US2868134A - Pump - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1959 P. I. NAGLE 2,868,134

PUMP

Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l I I I I I I I I IN V EN TOR.

MM/ @MrM aw Jan. 13, 1959 P.-I. NAGLE 2,868,134

PUMP Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INVENTOk- PeIZyZ/VZZgZS, BY

v PUMP Perry I. Nagle, Chicago Heights, Ill.

Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,143

4 Claims. (Cl. 103-103) The present invention relates to fluid impelling devices and more in particular to fluid impelling devices of the vertical type, such as centrifugal pumps for pumping water or other liquid containing large amounts of sand, clay, etc. from pits, sumps and the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel centrifugal pump of the vertical type of simplified and compact construction wherein the various elements thereof are readily fabricated and assembled in operative association with one another with ease and facility.

One of the objects within the purview of the present invention is to provide a novel centrifugal pump assembly of the type designated hereiuabove which may be readily mounted within a dry sump or pit for pumping a liquid medium and which is of such construction that the electric motor or other driving means may be readily mounted at any desired distance above the assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel centrifugal pump of the vertical type which is so constructed and arranged that there are no packing glands, bearings or the like in contact with the liquid material being pumped which is particularly advantageous in a pump of this type where water or other liquids containing large amounts of sand, clay, etc. is being pumped.

As a further object, the present invention contemplates a novel centrifugal pump assembly of the general type immediately hereinabove referred to and, although being provided with a packing gland for the power shaft, is so constructed that said packing gland is in contact with the liquid material only when the pump is inoperative.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a centrifugal pump assembly wherein the power shaft therefor is journaled in bearings disposed above the pump housing and extends downwardly therefrom through a sleeve or hollow member connected to the housing and which has its interior communicating with the interior of the im- Y peller housing whereby the liquid material being pumped may attain the approximate level of the liquid level in a sump from which is it being pumped, thus eliminating a packing gland for the shaft at the pump casing with the attendant wear and scarring which would take place where the liquid material contains substantial amounts of sand, clay, etc.

The invention further contemplates a novel pump structure as immediately hereinabove set forth incorporating a packing gland, however, at the upper end of the sleeve to prevent discharge of liquid material therefrom in those instances where the liquid level in the sump rises above the top of the sleeve, such assembly also being provided with a vent conduit extending above the increased liquid level. In such structure, the liquid level within the sleeve conforming substantially to the liquid level in the sump ..is below the packing gland during normal operation of United States Patent @z 12 in the usual manner.

power shaft of the pump and which is provided with means for adjustably supporting the pump housing and its appurtenances.

The present invention further contemplates a novel centrifugal pump of the vertical type having a pump housing and its appurtenances supported upon a suitable foundation or support and which adjustably supports a bearing housing for the power shaft for said pump.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a pump embodying one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of another form of the invention, having parts shown in vertical cross-section to disclose certain of the structure more in detail;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of another embodiment of the present invention; and,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the pump shown in Figure 3 of the drawings and taken in the plane represented by line 44 of that figure.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and particularly to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, there is disclosed a pump assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 2, which comprises a centrifugal pump 4- and bearing stand 6 for rotatably supporting the power shaft 8 of the pump.

The centrifugal pump 4 is formed with a casing 10 within which is disposed an impeller 12 connected to the lower end of the power shaft 8. The casing 10 is formed with an opening 13 closed by the plate 14 provided with the intake 16 communicating with the eye of the impeller The casing 10 is also formed with a tangential outlet (not disclosed) in accordance with common practice in the art. The plate 14 is held in place by a ring 18 adapted to engage the shouldered flanges 20 of the casing 10 by means of a plurality of set screws or bolts 22. The plate 14 at the inlet end is provided with a flange fitting 24 adapted to be secured by bolts or any other desired means to the flange fitting 26 of a conduit 28 which is connected to the bottom 30 of a sump 34 through the flange fitting 32.

The bearing stand 6 is adapted to be secured to any suitable supporting medium through bolts such as 36 whereby the shaft 8 is properly aligned with respect to the impeller 12. The said bearing stand is further provided with a bearing housing 38 having end closure members 40 and 42 screw threaded into the bearing housing 38 and held in place by the bearing studs 44. The end closure members 40 and 42 provide a suitable recess for the radial and thrust bearings 46 and 48, respectively, for the shaft 8 which extends downwardly through the opening 50 which is closed by a thrust seal 52.

The bearing stand is further provided with the laterally arranged bearing elements 54 and 56 having axially arranged bores substantially parallel with theshaft 8 adapted to receive struts 58 and 60, respectively, which have their lower ends connected to the casing 10, as at 59 and 61. The struts 58 and 60 are axially adjustable for adjusting the centrifugal pump 4 with respect to the bearing stand through the medium of the jack screws-62 and 64, respectively. The jack screws '62 and 64 are threadedly mounted in the ends of struts 58 and 60 and extend through the laterally extending ears 66 and 68 of housing 33, the same being locked in any adjusted positions by means of the lock nuts 70. The struts 58 and 60 are securely locked in any of their adjusted positions by means of the clamp bolts 72 and 74, each having a cam surface adapted to engage the said struts for clamping the same in position.

In the present embodiment, the upper end of the power shaft 8 is provided with a key slot 76 for coupling the power shaft to the shaft of an electric motor or the like which may be mounted for operation at any desired level above the .end of the power shaft 8. This makes a very convenient assembly for attachment to the drive shaft of the motor to accommodate various operating conditions particularly where it is desirable to mount the pump within a dry pit or sump for pumping liquid from a sump such as 34 or the like.

The pump disclosed in Figure l is particularly adapted for use in pumping liquid material such as dense media used in washing coal and for ore segregation. In such instances the liquid is laden with particles of abrasive character which when pumped by the usual pump mechanism causes considerable damage to bearings, packing glands and the like. It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a structure in which the dense media or similar liquid material being pumped from the sump 34 does not come in contact with any bearings or packing gland structure, and accordingly the life of a pump made in accordance with the present disclosure'far exceeds any conventional pump design.

In order to accomplish such results, the shaft 8 adjacent its connection to the impeller 12 extends through an opening 76 in the upper substantially horizontally disposed wall 78 of the casing and no attempt is made to provide a fluid tight joint at that point. Surrounding the opening 76 is an upstanding flange or wall 80 to which is connected the upwardly extending sleeve or hollow member 82 which extends upwardly to a point above the normal liquid level 84 of the material being pumped from the sump 34. It will, therefore, be seen that there is intercommunication between the interior of the sleeve or hollow member 82 and the chamber within the pump casing 10 through the opening 76 so that during normal operation of the pump the liquid material reaches a level within the hollow member 82 substantially equal to the liquid level 84 in the sump 34. While it is not absolutely necessary to provide any protective covering for'the open end of the sleeve or hollow member 82, nevertheless the present construction contemplates a flinger 86 which is secured in any desired manner to the power shaft 8 as by way of a set screw or the like in the spaced relation to the upper end of the hollow member 82. This flinger is adapted to deflect any grease or lubricant which may seep through the thrust seal 50 and deflects any material which might tend to escape from the upper end of the hollow member 82 in the event that there is any substantial variation in the liquid level 84 in the sump.

A pump made in accordance with the disclosure of Figure l incorporates all of the desired characteristics as hereinabove enumerated and is particularly adapted for use in connection with the pumping of dense media and the like.

Referring to the modification as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the same embodies in substance the structure of Figure 1 of the drawings, and accordingly like reference numerals have been applied thereto to designate similar parts found in the structure of Figure 1.

The modification shown in Figure 2, however, is constructed for use where the liquid level 84 of the sump 34 may vary from a plane below'the upper end of the sleeve or hollow member 88 which is associated with the pump casing 10 as hereinabove described in the same manner as the sleeve 88. Such variations in the liquid level within the sump 34 may take place by virtue of the fact that during the operation of the pump the normal level is at 84 Whereas back flow of the supply to sump 34 may cause the liquid level to rise to a height as indicated at 90 when the pump is rendered inoperative. Here again, however, the structural provision for the pump assembly is such that during operation of the pump under normal conditions, liquid material in the form of dense media or the like does not come in contact with any. Pack ng stand o ins- Sho the iqui level in the sump 34 rise, the liquid material may come in contact with mechanism to be described but under such conditions the pump is inoperative so that the same is not subjected to any material wear.

In order to accomplish these results, the power shaft 8 adjacent the upper end of the sleeve or hollow member 88 is provided with a stufiing gland 92 seated on the inwardly disposed shoulder 94 of the sleeve 88, the same having a gland nut 96 adjustably positioned for assuring a fluid tight joint between the-gland and the shaft through adjustable mechanism .98 connected to the depending ears 100 formed as a part of the bearing housing 38. This packing gland accordingly prevents leakage between the shaft 8 and the sleeve 88 at its upper end when the liquid level in the sump 34 rises above the upper end of the sleeve 88. In order to vent the sleeve 88 a vent conduit 102 is connected laterally of the sleeve 88 above the normal operating level 84 of the liquid material in the sump 34, the same extending upwardly and above the expected upper level of the liquid material in the sump 34. Accordingly, should the liquid level rise to the point 90, the liquid material within the interior of sleeve 88 would rise to substantially the same level in the vent conduit 102, yet when the liquid level recedes to the normal operating level 34 the interior of the sleeve 88 is vented to permit the liquid level in the sleeve 88 to assume its normal relation to the liquid level in the sump 34.

Figure 3 discloses a further embodiment of the invention, the same including a centrifugal pump 104 formed with a casing 106 conforming to the casing 10 and having a plate 108 held in place by a ring 110 in the same manner as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

'This pump housing is provided with a pump stand 112 suitably secured to a foundation or support 114 by bolts 116 or the like. -The'inlet plate 110 is connected to the flanged fittings 118 and 120 whereby liquid material from the sump 122 isintroduced into the inlet of the pump upon operation thereof. The casing 106 is further provided with the tangential outlet 124 for discharge of said liquid material.

As in the previously described embodiments, the present pump assembly contemplates a bearing housing 126 having the laterally disposed bearing elements 128 and 130 adapted to slidably receive the struts 132 and 134, respectively, which are connected at one end to the casing 106 and extend upwardly therefrom. The said bearing housing 126 is slidably and adjustably positioned with respect to the pump 104 through the screw jack assembly 136 and 138 formed in accordance with the prior disclosure. Furthermore, the power shaft 140 is mounted in the bearing housing 126 as previously disclosed and extends downwardly and into a. bearing element 142 extending upwardly from the pump housing 106. A fluid tight joint between the shaft 140 and the bearing 142 is formed adjacent the upper end of the bearing 142 by means of the packing gland 144 adjustable through the mechanism 146 in the same manner as disclosed in Figure 2 of the drawing.

In the present illustrative embodiment of the invention, the power shaft 140 may be driven by a motor shaft through a suitable coupling whereby the motor may be mounted in any desired position above the pump assembly. In the present modification, however, the entire bearing housing 126 and its appurtenances is supported entirely through the struts 132 and 134 which in turn are securely clamped in operative relation to the bearing housing 126 through the clamp bolts 147 and 148. It will thus be seen that the entire weight of the bearing assembly together with the centrifugal pump is supported through the stand 112 on the foundation or support 114, yet the arrangement of the various elements is such that ready adjustment of the bearing assembly with respect to the centrifugal pump may be readily and easily effected.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown illustrative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid impelling device, the combination of a pump operable under an hydrostatic head determined by the normal operating liquid level within a sump, said pump having a housing provided with an inlet communicating with said sump and having an outlet for the discharge of liquid material therefrom, an impeller mounted in said housing, said housing having a substantially horizontally-disposed top wall provided with an opening therein, a power shaft secured to said impeller and extending upwardly through said opening, a hollow member having an openupper end and being fluid-tight to a point above the normal liquid level within the sump, said member surrounding said shaft and being connected to said housing wall at its base end and extending upwardly above the normal liquid level within the sump, whereby the space between said hollow member and the shaft is in communication with the interior of said housing through said opening to permit the liquid material therein to seek the liquid level of said sump during operation of said pump, a bearing stand for the pump disposed above said hollow member, means adjustably supporting the pump housing from the bearing stand, bearing supporting means supported by the hearing stand and located above the hollow member, and bearings for the impeller shaft carried by said bearing supporting means.

2. A fluid impelling device according to claim 1 in which a flinger serving as a closure for said hollow member is secured to said power shaft in spaced relation to the upper end of said hollow member.

3. In a fluid impelling device, the combination of a pump operable under an hydrostatic head determined by the normal operating liquid level within a sump, said pump having a housing provided with an inlet communicating with said sump and having an outlet for the discharge of liquid material therefrom, said housing being provided with a substantially horizontally-disposed top wall havingan opening therein, a hollow member having an open upper end and being fluid-tight to a point above normal liquid level within the sump, said member being secured at its base end to said wall and extending upwardly above normal liquid level within members connecting said housing with said bearing stand,-

and means provided by the bearing stand for adjustably securing said strut members whereby to adjustably position said housing with respect to said bearing stand.

4. A fluid impelling device according to claim 3 in which a flinger serving as a closure for said hollow member is secured to said power shaft in spaced relation to the upper end of said hollow member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 829,017 Jordan Aug. 21, 1906 1,798,782 Brown Mar. 31, 1931 1,821,772 Ruthman Sept. 1, 1931 2,019,143 La Bour Oct. 29, 1935 2,075,895 Harmon Apr. 6, 1937 2,112,575 Richard Mar. 29, 1938 2,179,730 Ruthman Nov. 4, 1939 2,181,973 Iasberg Dec. 5, 1939 2,245,866 McLachlan June 17, 1941 2,273,214 McConaghy Feb. 17, 1942 2,281,682 England May 5, 1942 2,309,670 Ruthman Feb. 2, 1943 2,448,717 Jeficock Sept. 7, 1948 2,504,140 Mill Apr. 18, 1950 2,536,638 Greene Jan. 2, 1951

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