US2543633A - Rotary pump - Google Patents

Description

N. LAMPHERE ROTARY PUMP Feb. 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1945 /vA THAN AMP/1ERE Feb. 27, 1951 N. LAMPHERE 2,543,633

gmc/whom NA THAN LAM/HERE Patented Feb. 27, 1951 ROTARY PUMP Nathan Lamphere, Ironton, Minn.. assigner, by

meme assignments, to Hanna Coal 0re Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, l corporation of Delaware Application December., 1945, Serial No. 633,098

(CL 10B-104) l 2 Claims.

My invention relatesI to an improvement in rotary pump wherein it is desired to provide Val more efficient and effective design.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a rotary pump with an'itake on both sides of the impeller. lThe volute easing enclosing the impeller is so arranged that the duid to be pumped may enter the impeller from opposite sides thereof. As a result the pressure against the impeller is balanced, thus reducing or eliminating end thrust upon the impeller shaft.

A further object of the present invention lies in the provision of a rotary pump having a double or multiple discharge. By discharging fluid at equally spaced points about the periphery of the volute casing the side thrust on the impeller and shaft is balanced or equalized. thus reducing friction on the pump bearings and eliminating the necessity for providing a bearing at the extreme end of the impeller shaft.

A further object of the present invention lies in the provision of an interceptor or splitter which is inserted in the volute chamber at the discharge orifices. This interceptor or splitter extends substantially into contact with the vanes of the impeller to compel all fluid to leave through the discharge openings and to prevent the recirculation of uid in the volute chamber.

A feature of the present invention resides in providing an interceptor or splitter which is removably attached to the inner surface of the volute chamber and is renewable or replaceable. Thus if wear takes place in the operation of the pump the splitter may be replaced to provide the smallest possible clearance between the impeller and the splitter at the discharge openings. These interceptors or splitters are likewise advantageous in that they may be replaced or adjusted to provide the necessary clearance for the type of fluid being pumped.

My pump has no suction value and the volute casing must be immersed so that at least one inlet opening to the impeller is below the surface of the fluid. However, my pump is so arranged that should the fluid in which it is immersed be temporarily exhausted, it will continue to hold fluid in the discharge column as long as the pump continues to rotate. As a result the return surge of liquid through the pump into the sump in which the pump is located is eliminated. The reason for this result is due to the fact that no vacuum is created in the pump itself or in the suction line connected thereto.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that no packing. seals or wearing rings are required between the impeller or the impeller shaft and volute casing. The double intake and double discharge features eliminate excess side or 'f end thrust against the impeller shaft allowing the shaft to be supported by a bearing located at a substantial distance from the impeller. Furthermore as no suction is to be created within the pump or within the intake to the impeller the volute casing need not be sealed relative to the impeller to produce the desired pumping action. The elimination of packing, seals and wearing rings and the elimination of metallic contact between the impeller or the shaft and the volute casing permits the pump to run indenitelywithout being immersed in fluid without creating undue heat due to friction. Furthermore the elimination of such packing, seals, and the like permits the impeller to rotate freely and with a minimum of friction.

A- further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an impeller having a series of curved blades or vanes which are connected by a central supporting web. As a result the fluid entering from either side of the volute casing is forced by the vanes or blades from the volute chambers.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an impeller having a series of vanes or blades supported by a central web and in forming this web so'that it does not extend to the full diameter of the impeller between adlacent blades or vanes. As a result the fluid entering by one of the irnpeller intake openings may be urged outwardly by the full width of the impeller blades or vanes. The full capacity oi' the blades may thus be exerted against the fluid for pushing the fluid through the volute discharge even though the volute chamber is but partially submerged.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my speciflcation:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my pump showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the volute casing, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the impeller and volute, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the pump in extended position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the impeller.

u showing the construction thereof.

The pump A comprises a volute casing I0 having upper and lower closure plates I| and I2 connected thereto. The volute chamberIO includes two spirally shaped segments I3 and I4 which terminate on diametrlcally opposite sides of the center oi the casing. The segments I3 and |4 provide volute chambers which gradually increase in size and provide diametrically opposed pump outlets I5 and I6. If desired one of the plates I I or. I2 may be formed integrally with the segments I3 and I4 or these segments may be connected adjacent the discharge chamber to form a circular outlet.

Ii preferred, however, the segments I3 and I4 may be separately formed and held in proper relationship by removable closure plates Il and I2. Within each of the segments I3 and I4, I provide a splitter or turbulence interceptor I1. The splitters or turbulence interceptor |1 are removably attached to the segments I3 and I4 by bolts I3. As a result these splitters may be removed and replaced or may be changed to provide a greater clearance between the end of the splitter and the impeller.

Each of the splitters I1 are provided with an edge which extends in closely adjacent relation to the blades or vanes of the impeller as it rotates. The clearance between the splitters and the blades may be regulated by adjusting the position of the splitter I1 or by replacing one set of splitters with a second set which provides the desired clearance. This feature is of importance in view of the fact that different clearances are desirable while handling different types of fluids.

The impeller is formedas best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. A central sleeve or hub 22 is provided with a center aperture designed to accommodate the shaft 23. The shaft 23 is held in place within the hub 22 by means of threaded engagement or by any other suitable means. A web 2| extends outwardly from the sleeve 22 on a plane normal to the axis of the sleeve intermediate the ends of the sleeve. Vanes 24 of any desired or preferred shape extend outwardly from a point spaced from the intermediate sleeve 22 to the periphery of the impeller. The shape of the blades 24 is best determined by formula and the most eiicient blade shape depends upon the amount of fluid to be pumped in a given time and the type of uid being handled.

The blades 24 extend outwardly from both surfaces of the central supporting web 2| as best illustrated in the drawings. The web 2| is cut away, however, so that its outer periphery does not' extend along the circumference of a circle. The web 2| is cut away as indicated at 25, preferably from the end of each blade to an intermediate point on the next adjacent blade. Thus a space is provided within the circumference of the impeller at the outer extremity of each blade to permit iiuid on one side of the web 2| to be acted upon by the full width of the blades 24.

As best illustrated in Figure l of the drawings a pair of suspension members 26 extend upwardly from the top closure plate I I. These suspension members 26 are connected to a ring 21 at their upper extremity. This ring 21 is designed for attachment to thelange 29 of the motor housing 30 which encloses the motor acting to drive the pump. The motor `is provided with the usual bearings for supporting the shaft 23 and these bearings hold the impeller in proper position within the volute casing I0.

The upper closure plate II is provided with an intake opening 3| therein through which the shaft 23 extends. The lower closure plate I2 4 is likewise provided with an intake opening 32 which is coaxial with the opening 3|.. Thus when the impeller casing is submerged in fluid this fluid may enter the impeller casing both 5 through the intake opening 3| and the intake opening 32 to thus produce a balanced force against the impeller. As a result the end thrust against the shaft 23 is maintained at a minimum.

The discharge openings I5 and I3 are connected by adapters 33 and 34 to discharge pipes 35 and 38 respectively. These discharge pipes are connected by aligned connections 31 and 39 to a common discharge manifold 4U. The manifold may be connected to any suitable pipe line or the like to deliver fluid thereto.

A pair of angle brackets 4I and 42 are mounted in opposed relation on the suspension 'members 26. These brackets 4| and 42 are for use in supporting a bearing 43 when it is necessary that the motor be supported at a greater distance from the impeller. As best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings a pair of suspension members 44 and 45, similar to the suspension members 26 are connected at their upper extremity by a mounting ring 46 and at their lower extremity by an attachment link 41. The ring 41 is designed to engage against the ring 21 on the suspension members 26 and aligned apertures through rings 21 and 41 permit attachment of these rings by means of bolts 49 or other suitable means. 'I'he ring 46 may then be attached to the flange 29 of the motor housing 30 by bolts 50 or other suitable means.

When the suspension members 44 and 45 are attached in place the motor within the motor housing 30 is equipped with a longer motor shaft r5| which is supported by the bearing 43 attached by bolts 52 to the angle brackets 4| and 42. A shield 53 is preferably provided on the shaft 5I beneath the bearing 43 to protect the bearing in the event uid should suddenly iiow into the sump in which the pump is positioned.

For example should the electric power fail suddenly, the shield 53 will prevent the fluid from splashing into the bearing 43.

In operation of the pump the volute casing Ill is submerged below the level of liquid in the sump or the like. When current is supplied to the motor within the casing 30 the shaft 23 or 5| is rotated acting to rotate the impeller. This impeller is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings. 'Ihe fluid entering the inlets 3| and 32 is urged outwardly by the blades 24 through the outlet passages I5 and I6. 'I'he edges 20 of the turbulence interceptors or `splitters extend sufiiciently close to the impeller to prevent the escape of an undue amount of iiuid. y o Should the liquid level drop to an extent when only the lower inlet 3| is submerged, iluid will be forced outwardly by the portions of the blades 24 on the underside of the web 2| until the fluid flows past the ends 25 of the web 2|. The fluid g5 is then forced by the full width of the blades 24 through the volute discharge openings.

It will be seen that the impeller may run freely within the volute casing I0 and that no packing, rings, or the like are required between the rotating impeller and the stationary casing. It will also be seen that end thrust upon the impeller shaft is equalized when iluid is entering both inlet openings. It will also be noted that when the liquid level'has dropped suiciently so that only One of the inlets is open, water enters only through the lower inlet aperture 32, thus creating a force to oppose the weight of the rotor and its shaft. It will further be noted that at all times during the operation of the pump the discharge therefrom is opposed, thus equalizing the force against the shaft. This is extremely important in view of the bearing support and the impeller shaft.

It should also be noted that in the operation of my pump the fluid is forced into the discharge by the entire width of the blades even though the intake is provided through but one of the intake openings. As a result there is a constant force against the fluid in the discharge line. As no suction is created within the pump casing or within the intakes thereto, there is no tendency for the fluid to be drawn back into the pump when the liquid is exhausted. Furthermore as the impeller runs freely within the volute, there are no bearings to become overheated in the event that there is no liquid in the sump to be pumped. In accordancev with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my rotary pump, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A rotary pump including a volute housing, an impeller rotatably mounted therein, said impeller including an intermediate web and a series of impeller blades projecting from opposite sides thereof, said blades curving outwardly continus ously from their inner ends to their outer extremities, said web extending to the outer extremity of each of said blades at one side thereof and extending to a point substantially spaced from the outer extremity of the blades on the other sides thereof. V

2. An impeller for a rotary pump including a ,central hub, a web extending outwardly from said hub, and a series of angularly spaced blades supported by said web and projecting on opposite sides thereof, said blades curving outwardly continuously from their inner ends to their outer extremities, said web extending to the outer extremity of each blade on one side thereof and terminating at a point substantially spaced from the outer end of each blade on the other side thereof.

NATHAN LAMPHERE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 513,057 Poole Jan. 16, 1894 616,576 Jennings Dec. 27, 189s 732,343 King Feb. 14, 1905 1,650,873 Kay Nov. 29, 1927 3,076,536 Noble apr. 13, 1937 2,130,940 wat sept. 20, 193s 2,143,032 autumn Jan 10, 1939 2,247,313 Huitson July 1, 1941Y 2,260,130 amener nec. 1e, 1941

Images