Exemplary embodiments relate to pumps suitable for pumping liquid material. Exemplary embodiments specifically relate to a grinder pump that is suitable for pumping liquids with suspended solids therein.
The transport of liquid material is important in many different types of processes. The transport of liquid relies on pumps to move the liquid between locations. Depending on the nature of liquid being pumped, it may be desirable to have the pump develop high pressure, high flow or optimum combinations of both.
Pumping liquids becomes more challenging when the liquids contain suspended solids therein. Depending on the nature of the solids, such suspended material may cause clogging, abrasion or undesirable conditions which adversely impact pump operation. Adverse conditions may also shorten the useful life of a pump. Pump failure often results in costly system downtime, as well as the cost to repair or replace the failed pump.
Liquid pumps may benefit from improvements.
Exemplary embodiments relate to a grinder pump that is useful for pumping liquid that includes suspended solids therein. The exemplary pump includes a housing with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A grinder is positioned adjacent to the inlet to the pump. The grinder operates to reduce the size of suspended solids in the liquid near the time when the liquid enters the interior of the pump.
The housing includes a cylindrical impeller cavity. The exemplary pump further includes a single impeller that includes impeller vanes on each axial side of the impeller. Fluid passages in the housing direct liquid to and from the impeller cavity, and cause liquid to be passed through the impeller cavity along two sequential flow paths in which pumping force is imparted to the liquid by the impeller vanes on each axial side of the impeller. This exemplary arrangement provides increased flow and pressure from a compact pump arrangement.
Numerous additional features and benefits are provided by the exemplary embodiments of the dual stage grinder pump as discussed herein.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
The exemplary housing includes a motor 14. In the exemplary arrangement the motor includes an electric motor that receives power through an electric line 16 a portion of which is shown. As can be appreciated the electric line is connected to a source of electrical power for purposes of operating the pump. The exemplary pump housing 12 further includes an upper handle 18. The upper handle 18 is configured to enable engaging the pump for purposes of installation and removal.
The exemplary pump housing includes a liquid inlet 20. The liquid inlet is disposed away from a bottom surface 22 of a sump or other liquid holding container in which the pump is positioned, by a plurality of downward extending feet 24. The pump housing 12 further includes a liquid outlet 26. The outlet 26 is configured for connection to a suitable pipe, hose or other fluid conduit which is used to carry the liquid away from the pump 10. Of course it should be understood that this pump configuration is exemplary, and the principles described herein may be used in connection with other types of pump configurations.
The exemplary housing 12 bounds a first fluid passage 30. First fluid passage 30 extends from the inlet 22 to a cylindrical impeller cavity 32. A cylindrical chamber 34 extends above the impeller cavity in the operational position of the pump. In the exemplary arrangement the shaft 28 is in fixed rotational connection with an impeller 36. The impeller and shaft are configured to rotate together about an axis 38.
A grinder 40 is positioned in the first fluid passage 30 adjacent to the inlet 20 of the housing. The exemplary grinder includes a rotor 42. The rotor 42 includes a plurality of angularly spaced blades 44. The rotor 42 rotates in operative engagement with the shaft 28 as well as the impeller 36. The exemplary grinder 40 further includes a stator 46. The stator 46 is in fixed operative connection with the housing 12 and remains stationary while the rotor rotates. The exemplary stator includes a plurality of angularly spaced axially elongated openings 48 in the annular inner surface that bounds the inner circumference of the stator. The openings 48 are sized to enable liquid and suitably sized suspended solids in the liquid to pass therethrough into the impeller cavity 32. In the exemplary grinder the rotating blades 44 of the rotor move across the fluid openings 48 in the stator so as to reduce the size of suspended solid material in the liquid that can reach the impeller cavity. Of course it should be understood that this grinder configuration is exemplary and numerous other types of grinders that reduce the size of suspended solids in the liquid may be used.
In the exemplary arrangement the exemplary impeller 36 is comprised of a unitary body which includes a disc shaped base 50. The impeller further includes a plurality of angularly spaced first impeller vanes 52. First impeller vanes 52 extend outward from the base 50 in a first axial direction, which is downward as shown in
The exemplary impeller 36 further includes a plurality of second impeller vanes 60. Second vanes 60 extend axially outward from the base 50 in a second axial direction opposed of the first axial direction. Each of the second vanes 60 also extend radially outward from a central area 62 on the upper side of the impeller 36 as shown.
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment the impeller 36 includes an axially centered projection 66. Axially centered projection 66 extends from the base 50 outward in the second axial direction which is upward as represented in
In the exemplary dual stage grinder pump 10 shown schematically in
As represented in
In the exemplary arrangement the impeller cavity 32 further includes a second peripheral area opening 84. The second peripheral area opening 84 is positioned adjacent to a radially outward periphery 86 of the second vanes 60. The second peripheral area opening is connected to a third fluid passage 88. The third fluid passage 88 is operative to fluidly connect the second peripheral area opening 84 and the fluid outlet 26 of the housing.
As shown in
As shown in
In pump operation liquid enters the inlet 20 of the housing through the openings 48 in the stator 46. Suspended solids in the liquid that are larger than the openings are broken up as the blades 44 of the rotor 42 of the grinder rotate in coordinated relation with the impeller across each of the openings. The liquid passes upward in the first fluid passage 30 into a first central area 92 of the impeller cavity 32. The first central area 92 is adjacent the axis 38 of the impeller and the central area 54 radially inward of the first impeller vanes 52.
Liquid in the first central area 92 is engaged by the first impeller vanes 52 and moves outward due to the centrifugal force imparted by the vanes, to the first peripheral area opening 74 of the second fluid passage 72, which opening 74 is disposed radially outward of the first central area 92. The liquid which has been moved in the first stage by the first impeller vanes 52 is conducted through the second fluid passage 72 to the passage opening 82. The passage opening 82 is disposed radially inward of opening 74 and in axially overlying relation of the centered projection 66 and tapered side wall 68.
From the passage opening 82 the liquid moves downward into a second central area 94 of the impeller cavity 32. The second central area 94 generally corresponds to the central area 62 that is radially inward of the second impeller vanes 60. From the second central area 94 the liquid is moved through the centrifugal force created by the second impeller vanes 62 to the second peripheral area opening 84 located at the outer periphery 86 of the second impeller vanes. From the second peripheral area opening 84 the liquid that has now passed through the second stage is passed through the third fluid passage 88 to the liquid outlet 26.
Thus in the exemplary arrangement the single impeller 36 is operative to impart pumping force to the liquid in a first stage in which the liquid is acted on in the impeller cavity by the first vanes 52. The liquid is then acted on in a second stage as the liquid passes through the impeller cavity a second time and is acted on by the second impeller vanes 60. This exemplary arrangement provides efficient pumping capabilities and relatively higher pressures and flow rates in a compact pump arrangement. The exemplary arrangement further provides a durable and reliable pump construction that helps to achieve a longer service life. In addition the arrangement of the exemplary housing which is constructed of numerous housing sections that may be disassembled, facilitates the repair and replacement of pump components. Of course it should be understood that the arrangements and components described herein are exemplary, and other pump arrangements and configurations may be constructed by persons having skill in the field using the principles and relationships that have been described herein.
Thus the exemplary embodiments described herein achieve improved operation, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices and systems, and attain the useful results described herein.
In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding. However no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the exact features shown and described.
Further in the following claims any feature described as a means for performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to those skilled in the art as being capable of carrying out the recited function, and such claims shall not be deemed limited to the particular means shown or described for performing the recited function in the foregoing description, or mere equivalents thereof.
Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the exemplary embodiments, the manner in which they are constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results attained, the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, components, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62660341 | Apr 2018 | US |