US3370608A

US3370608A - Liquid handling apparatus with pump means having mount and seal

Info

Publication number: US3370608A
Application number: US572033A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack R Eisenbrand; Albert T Braga
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1966-08-12
Filing date: 1966-08-12
Publication date: 1968-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-27
Also published as: GB1133906A

Description

1968 J. R. EISENBRAND ETAL 3,370,603

LIQUID HANDLING APPARATUS WITH PUMP MEANS HAVING MOUNT AND SEAL Filed Aug. 12, 1966 34 z/enZor 57 JckEEZsenfiraiaQ Qibrt Z15 rga,

United States Patent 3,370,608 LIQUID HANDLING APPARATUS WITH PUMP MEANS HAVING MOUNT AND SEAL Jack R. Eisenbrand, North St. Paul, and Albert T. Braga, West St. Raul, Minn, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,033 9 Claims. (Cl. 137565) This invention relates to liquid handling apparatus and in particular to means for sealingly mounting a pump in a liquid holder wall.

In one form of liquid handling apparatus such as a dishwasher, a pump is mounted in the bottom wall of the tub such as for use in forcibly circulating the dishwashing water through the dishwashing space. It is desirable to mount such pump means in such a manner as to avoid transmission of vibration from the pump to the dishwasher tub for quiet operation of the dishwasher and for improved long life of the apparatus. Further, it is desirable to provide means for sealing the pump apparatus to the tub wall, whereby the pump may be a submersible type disposed in the sump portion of the dishwasher tub while the associated motor for driving the pump may be disposed exteriorly thereof. The present invention comprehends an improved liquid handling apparatus of this type wherein new and improved means for sealing the apparatus to the side wall of the liquid holding means are provided.

Thus, a principal feature of the invention is the provision of a new and improved liquid handling apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a liquid handling apparatus having new and improved means for sealing a pump thereof to the wall of the liquid holding means effectively minimizing vibration transmission therebetween.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a liquid handling apparatus wherein the sealing means is extremely simple and economical of construction.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a liquid handling apparatus wherein the need for fasteners and adhesives is eliminated.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such a liquid handling apparatus wherein the sealing means is arranged to be readily installed and removed when desired for facilitated installation and removal of the liquid handling apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a liquid handling apparatus including liquid holding means having a side wall defining a liquid holding space and means defining a bottom opening, liquid transfer means having a submersible pump disposed in the space and a motor for driving the pump extending downwardly through the opening, and means for sealing the liquid transfer means to the side wall including flange means on the liquid transfer means having an outer edge extending closely adjacent but spaced from the side wall, a resilient seal member having an inner gripper portion sealingly fitted on the flange edge and an outer hollow sealing portion compressed sealingly against the side wall, the seal member having outer circumferentially extending ribs frictionally engaging the side wall and developing therebetween relatively high contact pressure from relatively low stress forces developed in the hollow outer portion of the compressed seal member thereby to maintain the sealing engagement against vibration forces generated by operation of the liquid transfer means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a liquid handling apparatus embodying the invention, with portions thereof broken away for facilitating illustration of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical diametric section thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical radial section of the seal member prior to installation in the liquid handling apparatus.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a liquid handling apparatus generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a dishwashing apparatus having a tub 11 including a lower annular side wall 12 defining a sump space 13 at the bottom of the dishwashing space 14. As shown in FIGURE 1, the liquid handling apparatus 10 includes a pump 15 and a rotatable impeller 16 each driven by a suitable electric motor 17.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the pump 15 extends upwardly from a transverse mounting plate 18, and the motor 17 extends downwardly therefrom through an opening 19 in an inturned lower end 20 of the tub wall portion 12. The mounting plate includes an annular outer edge flange 21. A plurality of bosses 22 depend from flange edge portion 21 at spaced intervals for carrying suitable resilient s'pool connectors 23 adapted to engage bottom wall portion 20 in corresponding semicircular recesses 24 thereof. As shown in FIGURE 2, the spools 23 may be retained on the bosses 22 by suitable screws 25 and washers 26.

As indicated briefly above, the invention comprehends the provision in apparatus 10 of an improved means for sealing the liquid handling apparatus defined by the pump 15 and motor 17 to the side wall 12. More specifically, as shown in FIGURE 2, the sealing means comprises an annular seal member 27 having an inner gripper portion 28 sealingly fitted on the edge flange 21 of the mounting plate 18, and an annular hollow sealing portion 29 sealingly compressed against the side wall 12. The seal member 27 is formed of a resilient material, such as extruded synthetic rubber. As shown in FIGURE 4, the hollow portion 29 may be joined to the gripper portion 28 by an integral connecting portion 30. The seal member may be extruded as a continuous length element which may be cut to suitable size and formed into the annular arrangement thereof by adhesively joining the opposite ends of the cut length as at 31.

The cross-sectional shape of the seal member is best seen in FIGURE 5. As shown therein, the gripper portion 28 includes a relatively thick base section 32 having an upper inwardly extending flange 33 and a lower inwardly extending flange 34. The lower surface 33a of the upper flange 33, and the upper surface 34a of the lower flange 34 are inclined to converge inwardly with the minimum spacing between the surfaces 33a and 34a being less than the thickness of the mounting plate flange portion 21 so that when the gripper portion 28 is mounted thereon as shown in FIGURE 4 the

flanges

33 and 34 seal- 3 ingly, snugly embrace the mounting plate edge 21. The base section 32 of the gripper portion 28 is further provided with an annular, radially inwardly projecting rib 35 sealingly engaging the radially outer cylindrical surface 36 of the flange 21. For facilitated flexure of the

flanges

33 and 34 of the gripper portion 28 radially inwardly opening

annular recesses

37 and 38 may be provided in the base section 32 adjacent the

flanges

33 and 34, respectively.

The hollow outer sealing portion 29 of the seal member is provided with an outer surface 39 which is substantially circular in cross-section as shown in FIGURE 5. The interior of the sealing portion 29 is defined by an upper surface 40 which is circular in cross-section and centered on a first axis 41, and a lower surface 42 which is circular in cross-section and centered on a second axis 43 slightly above axis 41. The curvature of the

surfaces

40 and 42 may be similar, but by virtue of the displacement of the axes thereof, the upper portion 44 of the seal portion 29 is thicker than the lower portion 45 thereof. As shown in FIGURE 5, the 'outer surface 39 is centered on axis 43 and, thus, the thickness of the lower portion 45 is substantially constant throughout its length.

The interior space 46 within sealing portion 29 is vented through an opening 49 which opens downwardly through the bottom portion 45. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 4, the sealing portion 29 is readily compressible between the gripper base section 32 and the tub wall 12.

To effectively seal the sealing portion 29 to the tub wall, as a result of the relatively low stress forces developed in the sealing portion 29 by the compression thereof, a plurality of ribs 48 are provided on the outer surface 39 at lower portion 45. The ribs 48 extend circumferentially the length of the sealing portion 29 and thereby define a plurality of high pressure, line contact sealing engagements of the seal portion with the tub wall, as shown in FIGURE 4. As further shown in FIGURE 4', the compression of the sealing portion 29 effectively folds the sealing portion slightly back on itself to have engagement with the base section 32 spaced from the connecting portion 30. Thus, a unique radially outward force is generated by the compression of the sealing portion 29 I to effect a vibration-proof maintained sealing of the ribs 48 with the tub wall 12.

As the tub wall 12 becomes constricted to define the inturned flange 20 below the seal member 27, any downward movement of the assembly as by yielding of the spools 23, is resisted with increasing force by the seal member 27 as the sealing portion 29 will wedge tightly between the base section 32 and the more constricted subjacent portions of the tub wall 12. Conversely, if it is desired to removethe assembly from the apparatus 10, the seal member 27 permits ready upward displacement thereof relative to the tub wall as the sealing engagement is effected by solely mechanical means without the need for fasteners or adhesives between the seal member and the tub wall Still further, if it is desired to replace the seal member at any time, the seal member may be removed from the flange edge 21 by slight deformation of either of the

flanges

33 or 34 and subsequent axial displacement. Thus, again by virtue of the elimination of any fastening means or adhesives between the seal memher and the flange edge 21, facilitated removal and installation may be easily effected.

Further, as the seal is mounted on the pump and motor assembly, maintenance thereof is effectively facilitated as compared to the conventional constructions wherein the sealing means is mounted on the tub wall. Still fur- V ther, the seal member 27 provides an automatic self-centering of the pump and motor assembly relative to the tub wall so that equalized sealing forces may be provided along the entire circumferential length of the sealing ribs. As the seal member provides an effective positioning of the pump assembly during installation, the self-centering action may be permitted to locate the pump and motor assembly with subsequent final support of the assembly by the spools 23 being thusly permitted in the centered position. Further, if the spool mounting means should fail, the seal nevertheless maintains the assembly supported on the tub wall and effectively maintains its sealing action to prevent leakage of dishwashing liquid onto the motor at all times.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. Liquid handling apparatus comprising:

liquid holding means having a side wall defining a liquid holding space and means defining a bottom opening;

liquid transfer means having a submersible pump disposed in said space and a motor for driving said pump extending downwardly through said opening; and

means for sealing said liquid transfer means to said side wall including flange means on said liquid transfer means having an outer edge extending closely adjacent but spaced from said side wall, a resilient seal member having an inner gripper portion sealingly fitted on said flange edge and an outer hollow sealing portion compressed sealingly against said side wall, said seal member having outer circumferentially extending ribs frictionally engaging said side wall and developing therebetween relatively high contact pressure from relatively low stress forces developed in said hollow outer portion of the compressed seal member thereby to maintain the sealing engagement against vibration forces generated by operation of the liquid transfer means.

2. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow outer portion of the seal member opens downwardly.

3. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow outer portion of the seal member is provided with an opening for venting the interior of said hollow seal member portion to the ambient atmosphere through said bottom opening'of the liquid holding means.

4. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer portion of the seal member includes a bottom section and at least one rib is provided in said bottom section.

5. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side wall is provided with a constricted lower end extending below said outer portion of the seal member.

6. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side wall is provided with an inturned flange below said seal member and having an inner edge defining said bottom opening of the side wall, the diameter of said inner edge being less than the inside diameter of said seal member.

7. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow outer portion of the seal member has an upper portion and a lower portion, the thickness -of the upper portion being greater than the thickness of the lower portion.

8. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seal member includes a flexible connecting portion between said gripper portion and said hollow outer portion maintaining confronting portions of the gripper portion and the compressed hollow outer portion spaced apart.

9. The liquid handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gripper portions of the seal member is provided with an inwardly extending circumferential rib sealingly engaging said outer edge of said flange means.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited 2,965,112 12/1960 Getshell et a1. 134176 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,311 8/1966 La Flame 134-176 X Knight 277 178 377 4 0 7/122; ci lt ggtig Danner 277-208 X 5 I Husted 277 178 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. Hoilerith 137565 N. L. LEIMER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. LIQUID HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING: LIQUID HOLDING MEANS HAVING A SIDE WALL DEFINING A LIQUID HOLDING SPACE AND MEANS DEFINING A BOTTOM OPENING; LIQUID TRANSFER MEANS HAVING A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP DISPOSED IN SAID SPACE AND A MOTOR FOR DRIVING SAID PUMP EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING; AND MEANS FOR SEALING SAID LIQUID TRANSFER MEANS TO SAID SIDE WALL INCLUDING FLANGE MEANS ON SAID LIQUID TRANSFER MEANS HAVING AN OUTER END EXTENDING CLOSELY ADJACENT BUT SPACED FROM SAID SIDE WALL, A RESILIENT SEAL MEMBER HAVING AN INNER GRIPPER PORTION SEALINGLY FITTED ON SAID FLANGE EDGE AND AN OUTER HOLLOW SEALING PORTION COMPRESSED SEALINGLY AGAINST SAID SIDE WALL, SAID SEAL MEMBER HAVING OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING RIBS FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID SIDE WALL AND DEVELOPING THEREBETWEEN RELATIVELY HIGH CONTACT PRESSURE FROM RELATIVELY LOW STRESS FORCES DEVELOPED IN SAID HOLLOW OUTER PORTION OF THE COMPRESSED SEAL MEMBER THEREBY TO MAINTAIN THE SEALING ENGAGEMENT AGAINST VIBRATION FORCES GENERATED BY OPERATION OF THE LIQUID TRANSFER MEANS.