WO2018171878A1

WO2018171878A1 - Submersible pump

Info

Publication number: WO2018171878A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/056788
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sebastian Rieth
Original assignee: Husqvarna Ab
Priority date: 2017-03-22
Filing date: 2017-03-22
Publication date: 2018-09-27

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the pump (100). The pump (100) includes a housing member (102) having an end portion (104) and an outlet portion (110). The housing member (102) accommodates a stator (204) and a rotor (206) associated with the stator (204). The pump (100) further includes an impeller (202) disposed proximal to the end portion (104) of the housing member (102). The impeller (202) is received within the impeller housing (210) and coupled to the rotor (206). The pump (100) further includes an auxiliary pump (112) disposed on the housing member (102). The auxiliary pump (112) is adapted to draw air from the impeller housing (210). Furthermore, an exit portion (404) of the auxiliary pump (112) is different from the outlet portion (110) of the housing member (102).

Description

SUBMERSIBLE PUMP

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to a submersible pump having an auxiliary pump.

BACKGROUND

Various pumps are used for pumping water from one location, often at a lower level, to another location. Submersible pumps are adapted to operate for pumping both dirty water and clean water. The submersible pumps typically include a motor driving an impeller which generates a flow at an inlet section to an outlet section of the submersible pumps. Generally, the submersible pumps operate at a preset water level from the impeller and may be inoperable when the water level is below the preset water level. The submersible pumps are provided with a provision for filling water in an impeller housing of the submersible pumps to increase the water level and bring the water in contact with the impeller in order to make the submersible pumps operable. However, such process of filling water in the impeller housing may be a hindrance to continuous operation of the submersible pumps. Further, the process of filling water in the impeller housing may be time consuming and cumbersome.

The US Patent 5,620,309 discloses a fluid pump priming system. The fluid pump priming system includes an outlet valve, a priming pump and, an inlet check valve. The outlet valve, the priming pump and the inlet check valve are integrated into the casting of the fluid pump or may be attached separately to an already existing fluid pump. Further, upon placement of the inlet check valve in fluid, closing of the outlet valve and activation of the priming pump, positive air pressure and alternately negative air pressure are formed in the fluid pump. This action displaces air through the outlet valve and alternately draws fluid into the fluid pump from the inlet check valve. This action is repeated until the fluid pump is filled. The outlet valve is further opened and the fluid pump is activated for use. The inlet check valve retains the fluid within the fluid pump priming system regardless of whether the fluid source is depleted or the fluid pump is deactivated.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved submersible pump.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the problems discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved according to a pump. The pump includes a housing member having an end portion and an outlet portion. The housing member accommodates a stator and a rotor associated with the stator. The pump further includes an impeller housing disposed at the end portion of the housing member. An impeller is received within the impeller housing and coupled to the rotor. The pump further includes an auxiliary pump disposed on the housing member and adapted to remove air from the impeller housing. Furthermore, an exit portion of the auxiliary pump is different from the outlet portion of the housing member. The auxiliary pump is adapted to remove air from the impeller housing and replace the air in the impeller housing with liquid. The liquid is filled in the impeller housing through the vacuum generated by the operation of the auxiliary pump. Thus, there is no need to fill the liquid into the impeller housing through the outlet portion.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the exit portion of the auxiliary pump is positioned at a predefined distance from the outlet portion of the housing member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump includes an outer casing, an entry portion and the exit portion, such that the entry portion of the auxiliary pump opens towards the impeller housing. According to an aspect of the present invention, the entry portion of the auxiliary pump is fluidly coupled with the exit portion of the auxiliary pump to allow passage of air therethrough from the impeller housing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump includes a resilient member disposed within the outer casing and a plunger connected to the resilient member, such that movement of the plunger within the outer casing creates a pressure difference to remove air from the impeller housing. Since the pressure difference is created by the movement of the plunger within the outer casing, replacement of the air from the impeller housing is easy. In addition, the pump starts working when the liquid is equal to or above a preset liquid level.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump includes at least one blocking member to selectively stop and allow flow through the exit portion and the entry portion.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump is integral to the housing member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump is removably connected to the housing member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a second blocking member, and a third blocking member, are disposed at the entry portion of the auxiliary pump to stop flow of air through its entry portion, when the exit portion is open.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump is manually operated.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary pump is electrically, electro-mechanically or hydraulically operated.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pump is used for gardening application and household application.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pump includes a first non-return valve at the outlet portion and a second non-return valve at the inlet portion to arrest liquid inside the impeller housing when the pump is not working. The first non-return valve and the second non- return valve prevent the back flow or the reverse flow of the liquid through the outlet portion and the inlet portion respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pump, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the pump along axis A-A' of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a portion of the pump of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the pump along axis B-B' of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the pump along axis B-B' of FIG.

3, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pump 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pump 100 may include a positive displacement pump, including but not limited to, a submersible pump. The submersible pump may be, but not limited to, a garden implement, a household implement and an industrial implement, having gardening application, household or any other applications. The submersible pump may be a single stage pump that may be used for drainage, sewage pumping, pumping water from wells, aquarium filtering, pond filtering and aeration, pumping oil, operating cooling towers, general industrial pumping and slurry pumping. The term "pump" and "submersible pump" are interchangeably used in this disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that the term "pump" and "submersible pump" are one and the same and the term "pump" and "submersible pump" does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In an example, the submersible pump may be configured to be a "bottom suction pump". It is to be understood that the submersible pump may be configured to be a "side suction" pump or a pump of any other configuration. The pump 100 uses an impeller 202 driven by a motor centrifugally.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump 100 (also referred to as the bottom suction pump) further includes a housing member 102 enclosing components of the pump 100, such as the impeller 202. In the pump 100, the impeller 202 is coupled to a drive shaft 204 of a rotor 206 for rotation about an axis X-X' of the drive shaft 204, as shown in FIG. 2. The rotor 206 is disposed in a stator 208 and is rotated due to magnetic field produced by the stator 208. The housing member 102 includes an end portion 104 and an outlet portion 110. The term "end portion" as used in the present disclosure corresponds to "bottom end portion" of the housing member 102. An impeller housing 210 is connected to the end portion 104 of the housing member 102, and accommodates the impeller 202 such that the impeller 202 is positioned adjacent to the rotor 206 and proximal to the end portion 104 of the housing member 102.

The pump 100 further includes a base member 106 connected to the housing member 102. In the illustrated figure, the base member 106 is connected to the end portion 104 of the housing member 102 and proximal to the impeller housing 210. The base member 106 includes an inlet portion 212 for allowing liquid to be drawn from a surface "S". The surface "S" may include, but not limited to, a ground surface in a garden area, a floor in a house or industry, or an underground sump. During operation of the pump 100, the rotation of the impeller 202 causes the liquid to be drawn into the impeller housing 210 from the inlet portion 212, when the liquid is equal to or above a preset liquid level "L" from the surface "S". The drawn liquid may be expelled tangentially and horizontally within a volute chamber (not shown) in the pump 100. The expelled liquid is adapted to be directed by the volute chamber to the outlet portion 110 to which a pipe (not shown) is attached, such that the liquid is pumped upwardly through the pipe.

With reference to FIG. 2 the pump 100 includes a first non-return valve 108 at the outlet portion 110 and a second non-return valve 211 at the inlet portion 212 to arrest liquid inside the impeller housing 210 when the pump 100 is not working. The first non-return valve 108 and the second non-return valve 211 prevent the back flow or the reverse flow of the liquid through the outlet portion 110 and the inlet portion 212 respectively.

Further, with reference to FIG. 1 , the pump 100 includes an auxiliary pump 112 disposed on the housing member 102. The auxiliary pump 112 is adapted to remove air from the impeller housing 210. The liquid is filled in the impeller housing 210 through the vacuum therein that is generated when operating the auxiliary pump 112. Thus, there is no need to fill the liquid into the impeller housing 210 through the outlet portion 110. In alternative example, the auxiliary pump 112 may be disposed on the impeller housing 210. In the illustrated example, the auxiliary pump 112 is integral to the housing member 102. In such an example, the housing member 102 may have the auxiliary pump 112 in the same casting or welded to the housing member 102. In alternative example, the auxiliary pump 112 may be removably connected to the housing member 102. In such an example, the auxiliary pump 112 may be bolted to the housing member 102 or threadably connected to the housing member 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of the pump 100 of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The auxiliary pump 112 includes an outer casing 114, as shown in FIG. 1 , a resilient member 302, a spring member 304 and a plunger 306. The outer casing 114 of the auxiliary pump 112 may be in a cylindrical shape. In alternative examples, the outer casing 114 may be in a cuboidal shape or any other suitable shape known in the art. The outer casing 114 includes an upper portion 308 and a lower portion 310. The outer casing 114 encloses the resilient member 302, the spring member 304, at least one blocking member 312, referred to as a first blocking member 312 and the plunger 306.

The plunger 306 is disposed proximal to the upper portion 308 of the outer casing 114 and allows manual operation of the auxiliary pump 112. The plunger 306 may be in a shape including, but not limited to, a cylindrical shape, a cuboidal shape or any other shape known in the art, corresponding to the shape of the outer casing 114. The plunger 306 is connected to the resilient member 302. The first blocking member 312 and the spring member 304 are disposed proximal to the lower portion 310 of the outer casing 114. The first blocking member 312 may be in a shape including, but not limited to, a spherical shape, a cubical shape or any other shapes known in the art.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate sectional views of the pump 100 along an axis B-B' of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the auxiliary pump 112 further includes an entry portion 402 and an exit portion 404. The entry portion 402 of the auxiliary pump 112 opens towards the impeller housing 210, and is positioned at a predetermined distance from the exit portion 404. As such, the exit portion 404 of the auxiliary pump 112 is different from the outlet portion 110 of the housing member 102. In one embodiment, the exit portion 404 is positioned at a predefined distance from the outlet portion 110. The entry portion 402 of the auxiliary pump 112 is fluidly coupled with the exit portion 404 of the auxiliary pump 112 to allow passage of air therethrough from the impeller housing 210. The entry portion 402 allows entry of air from the impeller housing 210 to the outer casing 114 of the auxiliary pump 112. The exit portion 404 allows exit of air from the outer casing 114 of the auxiliary pump 112.

Further, the first blocking member 312 selectively stops and allows flow through the exit portion 404 and the entry portion 402. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary pump 112 is manually operated. In another embodiment, the auxiliary pump 112 is electrically, electro-mechanically or hydraulically operated to remove air from the impeller housing 210. In order to manually operate the auxiliary pump 112, the plunger 306 may be manually pressed from a first position "P1 " of the plunger 306 (shown in FIG. 5) to a second position "P2" of the plunger 306 (shown in FIG. 4) within the outer casing 114. Due to such movement of the plunger 306, the resilient member 302 is moved downwards. The movement of the plunger 306, and the resilient member 302, moves the first blocking member 312 against the spring member 304 on an orifice 406 of the exit portion 404, as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the air within the auxiliary pump 112 is expelled from the auxiliary pump 112 due to pressure difference, through the exit portion 404. A second blocking member 408, and a third blocking member 410, are disposed at the entry portion 402 to stop flow of air through the entry portion 402, when the exit portion 404 is open.

Once the pressure on the plunger 306 is removed, the resilient member 302 causes the plunger 306 to move upwardly from the second position "P2" to the first position "P1 ". Accordingly, the spring member 304 moves the first blocking member 312 on the orifice 406 of the exit portion 404, to stop the flow of air therethrough. Further, upward movement of the plunger 306 by the resilient member 302 causes movement of the second blocking member 408 and the third blocking member 410, as shown in FIG. 5. In the moved position, the second blocking member 408 and the third blocking member 410 allows air to be removed from the impeller housing 210 to the auxiliary pump 112. The first blocking member 312, the second blocking member 408 and the third blocking member 410 are configured to open and close the passage of air, according to pumping action of the plunger 306. The pumping action of the plunger 306 may be understood as movement of plunger 306 between the first position "P1 " and the second position "P2". As air is removed from the impeller housing 210, a vacuum is created in the impeller housing 210. Therefore, in effect, the pumping action of the plunger 306 draws the liquid from the surface "S" into the impeller housing 210. Such movement of the liquid causes the liquid to be equal or above the preset liquid level "L" from the surface "S". Accordingly, when the pump 100 is operated, since the liquid to be equal or above the preset liquid level "L" from the surface "S", the impeller 202 starts to draw liquid through the inlet portion 212 to the outlet portion 110.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100 Pump

102 Housing member

04 End portion

106 Base member

108 First non-return valve

1 10 Outlet portion

1 12 Auxiliary pump

1 14 Outer casing

202 Impeller

204 Drive shaft

206 Rotor

208 Stator

210 Impeller housing

21 1 Second non-return valve

212 Inlet portion

302 Resilient member

304 Spring member

306 Plunger

308 Upper portion

310 Lower portion

312 First blocking member

402 Entry portion

404 Exit portion

406 Orifice

408 Second blocking member 410 Third blocking member

L Liquid level

P1 First position

P2 Second position S Surface

Claims

1 . A pump (100) comprising:

a housing member (102) having an end portion (104) and an outlet portion (110), the housing member (102) accommodates a stator (208) and a rotor (206) associated with the stator (208);

an impeller housing (210) disposed at the end portion (104) of the housing member (102);

an impeller (202) received within the impeller housing (210) and coupled to the rotor (206); and

an auxiliary pump (112) disposed on the housing member (102) and adapted to remove air from the impeller housing (210);

characterized in that,

an exit portion (404) of the auxiliary pump (112) is different from the outlet portion (110) of the housing member (102).

2. The pump (100) of claim 1 , wherein the exit portion (404) of the auxiliary pump (112) is positioned at a predefined distance from the outlet portion (110) of the housing member (102).

3. The pump (100) of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary pump (112) includes an outer casing (114), an entry portion (402) and the exit portion (404), such that the entry portion (402) of the auxiliary pump (112) opens towards the impeller housing (210).

4. The pump (100) of claim 3, wherein the entry portion (402) of the auxiliary pump (112) is fluidly coupled with the exit portion (404) of the auxiliary pump (112) to allow passage of air therethrough from the impeller housing (210).

5. The pump (100) of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary pump (112) includes a resilient member (302) disposed within the outer casing (114) and a plunger (306) connected to the resilient member (302), such that movement of the plunger (306) within the outer casing (114) creates a pressure difference to remove air from the impeller housing (210).

6. The pump (100) of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary pump (112) includes at least one blocking member (312) to selectively stop and allow flow through the exit portion (404) and the entry portion (402).

7. The pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary pump (112) is integral to the housing member (102).

8. The pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary pump (112) is removably connected to the housing member (102).

9. The pump (100) of the claims 3 to 8, wherein a second blocking member (408), and a third blocking member (410), are disposed at the entry portion (402) to stop flow of air through the entry portion (402), when the exit portion (404) is open.

10. The pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary pump (112) is manually operated.

1 1 . The pump (100) of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the auxiliary pump (112) is electrically, electro-mechanically or hydraulically operated.

12. The pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (100) is used for gardening application and household applications.

13. The pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (100) includes a first non-return valve (108) at the outlet portion (110) and a second non-return valve (211 ) at the inlet portion (212) to arrest liquid inside the impeller housing (210) when the pump (100) is not working.