WO2019152951A1 - Modular submersible motor and pump assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A compact and modular pressure boosting system has an inline submersible motor which can be vertically oriented. The pressure boosting system can be modularly configured with a variety of submersible motors, pump designs and pump stages, inlet and outlet assemblies, and electrical integration assemblies while retaining a common housing and other associated components throughout the various configurations. This modular design allows the booster system to efficiently conform to the spatial constraints of a particular application, while retaining the low noise and low maintenance characteristics of a vertical submerged booster system.

Description

MODULAR SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application

Serial No. 62/626,555, entitled VERTICAL BOOSTER PUMP AND SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR ASSEMBLY and filed on February 5, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/725,217, entitled MODULAR SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY and filed on August 30, 2018, the entire disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a pressure boosting assembly for use in a fluid distribution system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vertical pressure boosting assembly having a submersible motor, and to a method of using the same to increase fluid pressure in the fluid distribution system.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] A fluid distribution system, such as a residential or commercial fluid distribution system, may experience pressure drops. When running a shower or a garden hose in the residential context, for example, the pressure in the fluid distribution system may drop. Over time, a dripping faucet may also cause the pressure in the fluid distribution system to drop.

[0004] C onventional systems may use booster pumps for boosting pressure in fluid distribution systems. For example, tall buildings may use a booster pump at spaced- apart locations, such as every several floors, in order to provide adequate water pressure to all floors of the building. These tail-building booster pump applications are therefore installed near living spaces and in areas with limited overhead clearance. Noise associated with conventional open-air booster pumps may draw complaints from nearby residents, and limited overhead clearance may limit options for submerged pump configurations. To the extent that submerged pumps are used, maintenance costs may be higher compared to open-air configurations.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a compact and modular pressure boosting system having an inline submersible motor which can be vertically, horizontally or angularly oriented. The pressure boosting system can be modularly configured with a variety of submersible motors, pump designs and pump stages, inlet and outlet assemblies, and electrical integration assemblies while retaining a common housing and other associated components throughout the various configurations. This modular design allows the booster system to efficiently conform to the spatial constraints of a particular application, while retaining the low noise and low maintenance characteristics of a vertical submerged booster system.

[0006] In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides a pressure boosting assembly including a housing assembly, a submersible motor and a pump. The housing assembly includes a pump housing, a motor housing; an intermediate housing disposed between the pump housing and the motor housing; a fluid inlet; and a fluid outlet. The submersible motor is disposed within the motor housing and supported by the

intermediate housing. The pump is disposed within the pump housing and supported by the intermediate housing, the pump operatively coupled to the submersible motor and configured to pump fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the submersible motor is activated.

[0007] In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a modular pressure boosting assembly kit, including a housing assembly and a universal mount plate attachable to the housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a pump housing; a motor housing, an intermediate housing disposed between the pump housing and the motor housing, a fluid inlet; and a fluid outlet. The universal mount plate includes a set of motor mount holes; a first pump mount flange formed on a first surface of the universal mount plate; and a second pump mount flange formed on a second surface of the universal mount plate opposite the first surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] Fig. l is a perspective view of a pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0010] Fig. 2 is a cross-section, elevation view of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;

[0011] Fig 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 2, illustrating an intermediate component of the housing assembly and related structures;

[0012] Fig 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the i ntermediate component of the housing assembly and related structures shown in Fig. 3;

[0013] Fig 5 is a perspective, exploded view of an electrical connection assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0014] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a first surface of a universal mount plate made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0015] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a second, opposing surface of the universal mount plate shown in Fig. 6; [0016] Fig 8 is a perspective, exploded view of an outlet port assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure, with the top cover of the pump stage removed to illustrate its internal diffuser;

[0017] Fig. 9 is an enlarged view' of a portion of the pressure boosting assembly of Fig 2, illustrating the outlet port assembly of Fig. 8 in a fully assembled configuration;

[0018] Fig. 10 is a perspective, exploded view of an inlet assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0019] Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pressure boosting assembly of Fig. 2, illustrating the inlet assembly of Fig. 10 in a fully assembl ed configuration,

[0020] Fig 12 is a perspective view of another pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0021] Fig 13 is an elevation, section view⁷ of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 12;

[0022] Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of the assembly shown in Fig. 13, illustrating an intermediate housing component thereof and associated structures;

[0023] Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 13, illustrating an outlet assembly thereof;

[0024] Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 13, illustrating an inlet assembly thereof;

[0025] Fig 17 is a perspective view of another pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 18 is an elevation, section view of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 17; [0027] Fig 19 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pressure boosti ng assembly shown in Fig. 18, illustrating an intermediate housing component thereof and associated structures;

[0028] Fig. 20 is an enlarged view of a porti on of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 18, illustrating an outlet assembly thereof;

[0029] Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pressure boosting assembly shown in Fig. 18, illustrating an inlet assembly thereof;

[0030] Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a first combination mount made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0031] Fig. 23 is a side elevation view of the combination mount shown in Fig.

22;

[0032] Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a second combination mount made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0033] Fig. 25 is a side elevation view of the combination mount shown in Fig.

J, 4;

[0034] Fig. 26 is a perspective view⁷ of a third combination mount made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0035] Fig. 27 is a side elevati on view of the combination mount shown in Fig.

26,

[0036] Fig 28 is a perspective view of a first combination mount made in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0037] Fig. 29 is a side elevation view of the combination mount plate shown in

Fig 28.

[0038] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary s embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present disclosure provides pressure boosting assembly 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is operable to increase or boost the fluid pressure in a fluid distribution system. Assembly 10 includes a generally cylindrical housing assembly 12 that is arranged along a longitudinal axis L. Housing 12 includes downstream pump housing 14 having a pump assembly 50 contained therein, an upstream motor housing 18 having a submersible motor 30 contained therein, and an intermediate housing 16 disposed between pump housing 14 and motor housing 18. As described in further detail below, intermediate housing 16 houses various components which support and functionally link motor 30 and pump assembly 50, and which are modularly adaptable to functionally link alternative pumps and motors according to the design intent for the pressure boosting assembly. In particular, universal mount plate 70 (Fig. 3) supports and locates both motor 30 and pump assembly 50, and is modularly adaptable for use with a variety of motor/pump combinations as required for desired for a particular application.

[0040] As best seen in Fig. 2, submersible pump assembly 50 is a multi-stage pump design including a plurality of pump stages 52, such as fi ve pump stages 52 as illustrated. As further described below, the number of pump stages 52 may be modularly configured according to the desired performance characteristics of pump assembly 50, and pump housing 14 may be sized accordingly. Each pump stage 52 includes a pump stage housing 53, as best seen in Fig. 3, which receives and rotatably supports an impeller 54 within the hollow cavity of housing 53. Above (i.e., downstream of) impeller 54 is a diffuser 56. Impeller 54 is rotatably fixed to pump drive shaft 58 such that when drive shaft 58 rotates, impeller 54 also rotates and accelerates fluid outwardly through a plurality of fluid channels. The resulting pressurized fluid is diverted radially inwardly via similar fluid channels formed in diffuser 56 (see, e.g., Fig. 8) to create pressure within housing 53. This pressurized fluid is efficiently redirected into the next pump stage by- fluid channels formed in diffuser 56. Further pressurization is performed in the next downstream pump stage 52, and so on through the various pump stages 52 until a final pressurized fluid flows downstream from the diffuser 56 of the furthest downstream pump stage 52. Additional details of one exemplary multi-stage pump design which may be used in conjunction with pressure boosting assembly 10 can be found in U.S.

Application Serial No. 15/051,392, filed February 23, 2016, entitled SUBMERSIBLE PUMP THRUST SURFACE ARRANGEMENT, and co-owned with the present application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] Pump assembly 50 is supported at its lower (i.e., upstream) end by universal mount plate 70, as best shown in Fig. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, mount plate 70 includes a pump mount flange 97 (also shown in Fig. 6) which is sized and configured to nest with a correspondingly formed shoulder at a lower end of the housing 53 of the upstream-most pump stage 52 In this way, mount plate 70 centers and locates pump assembly 50 within the interior cavity of pump housing 14, such that the axis of rotation defined by pump shaft 58 and impellers 54 is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis L of housing assembly 12 (Fig. 4).

[0042] If the surface of universal mount plate 70 including flange 97 is considered to be a“top” surface in the frame of reference of Figs. 2 and 3, the opposing “bottom” surface includes motor mount flange 94 (also shown in Fig. 7) which is sized and configured to nest with a motor mounting surface associated with submersible motor 30 Referring still to Fig. 3, this motor mounting surface may be a shoulder formed on motor spacer 80, which in turn mounts to an upstream motor spacer 78 which bolts to the mounting surface of submersible motor 30 itself. In the case of motor 30 shown in Fig. 3, long motor mount bolts 33 pass through apertures formed in motor spacer 78 and through the longitudinal extent of auxiliary motor spacer 80, and are threadably recei ved within motor mount holes 92 formed in mount plate 70 (Figs. 6 and 7). As described further below, a different arrangement may be used for alternative motor designs, while still employing the same universal mount plate 70 and motor mount holes 92. Mount plate 70 also includes lifter holes 192, which are threaded and sized to removably receive lifting eyelets for installation or removal of motor 30 from housing assembly 12. [0043] Universal mount plate 70 further includes exterior flange 90 (Figs. 6 and

7) sized to be received between a downstream axial end surface of intermediate housing 16 and corresponding upstream shoulder formed as a part of pump housing 14. In the illustrative embodiment of Fig 3, pump housing 14 includes flange component 15 welded to its upstream end to provide this shoulder, though other designs, such as a monolithically formed housing 14 which includes the shoulder, may be used. When housing components 14, 16 and 18 are fixed to one another (e.g., by bolts 19 as further described below), exterior flange 90 is captured between flange component 15 and intermediate housing 16, such that universal mount plate 70 is fixed at the designated position within housing assembly 12. Universal mount plate 70 is a single component which supports both submersible pump assembly 50 and motor 30 within housing assembly 12, while also radially and axially fixing pump assembly 50 and motor 30 at the desired location and orientation.

[0044] An alternative set of mounts 370A-370D are shown in Figs. 22-29, which are one-piece structures that can be used in place of universal mount plate 70 and motor spacers 78 and/or 80. Structures of mounts 370A-370D have reference numbers which correspond to similar or identical structures of mount plate 70, spacer 78 or spacer 80, except with 300 added thereto and an“A,”“B,”“C” or“D” appended thereto as further described below. Mounts 370A-370D may be used interchangeably with mount plate 70 and motor mounts 78, 80 in the pump assemblies described herein.

[0045] In particular, each mount 370A-370D includes an exterior flange 390A-

390D, respectively, which is sized to be received between intermediate housing 16 and pump housing 14 in the same manner as shown in, e.g., Figs. 3, 14 and 19 with respect to universal mount plate 70. That is, exterior flanges 390A-390D are respectively captured between flange component 15 and intermediate housing 16 to fix mounts 370A-370D at the designated position within housing assembly 12. Mounts 370A-370D also include cutouts 393 A-393D arranged about their respective peripheries, which reduce the overall weight in a similar fashion to cutouts 93 discussed herein with respect to mount plate 70. [0046] However, unlike mount plate 70 which is adapted for use with a variety of pump/motor combinations, each mount 370A, 370B, 37QC and 370D is adapted for one particular motor interface and one or two pump interfaces, as described below'. In addition, each mount 370A, 370B, 370C and 370D combines the functions of mount plate 70 and motor spacers 78, 80 into a single, monolithically formed, one-piece component, as also described below.

[0047] Turning now to Figs. 23 and 24, combination mount 370 A includes flange

397A at one end surface thereof, which is sized and configured to nest with a

correspondingly formed shoulder at a lower end of the housing 53 of the upstream-most pump stage 52 as shown in Fig. 3 with respect to flange 97 of mount plate 70. In this way, combination mount 370 A centers and locates pump assembly 50 in the same manner as mount plate 70. Extending downwardly from and away from flange 397A are a series of motor spacers 378A which are cast as part of combination mount 370A and which provide an appropriate axial space for flow of fluid around spacers 378A and through aperture 398A as described herein with respect to mount plate 70 and motor spacers 78, 80. Motor spacers 378A terminate at a motor mount flange 395 A, which includes motor mount holes 392 A (Fig. 22) adapted to attach to reduced-capacity motor 230, in the manner as spacer 78 described with respect to assembly 210 shown in Figs. 18-21. Thus, combination mount 370A is configured for use with a medium-capacity pump such as pump 50, and a reduced-capacity motor such as motor 230.

[0048] Combination mounts 370B, 370C and 370D function similarly to combination mount 370A, except each mount 370B, 370C and 370D is directed to a different motor/pump arrangement. Turning to Figs. 24 and 25, for example, motor mount 395B and motor spacers 378B are the same as mount 395 A and spacers 378A described above and are therefore configured for use with motor 230 However, the upper portion of mount 370B includes flange 396B which, like flange 96 shown in Fig.

14 and described herein, is configured to seat and center high-capacity pump assembly 150 In addition, the upper surface of mount 370B includes flange 394B which, like flange 94 shown in Figs. 17-19 and described herein, is configured to seat and center reduced-capacity pump assembly 250. Therefore, mount 370B is configured for use with reduced-capacity motor 230 and either high-capacity pump 150 or reduced-capacity pump 250.

[0049] Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate combination mount 3 TOC, which includes upper pump-mounting features that are the same as mount 370B described above. That is, mount 370C includes both flange 394C and 396C, which are configured to receive reduced-capacity pump 250 and high-capacity pump 150 respectively in the same manner as flanges 394B and 396B. However, motor spacers 378C and motor mount 395C are larger than spacers 378 A, 378B, and mounts 395A, 395B to accommodate the larger interface associated with motor 30. In addition, the size and configuration of motor mount holes 392C is adapted to interface directly with the bolt patter of motor 30.

Therefore, combination mount 370C is configured for use with higher-capacity motor 30 and either high-capacity pump 150 or reduced-capacity pump 250.

[0050] Figs. 28 and 29 show combination mount 370D, which combines flange

397D, designed to interface with pump 50 in the same manner as flange 397A of mount 370A, and motor mount 395D, designed to interface with motor 30 in the same manner as mount 370C. Therefore, combination mount 370D is configured for use with higher- capacity motor 30 and medium-capacity pump 50.

[0051] In this way, combination mounts 370A, 370B, 370C and 370D may be used selectively to implement any combination of motors 30, 230 and pumps 50, 150,

250 in connection with the other system components described herein. The use of mounts 370A-370D accomplishes the same basic modular system design that is possible with a assemblies including mount plate 70, spacer 78 and/or spacer 80, but with dedicated monolithic components which are interchangeable with the assemblies.

Mounts 370A-370D may reduce overall cost where production volumes are high enough to amortize the tooling required to produce and inventory the four dedicated mounts 370A-370D rather than the three modular components used in the corresponding assemblies.

[0052] Referring again to Fig. 3, coupler 72 is provided at the junction between output shaft 32 of motor 30 and pump shaft 58 within intermediate housing 16. Coupler 72 transmits torque and rotation between the shafts of motor 30 and pump 50 such that rotation from motor 30 drives pump assembly 50. In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, a pump-mounting portion of coupler 72 receives pump shaft 58 and is directly rotatably fixed thereto by key 59. Retainer plate 82 may be bolted to the upstream end of shaft 58, allowing coupler 72 to be axially retained upon shaft 58 under the force of gravity prior to installation of output shaft 32. Output shaft 32, when received within the lower cavity defined by the motor-mounting portion of coupler 72, is also rotatably fixed to coupler 72. In the illustrated embodiment, this rotatable fixation is via motor shaft adapter 74, which is rotatably fixed to motor shaft 32 via splines (as shown in Fig. 4) and also rotatably fixed to coupler 72 (e.g., by a key, set screws, welding, or any other suitable method). As described further below, motor shaft adapter 74 allows coupler 72 to be used with different submersible motors interchangeably.

[0053] Referring again to Fig. 2, pressure boosting assembly 10 includes inlet assembly 20 configured to receive fluid from an external pipe or other source via inlet fluid channel 24, where such fluid is admitted to the interior of housing assembly 12. As fluid flows downstream (i.e., upwardly in the context of Fig. 2), it is allowed to circulate around the exterior of submersible motor 30, through intermediate housing 16, and toward outlet assembly 40 under the fluid-driving influence of pump assembly 50 Pressurized fluid is conveyed via outlet fluid channel 68 to an external fluid discharge, such as a pipe or other fluid conveyance. In one application, for example, pressure boosting assembly 10 receives an inlet flow_' through inlet fluid channel 24 at a relatively low pressure, and provides a high pressure flow at outlet channel 68 which is sufficient to provide pressurized fluid to end users physically above pressure boosting assembly 10, such as on the floors of a building located above a mechanical room where pressure boosting assembly 10 is installed. In one particular embodiment, pressure boosting assembly 10 is vertically oriented within such a mechanical room and used to provide pressurized water to multiple floors, such as up to thirteen floors of a multistory building. However, it is also contemplated that pressure boosting assembly 10 can be oriented horizontally, or at any angle between vertical and horizontal. [0054] Inlet assembly 20 is shown in detail in Figs 10 and 11. Inlet assembly 20 includes inlet base 21, which in the illustrated embodiment is a cast metal part which provides a footer for supporting pressure boosting assembly 10 in a vertical

configuration. Base 21 defines a fluid channel which gradually and efficiently redirects the incoming fluid flow from a generally horizonal path along pipe axis P (Fig 10) to a generally vertical path along longitudinal axis L.

[0055] At the inlet end of base 21 , inlet fluid port 22 is coupled by bolts 23 to a corresponding machined flange formed on inlet base 21. As described in further detail below, inlet fluid port 22 may be chosen based on its minimum cross-sectional area along its flow path, which in turn influences the fluid mechanics and performance

characteristics of pressure boosting assembly 10. At an upstream end of fluid port 22, inlet connection flange 26 is coupled to port 22 via a split retaining ring 25, and provides an attachment interface with an appropriate set of bolt holes designed to couple an inlet pipe (not shown) to inlet assembly 20. As described in detail below, inlet connection flange 26 may be chosen from among a collection of potential flanges to modularly accommodate the geometry of existing or desired fluid supply infrastructure.

[0056] At the outlet end of base 21, an upstream motor support ring 88 may be captured between base 21 and a flange component 17 welded or otherwise affixed to the upstream (lower) end of motor housing 18. Motor support ring 88 may provide radial support to motor 30 near its upstream end, thereby preventing undue stresses at the interface between motor 30 and mount plate 70 if pressure boosting assembly 10 is laid on its side during transport or operation. As best seen in Fig. 10, upstream motor support ring 88 includes a series of flow apertures 89 disposed around the periphery thereof to admit fluid flow from base 21 into housing 18.

[0057] Outlet assembly 40 is shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. Outlet assembly 40 is generally similar in construction to inlet assembly 20, except outlet assembly 40 is constructed for high pressure fluid discharge along a substantially linear path coaxial with longitudinal axis L (Fig. 8). [0058] Outlet base 64 is fixed to the downstream (upper) end of pump housing 14 via mounting bolts 69 received in flange component 17, as best seen in Fig. 1. Outlet base 64 includes flange 85 (Fig. 9) which is configured and positioned to engage a correspondingly formed shoulder of pump retainer ring 86. When bolts 69 are tightened, flange 85 exerts downward pressure on retainer ring 86, which in turn exerts a compression force which propagates through housings 53 of the respective pump stages 52 of submersible pump assembly 50. In this way, submersible pump 50 is axially and radially constrained between retainer ring 86 at its downstream end and by universal mount plate 70 at its upstream end (as shown in Fig. 3 as described above). As further described below, retainer ring 86 or an alternative retainer ring component may be used in conjunction with universal mount plate 70 to accommodate a variety of submersible pump designs and having varying nominal pump capacities, all within a common design of pump housing 14 and associated components.

[0059] Outlet fluid port 66 is bolted to outlet base 64 by mounting bolts 63, as best illustrated in Fig. 8. Outlet fluid port 66 may be identical to inlet fluid port 22 (Figs. 10 and 1 1) or may have a unique configuration according to the desired pressure, flow rate or other flow characteristics in view of a particular combination of submersible motor 30 and pump assembly 50. Similar to inlet fluid port 22 described above, outlet fluid port 66 includes outlet connection flange 67 connected via retaining ring 65.

Connection flange 67 may be chosen to mate with downstream fluid conveyance infrastructure in a similar manner to connection flange 26 described above.

[0060] As best seen in Fig. 8, outlet base 64 includes a central boss 43 disposed in the fluid flow path and connected to the rest of the structure by webs. Boss 43 is sized and positioned to receive upper hub assembly 41 as shown in Fig. 9, which is configured to support and cushion the downstream portion of pump assembly 50 In particular, hub 41 includes up-thrust bearing 42 which provides a rotatable interface between upstream bearing retainer 46 and the adjacent downstream bearing surface of boss 43. In the illustrative embodiment of Fig 9, bearing retainer 46 is held axially in place by a shoulder formed on adapter sleeve 48. Shaft-end bearing 44, is disposed within a bore of boss 43 and radially constrained in that location, and provides a rotatable interface between sleeve 48 and boss 43, as illustrated A downstream bearing retainer 47 bears against the inner race of bearing 44 and provides a bearing surface for the head of retainer bolt 49. Together, up-thrust bearing 42 and shaft-end bearing 44 support and cushion pump assembly 50 and facilitate smooth and durable rotation of pump shaft 58 with respect the stationary boss 43, while preventing axial or radial displacement or vibration in pump shaft 58. As further described below, various pump shaft diameters and/or geometries may be accommodated by boss 43, bearings 42, 44 and the other structures of hub assembly 41 by modifying, or eliminating, adapter sleeve 48

[0061] Turning now to Figs. 2-5, electrical connection assembly 34 may be connected to intermediate housing 16 and configured to convey power leads 36 (Fig. 2) to motor 30 via lead aperture 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) formed in the sidewall of intermediate housing 16. In an exemplary embodiment, electrical connection assembly 34 includes a hollow extension housing 60 that projects from and is removably coupled to intermediate body 16 of housing 12, e.g., by bolts 37 shown in Fig. 4. Extension housing 60 has a hollow interior void which communicates with lead aperture 35 in intermediate body 16, as best seen in Fig 3. This void is sized to hold packing 38 and compression plates 39 around electrical leads 36. Upon installation and with leads 36 present in the cavity of housing 60, a first compression plate 39 is installed adjacent to lead aperture 35, then packing 38 is installed, and finally a second packing plate is installed to“sandwich” packing 38. Pressure cap 62 is then attached to extension housing 60 (e.g., with bolts as shown) and tightened to apply pressure to the compression plates 39 and packing 38, which compresses packing 38 to create a fluid-tight seal. If leads 36 and/or motor 30 need to be subsequently accessed for service or inspection, pressure cap 62 and housing 60 may be removed to allow access to, and removal of, compression plates 39 and packing 38.

[0062] In operation, fluid is drawn from a fluid source and pumped via inlet assembly 20 to the interior cavity of housing assembly 12, where the fluid flows vertically upward through housing assembly 12 and around submersible motor 30. This pumping operation is driven by the staged impellers 54 of pump assembly 50, as noted above. Fluid flows from motor housing 18 to pump housing 14 via intermediate housing 16, and in particular, through main flow port 98 of universal mount plate 70, as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. Flow port 98 is a central aperture formed through plate 70, and is radially interior of the arrangement of motor mount holes 92 (Fig. 6) and positioned to directly discharge fluid to the inlet of the first pump stage 52 of pump 50, as shown in Fig. 3. Mount plate 70 also includes a set of cutouts 93 (Fig. 6) arranged about the periphery of mount plate 70, radially outward from main flow port 98 but radially inward of exterior flange 90, which reduce the overall weight and material of mount plate. Webs 91 link the radially outward structures, including flanges 90 and 96, from the radially inward structures, including flanges 94 and 97, thereby maintaining all structures of universal mount plate 70 together in a single monolithically formed unit made from a solid piece of material

[0063] The submersible nature of motor 30 facilitates quiet operation of pressure boosting assembly 10, thereby facilitating the use of pressure boosting assembly 10 in areas where quiet operation is required or desired, such as in residential multistory buildings. At the same time, the axially compact nature and modular configurability of pressure boosting assembly 10 (as further described below) facilitates the use of pressure boosting assembly 10 in a vertical orientation, thereby allowing coaxiality of submersible motor 30, multi-stage pump 50, and outlet assembly 40. The direct coupling of motor 30 to pump 50 via coupler 72 is axially compact, which allows for the use of pressure boosting assembly 10 in confined vertical spaces, such as mechanical rooms in multistory buildings, while retaining the longevity characteristics associated with vertical operation and providing appropriate discharge pressure for typical commercial and residential applications. Motor 30 is disposed directly within the existing flow path between inlet channel 24 and outlet channel 68, thereby allowing for cooling of submersible motor 30 by the existing flow of fluid through housing assembly 12. In this way, fluid need not be diverted from the flow path between inlet 24 and outlet 68 for cooling purposes, thereby simplifying the design of pressure boosting assembly 10.

[0064] As noted above, pressure boosting assembly 10 is amendable to modular configuration and/or reconfiguration according to the requirements of a particular application. In particular and as further detailed below, a pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure may have any of a number of different motor configurations, pump configurations, inlet and outlet configurations, electrical integration, and spatial integration.

[0065] For example, Figs. 12-16 illustrate pressure boosting assembly 1 10 and its various components, in which a high-capacity pump assembly 150 (Fig. 13) and associated structures are mated with submersible motor 30 having a high nominal power rating such that assembly 1 10 is capable of providing high nominal flow rates and pressures. These high nominal flow rates, in particular, are greater than those afforded by a combination of submersible motor 30 and pump assembly 50, because pump assembly 50 is a medium-capacity design with a lower nominal flow rate as compared to pump assembly 150. Conversely, Figs. 17-21 illustrate a reduced capacity pressure boosting assembly 210 and its various components, in which a reduced capacity motor 230 has a lower nominal power rating as compared to motor 30, and a reduced capacity pump assembly 250 also has a low^?er nominal flow_' rate capacity. In the configuration of pressure boosting assembly 210, lower nominal flow_' rates and/or pressures may be provided compared to the larger submersible motor 30 and medium-capacity pump 50 of assembly 10.

[0066] Moreover, a pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure may be modularly configured with various motors, pump stage designs, numbers of pump stages in a pump assembly, and other variables in any combination or permutation. These various configurations can be chosen to provide particular performance characteristics, such as fluid flow' rates and pressures, overall assembly height and spatial configuration, and other characteristics as required or desired for a particular application. Nevertheless, these various configurations share many common parts and are therefore can be produced efficiently and with a minimum of overhead. By way of illustrating the modular configurability of a pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure, these high-capacity and reduced-capacity configurations will be described below in turn.

[0067] Figs. 12 and 13 show pressure boosting assembly 1 10, which is substantially similar to assembly 10 described above, and reference numerals of assembly 110 are analogous to the reference numerals used in assembly 10, except with 100 added thereto. Elements of assembly 110 correspond to similar elements denoted by

corresponding reference numerals of assembly 10, except as otherwise described herein.

[0068] However, assembly 110 is configured for higher fluid throughput than assembly 10. Although assembly 1 10 may use the same submersible motor 30 as assembly 10 (as shown in Figs. 13 and 2, respectively), assembly 110 includes high- capacity pump assembly 150. For example, pressure boosting assembly 10 having medium-capacity pump assembly 50 may be rated to deliver between 15 and 20 cubic meters per hour through outlet fluid port 66, while pressure boosting assembly 1 10 may be rated to deliver between 30 and 45 cubic meters per hour or more.

[0069] Further, the number of stages 152 provided in submersible pump 150 may be tailored to support the performance characteristics required for a particular application, such as the pressure head deliverable by pressure boosting assembly 110. In the illustrative embodiment of Fig 13, pump assembly 150 has three pump stages 152, which occupy the different vertical (i.e., axial) space as compared to the five pump stages 52 used in submersible pump 50 (Fig. 2). Therefore, assembly 110 utilizes a modified housing assembly 112 in which pump housing 114 has a different overall length as compared to housing 14 of housing assembly 10. In all other respects, however, assemblies 10 and 110 are the same, including a common motor housing 18 (because motor 30 is used in both assemblies) and a common intermediate housing 16.

[0070] Turning to Fig. 14, pump shaft 158 has a larger diameter in order to support the larger torsional loads placed upon it by high-capacity pump assembly 150. Therefore, an alternative coupler 172 is provided to include a pump-mounting portion configured to receive the larger pump shaft 158 as shown. The motor-mounting portion of coupler 172 is otherwise the same as provided in coupler 72 (Fig. 3), and it

accommodates the same motor adapter 74 and retainer plate 82 as described in detail above. The other elements of integration for submersible motor 30 with pressure boosting assembly 110 are also the same between the medium-throughput design of pressure boosting assembly 10 and the high-throughput design of the pressure boosting assembly 110, including motor spacer 78, auxiliary motor spacer 80, and other motor integration components as described in detail above.

[0071] Referring still to Fig. 14, universal mount plate 70 is again used in pressure boosting assembly 110, except that it is inverted with respect to the orientation employed in pressure boosting assembly 10 (Fig. 3). Therefore, pump mount flange 97 is repurposed as a centering flange for spacer 80, as shown. Motor mount flange 94 no longer provides vertical support for any structure, while high-capacity pump mount flange 96 engages housing 153 of the upstream-most pump stage 152. In this way, universal mount plate 70 is configured for use interchangeably for either of pressure boosting assemblies 10, 110.

[0072] Turning now to Fig. 15, outlet assembly 140 is also modified as compared to outlet assembly 40 to accommodate submersible pump 150 and its associated higher fluid flow volumes for a given fluid pressure. For example, outlet fluid port 166 defines outlet fluid channel 168 having a larger outlet area as compared to channel 68 of port 66 (Fig. 9). Outlet connection flange 167 may also be configured for high-volume downstream connections to external fluid discharge piping or other infrastructure.

Advantageously, outlet fluid port 166 removably attaches to outlet base 64 in the same manner as outlet fluid port 66, such that fluid ports 66 and 166 are modu!arly

interchangeable with one another to accommodate a desired nominal flow rate for a given fluid pressure, or vice versa.

[0073] In addition, upper hub 141 is modified as compared to hub 41 (Fig. 9) in order to accommodate the large diameter of pump shaft 158. In particular, upper hub 141 eliminates adapter sleeve 48 used in hub 41, while retaining the remainder of the components in an unmodified form. Advantageously, this configuration allows for modular use of the components of hub 41 in hub 141, including mounting boss 43 of base 64, bearings 42 and 44, bearing retainers 46 and 47, and retainer bolt 49

[0074] Referring still to Fig. 15, the downstrea -most pump stage 152 interfaces with and is axially constrained by outlet base 64 in substantially the same manner as the downstream -most pump stage 52 of assembly 10 (Fig. 9). However, assembly 110 does not utilize pump retainer ring 86, instead interfacing directly with outlet base 64 via a stamped sheet metal component 186 of housing as shown in Fig. 15. The interface between the downstream-most pump stage 152 and outlet base 64 centers and compresses pump assembly 150 directly, while pump retainer ring 86 centers and compresses the smaller pump assemblies 50, 250 in conjunction with outlet base 64 as described herein.

[0075] Inlet assembly 120 of high-capacity pressure boosting assembly 110, as best shown in Fig. 16, is also modified as compared to inlet assembly 20 (Fig. 1 1) to accommodate the higher fluid throughput associated with high-capacity pump assembly 150. Like outlet assembly 140 discussed above, inlet assembly 120 includes inlet fluid port 122 defining inlet fluid channel 124 with a larger cross-sectional area and an associated larger nominal flow rate for a given fluid pressure. Inlet connection flange 126 is also modified as compared to connection flange 26 to accommodate larger capacity external fluid supplies. Advantageously, high-capacity inlet fluid port 122 is removably attached to the same inlet base 21 used for inlet fluid port 22, such that fluid ports 22, 122 are interchangeably attachable to either of pressure boosting assemblies 10,

1 10 as needed for any desired combination of submersible pump and submersible motor.

[0076] Thus, a small number of components can be interchanged to create either of pressure boosting assemblies 10, 110 while retaining a large number of unmodified shared components. In one application, this modular construction may provide for a modular pressure boosting assembly kit having various motor and pump combinations, which can accommodate the spatial integration requirements for several unique combinations while also providing the requisite inlet and outlet geometry. Such as kit may include various motors, pump assemblies, inlets and outlets which can be combined to create a pressure boosting assembly designed to meet the particular needs of any given application

[0077] In addition to the medium-capacity configuration of pressure boosting assembly 10 and the high-capacity configuration of pressure boosting assembly 1 10,

Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate pressure boosting assembly 210 having a reduced capacity as compared to either of assemblies 10, 110. Assembly 210 is substantially similar to assembly 10 described above, with reference numerals of assembly 210 anal ogous to the reference numerals used in assembly 10, except with 200 added thereto. Elements of assembly 210 correspond to similar elements denoted by corresponding reference numerals of assembly 10, except as otherwise described herein.

[0078] As best seen in Fig. 18, assembly 210 includes a reduced capacity submersible motor 230 which has nominal power rating lower than the corresponding power rating of submersible motor 30 (Figs. 2 and 13). For example, submersible motor 230 may have a nominal motor frame size of 4 inches, providing a nominal power rating up to 7.5 horsepower or 15 horsepower in certain applications. By contrast, submersible motor 30 may have a nominal frame size of 6 inches, and may provide a nominal power rating of at least 5 horsepower or 10 horsepower, and up to 22 horsepower or 60 horsepower, for example. Stated another way, submersible motor 230 may have a nominal power rating between 1.5 kilowatts and 5.5 kilowatts in certain exemplary embodiments, while submersible motor 30 may have nominal power ratings between 7.5 kilowatts and 22 kilowatts.

[0079] Pressure boosting assembly 210 also includes a reduced capacity multi- stage pump assembly 250, as best seen in Fig. 18. Pump assembly 250 includes physically smaller pump stages 252, with seven pump stages 252 provided in the illustrated embodiment. Pump assembly 250 and motor 230 combine to provide an overall fluid output lower than the output of pressure boosting assemblies 10, 110 described above for a given outlet pressure. For example, pressure boosting assembly 210 may be rated to deliver 10 or fewer cubic meters of fluid per hour through outlet fluid port 66, as compared to the 15-20 cubic meters per hour for assembly 10 and at least 50 cubic meters per hour for assembly 110 (as noted above).

[0080] Housing assembly 212 may be adapted to accommodate the different physical sizes of motor 230 and pump assembly 250 as compared to the structures used in connection with housing assembly 12. For example, pump housing 214 may be shortened as compared to pump housing 14, and motor housing 218 may also be shortened. This can result in an overall reduced height of pressure boosting assembly 210. Moreover, the axial length of pump housing 214 and motor housing 218 can be set at any desired nominal value to accommodate any desired overall assembly height while retaining adequate space for the particular combi nation of pump and motor chosen for a particular application.

[0081] Turning to Fig. 19, coupler 272 has a pump mounting portion sized to accommodate the reduced diameter of pump shaft 258 associated with reduced capacity pump assembly 250. The motor mounting portion of coupler 272 may have the same nominal diameter as the motor mounting portions of coupl ers 72, 172, with the reduced diameter of motor shaft 232 being accommodated by a thicker motor shaft adapter 274 This allows coupler 272 to be utilized with either of motors 30, 230 by changing only the motor shaft adapter between adapters 74 (Fig. 3) and 274, respectively. Therefore, either of motors 30, 230 may be modularly configured to drive the reduced capacity pump assembly 250, as required or desired for a particular application. Similarly, motor shaft adapters 74, 274 may be used to modularly configure either of motors 30, 230 to drive pump assembly 50 using coupler 72, or pump assembly 150 using coupler 172.

[0082] Fig. 20 illustrates the use of the same outlet assembly 40 in connection with pressure boosting assembly 210 as is used for pressure boosting assembly 10 (Fig. 9). Alternatively, any nominal size outlet fluid port may replace outlet fluid port 66, and any configuration and size used for an outlet connection plan may replace connection flange 67. Similarly, inlet assembly 20 (Fig. 21) is also used in connection with both of pressure boosting assemblies 10 and 210, though any nominal size may be chosen.

[0083] Upper hub 241 is modified as compared to hubs 41, 141 (Figs. 9 and 15, respectively), in that adapter sleeve 248 has a thicker cylindrical wall as compared to adapter sleeve 48, (Fig. 9). This accommodates the reduced diameter of pump shaft 258 as compared to pump shaft 58, while allowing the interchangeable use of the other components from upper hub 41, including bearings 42, 44, bearing retainers 46, 47, mounting boss 43 and its associated outlet base 64 and retainer bolt 49.

[0084] Turning to Fig. 21, inlet base 21 is used in connection with pressure boosting assembly 210 in the same manner in which base 21 is used for assembly 10. However, a modified upstream motor support ring 288 is captured between base 21 and motor housing 218. As compared to support ring 88 shown in Fig 1 1, support ring 288 has a smaller inner diameter to accommodate the smaller housing diameter of reduced- capacity motor 230.

[0085] Electrical connection assembly 234 may also be modified as compared to connection assembly 34 in order to accommodate differing electrical leads used for motor 230 as compared to those used for motor 30. In particular, as shown in Fig. 19, electrical connection assembly 234 may include the same extension housing 60, pressure cap 62 and bolts 61 , but may have packing 238 and compression plates 239 which are modified as compared to packing 38 and compression plates 39 in order to accommodate a different wire geometry and/or configuration. Moreover, packing 38 and compression plates 39 may be modified in any desired way to accommodate any desired electrical cable configuration, and may then be applied to any configuration of pressure boosting assembly.

[0086] In addition to the modular interchangeability of various components to create a pressure boosting assembly having a desired motor and pump combination with desired performance characteristics, pressure boosting assemblies 10, 110 and 210 may all be modular!y configured to accommodate the spatial constraints which may be present at an installation site. In particular, the four bolts 28 (Figs. 1, 12 and 17) which connect base 21 to the adjacent motor housing 18, 1 18 or 218 may be arranged around a bolt circle that is substantially coaxial with longitudinal axis L (Fig. 4) of the overall assembly. This circular arrangement and coaxiality allows modification of the orientation of inlet 20 or 120 relative to the other components of assemblies 10, 110 or 210 may be in 90-degree increments. Similarly, a larger number of bolts 28 may be provided to reduce the angular increment of adjustment, e.g , six bolts facilitates 60- degree increments, eight bolts facilitates 45-degree increments, and so on. Similarly, bolts 19 may be arranged around a similarly coaxial bolt circle such that electrical connection assemblies 34, 234 may also be angularly oriented with respect to the rest of assemblies 10, 110 or 210. This allows the electrical and mechanical integration of assemblies 10, 110 and 210 to be spatially oriented in a variety of combinations and permutations to accommodate existing electrical and mechanical infrastructure at a sendee or installation site. [0087] Additional details regarding the structure and operation of a pressure boosting assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure, including pressure boosting assemblies, 10, 110 and 210, may be found in U.S. Patent Application

Publication No. 2015/0159657, filed December 10, 2013 and entitled“IN-LINE

PRESSURE BOOSTING SYSTEM AND METHOD,” the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0088] While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and wiiich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pressure boosting assembly comprising:

a housing assembly including:

a pump housing;

a motor housing;

an intermediate housing disposed between the pump housing and the motor housing;

a fluid inlet; and

a fluid outlet;

a submersible motor disposed within the motor housing and supported by the intermediate housing; and

a pump disposed within the pump housing and supported by the intermediate housing, the pump operatively coupled to the submersible motor and configured to pump fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the submersible motor is activated

2. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a universal mount plate comprising:

a plurality of motor mount holes configured to couple to the submersible motor; an exterior flange disposed about an exterior periphery of the universal mount plate and fixed to the housing assembly;

a motor mount flange formed on a first surface of the universal mount plate, the motor mount flange sized and configured to nest with a motor mounting surface associated with the submersible motor; and

a pump mount flange formed on a second surface of the universal mount plate opposite the first surface, the pump mount flange sized and configured to nest with a pump mounting surface associated with the pump

3. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 2, wherein the universal mount plate further comprises: a second motor mount flange formed on the second surface of the universal mount plate, the second motor mount flange sized and configured to nest with a motor mounting surface associated a second submersible motor having a different mounting configuration as compared to the submersible motor; and

a second pump mount flange formed on the first surface of the universal mount plate, the second pump mount flange sized and configured to nest with a pump mounting surface associated with a second submersible pump different from the submersible pump.

4. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 3, wherein the universal mount plate further includes a main flow port formed as a bore radi ally interior of the plurality of motor mount holes, the main flow port sized and positioned to facilitate a flow of fluid from the motor housing into the pump housing when the pump is activated.

5. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 4, wherein the universal mount plate further includes at least one cutout radially outward from the main flow port and radially inward of the exterior flange.

6. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet is disposed at an upstream end of the motor housing, and the fluid outlet is disposed at a downstream end of the pump housing.

7. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 6, wherein the fluid inlet is a fluid inlet assembly comprising:

an inlet base fixed to the upstream end of the motor housing,

an inlet fluid port fixed to the inlet base and defining an inlet fluid channel; and an inlet connection flange fixed to the inlet fluid port.

8. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the fluid inlet defines an inlet flow' axis and the housing assembly defines a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the inlet flow axis; and the inlet base is fixed to the upstream end of the motor housing by a plurality of fasteners equally spaced around a bolt circle coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the housing, such that the base inlet is mountable to the housing assembly at a plurality of rotational orientations.

9. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the intermediate housing further comprises an electrical lead aperture defining an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

the intermediate housing is fixed to the pump housing and the motor housing by a plurality of fasteners equally spaced around a bolt circle coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the housing, such that the electrical lead aperture is mountable to the housing assembly at a plurality of rotational orientations with respect to the inlet base,

whereby the pressure boosting assembly can be modularly configured to accommodate a pre-existing configuration of electrical and fluid supply infrastructure at an installation site.

10. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a coupler having a motor-mounting portion configured to be rotatably fixed to a drive shaft of the submersible motor, and a pump-mounting portion configured to be rotatably fixed to a drive shaft of the pump, such that the coupler transmits torque from the motor to the pump when the motor is activated.

11. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a motor shaft adapter sized to be received over and rotatably fixed to the drive shaft of the submersible motor, and sized to be received within and rotatably fixed to the coupler.

12. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 10, wherein the pump is a submersible multistage pump comprising a plurality of pump stages, each pump stage comprising: a housing; an impeller rotatably fixed to the drive shaft of the pump and disposed wi thi n the housing; and

a diffuser mounted to the housing downstream of the impeller.

13. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 10, further comprising an upper hub comprising:

an outlet base fixed to a downstream end of the pump housing;

a shaft bearing mounted about the drive shaft of the pump and downstream of the pump, the shaft bearing radially retained by the outlet base;

a bearing retainer mounted about the downstream end portion of the dri ve shaft of the pump;

an up-thrust bearing mounted about the downstream end portion of the drive shaft of the pump between the shaft bearing and the bearing retainer.

14. The pressure boosting assembly of clai l, wherein the intermediate housing further comprises an electrical lead aperture formed therein, and further comprising an electrical connection assembly comprising:

an extension housing fixed to the intermediate housing about the electrical lead aperture, the extension housing defining a hollow cavity;

a pair of compression plates received in the hollow cavity of the extension housing;

at least one layer of packing disposed between the pair of compression plates and within the hollow^? cavity, the packing configured to be compressible about electrical leads which power the submersible motor;

a pressure cap connected to the housing and bearing upon an outer one of the pair of compression plates, such that the pressure cap can be advanced inwardly toward the hollow cavity to apply pressure to the compression plates and compress the packing.

15. A modular pressure boosting assembly kit, compri sing:

a housing assembly including: a pump housing;

a motor housing;

an intermediate housing disposed between the pump housing and the motor housing;

a fluid inlet; and

a fluid outlet; and

a universal mount plate attachable to the housing assembly, the universal motor mount plate including:

a set of motor mount holes;

a first pump mount flange formed on a first surface of the universal mount plate, and

a second pump mount flange formed on a second surface of the universal mount plate opposite the first surface.

16. The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 15, further comprising: a first submersible motor sized to be enclosed within the motor housing and attachable to the set of motor mount holes formed in the universal mount plate, the first submersible motor having a first nominal power rating;

a second submersible motor having a second nominal power rating lower than the first power rating, the second submersible motor sized to be enclosed within the motor hou sing and attachable to the set of motor mount holes formed in the universal mount plate;

a first pump assembly sized to be enclosed within the pump housing and configured to nest with the first pump mount flange, the first pump assembly defining a first nominal flow rate; and

a second pump assembly sized to be enclosed within the pump housing and configured to nest with the second pump mount flange, the second pump assembly defining a second nominal flow rate lower than the first nominal flow rate.

17. The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 16, further comprising: a first coupler having a first motor-mounting portion configured to be rotatably fixed to a first drive shaft of the first submersible motor, and a pump-mounting portion configured to be rotatably fixed to a first drive shaft of the first pump assembly; and

a second coupler having a second motor-mounting portion configured to be rotatably fixed to a second drive shaft of the second submersible motor, and a pump mounting portion configured to be rotatably fixed to a second drive shaft of the second pump assembly.

18. The pressure boosting assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the first coupler is rotatably fixed to the first drive shaft of the first submersible motor via a first motor shaft adapter, and

the first coupler is configured to be rotatably fixed to the second drive shaft of the second submersible motor via a second motor shaft adapter, whereby the first motor 30 may be modularly configured to drive either the first pump assembly or the second pump assembly.

19. The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 16, wherein the inlet comprises an inlet base having an upstream end of the motor housing connected thereto, the assembly further comprising:

a first inlet fluid port removably attachable to the inlet base and having a first inlet area sized to provide a first nominal flow rate through the inlet at a given fluid pressure; a second inlet fluid port removably attachable to the inlet base and having a second inlet area smaller than the first inlet area, such that the second inlet area is sized to provide a second nominal flow' rate through the inlet lower than the first nominal flow rate at the given fluid pressure.

20. The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 19, further comprising: a first inlet connection flange removably attachable to the first inlet fluid port and the second inlet fluid port, the first inlet connection flange having a first arrangement of bolt holes configured to connect to a first external fluid supply; a second inlet connection flange removably attachable to the first inlet fluid port and the second inlet fluid port, the second inlet connection flange having a second arrangement of bolt holes different from the first arrangement of bolt holes and configured to connect to a second external fluid supply.

21 The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 19, wherein the outlet comprises an outlet base having a downstream end of the pump housing connected thereto, the assembly further comprising:

a first outlet fluid port removably attachable to the outlet base and having a first outlet area sized to provide a first nominal flow rate through the outlet at a given fluid pressure;

a second outlet fluid port removably attachable to the outlet base and having a second outlet area smaller than the first outlet area, such that the second outlet area is sized to provide a second nominal flow rate through the outlet lower than the first nominal flow rate at the given fluid pressure

22 The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 21, further comprising: a first outlet connection flange removably attachable to the first outlet fluid port and the second outlet fluid port, the first outlet connection flange having a first arrangement of bolt holes configured to connect to a first external fluid discharge;

a second outlet connection flange removably attachable to the first outlet fluid port and the second outlet fluid port, the second inlet connection flange having a second arrangement of bolt holes different from the first arrangement of bolt holes and configured to connect to a second external fluid discharge

23 The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 16, wherein the intermediate housing further comprises an electrical lead aperture formed therein, the assembly further comprising an electrical connection assembly comprising:

an extension housing fixed to the intermediate housing about the electrical lead aperture, the extension housing defining a hollow cavity; a first pair of compression plates sized to be received in the hollow cavity of the extension housing and configured for use with a first electrical cable of the submersible motor;

a first packing sized to be disposed between the pair of compression plates and within the hollow cavity, the packing configured to be compressible about the first electrical cable;

a second pair of compression plates sized to be received in the hollow cavity of the extension housing and configured for use with a second electrical cable of the submersible motor;

a second packing sized to be disposed between the pair of compression plates and within the hollow cavity, the packing configured to be compressible about the second electrical cable;

a pressure cap removably connected to the housing and configured to bear upon an outer one of either the first pair of compression plates or the second pair of compression plates, such that the pressure cap can be advanced inwardly toward the hollow cavity to apply pressure to first packing or the second packing.

24. The modular pressure boosting assembly kit of claim 16, wherein the first pump assembly comprises a first pump shaft having a first shaft diameter, and the second pump assembly comprises a second pump shaft having a second shaft diameter smaller than the first diameter, the kit further comprising:

an outlet base fixed to a downstream end of the pump housing, the first pump retainer ring and the second pump retainer ring both sized to be retained against the pump by the outlet base;

a shaft bearing sized to be mounted about the first pump shaft and having a bearing bore diameter sized to receive the first pump shaft, the shaft bearing retained by the outlet base;

a bearing retainer sized to be mounted about the first pump shaft;

an up-thrust bearing sized to be mounted about first pump shaft and between the shaft bearing and the bearing retainer; and an adapter sleeve sized to be received over the second pump shaft, the adapter sleeve having an outer diameter substantially equal to the bearing bore diameter,

whereby the shaft bearing, the bearing retainer and the up-thrust bearing may be interchangeably used with either the first pump shaft or a combination of the second pump shaft and the adapter sleeve.