US3076411A - Multi-stage centrifugal pump - Google Patents

Description

' Feb. 5, 1963 P. GUILLORY, SR 3,076,411 MULTI-STAGE CENTRIFYUGAL PUMP Filed June 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL GUILLORY, Sr.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 5, 1963 P. GUILLORY, sR 3,076,411

MULTI-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed June 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Y I Ill INVENTOR. PAUL GUILLORY, Sr.

ATTORNEYS V United States Patent 3,076,411 MULTl-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUM Paul Guillory, Era, Box 455, Vernal, Utah Filed June Ill, 1960, Ser. No. 35,234 12 Claims. (Cl. 103-102) This invention relates to centrifugal pumps and is particularly concerned with those having multiple stages, al-

pump having one or more additional stages.

I An object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal pump that may be easily altered to supply additional pumping stages or to reduce the number of existing stages.

Other objects are to provide such a pump that will operate with greater efficiency than comparable centrifugal pumps of conventional type, that is sealed in a peculiarly effective manner against loss of pressure and the liquid being pumped, that enables the adding or subtracting of pumping stages without damaging the seals between individual stages, that minimizes the tendency for leakage about the drive shaft, that is simple in construction, and that is easily maintained in good repair.

An important feature of the invention which affords easy addition to or reduction in pumping stages is the provision of a composite drive shaft made up, in part, of impeller units detachably secured together in end to end, axial alignment as sections of the complete drive shaft and the provision of corresponding, pump housing or casing units also detachably secured together in end to end, axial alignment as sections of the complete pump housing or casing. i 1

Other features contributing to the achievement of one or more of the foregoing objects are the provision of O-ring seals between the individual housing units; the

particular formation of the impeller units, including a streamlined head portion backed by a vane portionfor each unit; the particular internal formation of each housing unit,.which conforms to the streamlined contouring of the impeller unit and provides gently curved, smoothwalled, flow passages for pressure liquid passing to a successive pumping stage or to discharge; and the need for shaft sealing only at the suction intake, i.e. low pressure, end of the pump.

Further objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in connection with the detailed description of the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, which represents what is presently regarded as the best mode of carrying out the invention in practice.

In the drawings:

H6. 1 is a view in side elevation of a multi-stage pump of the invention, intermediate stages being broken out for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 2, ancnd elevation looking from the leftin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings:

In the form illustrated, the pump of the invention is 3,076,411 Patented Feb. 5, 1963 multi-stage to an extent greater'than two stages, each stage being'indicated It). In addition to each single stage section Iii, it includes a suction intake section 11 and a pressure discharge section 12. 7

Each of the single stage pump sections 19 comprises an open-ended housing unit 13 and an impeller unit 14, the several housing and impeller units of the multiple pumping stages being positioned end to end and the terminal units being positioned in end to end relationship with the suction intake section 11 and the pressure discharge section 12, respectively.

The several housing units 13 and intake and discharge sections are tightly secured and sealed together in any suitable manner, as by means of cap screws 15 and interposed sealing material. It is a feature of the invention that O-rings 16 are employed as seai The several impeller units 14 are detachably joined in end to end relationship, and, for this purpose, are each advantageously provided with an externally threaded stud 17 at one end and with an internally threaded recess 13 at its opposite end adapted to receive the stud 1'7 of the immediately adjacent impeller unit in screw mating relationship.

Stub shafts 19 and 2t) connect with opposite ends, respectively, of the rectilinearly aligned and joined impeller units 14 to complete a composite drive shaft for the pump.

Stubshaft 19 has a journal portion 190, which is received by anti-friction bearings 21 in intake section 11.

Such stub shaft has its inner end 1%, FIG. 5, externally threaded to correspond to a stub 17, and is detachably joinedthereby to the recessed and internally threaded end 18 of the impeller unit of the appropriate terminal pumping section 10. Its outer end projects from the intake section 11 to serve as meansfor applying power to the composite drive shaft. As such, it is provided 'with a keyway 22, FIG.'4, for securing thereto a-pulley (not shown), which is belted to any suitable prime mover, such as an electric motor (not shown). A seal 23 prevents leakage of air into the pump at this suction end thereof.

ln'instances Where only one or two pumping stages are utilized, it will be sufficient to support the drive shaft only at this intake end, the stub shaft in not being necessary. In such instances it will be Wise, of course, to space the bearings 21 as widely as is reasonably possible.

In this illustrated instance, stub shaft 20 in conjunction with stub shaft 19 gives adequate bearing support for any required number of pumping stages within reason.

It has a journal portion 20a, FIG. 4, which is received by an anti-friction bearing 24 mounted in a closed recess portion 12a of discharge section 12. Its opposite end 291) is recessed and internally threaded to correspond with Since stub shaft 20 terminates within the discharge section 12, the latter may becompletely closed so as to present no difficult sealing problem at this pressure end of the pump.

It is afeature of the invention that each impeller unit 14 and corresponding housing unit 13 are formed internally to facilitate smooth, non-turbulent flow from pumping section to pumping section. To this end, each impeller unit 14 comprises a substantially bullet-nosed head portion 14a backed by a vane portion 14b, and each housing unit 13 is internally contoured at 13a to substantially conform to the contour of the impeller unit and to provide therewith a gently curved, smooth Walled, annular flow passage 26- leading from the Vane or intake end of the housing in the discharge orifice 27 thereof at the head end of the impeller.

Each of these unusually contoured impeller units 14 is advantageously fabricated in two concentric parts 14-1 and 14-2 which are separable one from the other. Part 14-1 forms a broad base for bullet-nosed head portion 14a of the impeller unit, while part 14-2 forms the convergent nose of such head portion 14a. Such parts are normally secured tightly together, as shown. To this end, base part 14-1 has a central stud 28, FIG. 5, extending forwardly therefrom and nose part 14-2 is provided with a central opening 29 for receiving such stud, the latter extending therethrough and having means provided on its projecting end for securing the two parts tightly together.

In this illustrated construction, the externally threaded stud 17 by which adjacent impellers are joined together constitutes the tip of the stud 28, and the means for securing the two parts of an impeller together comprises exter' nal threading 28a on stud 28, immediately back of the threaded tip 17, and a nut 30 cinching part 14-1 tightly against part 14-2. Also, the recessed and internally threaded end 18 of an impeller, which engages in screwmating relationship with the stud 17 of a next adjacent impeller, constitutes the free end of a central stud 31 projecting backwardly from base part 14-1 of the impeller.

The stud 31 merges with base 14-1 in a gently curved, outwardly extending fillet 31a, which serves to smoothly turn the material being pumped outwardly of the axis of the impeller.

Vanes 1412, FIG. 3, may be provided in any number found suitable for particular pumping purposes. They are advantageously formed as an integral part of impeller base part 14-l.

Intake section 11 has an intake passage 32 extending therethrough from a threaded end 32a, adapted to receive a suction intake line (not shown), to a discharge orifice 32b corresponding to the discharge orifice 27 of a pumping section 10. Similarly, discharge section 12 has a discharge passage 33 extending therethrough from an orifice 330, corresponding to the discharge orifice 27 of a pumping section 10, to a threaded end 33b adapted to receive a pressure discharge line (not shown).

Both intake section 11 and discharge section 12 are joined to their respective terminal pumping sections by means of cap screws and are sealed to such terminal pumping sections by means of O-rings 16.

Whereas there is here illustrated and described a certain preferred construction which I presently regard as the best mode of carrying out my invention, it should be understood that various changes may be made Without departing from the inventive concepts particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed herebelow.

I claim:

1. A multi-stage centrifugal pump, comprising a plurality of mutually separable, single stage sections detachably joined end to end, each section comprising an openended housing and an impeller within the housing each impeller being formed in two concentric parts which are separable one from the other, one of said parts being a broad base having a central stud projecting forwardly therefrom and having vanes projecting rearwardly therefrom, and the other of said parts being a bullet-nosed head fitting with said one part and over said stud and having an axial receiving opening into which said stud projects; means normally securing the two parts tightly together; means detachably joining the housings of respective stage sections in end to end relationship; means detachably joining the impellers of respective stage sections in end to end relationship; a suction, intake section at one end of the pump; a pressure, discharge section at the other end of the pump; stub shafts secured to and extending from the terminal impellers, respectively, at opposite ends of the pump to form with the several impellers a composite drive shaft for the pump; means journaling said stub shafts in said intake and discharge sections, respectively; and means for applying power to said composite drive shaft.

2. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein each im peller is provided with a threaded stud at one end and a correspondingly threaded recess at its opposite end as the said means for joining the impellers of the respective single stage sections.

3. A pump as set forth in claim 2, wherein one of said stub shafts is provided with an externally threaded end for screwing into the recess of one of said terminal impellers, and the other of said stub shafts is provided with a recessed and internally threaded end for receiving the threaded stud of the other of said terminal impellers.

4. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stub shaft at the suction end of the pump projects through and beyond the said intake section; sealing means is provided against the inflow of air about said stub shaft; and the means for applying power to the composite drive shaft is carried by the projecting end of said stub shaft.

5. A pump as set forth in claim 4, wherein the stub shaft at the pressure end of the pump terminates within said discharge section of the pump.

6. A pump as set forth in claim 5, wherein the housings of the single stage sections are joined in end to end abutting relationship; and wherein O-ring seals are interposed between adjoining ends, respectively, of said housings.

7. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housings of the single stage sections are joined in end to end abutting relationship; and wherein O-ring seals are interposed between adjoining ends, respectively, of said housings.

8. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein each impeller housing is internally contoured to substantially conform to the contour of its impeller and to provide therewith a gently curved, smooth walled, flow passage converging from vane end to head end of the particular single stage section concerned.

9. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tip portion of said projecting end of the stud is externally threaded; and wherein the means detachably securing one impeller to another comprises a central stud for each impeller projecting backwardly from said broad base and having its terminal end recessed and internally threaded for the reception of the externally threaded end of the forwardly projecting stud of the next adjacent impeller.

10. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for securing the two impeller parts tightly together comprises a nut threaded on said forwardly extending stud back of said threaded tip thereof.

11. In a centrifugal pump, an impeller formed in two concentric parts which are separable one from the other, one of said parts being a broad base having a central stud projecting forwardly therefrom and having vanes projecting rearwardly therefrom, and the other of said parts being a bullet-nosed head fitting with'said one part and over said stud; means coacting with said stud to normally secure the two parts tightly together; and an impeller housing internally contoured to substantially conform to the contour of said impeller and to provide therewith a gently curved, smooth walled, fiow passage converging from vane end to head end of said housing.

12. A centrifugal pump, comprising at least one single stage section which includes an open-ended housing and an impeller within the housing, said impeller being formed in two concentric parts which are separable one from the other, one of said parts being a broad base having a central stud projecting forwardly therefrom and having vanes projecting rearwardly therefrom, and the other of said parts being a bullet-nosed head fitting with said one part and over said stud; means coacting with said stud to normally secure the two parts tightly together; a suction, intake section at one end of the pump leading into the vanes of said impeller; a pressure, discharge section at the other end of the pump; a stub shaft secured to and extending References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilken Dec. 6, 1904 Akimofi May 21, 1907 10 Hards Dec. 5, 1916 Rodriguez et a1. Sept. 30, 1924 6 Conant Sept. 29, 1925 Lipe July 23, 1929 Wintroath May 14, 1935 Howard Jan. 9, 1945 Wislicenus Oct. 23, 1945 Hillger ec. 15, 1953 Berg Mar. 2, 1954 Birmann July 5, 1960 Tryon Aug. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 18, 1900

Claims (1)

1. A MULTI-STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY SEPARABLE, SINGLE STAGE SECTIONS DETACHABLY JOINED END TO END, EACH SECTION COMPRISING AN OPENENDED HOUSING AND AN IMPELLER WITHIN THE HOUSING EACH IMPELLER BEING FORMED IN TWO CONCENTRIC PARTS WHICH ARE SEPARABLE ONE FROM THE OTHER, ONE OF SAID PARTS BEING A BROAD BASE HAVING A CENTRAL STUD PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM AND HAVING VANES PROJECTING REARWARDLY THEREFROM, AND THE OTHER OF SAID PARTS BEING A BULLET-NOSED HEAD FITTING WITH SAID ONE PART AND OVER SAID STUD AND HAVING AN AXIAL RECEIVING OPENING INTO WHICH SAID STUD PROJECTS; MEANS NORMALLY SECURING THE TWO PARTS TIGHTLY TOGETHER; MEANS DETACHABLY JOINING THE HOUSINGS OF RESPECTIVE STAGE SECTIONS IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP; MEANS DETACHABLY JOINING THE IMPELLERS OF RESPECTIVE STAGE SECTIONS IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP; A SUCTION, INTAKE SECTION AT ONE END OF THE PUMP; A PRESSURE, DISCHARGE SECTION AT THE OTHER END OF THE PUMP; STUB SHAFTS SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE TERMINAL IMPELLERS, RESPECTIVELY, AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE PUMP TO FORM WITH THE SEVERAL IMPELLERS A COMPOSITE DRIVE SHAFT FOR THE PUMP; MEANS JOURNALING SAID STUB SHAFTS IN SAID INTAKE AND DISCHARGE SECTIONS, RESPECTIVELY; AND MEANS FOR APPLYING POWER TO SAID COMPOSITE DRIVE SHAFT.

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