said lower chamber to the suction pipe of a pump system, means for retaining water in said lower chamber for priming purposes, said means including a check valve in said suction pipe connecting means and a normally closed valve in said pressure pipe connecting means and adapted to open in response to pressure from the first stage, means permit ting discharge under pressure from said storage chamber to such pressure pipe during operation of said pump unit in a system while said second stage is in an unprimed state, said means including a fiow connection between the discharge passages of said stages and a check valve therein blocking flow from said first stage discharge passage to said second stage discharge passage but permitting flow in the reverse direction.

4. A multi-stage deep well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump unit having at least a pair of impeller stages, each stage including an impeller mounted on a common shaft. and each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a tank providing an air separation chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages. means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said air separation chamber at the lower of said connection openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said air separation chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for connecting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, means for connecting said air separation chamber to the suction pipe of a pump system, and means for retaining water in said air separation chamber for priming purposes.

5. A multi-stage deep well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump-unit having at least a pair of impeller stages, each stage including an impeller mounted on a common shaft, and each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a tank providing an air separation chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages, means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said air separation chamber at the lower of said connecting openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said air separation chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for connecting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, means for connecting said air separation chamber to the suction pipe of a pump system, and means for retaining water in said air separation chamber for priming purposes, said means including a check valve in said suction pipe connecting means and a normally closed valve in said pressure pipe connecting means and adapted to open in response to pressure from the first impeller stage.

6. A multi-stage deep well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump unit having at least a pair of impeller stages, each stage including an impeller mounted on a common shaft, and each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a tank providing an air separation chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages, means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said air separation chamber at the lower of said connection openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said air separation chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for connecting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, means for connecting said air separation chamber to the suction pipe of a pump system, and means for retaining water in said air separation chamber for priming purposes, said means including a check valve in said suction pipe connection means and a valve in said pressure pipe connecting means, said latter valve being of the diaphragm type having one side of its diaphragm exposed to pressure from the first impeller stage and its other side to the pressure condition in said suction pipe connecting means.

7. A multi-stage deep well self-priming pump system sub-combination for use with a pressure pipe and suction pipe of such a system, said sub-combination comprising a pump unit having at least a pair of impeller stages, each stage including an impeller mounted on a common shaft, and each stage having an input passage and a discharge passage, a pressure tank having a substantially horizontal partition therein to provide an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber having a pair of openings, one elevated with respect to the other for connecting said chamber to said stages, means connecting the input passage of one of said stages to said lower chamber at the lower of said connection openings, means connecting the input passage of said other stage to said lower chamber at the upper of said connection openings, means for connecting the discharge passage of said first stage to the pressure pipe of a pump system, means connecting the discharge passage of said second stage to the storage chamber of said tank, means for connecting said lower chamber to the suction pipe of a pump system, means for retaining water in said lower chamber for priming purposes, said means including a check valve in said suction pipe connecting means and a valve in said pressure pipe connecting means, said latter valve being of the diaphragm type having one side of its diaphragm exposed to pressure from the first impeller stage and its other side to the pressure condition in said suction pipe connecting means, means permitting discharge under pressure from said storage chamber to such pressure pipe during operation of said pump unit in a system while said second impeller stage is in an unprimed state, said means including a flow connection between the discharge passages of said impeller stages and a check valve therein blocking flow from said first impeller stage discharge passage to said second impeller stage discharge passage but permitting flow in the reverse direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,388 Lung Dec. 28, 1948 2,478,941 Piccardo Aug. 16, 1949 2,486,288 Jacuzzi Oct. 25, 1949 2,630,069 Harris Mar. 3, 1953 2,694,365 Armstrong et a1. Nov. 16, 1954