A VACUUM PUMP COMPRISING A RELIEF VALVE AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLY OF THE RELIEF VALVE

Abstract

A multiple stage rotary vacuum pump comprising: a stator comprising multiple pumping stages; at least one inter-stage divider separating two adjacent pumping stages; the at least one inter-stage divider comprising two walls defining a cavity therebetween, an upstream wall bounding an upstream pumping stage and a downstream wall bounding a downstream pumping stage of the two adjacent pumping stages. The cavity comprising at least a portion of a pressure relief fluid flow path, the pressure relief fluid flow path providing a path from an outlet portion of the upstream stage towards an inlet portion of the upstream stage or towards an exhaust, the pressure relief fluid flow path comprising an orifice, the orifice comprising a valve seat; and a pressure relief valve configured to move between a compressed and an elongated state, the pressure relief valve sealing the orifice when in the elongated state and being configured to move to the compressed state such that the orifice is not obstructed, in response to pressure in the upstream stage rising above a predetermined value.

Claims

1. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump comprising: a stator comprising multiple pumping stages; at least one inter-stage divider separating two adjacent pumping stages; the at least one inter-stage divider comprising two walls defining a cavity therebetween, an upstream wall bounding an upstream pumping stage and a downstream wall bounding a downstream pumping stage of the two adjacent pumping stages; the cavity comprising at least a portion of a pressure relief fluid flow path, the pressure relief fluid flow path providing a path from an outlet portion of the upstream stage towards an inlet portion of the upstream stage or towards an exhaust, the pressure relief fluid flow path comprising an orifice, the orifice comprising a valve seat; and a pressure relief valve configured to move between a compressed and an elongated state, the pressure relief valve sealing the orifice when in the elongated state and being configured to move to the compressed state such that the orifice is not obstructed, in response to pressure in the upstream stage rising above a predetermined value.

2. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises retaining means for releasably retaining the valve in the compressed state.

3. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 2, wherein an outer sealing face of the valve comprises a receiving means configured to receive a tool for rotating the outer sealing face to release or engage the retaining means.

4. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means comprises a hook and a retainer for retaining the hook, one of the hook or the retainer being attached to a fixed end of the valve and the other of the hook or the retainer to a sealing end, the valve being configured such that rotation of the sealing end of the valve engages or releases the hook from the retainer.

5. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein the orifice is located in one wall of the inter-stage divider and comprises an outlet of the upstream pumping stage.

6. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises a pumping fluid flow path, the pumping fluid flow path providing a path from the outlet portion of the upstream stage towards an inlet portion of the downstream stage, the pumping fluid flow path and the pressure relief fluid flow path comprising the orifice, at a junction of the paths.

7. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the fluid flow path from the outlet portion of the upstream stage to the orifice comprises a combined pressure relief fluid flow and pumping fluid flow path.

8. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve is configured to extend between the two walls, a fixed end of the valve being mounted in the downstream wall and a sealing end of the valve extending to the upstream wall when the valve is in the elongated state.

9. The multiple stage rotary vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump comprises a recess configured to receive a fixed end of the valve.

10. The method of assembling a valve within an inter-stage cavity between walls separating two adjacent pumping stages, the method comprising: inserting a pressure relief valve retained in a compressed state by retaining means, between the walls of the inter-stage cavity, the pressure relief valve comprising a sealing end configured to engage with a valve seat in an orifice within a pressure relief fluid flow path and an opposing end, the pressure relief fluid flow path passing through the inter-stage cavity and connecting an outlet portion of an upstream stage either to an inlet portion of the upstream stage or to an exhaust; locating the valve within the fluid flow path; and releasing the valve from the compressed state such that the valve moves to an extended state and a sealing end of the valve mates with the valve seat in the orifice.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the orifice is located in an upstream wall of the cavity; and locating the valve within the fluid flow path comprises locating the opposing end of the valve within a recess in a downstream wall of the inter-stage cavity; and releasing the valve from the compressed state such that the valve moves to an extended state and the sealing end mates with the valve seat in the upstream wall.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the orifice is located in a wall of a pumping fluid flow path within the cavity, the orifice linking the pumping fluid flow path and the pressure relief fluid flow path; and locating the valve within the fluid flow path comprises locating the opposing end of the valve within a recess in a wall of the pressure relief fluid flow path; and releasing the valve from the compressed state such that the valve moves to an extended state and the sealing end mates with the valve seat in the orifice.

13. The method of assembling a valve according to claim 10, wherein the retaining means comprises an engaging portion adapted to rotatably engage with a retainer, the engaging portion being attached to one of the sealing or opposing ends and the retainer being attached to the other of the sealing or opposing ends, releasing the valve from the compressed state comprises rotating the sealing end such that the retainer disengages with the engaging portion.

14. The method of assembling a valve according to claim 13, wherein the engaging portion comprises a hook.

15. The method of assembling a valve according to claim 13, wherein releasing the valve from the compressed state comprises engaging a receiving means on an outer face of the sealing end with a tool and rotating the tool until the retainer releases the engaging portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Examples of the present disclosure will now be described further, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a relief valve according to a first example.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a section through the pump showing the position of the relief valve according to FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a relief valve according to a further example.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method of assembling a valve within a pump according to an example.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method of removing a valve assembly from the pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Before discussing the examples in any more detail, first an overview will be provided.

[0038] The valve is configured for insertion into a pump interstage cavity in a stator in one example in a clamshell stator. The interstage is hollow with a wall facing towards the upstream stage and another wall facing towards the downstream stage. The valve is configured to open or close a pressure relief flow path from the outlet portion of the upstream stage back to the inlet portion of the upstream stage in cases of raised pressure at the outlet portion of the upstream stage, thereby protecting the downstream stage(s) from these pressure rises.

[0039] The valve seat is formed in the pressure relief flow path and in some examples at one end of this flow path in one of the walls. A region of the cavity between the walls provides the pressure relief flow path to return the gas to the inlet of the same stage.

[0040] In examples, the valve has a plunger, spring, and guide/support.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a valve assembly according to a first example. The valve assembly 10 is shown in the elongated state between an upstream wall 60 and a downstream wall 62 of the interstage cavity.

[0042] The valve assembly is configured such that it can be locked into a compressed state by pushing on valve plunger 30 and compressing the spring 20, when the spring 20 is compressed, plunger 30 can be rotated using a tool in depression 32 so that a hook 40 on the end of the valve stem is retained in an asymmetrical slot 50 in the guide/support 47. In this state the whole assembly is small enough to slide in the cavity between the interstage walls 60, 62.

[0043] The valve assembly is manoeuvred to its location opposite the valve seat opening which comprises an orifice 64 in upstream wall 60, the orifice comprising the valve seat. The support end 47 of the valve assembly is located in a depression in the downstream wall 62, and then when in position the plunger 30 can be rotated in the opposite direction to release hook 40 from slot 50 so that the valve moves to its elongated, closed position with the valve plunger 30 sealing with the valve seat in orifice 64. In this position the valve assembly is held in place.

[0044] Protrusions 45 extend out from valve support 47 and act to stabilise the valve assembly against lateral or angular movement helping retain it securely in place. When there is a rise in pressure in the upstream stage above a predetermined amount, then the force on plunger 30 is sufficient to compress spring 20 and the plunger 30 moves away from the valve seat in orifice 64 and a pressure relief flow path is opened. When the pressure in the upstream stage falls below this critical value then the valve will close again sealing the pressure relief path.

[0045] To remove the valve for servicing or cleaning, the plunger 30 is pushed back towards the guide/support 47, via the seat opening 64, then rotated using depression 32 such that the hook 40 re-engages with slot 50. Once locked in the compressed state the valve can be easily withdrawn from the interstage

[0046] FIG. 2 shows schematically the interstage walls 60, 62 of the interstage cavity with the different flow paths. There is a pressure relief flow path 65 sealed by a valve assembly 10 according to the example of FIG. 1. The pressure relief flow path extends from orifice 64 in the outlet portion of the upstream pumping stage to an orifice 68 in the inlet portion of the upstream pumping stage. The orifice 64 comprises the valve seat for the valve assembly 10. There is a separate pumping flow path 67 flowing from orifice 66 in the outlet portion of the upstream pumping stage to orifice 69 in the interstage wall 62, orifice 69 providing access to the inlet portion of the downstream stage. The two flow paths 65 and 67 are isolated from each other. They may have different forms within the cavity, provided that the two flow paths are bounded in some way so that they are isolated from each other.

[0047] In another example not shown the pressure relief valve is a blow off valve as opposed to a recirculating pressure relief valve, and in this case the pressure relief path 65 will not extend to an orifice 68 in the inlet portion of the upstream pumping stage but will rather extend to an orifice into an exhaust passage of the pump.

[0048] FIG. 3 schematically shows an alternative example, where pumping flow path 67 and pressure relief flow path 65 share a same path for the initial part of the flow path from an orifice 66 in the outlet portion of the upstream wall.

[0049] The two paths diverge at orifice 64 which comprises a valve seat and mates with the plunger or sealing end of valve assembly 10. The valve assembly acts to open or close the portion of pressure relief path 65 downstream of the orifice 64 which portion leads to orifice 68 in the inlet portion of the upstream stage of the pump. The pumping flow path 67 proceeds to an outlet 69 leading to the inlet portion of the downstream stage.

[0050] In this example the valve and orifice are within the fluid flow path and the valve assembly does not contact the interstage walls. As for the valve assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, this valve assembly has a spring and retaining means (not shown), such that the spring can be compressed and then the valve assembly retained in the compressed state for removal from the pump. Similarly it can re-inserted into the pump in the compressed state and rotation of the valve plunger can lead to release of the retaining means and the valve reaching its elongated state in which state it mates with the orifice.

[0051] In this example there is a depression in the fluid flow path for retaining the support end of the valve assembly 10.

[0052] As for the example of FIG. 2 there is an alternative arrangement for this pressure relief valve (not shown) in which the valve acts as a blow off valve and in this case pressure relief path 65 does not extend back to the inlet portion of the upstream pumping stage but rather extends to an exhaust passage of the pump.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method of inserting a pressure relief valve into a pump according to an example. In this method the valve assembly is placed in a compressed state, and in this state it is inserted into an inter-stage cavity located between the walls of adjacent pumping chambers. A support end of the valve is located within a recess in a downstream wall of the inter-stage cavity and the sealing end of the valve is rotated to release the retaining means such that the valve moves to an elongated state and the sealing means seals with a sealing face on an orifice within the pump. the valve assembly is held in place by the spring force between the orifice and the recess.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method for removing a valve assembly from an inter-stage cavity of a pump in order to service or replace the valve. In this method, the valve assembly is compressed and the sealing end of the valve is rotated such that retaining means on the valve assembly are engaged and the valve assembly is held in the compressed state. In this state the valve assembly can be removed from the interstage cavity.

[0055] Although illustrative examples of the disclosure have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the disclosure is not limited to the precise example and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.