A device for protecting an electric pump against overpressures, which comprises a main body which forms a cavity with an axis of extension which is substantially parallel to an axis of extension of the main body and a flow control element which can slide in the cavity along the axis of extension of the cavity between a closed position, in which the flow control element affects an inlet of the cavity which can be connected fluidically to a delivery port of an electric pump, and an open position, in which the flow control element clears at least partially the inlet so as to place it in fluidic connection with an outlet of said cavity, elastic means designed to push the flow control element in response to the pressure that is present in the delivery port.

Embodiments of the invention provide a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller is configured to store a timeout time value. The controller is also configured to initiate a pump priming process and subsequently initiate a timeout counter to begin counting a counter time value. The controller is configured to initiate a timeout interrupt routine that interrupts the pump priming process when the counter time value exceeds the timeout time value. The timeout interrupt routine includes shutting down the motor.

A hemispherical entrainment-type high-flow self-priming centrifugal pump includes a hemispherical entrainment system, a pump body and a pump inlet pipe. The hemispherical entrainment system is disposed above the pump body. The hemispherical entrainment system comprises four layers of entrainment cavities, including a spherical entrainment interior cavity, a primary entrainment cavity, a secondary entrainment cavity and a tertiary entrainment cavity. The spherical entrainment interior cavity is a double circular pipeline that ascends in a spiral overlapping manner to wrap a hemispherical surface, and improves the entrainment capacity, while increasing the entrainment area. The primary entrainment cavity is allowed to be in communication with the secondary entrainment cavity and the tertiary entrainment cavity by upward sliding of a sliding check core. The secondary entrainment cavity entrains the gas in the pump inlet pipe, and the primary entrainment cavity entrains the gas in a pump cavity.

A hemispherical entrainment-type high-flow self-priming centrifugal pump includes a hemispherical entrainment system, a pump body and a pump inlet pipe. The hemispherical entrainment system is disposed above the pump body. The hemispherical entrainment system comprises four layers of entrainment cavities, including a spherical entrainment interior cavity, a primary entrainment cavity, a secondary entrainment cavity and a tertiary entrainment cavity. The spherical entrainment interior cavity is a double circular pipeline that ascends in a spiral overlapping manner to wrap a hemispherical surface, and improves the entrainment capacity, while increasing the entrainment area. The primary entrainment cavity is allowed to be in communication with the secondary entrainment cavity and the tertiary entrainment cavity by upward sliding of a sliding check core. The secondary entrainment cavity entrains the gas in the pump inlet pipe, and the primary entrainment cavity entrains the gas in a pump cavity.

A release valve for a self-priming pump includes a housing, a valve member, an exhaust outlet, a guide stem, a spring, and a bellows. The valve is positioned in a valve opening in the housing and is movable between an open and a closed position. The open position permits the travel of air and fluid through the opening. The closed position closes the valve opening. The valve plug is positioned in the valve opening responsive to pressure in the flow passageway of the housing. The guide stem is coupled to the valve plug and the spring is coupled to the guide stem. The bellows surrounds the spring.

A release valve for a self-priming pump includes a housing, a valve member, an exhaust outlet, a guide stem, a spring, and a bellows. The valve is positioned in a valve opening in the housing and is movable between an open and a closed position. The open position permits the travel of air and fluid through the opening. The closed position closes the valve opening. The valve plug is positioned in the valve opening responsive to pressure in the flow passageway of the housing. The guide stem is coupled to the valve plug and the spring is coupled to the guide stem. The bellows surrounds the spring.

Embodiments of the invention provide a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller receives input of a performance value that is determined utilizing information from operation of the motor and compares the performance value to a reference value. The controller also is configured to prime and run the pump when the performance value equals the first reference value and to continue to do so until the performance value equals a second reference value. Alternatively, the controller receives user input of an amount of time the system can take to attempt to successfully prime the pump and is configured to operate the motor at maximum speed until the amount of time elapses.

A self-priming assembly for a multi-stage pump is provided. The self-priming assembly can have a first diffuser, a second diffuser, and an impeller. The first and second diffusers each include a central portion, a diffuser axis, an arcuate channel within the central portion, and a passage extending through the central portion. The first diffuser and the second diffuser are configured to be combined and receive the impeller therebetween with the first diffuser axis, the second diffuser axis, and the impeller axis aligned.

A self-priming assembly for a multi-stage pump is provided. The self-priming assembly can have a first diffuser, a second diffuser, and an impeller. The first and second diffusers each include a central portion, a diffuser axis, an arcuate channel within the central portion, and a passage extending through the central portion. The first diffuser and the second diffuser are configured to be combined and receive the impeller therebetween with the first diffuser axis, the second diffuser axis, and the impeller axis aligned.

A self-priming dedicated water feature pump is provided. The water feature pump can include a strainer housing connected to a pump housing. The strainer housing can include a reservoir for allowing water to enter the strainer housing so that the pump can self-prime. The strainer housing can also include a post installed within the reservoir. The post can function to prevent a strainer basket from being installed in the strainer housing. The post can be of sufficient volume and/or geometry to allow enough water to enter the strainer housing so that the water feature pump can self-prime while also preventing a strainer basket from being installed in the strainer housing.