US3112760A

US3112760A - Pumping station

Info

Publication number: US3112760A
Application number: US111665A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wallace G Budd
Original assignee: Cornell Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Cornell Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1961-05-22
Filing date: 1961-05-22
Publication date: 1963-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-03

Description

W. G. BUDD 3,1 12,760 PUMPING STATION Filed May 22, 1961 0 32 32 a 7 /04 i 34% I 1 Wallace GBudd b I INVENTOR.

32-38 36 i 4 BY 3 /5445 /4 34. Fi g. l

atent Patented Dec. 3, l3

hire

3,112,769 PUMPING STATEON Wallace G. Budd, Portland, Greg, assignor to Cornell Manufacturing 'Company, Portland, Greg, :1 corporation of Gregon Filed May 22, 196i, Ser. N 111,665 6 (Jlaims. (Q5. 137-353) This invention relates to pumping equipment, and more particularly to a sewage pumping or lift station in sewagehandling systems.

In sewage-handling systems, pumping or lift stations (also sometimes referred to as ejectors) are employed to collect sewage and then force the sewage into a sewage main where it travels to a final disposed area. A lift station may contain a considerable amount of complex and diverse types of equipment, that requires for its installation the use of skilled technicians and craftsmen. Proper installation is especially important in minimizing shutdown and servicing periods after the lift station has been in use. In connection with the servicing of lift stations, it should be remembered that in outlying districts, the tendency has been to use relatively small and scattered stations, and frequent servicing can add considerably to the cost of handling sewage.

The considerations outlined generally above have indicated the need for a packaged sewage lift or pumping station, that may be substantially completely manufactured at a factory, and then shipped to an installation site with relatively minor additional work required to place the station in operation. In this manner, skilled technicians may be employed to install the equipment in the lift station, and factory testing methods may be used to determine the operability of the equipment after installation. It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide an improved pumping or lift station that is ideally suited for factory manufacture, and shipment as a substantially complete unit to an installation site.

Pumping stations of the type contemplated are usually installed underground, requiring that excavation and other work be done prior to mounting the station in place.

To facilitate such underground installation, this invention also contemplates as one of its objects the provision of a novel pumping station thatis relatively compact, such compactness being achieved without sacrifice of pumping capacity.

One type of station that has been used in the past relies on an air-pressure system for lifting sewage. The station has included some sort of chamber, or well, for collecting sewage material, and another chamber rOI collecting air under pressure. Operation of the station is intermittent, as air under pressure first must be collected, prior to its use as a means for lifting a quantity of sewage. During the lifting of sewage, air collection is stopped, and during the collection of air no sewage is moved. This tends to limit pumping capacity for a given-sized unit. The requirement that an air-collecting chamber be pro vided has also effected the size of the station.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved pumping or lift station, that relies on submersible pump means for moving the sewage, such pump means being capable of continuous operation, and offering considerable flexibility in operation. For a given-sized station, a greater pumping capacity results, and as a corollary, for given capacity a more compact station is possible.

The pumping or lift station of this invention features an elongated, upright, hollow casing, closed at its top and bottom, and divided into a pair of chambers with one on top of the other. The bottom chamber forms a wet well in the casing, and is employed in collectin sewage material. Disposed at the base of this wet well are 2 submersible, electric motor-driven pump units, each including a motor and a pump portion. The outlets of the pump portions of the units are connected to discharge conduits, and these extend upwardly into the upper chamber, and thence outside the casing. per chamber of the casing is control means for regulating the motors of the pumps, and control valves or means for regulating the discharge through the discharge conduits. Blower mechanism is also included, used in circulating air in the upper chamber of the casing.

Various generalized features and objects of the invention have been indicated above. These and other more specific objects and advantages will become more fully apparent from reading the description that follows, where a specific embodiment of the invention is described, such description to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions removed,

equipment in the top chamber, and the bottom chamber functioning as a wet well or sewage-collecting chamber; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 in FF. 1, looking down at a platform inside of the casing that divides the casing into two chambers.

Referring now to the drawings, 19 indicates an elongated, upright, hollow casing, having a cylindrical side wall 12, and closing 05 the bottom of the casing a base '14. Closing off the top of the casing is a cover panel 16. (Dover panel is is provided with an access hole 17, and this hole is closed by a hinged lid 18. The sides and base of the casing are Watertight, to prevent leakage of water into and sewage out of the casing, with the same installed underground. Dividing the casing, approximately midway between its top and bottom ends, is a divider or platform Ztl, and this is sealed around its outer margin to the sides of the casing.

Steel sections may be used in the construction of the casing, suchbeing suitably joined together as by welding. Other material may be used, however. In some instances, it may be practical to make the casing of molded concrete sections, suitably joined in a watertight fashion.

Divider 2t) divides the interior of the casing into two chambers, indicated at 22 and 24. The upper chamber 22 is used to house control equipment, and is referred to herein as anequipment chamber in the pumping station. Lower chamber 24 is used to collect sewage, and is referred to herein as a fluid-collecting chamber, or wet well, in the pumping station.

Considering first of all lower chamber 24, an inlet connecting with the interior of the chamber is shown at 39. Sewage flows to the lift or pumping station and through inlet 30, from a pipe 31.

Mounted on base 14 and at the bottom of chamber 24 are a pair of electric motor-driven, submersible pump units, indicated at 32, 34. Each unit includes a motor portion, indicated at 32a, 34a, and an impeller pump portion, indicated at 32b, 34b. Each pump portion has an inlet 3-6, and such opens to the interior of the collecting chamber at the base of the chamber. Fluid leaves each pump portion through an outlet 38, whence it flows through a discharge conduit .0 extending up and into the equipment chamber. The pumps are mounted at the base of the fluid-collecting chamber, as it has been found not practical in handling sewage material to lift sewage by means of a vacuum.

In the equipment chamber, the discharge conduits for the two pump units join together. Sewage flows out of the casing through a common conduit or pipe 46. Each (J of the discharge conduits is provided with a check valve, indicated at 48, and a gate valve, indicated at 51}. These are in the equipment chamber, and thus are pro ected from the weather by the walls defining the equipment chamber. The valves enable either one, or both of the pump units, to be used in lifting sewage. The inclusion of two pump units in the lift station provides flexibility, and a degree of stand-by capacity.

An access port 54 provides access to the interior of wet well or chamber 2 Such is normally covered by a cover 55 fastened to divider 2%. A fluid-tight seal is provided between cover 56 and platform or divider 20.

For venting the collecting chamber or wet well, a vent pipe 6% is included. This has an open bottom end connecting with the interior of the wet well, and the top thereof protrudes from the top of cover panel 16.

The submersible pump units are not ordinarily operated continuously, but only at such times as sufficient sewage has collected in the wet Well to make their operation practical. Within the wet well, and regulating the operating periods of the pump portions of the units, is a level indicator 62. This takes the form of a hollow pipe, closed at its top end, that captures air as the level of sewage rises, with the pressure of such air increasing as the height of sewage increases. In an organization where 'it is desired to use both pump units in lifting sewage, a

pressure-sensitive switch 63 may be provided, which is actuated upon a predetermined presssure of air being reached in indicator 62. to start operation or" one of the pump units. On a higher pressure of air being reached, (should the sewage level rise to a higher elevation), switch 63 is actuated to produce operation of both pump units.

Upper or equipment chamber 22 has, on one side, a control panel 64, which houses control switches for the motor portions of

pump units

32, 34. Supply conductors or

lines

63, 70 for the motor portions of the pump units extend up through the divider or platform, whence they connect with the control switches of panel 64. Conductors 66 connect pressure-sensitive switch as with the switches of panel 64, so that on actuation of switch 63, as determined by the pressure of air within pipe 62, proper operation of the pump units occurs.

At 86 is indicated a blower provided in the equipment chamber, for forcing air out of the chamber and thus causing a circulation of air therein. Blower 86 has a blower motor 88 for actuating it. Air is ejected through a vent 89. The intake for the blower is at 99. The blower motor is connected by conductors 92 to the switches of control panel 64, and when a submersible pump unit is running, switches in control panel 64 are actuated to cause the blower to operate also. By running the blower conjointly with operation of any pump unit, operation of the blower depends automatically on the ctivity of the pumping station. Thus, during periods of relatively heavy use, when there is a considerable flow of sewage into the Wet well, and odors and gases tend to collect in the equipment chamber, the blower runs frequently. On the other hand, during inactive periods, when there is no flow of sewage to the wet well, the

lower cut oil.

Completing the description of the pumping station, lifting lugs 1% are provided casing 1% adjacent the top of the casing. These are useful when transporting the station to the site of installation, and also when lowering the station into the ground. Within the casing, a ladder secured to the casing extends down inside the casing from hole 17. The ladder enables an inspector or repairman to climb down into the equipment station. Brackets 1 34 are secured to the inside of the casing below divider 2t and are used when climbing down into the wet well.

From the above it should be apparent that a pumping or lift station is contemplated that readily lends itself to manufacture as a packaged unit, in a factory, ready for immediate installation. Equipment installed in the station can be tested at the factory.

The station is compact, and a minimum amount of excavation is necessary pnior to placing it in the ground. Because of the presence of two pump units, the station has a stand-by capacity and a flexibility in operation that many pumping or lift stations do not have. The submersible pump units are eihcient and relatively trouble free in operation. Unlike some stations that require compressed air for lifting sewage, the submersible pump units may be operated continuously, with continuous lifting of sewage resulting.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the invention. It is desired not to be limited to the specific details of the embodiment illustrated, but to cover all modifications and variations that would be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A pumping station comprising, in operative position, an upright casing having therein at the base of the casing a collecting chamber and on top of said collecting chamber and closed ofi therefrom an equipment chamber, submersible motor-driven pump means mounted at the base of said collecting chamber, said motor-driven pump means including a motor and a pump with the motor connected to the pump to drive the pump, an intake for said pump opening to the interior ofthe collecting chan her, an inlet connecting with the interior of said collecting chamber for the delivery of fluid thereto, an outlet for said pump and discharge conduit means connected to said outlet extendingnp and into said equipment chamber and thence outside said casing, control valve means for said discharge conduit means disposed in said equipment chamber, and control means operatively connected to the motor-driven pump means for controlling its operation and disposed in said equipment chamber.

2. In sewage-handling equipment, a packaged pumping station comprising an upright hollow casing with means closing the top and bottomof the casing, a platform dividing the interior. of said casing into an upper and a lower chamber with the lower chamber forming a wet well for collecting sewage and the two chambers sealed from each other, a submersible motor-driven pump means mounted at the base of said wet well, said motordriven pump means including a motor and a pump, with the motor connected to the pump to drive the pump, an intake for said pump opening to the interior of said wet well, an outlet for said pump and a discharge conduit connected to said outlet extending upwardly from the wet well into said upper chamber and thence out of said cas ng, control valve means for said discharge conduit disposed in said equipment chamber, and control means for the motor-driven pump means disposed in said equipment chamber and connected to said motor-driven pump means.

3. A pumping station comprising a hollow casing having therein a fluid-collecting chamber and sealed from and on top of the fluid-collecting chamber an equipment chamber, a submersible motor-driven pump means mounted at the base of said collecting chamber, said motor-driven pump means including a motor and a pump with the motor connected to the pump to drive the pump, an inta re for said pump opening to the interior of said collecting chamber, an outlet for said pump and discharge means extending from said outlet to outside said casing, an inlet connecting with the interior of said 1collecting chamber for the delivery of fluid thereto, a motordriven blower and'control means therefor disposed in said equipment chamber for evacuating air from the equipment chamber, a level indicator disposed in said fluid-collecting chamber, control means for said motordriven pump means operatively connected to the motordriven pump means and disposed in said equipment chamher, and means connecting said level indicator and the control means for said motor-driven pump means and said motor-driven blower whereby operating periods of said motor-driven blower and pump means are determined by said level indicator.

other sealed from said one and directly on top of said one, a pair of electric motor-driven submersible pump units, each including an electric motor portion and a level-indicator means and said control means for the motor portions of the pump units whereby the operating periods of the motor portions are controlled by said level indicator.

5. In sewage-handling equipment, a pumping station comprising, in operative position, an upright hollow casing with means closing ofi the top and bottom thereof, a sealed platform extending across the inside of the casing between its ends and dividing it into two compartments with one sealed from the other, said platform having an opening therein providing access to the lower of the two compartments from the upper of the two compartments and including a sealed cover closing said opening, a unit including a motor and a pump with the motor connected upper compartment.

6. In sewage-handling equipment, a pumping station comprising an upright hollow casing with means closing off the top and bottom of the casing, a platform extendlower chamber whereby said chamber becomes a wet well in the pumping station, and a discharge line for said pump connected to said pump and extending from said lower chamber out of said casin References Cited in the file of this patent

Claims

1. A PUMPING STATION COMPRISING, IN OPERATIVE POSITION, AN UPRIGHT CASING HAVING THEREIN AT THE BASE OF THE CASING A COLLECTING CHAMBER AND ON TOP OF SAID COLLECTING CHAMBER AND CLOSED OFF THEREFROM AN EQUIPMENT CHAMBER, SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP MEANS MOUNTED AT THE BASE OF SAID COLLECTING CHAMBER, SAID MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP MEANS INCLUDING A MOTOR AND A PUMP WITH THE MOTOR CONNECTED TO THE PUMP TO DRIVE THE PUMP, AN INTAKE FOR SAID PUMP OPENING TO THE INTERIOR OF THE COLLECTING CHAMBER, AN INLET CONNECTING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID COLLECTING CHAMBER FOR THE DELIVERY OF FLUID THERETO, AN OUTLET FOR SAID PUMP AND DISCHARGE CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET EXTENDING UP AND INTO SAID EQUIPMENT CHAMBER AND THENCE OUTSIDE SAID CASING, CONTROL VALVE MEANS FOR SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID EQUIPMENT CHAMBER, AND CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ITS OPERATION AND DISPOSED IN SAID EQUIPMENT CHAMBER.