US3630373A - Pump and impeller unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A pump and impeller unit which utilizes a double vaned impeller to eliminate the need for pump shaft seals, and also utilizing simple construction of filter cartridge assembly in relation to pump body to facilitate maintenance and replacement of the filter and the unit.

Description

United States Patent Alfred E. Grazen West Hartford, Conn. 831,932

June 10, 1969 Dec. 28, 1971 Electra-Metals, lnc. East Hampton, Conn.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PUMP AND IMPELLER UNIT 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 210/232, 2l0/4l6,416/l74,4l6/236 Int. Cl 801d 35/02 Field of Search 210/416, 232-236; 416/61, 174, 236

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ll/l937 Irwine 8/1948 Schneider..

6/ 1950 Rike 3/1965 Englesberg et al Primary Examiner lohn Adee Attorney-Alan E. Steele 2l0/416X 210/416X 2l0/235X 210/416X 4 as 28 o i 38 JILL-5i PATENTED DEC28 I97! $630,373

sum 1 UF 2 lNV ENTOR HLFQEO 5 G ZEN ATTORNEY PATENTEU UEC28 um SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 5

| I I l r II INVENTOR HLFRED GRHZEN ATTORNEY PUMP AND IMPELLER UNIT This invention relates to a Pump and Impeller Unit construction which is utilized to pump fluids from a sump to another container or conduit. More specifically, a novel pump impeller construction and novel pump components utilized in pumping chemical solutions through a filter which is assembled to the pump body.

Pumps and pumping systems for handling relatively small volumes of fluid in chemical plating facilities are well known in the art and extensively used in the industry. Such pumps and systems function satisfactorily, however they have several shortcomings which my invention has overcome. It must be borne in mind that there are basically two systems for pumping these fluids, one in which the pump impeller and filter are submerged below the solution level and the other where the pump and filter are above or external to the solution. In the first case where the impeller and filter are submerged below the solution level my invention overcomes the need for shaft seals which wear out quite readily and are costly, by utilizing a double-vaned impeller. By using such an impeller the level of the solution in the pump body is kept below the connection between the motor and pump housing so as to eliminate the need for a seal around the shaft extending from the motor to the impeller. Similarly when the filter which has the fluid pumped through it becomes clogged, one is immediately made aware of this by the fluid backing up through an overflow port between the motor housing and the pump body. By proper balancing or tuning" of the vanes located on either side of the impeller one can control the level of the liquid in the pump body and also draw air in from the overflow tube to aerate the solution, if desired.

In the case where the filter and impeller are external to the solution a standard single-vaned impeller is utilized which requires a shaft seal. However my invention provides a shaft seal which floats on a motor shaft bushing which yields long seal life, self-lubrication and is constructed so that it is simple to replace. The filter and pump body are connected to each other in such a manner as to make the pump self priming. In either case there is provided a seal and lock construction for the filter chamber which is simple in construction and facilitates easy removal and replacement of filter cartridges. This construction eliminates the need for tie rods, nuts and bolts normally provided with existing systems and also provides simple positioning of exhaust ports to any desired direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide an impeller having vanes mounted on both sides of its body so as to cause the fluid it is immersed in, to flow in opposite directions.

A further object of my invention is to combine the novel features of the system components in such a manner as to provide a reliable and efficient system which can easily be maintained.

The more important features and objects of my invention have been broadly outlined above in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I, shows a submerged pump and filter system with a portion cut away from the pump body and filter, and also shows a phantom filter which can be added to the pump assembly.

FIG. 2, shows a blown up 3 dimensional view of the impeller and shaft.

FIG. 3A, is a plan view of the filter cartridge in the unlocked position.

FIG. 3B, is a plan view of the filter cartridge in the locked position.

FIG. 4, is a shaft seal arrangement utilized in the external system.

FIG. 5, shows an external pump and filter system and the method of assembly of the filter cartridge.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the referred embodiments of my invention, FIG. 1 shows the general arrangement for a submerged pump and filter system 10. A motor 12 drives a double vaned impeller 14, each of which is connected to shaft 16. The motor I2 is attached to an intermediate body 18 at one end of said intermediate body 18, and the other end of the intermediate body 18 is attached to, or can be integral with pump body 20. Attached to or integral with one side of pump body 20 is a filter chamber 22 which houses filter cartridge 24. Interconnecting the pump body 20 and filter chamber 22 is port 26. The filter cartridge 24 is secured to the filter cap 28 by means of a rod 30 which is affixed to the filter cap 28 at one end and threaded to plate 32 at the other end (FIG. 5). The filter cartridge 24 is slipped over rod 30 and then plate 32 is secured to rod 30 to complete the assembly of the filter cartridge 24 to filter cap 28. This assembly is then inserted into filter chamber 22 with the flats 34 of filter cap 28 being parallel to filter locks 36 (FIG. 3A). The assembly is then turned so that the arcuate portions of filter cap 28 engage lips 38 to lock the assembly in place. It should be noted that outlet port 40 on filter cap 28 can be positioned to any direction except perpendicular to filter locks 36. U-cup ring seal 39 mounted on filter cap 28 seals the cap against filter chamber 22. Another filter cartridge can be placed on the other side of pump body 20, shown in phantom, or can be inserted in filter chamber 22 by elongating filter chamber 22, not shown. This additional filter placed in the elongated filter chamber can be a gold filter or chemical treatment bag, as desired.

The operation of the submerged pump and filter system is as follows. The pump body 20, and filter chamber 22, are inserted in the solution to any desired level below overflow port 42 on the intermediate body 18. The solution is drawn in through intake port 44 by the action of impeller 14 and is forced into filter chamber 22 through port 26. The solution is filtered and forced, by the pressure set up by the impeller 14, through filter cartridge 24, up through the center of filter cartridge 24, and out through outlet port 40 into a flexible tube (not shown) which is attached to outlet port 40 and then conveyed to its desired destination. It should be noted that there is no seal between the motor 12 and shaft 16, which is not used in this instance because of the operation of the double-vaned impeller 14. Referring to the exploded view FIG. 2, the lower vanes 46 are formed to have a pitch so that the solution is drawn up through port 44 and thrown out be centrifugal force to enter port 26. However since there is reasonable clearance between impeller 14 and pump body 20 to the solution is also forced up past impeller 14 towards intermediate housing 18. If this were left unchecked the solution would rise until it hit motor 12 and/or go out of overflow port 42. To check this flow, upper vanes 48 on impeller 14 are formed to have a pitch which would force the solution back down towards inlet port 44. By balancing or tuning the design of the pitch of vanes 46 and 48 one can determine the level of the solution in the pump body 20 and intermediate housing 18 during the operation of the pump. In some cases it is desirable to aerate the solution as it is being pumped. This can easily be done by tuning the pitch of the vanes so that air is drawn in from the overflow port 42 and mixed with the solution. In the event the filter cartridge 24 becomes clogged, the solution will rise in the intermediate housing and flow out overflow port 42 signalling to the operator to shut down and change the filter cartridge 24.

Referring now to FIG. 5 which shows a pump and filter external system 50. It should be noted that the filter cartridge 24 and the filter assembly is the same as that described for a submerged system above. Motor 52 is mounted on motor mount 54 which can be integral with pump body 56 or inserted in pump body 56 with a U-cup ring seal for sealing it against the pump body.

The shaft 58 extending from motor 52 extends into pump body 56 and has a single-vaned impeller 60 mounted on its end. This system requires a shaft seal to seal off the solution from the motor 52, and its construction is shown in FIG. 4. The shaft 58 has a suitable shaft sleeve 62 and a rubber cartridge seal 64 which fits snugly against the shaft bushing 66. The rubber cartridge 64 also fits tightly around shoulder 68, which is an integral part of motor mount 54, so as to prevent slipping of the rubber cartridgeand leakage through a port 72. Impeller 68 now has only one set of vanes 70 formed on the lower side of the impeller which causes shaft vibration during pumping. The rubber cartridge seal 64 therefore seals off the solution from entering the motor and is flexible to take the vibrations of shaft 58 and still keep a seal, and maintain pressure in the pump body and filter chamber. The removal and replacement of rubber cartridge seal 64 is easily made by removing the impeller 60 from threaded portion of shaft 58 and removing and slipping on a new seal. In the event the seal 64 should fail, a leak port 72 communicates with the shaft bore in motor mount 54 to pass the solution from the housing and keep the solution from entering motor 52. Shaft bushing 66 and shaft sleeve 62 are firmly butted together against a retainer (not shown) when the impeller is firmly screwed onto the motor shaft.

The operation of the external system is as follows:

Solution is drawn from a sump (not shown) via a hose (not shown) to inlet port 74. Then the solution goes through internal passage 76 to the underside of impeller 60. Vanes 70 on impeller 60 are fonned so as to cause the suction to draw the solution from the sump into the pump body 56. Then, also due to the design of impeller vanes 70 and the centrifugal force, the solution enters port 78 into filter chamber 22, in through filter cartridge 24 out of port 40, as previously described in the submerged pump and filter system. Located toward the top of pump body 56 is an orifice 80 which communicates with the filter chamber for bleeding air during start up. The system is self priming by pouring a little solution into the filter chamber and starting the motor. The air in pump body 56 is bled through orifice 80 until the pump is fully primed. During operation a small amount of solution will enter orifice 80 into pump body 56 from filter chamber 22, but this will be very slight and will not affect the volume flow of solution out of port 40.

While I have described the structure and operation of pump and filter systems of the present invention in considerable detail as applied to chemical solutions for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that many of these details may be varied considerably and my invention may be utilized in ways other than handling chemical solutions without departing from the spirit and principles of my invention.

I claim:

1. A pump and filter system comprising a pump body, an inlet port in said pump body, a filter chamber interconnected to said pump body, an outlet port from said pump bodyto said filter chamber, a prime mover mounted on said pump body, a shaft attached to said prime mover and extending into said pump body, an impeller mounted on the end of the shaft in said pump body, vanes integrally connected on both sides of said impeller, a clearance between the periphery of said impeller and pump bodysaid prime mover imparting rotational movement on said impeller, means for creating a suction pressure on one side of said impeller and for creating a pressure opposing the suction pressure on the other side of said impeller.

2. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for creating the suction and opposing pressures comprise the vanes located on both sides of said impeller with the pitch of the vanes on one side being opposite to the pitch of the vanes on the other side of said impeller.

3. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 1 wherein said filter chamber houses a filter cartridge assembly comprising a cap, a threaded rod integral with said cap, a filter axially mounted over said rod, a base plate threaded on to the end of said rod thereby snugly fitting said filter against said cap and said base plate.

4. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 3 wherein said filter chamber has two locks mounted apart on its peri hery, each of said locks havin an undercut portion, said cap erng substantially circular in s ape having two flats 180 apart on its periphery which are parallel to said locks where said cartridge assembly is inserted into said filter chamber, wherein rotation of said cartridge assembly locks said assembly firmly in place by the engagement of any part of the arcuate portions of said cap engaging the undercut portions of said locks.

5. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 1 having a body portion intermediate the prime mover and said pump body, said intermediate body portion having an overflow port, the vanes on the side of the impeller closest to said overflow port having its vanes positioned to induce air into said body portion and said pump body.

Claims (5)

1. A pump and filter system comprising a pump body, an inlet port in said pump body, a filter chambEr interconnected to said pump body, an outlet port from said pump body to said filter chamber, a prime mover mounted on said pump body, a shaft attached to said prime mover and extending into said pump body, an impeller mounted on the end of the shaft in said pump body, vanes integrally connected on both sides of said impeller, a clearance between the periphery of said impeller and pump body, said prime mover imparting rotational movement on said impeller, means for creating a suction pressure on one side of said impeller and for creating a pressure opposing the suction pressure on the other side of said impeller.

2. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for creating the suction and opposing pressures comprise the vanes located on both sides of said impeller with the pitch of the vanes on one side being opposite to the pitch of the vanes on the other side of said impeller.

3. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 1 wherein said filter chamber houses a filter cartridge assembly comprising a cap, a threaded rod integral with said cap, a filter axially mounted over said rod, a base plate threaded on to the end of said rod thereby snugly fitting said filter against said cap and said base plate.

4. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 3 wherein said filter chamber has two locks mounted 180* apart on its periphery, each of said locks having an undercut portion, said cap being substantially circular in shape having two flats 180* apart on its periphery which are parallel to said locks where said cartridge assembly is inserted into said filter chamber, wherein rotation of said cartridge assembly locks said assembly firmly in place by the engagement of any part of the arcuate portions of said cap engaging the undercut portions of said locks.

5. A pump and filter system as defined in claim 1 having a body portion intermediate the prime mover and said pump body, said intermediate body portion having an overflow port, the vanes on the side of the impeller closest to said overflow port having its vanes positioned to induce air into said body portion and said pump body.

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