Vertical pump having discharge head with flexible element

Abstract

A discharge head features at least one low-deflection component that substantially does not deflect in response to high piping forces applied in a direction perpendicular to the discharge head; at least one high-deflection component that deflects in response to the high piping forces; and a flexible element configured between the at least one low-deflection component and the at least one high-deflection component to contain pressure and to be highly flexible in the direction perpendicular to the centerline of the discharge head.

Claims

1. A discharge head (10) for a vertically suspended pump having a motor mounting plate (22) and a base plate (24), comprising: low-deflection components (12, 14) having a bearing house (14) and a motor support (12) with supports (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) configured to couple the motor mounting plate (22) and the base plate (24), and also having rib supports (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) configured to couple the bearing housing (14) and the supports (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), the low-deflection components (12, 14) configured to respond to high piping forces applied in a direction perpendicular to a centerline (CL) of the discharge head (10) and not substantially deflect; at least one high-deflection component (16) having a discharge elbow (16) configured to deflect in response to the high piping forces, the discharge elbow (16) being coupled to the base plate (24); and a flexible element (20) configured to couple the bearing housing (14) and the discharge elbow (16) and flex in the direction perpendicular to the centerline (CL) of the discharge head (10) to contain pressure, so that the deflection of the high-deflection components (16, 20) is not substantially communicated to the low-deflection components (12, 14); wherein the flexible element is coupled with horizontal portion of the discharge elbow, and configured as a bellows-like flexible structure; and wherein the flexible element is made from a flexible material, including rubber.

2. A vertical suspended pump comprising: the discharge head (10) according to claim 1, having the motor mounting plate (22) and the base plate (24); a first pump arrangement having a vertical solid shaft motor (132) configured for rotating a drive shaft (131); a second pump combination having a column (127, 129) arranged about the drive shaft (131), and having a bowl assembly (126) with a rotary impeller coupled to the drive shaft (131); and the motor mounting plate (22) configured to couple to the vertical solid shaft motor (132) of the first pump arrangement, and the base plate (24) configured to couple to the column (127, 129) of the second pump arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The drawing includes FIGS. 1A-4B, which are not necessarily drawn to scale:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an example of one known vertically suspended pump assembly.

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a new discharge head design according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a copy of a photograph showing a flexible element that may be configured to form part of the new discharge head design shown in FIG. 2, e.g., in the form of a bellows-like structure arranged between a bearing housing and a discharge elbow of the new discharge head design, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4A is diagram of a vertically suspended pump having the new discharge head design incorporated therein, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 4B is an index containing a list of the components by item no. and a description for the vertically suspended pump shown in FIG. 4B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 2 shows the new and unique discharge head generally indicated as 10 featuring: at least one low-deflection component, e.g., including a combination of a motor support generally indicated as 12 and a bearing housing 14, that substantially does not deflect in response to high piping forces F applied in a direction perpendicular to a centerline CL of the discharge head 10; at least one high-deflection component, e.g., including a combination of a discharge elbow 16 and a discharge elbow flange 18, that deflects in response to the high piping forces F; and a flexible element 20 configured between the at least one low-deflection component such as elements 12, 14 and the at least one high-deflection component such as elements 16, 18 to contain pressure and to be highly flexible in the direction perpendicular to the centerline CL of the discharge head 10.

(8) The flexible element 20 may be configured, arranged or inserted between the low-deflection components 12, 14 and the high-deflection components 16, 18 so that the deflection of the high-deflection components 16, 18 is not substantially communicated to the low-deflection components 12, 14.

(9) The discharge head 10 may include a mounting plate 22 and a base plate 24. The motor support 12 may be configured with three or more supports, e.g., including four supports 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d as shown, that are configured to couple the mounting plate 22 and the base plate 24.

(10) The discharge head 10 may also include three or more rib supports, e.g., including rib supports 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d as shown, and the bearing housing 14 may be configured or coupled to the rib supports 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d as shown.

(11) The discharge elbow 10 may be configured, coupled or affixed to the base plate 24 as also shown.

(12) The flexible element 10 may be configured to couple the bearing housing 14 to the discharge elbow 16 as shown, and consistent for example with that shown in FIG. 3.

(13) By way of example, FIG. 3 shows the flexible element 20 configured in the form of a bellows-like flexible structure 20a arranged between the bearing housing 14 and the discharge elbow 16, according to some embodiments of the present invention. According to some embodiments, the bellows-like flexible structure 20a may be made from a flexible material such as rubber, although the scope of the invention is intended to include using other types or kinds of flexible materials either now known or later developed in the future.

(14) By way of further example, the bellows-like flexible structure 20a may be configured with two flange-like elements 20b and 20c, and coupling elements 21a and 21b may be configured to fasten the two flange-like elements 20b and 20c to the bearing housing 14 and the discharge elbow 16 respectively as shown, e.g., using nut and bolt combinations, one of which is indicated by reference label 23. As shown, the bolts are configured to extend from the bearing housing 14 and the discharge elbow 16, although embodiment are envisioned in which, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, the bolts screwing into the bearing housing 14 and the discharge elbow 16.

(15) Embodiments are also envisioned in which, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, one or more internal metal element (not shown) that may be provided to prevent the bellows-like flexible structure 20a from collapsing under certain vacuum conditions.

(16) When the new discharge head 10 is configured in such a vertical pump, the flexible element 20 may be configured so that the internal pump alignment of the vertical pump is substantially maintained, especially in response to the high piping forces, which provides an improvement over prior art discharge heads.

FIGS. 4A and 4B

(17) FIG. 4A is diagram of a vertically suspended pump having the new discharge head design incorporated therein, according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, see the head expansion joint identified by element 118. Moreover, see FIG. 4B showing an index with a list of the components.

The Scope of the Invention

(18) It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawings herein are not drawn to scale.

(19) Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.