Patent Application
20150247501
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pump; and more particularly, relates to a centrifugal pump, e.g., including a bilge pump.
2. Description of Related Art
A centrifugal pump cannot begin pumping water until its impeller is immersed in water. In the operation of the centrifugal pump, there are cases in which the impeller is prevented from engaging any water by air entrapped in the pump's housing or body. This situation is known as air lock and is a problem in the art. In view of this, there is a need for a way to prevent air lock, e.g., in centrifugal pumps.
To overcome this air lock condition, the pump must release this entrapped air, the air must be allowed to “bleed” out to the atmosphere allowing the water to rise and engage the impeller. By way of example, a related patent application Ser. No. _____ (911-17.31-1//M-RLE-X0007), filed on 28 Feb. 2014, which discloses a technique for solving the aforementioned air lock problem, is assigned to the assignee of the present application, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. See also patent application Ser. No. 13/917,970, (911-17.28-2//M-RLE-X0005), filed 14 Jun. 2013, which discloses another technique for solving the aforementioned air lock problem, is also assigned to the assignee of the present application, and which is also incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The instant application builds on the techniques set forth in the aforementioned related applications.
According to some embodiments, the present invention may take the form of a pump having a pump housing with an impeller arranged therein, featuring an anti-airlock valve or valve assembly configured with a valve housing in combination with a valve ball. The valve housing may be configured with a passageway having a vent hole to allow air to bleed out of a chamber of the pump housing into the atmosphere so liquid can fill the pump housing, rise and engage the impeller in order to get the pump running. The valve ball may be arranged in the valve housing, configured to rest against one part of the valve housing so air can pass out of the vent hole, and also configured to be light or buoyant enough to respond to the liquid filling the pump housing, float upwardly and rest against another part of the valve housing so as not to allow water to escape readily from the vent hole after the liquid rises to a sufficient level and substantially engages the impeller. According to some embodiments, the present invention may also include one or more of the following features:
The anti-airlock valve assembly may be configured in, or form an integral part of, the pump housing.
The anti-airlock valve assembly may be configured on the discharge side of the pump, e.g., including forming part of a discharge chamber of the pump.
The anti-airlock valve assembly may be configured on the suction side of the pump, e.g., including forming part of a suction chamber of the pump.
The valve housing may include an upper valve seat configured with the vent hole; and a lower valve seat configured to contain the valve ball in the valve housing and allow air to bleed out of the pump housing into the atmosphere via the vent hole.
The upper valve seat may include a frustoconical wall configured to form part of the passageway.
The frustoconical wall may include one end configured with a wide opening dimensioned to be larger in diameter than the valve ball; and another end configured with the vent hole dimensioned to be smaller in diameter than the valve ball, so that when the valve ball floats upwardly and seals against part of the frustoconical wall, water cannot escape readily from the vent hole after the liquid rises to the sufficient level and substantially engages the impeller.
The valve ball may be configured to respond to a suction discharge pressure once the pump is running and seal against the lower valve seat in order to prevent air from passing from the atmosphere into a suction discharge chamber of the pump housing.
The pump may be configured as a centrifugal pump, e.g., for use as a bilge pump, including where the bilge pump has an outlet nozzle having a backflow preventer assembly coupled thereto with a duckbill-type check valve arranged therein to allow only liquid flow in only one direction, consistent with that disclosed in patent application Ser. No. _____ (911-17.32-1//M-RLE-X0008), filed on 28 Feb. 2014.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
The drawing, which is not necessarily to scale, include the following Figures:
a is a diagram of a centrifugal pump equipped with a discharge type anti-lock valve or valve assembly, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
b is a more detailed view of the discharge type anti-lock valve of the centrifugal pump in
a is a diagram of a centrifugal pump equipped with a suction type anti-lock valve or valve assembly, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
b is a more detailed view of the suction type anti-lock valve of the centrifugal pump in
In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration of an embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, as structural and operational changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
To overcome the aforementioned air lock problem, the pump must be configured to release the entrapped air in the pump housing. In effect, the air must be allowed to “bleed” out to the atmosphere surrounding the pump allowing the water to rise and engage the impeller. The anti-airlock valve assemblies disclosed herein allow this release of the entrapped air to occur.
By way of example,
By way of example, the valve housing 12, 12′ may be configured with an upper valve seat 20, 20′ configured with the vent hole 16; and a lower valve seat 22, 22′ configured to contain the valve ball G, H in the valve housing 12, 12′ and allow air to bleed out of the chamber of the pump housing B into the atmosphere via the vent hole 16, consistent with that shown in
Consistent with that shown in
Consistent with that shown in
In particular,
In comparison,
According to some embodiments, a pump housing receptacle may be configured for receiving the valve housing 12, 12′, including where it is an integral part of the pump 10, 10′, has suitable mating, and also has a diameter and dimensioning for allowing the valve housing 12, 12′ to be securely held to the pump housing B.
The lower valve ball seat 22, 22′ is integral to the overall geometry and valve configuration by preventing the valve ball G, H from escaping yet allowing air to escape through the vent hole 16 in the pump housing outlet.
Pump, like that shown in
Moreover, pumps having motors and impeller arranged or configured thereon are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future.
See also another related patent application Ser. No. _____ (911-17.32-1//M-RLE-X0008), filed on 28 Feb. 2014, showing the same pump as that shown in
Possible applications are envisioned to include any type or kind of pump or rotary equipment that may be submerged and contain trapped air, e.g., in its housing or impeller housing, including but not limited to centrifugal pumps or other types or kinds of submersible pumps either now known or later developed in the future, including bilge pumps or utility pumps.
Although described in the context of particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications and various changes to these teachings may occur. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to one or more preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain modifications or changes, in form and shape, may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth above.
