US3130673A - Rotary vane pump with replaceable head unit - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1964 A. K. FINSTAD ROTARY VANE PUMP WITH REPLACEABLE HEAD UNIT Filed Aug. 1 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l d m s m F K w m A I ZNVENTOK.

BY WWW Fm April 28, 1964 A. K. FINSTAD 3,130,673

ROTARY VANE PUMP WITH REPLACEABLE HEAD UNIT Filed Aug. 1, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arthur K Finsfad INVZENTOR.

United States Patent REPLACEABLE This invention relates to pumping devices and more particularly to a vane type pump.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a pump having generally radially extending vanes whereby during rotation of the vanes they are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the wall of a pumping chamber.

It is another object of my invention to provide a vane type pump composed of a plurality of parts assembled in such a manner that the parts may be disassembled and reassembled for cleaning, repair and replacing of parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump having a pumping chamber in a removable head whereby when the pump becomes worn, it is only necessary to remove and replace the head without disturbing the remainder of the pump.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a pump composed of a novel combination of materials which are resistant to corrosion and oxidation, yet are economical and easily obtained.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a vane type pump having a new and novel shaped pumping chamber.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a vane type pump having vanes of such a design that pressure in the pump acts on the vanes to force them into engagement more tightly with the walls of the pumping chamber whereby a more effective seal therebetween is provided.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a pump which is particularly designed to produce'high pressures, low volumes and is of small size.

I It is still another object of my invention to provide a pump having improved sealing and bearing means therein.

' It is yet another object of my invention to provide a pump which is of relatively simple design, economical to manufacture, is durable in use and therefore requires a minimum of maintenance.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my novel pump;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3--3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 44 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 in FIGURE 4;

3,130,673 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 head are preferably composed of a conventional plastic such as polyethylene or nylon, the adapter collar is preferably composed of brass while the impellers or vanes 20 in the vane assembly are preferably composed of stainless 5 steel.

The endplate 12 comprises a solid cylindrical shaped member 22 having three bores 24 and three bores 26 extending therethrough parallel to the axis thereof. The bores 24 spaced along a circular arc concentric with the axis of the member 22, while the bores 26 are also spaced along an arc also concentric with the axis of the member 22, but having a slightly larger radius than the are for the bores 24. Each of the bores 24 and 26 have a chamfered portion 28 for receiving the heads 30 of the bolts 32. A highly finished circular recess 34 is provided on the inside face of the member 22 so as to form a plain bearing for the forward end of the pump shaft 36.

The vane assembly 18 comprises a hub assembly comprising a cylindrical member divided into four identical segments 38 by equally spaced radial slots 40 and a central bore 42 which receives the shaft 36. The segments 38 are fixed to the forward end of the pump shaft 36 by any conventional means such as welding. Slidably received in each of the slots 40 is a rectangular pump vane 20 which completely fills its respective slot when fully inserted therein. Each of the vanes have radially extending notches 44 formed in their forward or pressure faces.

The outer surface of the shaft 36 is preferably highly finished so as to form an effective bearing surface, and the rear end of the shaft is releasably connected to a shaft extension 46. The forward end of the extension 46 has an integral radially extending circular flange 48 which in turn has a forwardly extending central rectangular projection 50 integral therewith. The projection 50 is preferably received slidably within a rectangular recess in the rear end of the shaft 36. This recess 52 snugly and slidably receives the extension 50.

The compression head 14 comprises a cylindrical member 54 having a concentric circular recess 56 in its forward end for completely and snugly receiving the end plate 12. It also has formed therein a plurality of bores 58 and 60 in alignment with the bores 24 and 26 in the member 22 for receiving the central portions of the bolts 32. A pumping chamber 62 is formed in the central portion of the compression head. The bottom portion of this chamber extends 180 degrees and is formed by a radius having a center concentric with the axis of the compression head.

, The upper portion of the pumping chamber is formed by FIGURE 6 is a rear end elevational view of a modified a radius slightly smaller than the radius forming the lower portion, The center part of the upper portion is also concentric with the axis of the compression head and extends for substantially 90 degrees. The upper side portions of the pumping chamber as shown in FIGURE 3 are also arcuate, and the center of this are is located so as to smoothly blend the surfaces of the upper and lower portions together. Formed in the upper portion of the compression head are two parallel and spaced bores parallel to the axis of the head. These bores are shown at 64 and 66 and comprise portions of the inlet and outlet passages to the pumping chamber respectively. As shown in FIGURE 3, the bore 64 is connected to the right side of the pumping chamber by a generally vertical bore 68 and the bore 66 is connected to the left side of the pumping chamber by generally vertical bore 70. The upper ends of these bores are internally threaded as shown at 72 for receiving threaded plugs 74 for sealing the upper end of the bores. The rear face of the compression head 14 is recessed at 76 for receiving an annular sealing member 78.

The adapter collar 16 has a forw ardly projecting cylindrical portion 80 of the same external diameter as .the compression head 14, and this portion 80 has a plurality of threaded bores 82 and 84 therein aligned with the bores 58 and 60 in the compression head for receiving the threaded ends of the bolts 32 which rigidly and releasably maintain the members 22, 54 and 80 in assembled relationship. The adapter collar 16 has a central bore 82 therein for receiving the shaft extension 46 rotatably therein. The forward end of this bore 82 is enlarged as shown at 84 for receiving a bearing member 86. This bearing member may be a plain hearing, but is preferably conventional antifrietion type such as a ball hearing or roller hearing.

The adapter collar has two space- d lugs 88 and 90 extending upwardly on its rear end on each side, and having parallel bores 92 and 94 extending vertically therein. These bores 92 and 94 are preferably internally threaded for receiving the threaded end of a pressure pipe, not shown, which is connected thereto in a conventional manner. The rear vertically extending face of the adapter collar is flat and adapted to be mounted against a flat supporting surface. Three radially projecting ears 96, 98 and 100 are formed integrally with the back end of the adapter collar and have axial bores therein for receiving mounting bolts. Two axially extending bores 102 and 104 extend rearwardly from the forward face 106 of the adapter collar to and slightly beyond the vertical bores 92 and 94. These bores 102 and 104 are parallel, extend horizontally and their rear ends are connected by a transverse passage 108. The passage 108 has its right end connected to an enlarged bore 110 which extends to the outer surface of the lug 90. The inner end of the bore 110 is shaped like a truncated cone so as to form a valve seat for the ball valve member 112. A plug 114 is threaded into the outer end of the bore 112 and compresses a coil spring 116 against the ball valve 112 for seating it against its valve seat.

In operation, the pump assembly, the end plate and the compression head are all held rigidly together in a conventional manner by the bolts 32 which are threaded into the bores 82 and 84 in the adapter collar. The collar 48 on shaft extension 46 and the bearing assembly 86 fit within the recess 84, and the forward end of the bearing assembly compresses the annular seal member 78 within the recess 76. A second annular seal member 1 18 surrounds the shaft extension 46 and fits within an annular recess 120 in the adapter collar 16. The sides of the recess 120 converge slightly in a radially outward direction as viewed in FIGURE 2, and forms an angle of approximately ten degrees therebetween.

During operation of the pump, fiuid enters the adapter collar 16 by means of :an inlet pipe connected at 94. The fiuid then flows forwardly through inlet passages 104 and 64, and then downwardly through vertical passage 68 into the upper portion of the pump chamber 62. As shown in FIGURE 3, the pump hub sectors 40 and the vanes 20 are rotated clockwise. Thus, the vanes as they rotate are thrown out by centrifugal force tightly into engagement with the inner surfaces of the pumping chamber. The vanes thus extend into the fluid entering through passage 68 and carry it through the bottom portion of the pumping chamber into the passage 70. The fluid flowing upwardly through passage 70 then flows horizontally through outlet passages 66 and 102 into upwardly extending passage 92 where it is exhausted from the pump by means of a pipe connected to the threaded connection at 92. If the pressure in the pump should surpass a predetermined level, it will cause the valve member 112 to be unseated against its closing spring 116 whereby the pressure may be relieved through passages 108 and 110 whereby the fluid may escape back into the inlet duct 94.

During operation of the pump, fluid pressure on the pressure side of the vanes 20 is conducted by means of notches 44 to the inner facm 45 whereby pressure acting thereon forces the vanes radially outwardly and tightly into sealing engagement with the surfaces of the pumping chamber. Although centrifugal force normally maintains the vanes in sealing engagement with the walls of the pumping chamber, during low speed operation of the pump, it is particularly desirable to have additional sealing pressure exerted between the vanes and the pump chamber walls. This sealing pressure is provided by the pressure acting on the surfaces 45.

The upper wall 63 of the pumping chamber 62 is concentric with the axis of and has the same diameter as the vane assembly hub. The wall 63 extends for at least between the ports 68 and 70 thus insuring that one vane will always be engaging it. By having a vane always in engagement with wall 63, leakage between the ports 68 and 70 is substantially reduced or eliminated.

If desired, the plug 74 may be removed or omitted from the passages 70 and 68 whereby the passage 68 may serve as an additional inlet passage, and the passage 70 may serve as an additional or auxiliary outlet passage. By using the passages 68 and 94 as inlet passages, two separate fluids may be drawn into the pump and thoroughly mixed thereby and exhausted from the pump by means of the passages 70 and 92 jointly or separately.

In the modified form shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, the bolts 32 and the holes in the various parts to receive these bolts are omitted, and the compression head 14' is connected to the adapter collar 16 by means of a flexible C-cl-amp which is generally U-shaped in cross section. The members 14' and 16' have adjacent annular flanges 132 and 134 of the same diameter. The inner abutting surfaces of these flanges are radially extending while the outer surfaces of the flanges converge in a radially outward direction as does the inner side surfaces of the 6- clamp 130. The Ccl amp 130 has inwardly parallel and radially outwardly extending flanges 136 secured to its ends which are slightly spaced from one another. These flanges have aligned bores therein which receive a threaded fastening assembly 138 which is adjustable for forcing the flanges 136 together and thereby reducing the diameter of the 'C-elamp 130. As the C-clamp 130 is contracted by the fastening means 138, the sloping side walls 140 and 142 thereof cam the abutting faces of the flanges 132 and 134 into tight engagement with each other. The end plate 12' is spin welded at 144 to the outer edge of the compression head 14'.

In the form shown in FIGURES 6 (and 8, it is only necessary to disconnect the c-clamp when the pump becomes worn so as to remove the compression head 14. When the C-clarnp is removed, the compression head is no longer connected to the adapter collar 16' and the shaft 36 slides off of the slidable connection with the shaft 46. A new head and pumping assembly may be replaced merely by inserting the shaft 36' of the new assembly in the adapter collar 16' and replacing the C-clamp in an obvious manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pump assembly comprising as readily separable components a pump unit including an impeller assembly therein together with an end plate and an adapter collar secured to opposite ends of said pump unit, said pump unit comprising a hollow body with an opening at one end closed by said end plate and an end wall at its other end, said body having a chamber in its open end and a bore through said end wall communicating with said chamber, said impeller assembly including an impeller shaft journaled in said wall bore and having one end extending through said end wall to the exterior of said body and having its other end journaled in a circular recess in said end plate, an impeller hub and vanes mounted on said impeller shaft in said chamber, said chamber having a diametrical enlargement at said chamber open end, said end plate being received entirely within said enlargement, said adapter collar having a bore alined with said body bore and terminating in a diametrically enlarged recess, said impeller shaft extending end projecting into said recess, said adapter collar having mounting means on one end for attaching it to a support and having a planar face on its other end engaged by said body end wall, an impeller drive shaft journaled in said collar bore and having one end terminating Within said recess and being provided with a laterally projecting flange seated in said recess, said impeller shaft and said drive shaft having an axially engageable and disengageable coupling for their adjacent ends within said recess, a bearing sleeve in said recess journaling said adjacent ends, fluid intake and fluid exhaust means each communicating with said chamber and each comprising registering passages in said body and collar, a quick-detachable fastening means releasably securing said pump unit to said adapter collar and facilitating removal and replacement of a pump unit in said pump assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said impeller hub comprises arcuate segments fixedly secured to and projecting radially from said impeller shaft and having circumferentially spaced radial slots therebetween, said vanes being each slidably received for radial movement in one of said slots.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein each vane has a radially extending channel on its leading face admitting pressure from said chamber beneath said vane and thereby yieldingly urging the vane radially outwardly of said hub into sealing engagement with the wall of said chamber.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adapter collar has a pair of hollow bosses opening to its exterior for connection to a source of fluid supply and to a destination for exhaust fluid, said fluid intake and exhaust passages in said adapter collar extending axially thereof and each having one end communicating with one of said bosses, the registering fluid inlet and exhaust passages in said body extending axially thereof and terminating in angularly disposed passages communicating with said chamber at opposite sides thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a transverse bore in said adapter collar constituting a by-pass connection between said adapter collar intake and exhaust passages, a non-return pressure relief check valve in said transverse bore effecting relief of fluid under excessive pressure from the fluid exhaust passage into the fluid inlet passage.

6. The combination of claim 4 including auxiliary ports in said adapter collar establishing communication respectively with said adapter collar fluid inlet and exhaust passages and constitutes means introducing additional fluids for mixing thereinto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 722,185 Robinson Mar. 3, 1903 1,722,616 Williams July 30, 1929 1,855,708 Dilg Apr. 26, 1932 1,971,601 Dilg Aug. 28, 1934 2,082,265 Smith June 1, 1937 2,096,870 Vollenbroich Oct. 26, 1937 2,525,619 Roth et al. Oct. 10, 1950 2,611,323 Digney Sept. 23, 1952 2,619,040 Maisch Nov. 25, 1952 2,695,131 Price Nov. 23, 1954 2,731,919 Prendergast Ian. 24, 1956 2,818,024 Herschel Dec. 31, 1957 2,966,860 Maynard Jan. 3, 1961 2,986,095 Namur May 30, 1961 3,034,446 Brundage May 15, 1962 3,038,413 Emeny et al June 12, 1962 3,050,010 Thrap et a1 Aug. 21, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 714,442 France Sept. 7, 1931 602,874 Germany Sept. 19, 1934 548,998 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1942

Claims (1)

1. A PUMP ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AS READILY SEPARABLE COMPONENTS A PUMP UNIT INCLUDING AN IMPELLER ASSEMBLY THEREIN TOGETHER WITH AN END PLATE AND AN ADAPTER COLLAR SECURED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID PUMP UNIT, SAID PUMP UNIT COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY WITH AN OPENING AT ONE END CLOSED BY SAID END PLATE AND AN END WALL AT ITS OTHER END, SAID BODY HAVING A CHAMBER IN ITS OPEN END AND A BORE THROUGH SAID END WALL COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER, SAID IMPELLER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN IMPELLER SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID WALL BORE AND HAVING ONE END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END WALL TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY AND HAVING ITS OTHER END JOURNALED IN A CIRCULAR RECESS IN SAID END PLATE, AN IMPELLER HUB AND VANES MOUNTED ON SAID IMPELLER SHAFT IN SAID CHAMBER, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A DIAMETRICAL ENLARGEMENT AT SAID CHAMBER OPEN END, SAID END PLATE BEING RECEIVED ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID ENLARGEMENT, SAID ADAPTER COLLAR HAVING A BORE ALINED WITH SAID BODY BORE AND TERMINATING IN A DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED RECESS, SAID IMPELLER SHAFT EXTENDING END PROJECTING INTO SAID RECESS, SAID ADAPTER COLLAR HAVING MOUNTING MEANS ON ONE END FOR ATTACHING IT TO A SUPPORT AND HAVING A PLANAR FACE ON ITS OTHER END ENGAGED BY SAID BODY END WALL, AN IMPELLER DRIVE SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID COLLAR BORE AND HAVING ONE END TERMINATING WITHIN SAID RECESS AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGE SEATED IN SAID RECESS, SAID IMPELLER SHAFT AND SAID DRIVE SHAFT HAVING AN AXIALLY ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE COUPLING FOR THEIR ADJACENT ENDS WITHIN SAID RECESS, A BEARING SLEEVE IN SAID RECESS JOURNALING SAID ADJACENT ENDS, FLUID INTAKE AND FLUID EXHAUST MEANS EACH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER AND EACH COMPRISING REGISTERING PASSAGES IN SAID BODY AND COLLAR, A QUICK-DETACHABLE FASTENING MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID PUMP UNIT TO SAID ADAPTER COLLAR AND FACILITATING REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF A PUMP UNIT IN SAID PUMP ASSEMBLY.

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