EZ ADJUST IMPELLER CLEARANCE

Abstract

A pump features a bearing sleeve couples to a pump shaft, and includes a bearing sleeve surface having bores for receiving fasteners; and an adjusting nut having a central bore with central bore threads to rotationally couple to pump shaft threads, is configured to rotate in relation to the bearing sleeve and move the pump shaft axially to adjust an impeller clearance between a working side of an impeller arranged on the pump shaft and a casing of the pump, and is configured with an adjusting nut surface having openings different in number than the bores, sets of corresponding bores and openings aligning at angular adjustment intervals, e.g. every 9 or 15°, when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

Claims

1. A pump comprising: a bearing sleeve configured to couple to a pump shaft, and also configured with a bearing sleeve surface having bores for receiving fasteners; and an adjusting nut configured with a central bore having central bore threads to rotationally couple to pump shaft threads of the pump shaft, configured to rotate in relation to the bearing sleeve and move the pump shaft axially to adjust an impeller clearance between a working side of an impeller arranged on the pump shaft and a casing of the pump, and configured with an adjusting nut surface having openings that are different in number than the bores, sets of corresponding bores and openings configured to align at angular adjustment intervals about every 9° or 15° when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

2. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the bores include eight (8) bores, and the openings include six (6) openings.

3. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the bores are equally spaced about the bearing sleeve surface about 45° apart, and the openings are equally spaced about 60° apart about the adjusting nut surface.

4. A pump according to claim 1, wherein one set of the corresponding bores and openings is diametrically opposed from another set of the corresponding bores and openings on opposite sides of the bearing sleeve surface and adjusting nut surface.

5. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the bearing sleeve comprises a circumferential bearing sleeve surface having bearing sleeve markings corresponding to the bores; and the adjusting nut comprises a circumferential adjusting nut surface having adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings, so that after positioning the working side of the impeller in relation to the casing, closest markings on the circumferential bearing sleeve surface and the circumferential adjusting nut surface are aligned to allow each fastener to be installed in a respective set of the corresponding bores and openings.

6. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a bearing assembly having some combination of a bearing housing, bearings arranged therein, the bearing sleeve and the adjusting nut.

7. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump comprises the casing and the pump shaft having the impeller hard mounted on one end.

8. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the bores are configured or formed in the bearing sleeve, and the openings are configured or formed to pass completely through the adjusting nut, so that each fastener passes completely through the adjusting nut and fastener threads engage a respective thread of a respective bore.

9. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the threads on the pump shaft surface are configured using a Unified Thread Standard (UTS), and the impeller clearance is within about 0.0012 inches based upon the same.

10. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the bearing sleeve is couples to the pump shaft using a key-based coupling arrangement.

11. A bearing assembly comprising: a bearing sleeve configured to couple to a pump shaft, and also configured with a bearing sleeve surface having bores for receiving fasteners, the bores being arranged uniformly about the pump shaft at a first predetermined angle; and an adjusting nut configured with a central bore having central bore threads to rotationally couple to pump shaft threads of the pump shaft, configured to rotate in relation to the bearing sleeve and move the pump shaft axially to adjust an impeller clearance between a working side of an impeller arranged on the pump shaft and a casing of rotating equipment, and configured with an adjusting nut surface having openings that are different in number than the bores, the openings being arranged uniformly about the pump shaft at a second predetermined angle that is different from the first predetermined angle; sets of corresponding bores and openings configured to align at predetermined angular intervals defined by a differential relationship between the first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle, e.g., including at the predetermined angular intervals of about every 9° or 15°, when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

12. A bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein either the bores include eight (8) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°, and the openings include six (6) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 60°, or the bores include six (6) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 60°, and the openings include eight (8) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°; and the predetermined angular intervals are about 15°.

13. A bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein either the bores include eight (8) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°, and the openings include ten (10) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 36°, or the bores include ten (10) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 36°, and the openings include eight (8) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°; and the predetermined angular intervals are about 9°.

14. A bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pump shaft comprises a pump shaft surface having a predetermined number of threads per inch (TPI) that determines the travel of the adjusting nut when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve during the adjustment of the impeller clearance; and the predetermined angular intervals are configured to determine the increments for setting the impeller clearance when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

15. A bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the bearing sleeve comprises a circumferential bearing sleeve surface having bearing sleeve markings corresponding to the bores; and the adjusting nut comprises a circumferential adjusting nut surface having adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings, so that after positioning the working side of the impeller in relation to the casing, closest markings on the circumferential bearing sleeve surface and the circumferential adjusting nut surface are aligned to allow each fastener to be installed in a respective set of the corresponding bores and openings.

16. An impeller/casing adjustment combination for adjusting an impeller in relation to a casing of a pump, comprising: a pump shaft having a pump shaft surface with pump shaft threads configured on one end, and having an impeller configured on another end; a bearing sleeve configured to couple to the pump shaft, and also configured with a bearing sleeve surface having bores for receiving fasteners, the bores being arranged uniformly about the pump shaft at a first predetermined angle; and an adjusting nut configured with a central bore having central bore threads to rotationally couple to the pump shaft threads of the pump shaft, configured to rotate in relation to the bearing sleeve and move the pump shaft axially to adjust an impeller clearance between a working side of the impeller and a casing of a pump, and configured with an adjusting nut surface having openings that are different in number than the bores, the openings being arranged uniformly about the pump shaft at a second predetermined angle that is different from the first predetermined angle; sets of corresponding bores and openings configured to align at predetermined angular intervals defined by a differential relationship between the first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle, e.g., including at the predetermined angular intervals of about every 9° or 15°, when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

17. An impeller/casing adjustment combination according to claim 16, wherein the bores include eight (8) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°, and the openings include six (6) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 60°, or the bores include six (6) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 60°, , and the openings include eight (8) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45° ; and the predetermined angular intervals are about 15°.

18. An impeller/casing adjustment combination according to claim 16, wherein either the bores include eight (8) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°, and the openings include ten (10) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 36°, or the bores include ten (10) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 36°, and the openings include eight (8) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45/°; and the predetermined angular intervals are about 9°.

19. An impeller/casing adjustment combination according to claim 16, wherein the pump shaft comprises a pump shaft surface having a predetermined number of threads per inch (TPI) that determines the travel of the adjusting nut when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve during the adjustment of the impeller clearance; and the predetermined angular intervals are configured to determine the increments for setting the impeller clearance when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

20. An impeller/casing adjustment combination according to claim 16, wherein the bearing sleeve comprises a circumferential bearing sleeve surface having bearing sleeve markings corresponding to the bores; and the adjusting nut comprises a circumferential adjusting nut surface having adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings, so that after positioning the working side of the impeller in relation to the casing, closest markings on the circumferential bearing sleeve surface and the circumferential adjusting nut surface are aligned to allow each fastener to be installed in a respective set of the corresponding bores and openings.

21. A pump according to claim 5, wherein the circumferential adjusting nut surface includes one or more additional adjusting nut markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings.

22. A pump according to claim 21, wherein the one or more additional adjusting nut markings includes three additional adjusting nut markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings spaced equi-distantly so as to be at about 15° intervals.

23. A pump according to claim 22, wherein the one or more additional adjusting nut marking are slightly shorter in length than the adjusting nut marks corresponding to the openings.

24. A pump comprising: a bearing sleeve configured to couple to a pump shaft, and also configured with a bearing sleeve surface having bores for receiving fasteners, the bores being arranged uniformly about the pump shaft at a first predetermined angle; and an adjusting nut configured with a central bore having central bore threads to rotationally couple to pump shaft threads of the pump shaft, configured to rotate in relation to the bearing sleeve and move the pump shaft axially to adjust an impeller clearance between a working side of an impeller arranged on the pump shaft and a casing of rotating equipment, and configured with an adjusting nut surface having openings that are different in number than the bores, the openings being arranged uniformly about the pump shaft at a second predetermined angle that is different from the first predetermined angle; sets of corresponding bores and openings configured to align at predetermined angular intervals defined by a differential relationship between the first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

25. A pump according to claim 24, wherein either the bores include eight (8) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°, and the openings include six (6) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 60°, or the bores include six (6) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 60°, and the openings include eight (8) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45° ; and the predetermined angular intervals are about 15°.

26. A pump according to claim 25, wherein either the bores include eight (8) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°, and the openings include ten (10) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 36°, or the bores include ten (10) bores uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 36°, and the openings include eight (8) openings uniformly arranged about the pump shaft at about 45°; and the predetermined angular intervals are about 9°.

27. A pump according to claim 25, wherein the pump shaft comprises a pump shaft surface having a predetermined number of threads per inch (TPI) that determines the travel of the adjusting nut when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve during the adjustment of the impeller clearance; and the predetermined angular intervals are configured to determine the increments for setting the impeller clearance when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

28. A pump according to claim 25, wherein the bearing sleeve comprises a circumferential bearing sleeve surface having bearing sleeve markings corresponding to the bores; and the adjusting nut comprises a circumferential adjusting nut surface having adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings, so that after positioning the working side of the impeller in relation to the casing, closest markings on the circumferential bearing sleeve surface and the circumferential adjusting nut surface are aligned to allow each fastener to be installed in a respective set of the corresponding bores and openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0041] The drawing includes the following Figures:

[0042] FIG. 1 includes FIGS. 1A(1), 1A(2), 1B and 1C, where FIG. 1A(1) is a ¾ cross-sectional view of a vertical sump pump that is known in the art as an ITT Goulds3171 Vertical Sump and Process Pump; where FIG. 1A(2) is a ½ vertical cross-sectional schematic view of the vertical sump pump shown in FIG. 1A(1); where FIG. 1B shows steps for an adjustment procedure of the vertical sump pump shown in FIG. 1A(1) using a dial indicator method; and where FIG. 1C shows steps for an adjustment procedure of the vertical sump pump shown in FIG. 1A(1) using a feeler gauge method.

[0043] FIG. 2 includes FIGS. 2A and 2B, where FIG. 2A is a ¾ cross-sectional view of a pump that is known in the art as Flowserve Model ECPJ; and where FIG. 2B is a partial right side ½ cross-sectional schematic view of the pump shown in FIG. 2A.

[0044] FIG. 3A is a ¾ longitudinal cross-sectional view of a pump that is known in the art as a Flowserve Model Durco Mark 3.

[0045] FIG. 3B includes FIGS. 3B(1), 3B(2), 3B(3) and 3B(4), where FIG. 3B(1) is a perspective side sectional view of the pump that is known in the art as a Flowserve Model Durco Mark 3 and shown in FIG. 3A; where FIG. 3B(2) shows step 1 for an adjustment procedure of the pump shown in FIG. 3B(1); where FIG. 3B(3) shows step 2 for the adjustment procedure of the pump shown in FIG. 3B(1); and where FIG. 3B(4) shows step 3 for the adjustment procedure of the pump shown in FIG. 3B(1).

[0046] FIG. 4 is a ½ longitudinal cross-sectional schematic view of a pump disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,213 B1 that is known in the art.

[0047] FIG. 5 includes FIGS. 5A and 5B, where FIG. 5A is a ¾ cross-sectional view of a vertical sump pump according to the present invention; and where FIG. 5B is a ½ vertical cross-sectional schematic view of the vertical sump pump shown in FIG. 5A, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 6 includes FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, where FIG. 6A is a ½ vertical cross-sectional view of a vertical sump pump according to the present invention; where FIG. 6B is a ½ vertical cross-sectional schematic view of a bearing assembly that forms part of the vertical sump pump shown in FIG. 6A; and where FIG. 6C is a ½ vertical cross-sectional schematic view of an impeller casing assembly that forms part of the vertical sump pump shown in FIG. 6A, all according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of part of the bearing assembly shown in FIG. 6B, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 8 includes FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, where FIG. 8A is a top down view of a bearing sleeve that forms part of the bearing assembly shown in FIG. 7; where FIG. 8B is a top down view of an adjusting nut that forms part of the bearing assembly shown in FIG. 7; and where FIG. 8C is a diagram of an overlay the adjusting nut shown in FIG. 8B and the bearing sleeve (in phantom).

[0051] FIG. 9 is a side view of part of the bearing assembly shown in FIG. 7 showing scale marking on the circumferential surface of the adjusting nut and the bearing sleeve, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 10 includes FIG. 10A and 10B, where FIG. 10A shows a bearing sleeve arranged in relation to an adjusting nut where the impeller and casing are in contact with one another before an impeller running clearance is set; and where FIG. 10B shows the bearing sleeve arranged in relation to adjusting nut after the alignment of a bearing sleeve index marking and a selected adjusting nut marking are aligned and the impeller running clearance between the impeller and the casing is set at about 0.012″.

[0053] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an alternative 10-8 hole bore combination, where the adjusting nut may be configured with 10 holes, and the bearing sleeve may be configured with 8 bores, e.g., achieving about a 9° adjustment intervals when using a shaft surface having 20 TPI, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] FIGS. 5-9 show the present invention, which is described in further detail below:

[0055] By way of example, FIGS. 5-6 shows a pump generally indicated as 10 (FIG. 6A), which takes the form of a vertical sump pump as shown, although the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind of pump either now known or later developed in the future, e.g., including horizontal pumps.

[0056] The pump 10 includes a motor 12, a motor support member 14, a bearing assembly 16, a shaft 18, a shaft casing 20, an impeller/casing assembly 22, a discharge assembly 24, a discharge 26 and a pump support plate 28. The impeller/casing assembly 22 includes an impeller 22a, a casing member or surface 22b, a casing bottom plate 22c, a casing housing 22d and a casing outlet 22e. The impeller 22a has a working side 22a′ and a non-working side 22a″, as shown in FIG. 6C.

[0057] In operation, the motor 12 turns the shaft 18, which drives the impeller 22a inside the casing housing 22d, draws fluid F.sub.i through the casing bottom plate 22c into the casing housing 22d, and discharges fluid Fo from the casing housing 22d via the casing outlet 22e to discharge assembly 24 and via the discharge tubing 26 to the surface. The shaft 18 couples the motor 12 and the impeller 22a, and is arranged in the bearing assembly 16 (see FIG. 5A). The bearing assembly 16 includes bearings 16a and is rotationally coupled to the adjusting nut 50 and configured to provide rotational support for the shaft 18 when rotated. The bearing assembly 16 includes many other parts/components that have similarity in design to the above mentioned prior art shown in FIG. 2, e.g., including the manner in which the bearing assembly 16 is configured and coupled in relation to the motor support member 14; and the manner in which the bearing assembly 16 is configured and coupled to the pump shaft 18 in allow the impeller 22a to be raised and lowered with respect to the casing member 22b.

[0058] However, in contrast to that disclosed in relation to FIG. 2, the bearing assembly 16 according to the present invention includes a new and unique combination of a bearing sleeve 40 and an adjusting nut 50, which allows a new and very effective way to more precisely adjust the clearance between the impeller 22a and the casing member 22b (See FIG. 6C). As described in relation to FIG. 6B, by removing the two screws/fasteners 60 and turning the adjusting nut 50, the impeller clearance can be adjusted, e.g., consistent with that set forth herein.

[0059] For example, the bearing sleeve 40 may be configured to couple to the pump shaft 18. The coupling may take the form of a key-based coupling arrangement, where the bearing sleeve 40 has a keying portion 41 with a key 41a (see FIG. 8A) that couples to a corresponding key on the surface of the shaft 18 so that, when the shaft 18 rotates, the bearing sleeve 40 also rotates in relation to the bearings 16a of the bearing assembly 16. Key-based coupling techniques, e.g., between a shaft like element 18 and a bearing sleeve like element 40 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. As shown in FIG. 8A, the bearing sleeve 40 may also be configured with a bearing sleeve surface 42 having bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h (see FIG. 8A) with bore threads for engaging fastener threads of fasteners like elements 60 (see FIGS. 5B, 7 and 9). (In order to reduce clutter in the drawing, including FIG. 8A, one bore thread is labelled as 42f′.)

[0060] The adjusting nut 50 may be configured with a central bore 51 having central bore threads 51a to rotationally couple to pump shaft threads of a pump shaft surface of the shaft 18. By way of example, the reader is referred to FIG. 2A, which shows the pump shaft threads. The adjusting nut 50 may also be configured to rotate in relation to the bearing sleeve 50 and move (raise or lower) the pump shaft 18 axially to adjust the impeller clearance between the working side 22a′ of the impeller 22a arranged on the shaft 18 and the casing member 22b of the pump 10. As shown in FIG. 8B, the adjusting nut 50 may also be configured with an adjusting nut surface 52 having openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f that are different in number than the bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h (see FIG. 8A) of the bearing sleeve. According to the present invention, sets of corresponding bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h (see FIG. 8A) and openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f are configured to align every 15° when the adjusting nut 50 is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve 40 in either rotational direction in order to receive the fasteners 60 (see FIGS. 5B, 7 and 9) to couple the adjusting nut 50 to the bearing sleeve 40 when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed. In effect, the bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h may be configured or formed in the bearing sleeve 40, and the openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f may be configured or formed to pass completely through the adjusting nut 52, so that each fastener 60 passes completely through the adjusting nut 50 and fastener threads engage a respective thread of a respective bore 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h.

[0061] Consistent with that shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h (FIG. 8A) may include eight (8) bores, and the openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f (FIG. 8B) may include six (6) openings. The bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h may be equally spaced about the bearing sleeve surface 42 about 45° apart; and the openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f may be equally spaced about 60° apart about the adjusting nut surface 42. Consistent with that shown in FIG. 8C, when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed, one set of the corresponding bores and openings (e.g., like bore 42a and openings 52a) and may be diametrically opposed from another set of the corresponding bores and openings (e.g., like bore 42e and opening 52d) on opposite sides of the bearing sleeve surface 42 and adjusting nut surface 52 in order to receive the fasteners 60 (see FIGS. 5B, 7 and 9) to couple the adjusting nut 50 to the bearing sleeve 40. In effect, consistent with that described in relation to FIG. 7, the combination of hole pattern having eight 45° spaced-apart bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h (FIG. 8A) and six 60° spaced-apart openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f allows two (2) holes (i.e., two bore/opening combinations) to line up every 15° and achieve an impeller clearance to within 0.0012″ (based upon using a standard thread) of the best hydraulic performance setting. FIG. 8C shows an overlay of the bearing sleeve 40 and the adjusting nut 50, e.g., with the bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h (FIG. 8A) shown in phantom lines. FIG. 8C also shows diametrically opposed bores/openings 42a/52a, 42e/52d aligned in the present position shown, shows how a 15° clockwise rotation of the adjusting nut 50 will align diametrically opposed bores/openings 42d/52c, 42h/52f, and shows how a 15° counterclockwise rotation of the adjusting nut 50 will align diametrically opposed bores/openings 42b/52b, 42f/52e. As a person skilled in the art would also appreciate, FIG. 8C also shows how a 30° clockwise rotation of the adjusting nut 50 will align diametrically opposed bores/openings 42c/52b, 42g/52e, and shows how a 30° counterclockwise rotation of the adjusting nut 50 will align diametrically opposed bores/openings 42c/52c, 42g/52f.

[0062] Consistent with that shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the bearing sleeve 40 may include a circumferential bearing sleeve surface 44 having bearing sleeve markings (e.g., like elements labeled 44c, 44d, 44e) corresponding to the bores 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 42g, 42h. According to the present invention, the bores 42a, 42b, 42f, 42g, 42hare understood to also have corresponding bearing sleeve markings that are not shown in the drawing. Similarly, the adjusting nut 50 may include a circumferential adjusting nut surface 54 having adjusting nut markings (e.g., like elements labeled 54b, 54c, 54d) corresponding to the openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f, so that after positioning the working side 22a′ of the impeller 22a in relation to the casing member 22b, closest markings on the circumferential bearing sleeve surface 44 and the circumferential adjusting nut surface 54 are aligned to allow each fastener 60 to be installed in a respective set of the corresponding bores and openings like elements 42a, 52aand 42e, 52d shown in FIG. 8C. According to the present invention, the openings 52a, 52e, 52f are understood to also have corresponding adjusting nut markings that are not shown in the drawing. (The adjusting nut markings are also known herein as “hole/opening locator markings.”) In effect, consistent with that described in FIG. 9, after positioning the impeller 22a, it is only necessary to align the closest markings on the bearing sleeve 40 and adjusting nut 50 to allow the fasteners 60 to be installed. As a person skilled in the art would also appreciate, FIG. 9 also shows that the next set of holes are 15° apart, and then 30°.

[0063] In addition to the six adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f of the adjusting nut 50, the circumferential adjusting nut surface 54 may also include additional markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings. By way of example, FIGS. 7 and 9-10 show three additional markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings, some of which are provided reference labels 54b.sub.3, 54c.sub.3, 54d.sub.1, 54d.sub.2. As shown, the three additional markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings are spaced equi-distantly so as to be at 15° intervals. In effect, the six adjusting nut markings and the three additional markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings combine to form 24 adjusting nut marks, spaced equi-distantly about the circumferential adjusting nut surface 54 at 15° intervals. In FIGS. 7 and 9-10, the adjusting nut markings corresponding to the openings 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e, 52f are shown as slightly longer markings in length extending in parallel along the shaft axis, while the three additional adjusting nut markings between each pair of adjusting nut markings are shown as slightly shorter markings in corresponding length. The difference in the length between the two sets of markings helps a user visually distinguish the different types of markings.

[0064] The three additional shorter markings between each pair of adjusting nut longer markings may be used to further simplify how a user would set the impeller running clearance without the need of any measuring devices.

[0065] By way of example, the steps to set the impeller running clearance may include the following: [0066] 1) Rotate the adjusting nut 50 until the adjusting nut surface disengages from the bearing sleeve surface 42, the impeller 22a is now in contact with the casing. [0067] 2) Rotate the adjusting nut 50 in the opposite direction until the adjusting nut surface comes in contact with the bearing sleeve surface 42. [0068] 3) Locate the “hole/opening locator marking” which is closest to a bearing sleeve marking. In FIG. 10A, see the location where the bearing sleeve marking 44d and “hole/opening locator marking” 54d, and compare to the corresponding location where bearing sleeve marking 44c and “hole/opening locator marking” 54c. The bearing sleeve marking that is closest to the hole/opening locator marking will now be the user's selected bearing sleeve index marking that is referenced as 44d in FIG. 10A. This can be considered a so-called “zero” point for this pumping device as it coincides with a zero gap between the impeller 22a and the casing, e.g., based upon step 2 above. [0069] 4) Count a predetermined amount of adjusting nut markings (determined by the amount of Impeller clearance required) on the adjusting nut 50, in the opposite direction of the intended adjusting nut rotational direction. For instance, if the desired impeller running clearance is 0.012 in, and each marking represents 0.0023 in, then the number of adjusting nut index markings that should be counted is 5 (e.g., since 0.012/0.0023=about 5). Then starting from the adjusting nut marking 54d, select an adjusting nut marking corresponding to the count of 5, which is referenced as the adjusting nut marking 54b.sub.3, as shown in FIG. 10A. Rotate the adjusting not 50 so the selected adjusting nut marking 54b.sub.3 on the adjusting nut surface 54 is aligned with the selected bearing sleeve index marking 44d on the bearing sleeve 40 as shown in FIG. 10B. [0070] 5) As shown in FIG. 10B, there will now also be two holes/openings in the adjusting nut 50 aligned with two bores in the bearing sleeve 40. They can be located by looking for the “hole/opening locator marking” on the adjusting nut 50 which is in alignment with a bearing sleeve marking. In FIG. 10B, by way of one example, see where the “hole/opening locator marking” 54b on the adjusting nut surface 54 and the bearing sleeve marking 44c on the circumferential bearing sleeve surface 44 are aligned. (By way of example, this may or may not be the originally selected index marking on the bearing sleeve 40.) Place the fasteners 60 at these two locations fasten the adjusting nut 50 to the bearing sleeve 40 to set the impeller running clearance.

FIG. 11

[0071] FIG. 11 shows an alternative 10-8 hole-bore combination, where the adjusting nut may be configured with 10 holes, and the bearing sleeve may be configured with 8 bores, e.g., achieving about a 9° adjustment interval when using a shaft surface having 20 TPI, result in about 0.00125″ of shaft travel, and allowing an impeller setting accuracy of about 0.00063″.

[0072] FIG. 11 shows the 10 holes or openings of the adjusting nut like element 50 (e.g. see FIGS. 8 and 8B) as reference labels 152a, 152b, 152c, 152d, 152e, 152f, 152g, 152h, 152i, 152j, e.g., arranged uniformly around the centerline of the pump shaft at about 36° angles.

[0073] FIG. 11 shows the 8 bores of the bearing sleeve like element 40 (e.g. see FIGS. 8 and 8A) as reference labels 142a, 142b, 142c, 142d, 142e, 142f, 142g, 142h, e.g., arranged uniformly around the centerline the pump shaft at about 45° angles.

[0074] In FIG. 11, the symbol α=9°, which is the adjustment interval, e.g., when the adjusting nut is rotated in relation to the bearing sleeve in either direction in order to receive fasteners to couple the adjusting nut to the bearing sleeve when the adjustment of the impeller clearance is completed.

The Scope of the Invention

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.