US3264999A

US3264999A - Tutthill submersible pump

Info

Publication number: US3264999A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1966-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-09

Description

Aug. 9, 1966 E. TUTTHILL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March L3, 1961 .9 I! 47. O 5 MW 2 7 I 34@% 5 K W w x I. 7

.L M m% mum m m VT mw m 51% 0 m m a m e w 2 5 2 7 .w w 7 5 Aug. 9, 1966 F. E. TUTTHILL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March L3, 1961 Fla--5 INVENTOR.

A TTOQNEYE.

United States Patent Oflice 3,254,999 Patented August 9, 1956 3,264,999 SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Fred E. Tutthill, Grafton, Ohio, assignor to Kenco Pump Division of the American Crucible Products Company, Lorain, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 152,703 13 Claims. (Cl. 103-87) This invention relates to submersible pumps and more particularly to submersible pumps adapted for use as bilge pumps and the like.

Submersible pumps have found wide use and adoption as bilge pumps for evacuating accumulated water and liquid from the bilges of small boats and the like. This use has found expanded application as boating has become an increasingly popular and common form of recreation.

Such popular use has, however, brought new demands for smaller, more efiicient, compact and economical submersible pumps as the existing art and practice has not provided the effective, low-cost submersible bilge pumps which widespread usage demands. Further the many and different sizes and designs of boats having limited sizes, shapes and functional arrangements of bilges and bilge pump locations have required the manufacture and sale of excessive numbers of styles and designs of pumps adapted for use for particular boats and pump locations and/or the modification and adaption of the boat and bilge pump locations to receive the existing styles and sizes of bilge pumps. The difliculties of the situation have been increased by the fact that many bilges and pump locations are small and require compact pump units. Heretofore such pumps could be located in only limited positions in view of the size and shape of the pump location and the relative disposition of the pump intake, and the pump discharge outlet. Further, bilges are frequently highly contaminated with debris and the like and prior pumps have frequently become clogged, inoperative and/ or damaged because of the inability to provide suffi-cient, efi'ective screening within the size and space confines required by the intended use of the pump.

The general object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a new, improved, and more efiicient and effective submersible pump for bilges and the like.

Other objects of this invention include the provision of a new, improved, and more efficient and effective submersible pump for bilges and the like, which is economically manufactured and used; which is adapted to have eifective and efiicient pumping action whether the pump be stood upright or laid on any of its sides; which is readily disposed to have proper relative location of pump inlet and outlet in pump locations of many shapes and sizes, with moderate adjustment readily accomplished, quickly and easily, with unskilled labor and without the need of elaborate or expensive tools, or any additional piping, fittings, coupling, or the like; which provides a large area of screening for protecting the pump from debris and the like without increasing the overall height of the pump or the overall diameter, except for the nominal thickness of the screen and securing means; which is adapted to be disposed in multiple positions either upright or on any of its sides and is provided with selectively adjusted means whereby to ensure evacuation of the bilge or receptacle in which it is disposed to a low level; which includes means for mounting over the pump intake opening which is readily disposed to effectively locate or extend the intake opening to a position closely adjacent the member upon which the pump is disposed whether the pump is disposed upright or on its sides-as required by considerations of size and shape of space and location of the discharge piping with which the pump is to be connected.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improved means, for submersible pumps and the like having central intake openings in their bottom, which locates or extends the eiiective intake opening in a selectively. predetermined direction to a position adjacent the side or lateral edge of the pump.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new, improved, and economical submersible pump which is low in cost; which has an improved housing structure, including improved means for joining the housing into a functional whole and sealing the motor chamber and improved means for screening the impeller; and, which has eifective pumping action whether it stands upright or is disposed on any of its sides, as selectively predetermined and easily and readily adjusted for by the user.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a submersible pump having and obtaining one or more of the objects and advantages hereinbefore set forth.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description of a preferred form thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of pump embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the pump shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the base member of the pump shown in FIGURE 1.

A pump embodying a preferred form of this invention is indicated generally at 1, FIGURES l and 2.

Pump 1 includes a conventional motor 2 having the usual rotor and stator (not shown) encased in a suitable, generally cylindrical casing 4 of metal or the like. Electrical leads 5 extend from the motor and are adapted for connection with a suitable power source. A shaft 7 extends from the rotor through the casing 4 and an impeller 10 is mounted thereon and driven thereby when the electrical circuit is completed through the motor.

In order to properly support and mount motor 2, while protecting and isolating it from water and other deleterious elements to which it would otherwise be exposed, during use, provide an elIective volute chamber for the impeller 10 and obtain the objects of this invention, motor 2 and impeller 10 are disposed within a housing, indicated generally at 11. Housing 11 includes a transverse member 13, which is disposed perpendicular to the axis of shaft 7 and divides the interior of the housing into a motor chamber 14 and an impeller chamber 16. As

will hereinafter more fully appear, motor chamber 14 is sealed so as to protect the motor against entry water and other liquids and deleterious matter. Housing 11 is provided with a suitable aperture 17, sealed, as by seal 19, through which the leads 5 are conducted and member 13,

of housing 11, is provided with a central aperture through which shaft 7 extends.

Volute 16 is provided with a suitable intake opening 22, disposed at and adjacent the eye of the impeller 10, and a discharge opening and outlet 23. Outlet 23 is adapted to be interconnected with suitable discharge piping at the use site, so that the pump efliuent can be conducted away from the bilge or space from which liquid is to be pumped.

In order to provide an eflicient, effective, low cost pump having the sealed motor chamber 14 and volute 16, housing 11 preferably includes a first cylindrical member 25 having a wall 26, an end 28, and a second substantially cylindrical member 30, having a longitudinally extending member 31 and the horizontal member 13, disposed intermediate the ends thereof.

Member 31 has a first cylindrical part defining the walls 33 of volute 16 and adapted to align with the wall 26 in the assembled housing 11 and a second cylindrical interlock member 34- which extends within member 25 and engages and seals against the interior of walls 26. To this end interlock 34 preferably includes an annular groove or seat 36, within which a conventional seal 37 is disposed. Seal 37 functionally engages both wall 26 and interlock member 34 and seals the opening therebetween.

In order to provide positive engagement between

members

25 and 30 of housing 11, as well as provide an economical unit, the said members are preferably molded as unitary plastic members. Wall 26 is provided with a plurality of internal, annular grooves 39 adjacent the open end of member 25 and interlock 34 has a plurality of external annular ribs 40, which have a slanted forward, upper as viewed, and perpendicular (relative to the axis of shaft 7) rearward (lower as viewed) surface. Ribs All are adapted to compress and slide past the grooves 39 as interlock 34 is forced into member 25 and then expand or press outwardly and interengage with the respective grooves 39 to prevent interlock 34 from being pulled out of housing member 25 once the ribs 40 have seated in the grooves. Accordingly, member 30 is molded of material, such as Delrin, having suflicient resiliency to cause the ribs to compress and then press outwardly into the grooves with an outwardly directed force of sufficient magnitude to ensure effective engagement between the housing members. This outwardly directed force, exerted by interlock 34, also, aids in ensuring a proper sealing engagement of the seal 37, with the interlock and wall 26.

Motor 2 is properly supported and aligned within housing portion 25 by means of the resilient rings 42 and 43, which engage the respective ends of the motor. Ring 42 is disposed within the interlock 34 and ring 43 is disposed within an annular seat 45 formed integrally with the top 28. Shims 46, also, are used, as required, to support the motor. Aperture 20 is sealed by a conventional running seal 43, disposed between the hub 49 of impeller and member 13 and a seal and seat 51 is, also, preferably mounted on hub 49.

Impeller 10 is preferably driven by means of

complementary flats

52 and 54 provided on shaft 7 and the interior of hub 49, respectively.

Housing 11, also, comprises a plate 55, which defines the remote (relative to motor chamber 14) end of volute 16, and in which intake opening 22 is formed.

Pump 1 also includes means, as noted above, so that the effective location of the intake opening may be selectively disposed and adjacent any side of pump 1, as well as at the bottom.

To this end pump 1 is provided with -a base 57 which is mounted on the housing by suitable means, such as screws 58, see FIGURE 3, and conveniently retains plate 55 in position.

Base 57, see FIGURE 4, comprises an imperforate bottom member 60 and a perpendicular baffle or wall member 61, which engages against the adjacent, lower as viewed, side 63 of plate 55.

Baffle 61 is closed on three sides, has an opening 64 adjacent one edge or side of base 57 and is shaped and disposed so that it cooperates with the bottom member 60 and the plate 55 to define a conduit or passageway from the edge 62 of the base 57 to the intake opening 22. Edge 62 of base 57 is preferably adapted substantially to align with the sides of the pump. Further base 57 is symmetrical so that by removing screws 58 and rotating base 57, relative to the axis of shaft 7, the opening 55 may be placed in any direction relative to the axis of the shaft, so that the opening 64, which becomes the effective pump intake opening, is closely adjacent the support, floor, deck, etc. upon which the pump is used no matter upon which side the pump is set. Thus the water or liquid to be pumped may be evacuated to the bottom of the receptacle, bilge or area within which it collects, or to the level of the support upon which the pump is disposed, if such support be above the bottom of the receptacle, bilge, etc.

An indicia 65, see FIGURE 3, is conveniently provided on the underside of bottom member 60 so that the user may readily know in which direction the opening 64 faces. As shown, the pump is disposed with the indicia, arrow, 65, pointing up, so as to dispose the opening (pump intake) at the lower side of the pump, and the pump intake may be disposed at the lower side of the pump no matter which side the pump might be set by rotating the base as desired.

When the pump is used in an upright position, the opening 64 may extend in any direction as the effective opening will always be at the bottom of the pump.

Pump 1 is also provided with improved screen means for protecting and covering the intake opening without regard to the direction in which opening 64 is disposed. The screen means is adapted to provide a large screen area without increasing the height or diameter, beyond the thickness of the material and fastening used, of the pump.

To this end a collar 66, preferably having a square perimeter and a flange 67, is mounted on the exterior of housing member 25 and base member 57 is provided with a similar square perimeter and a flange 69. The

flanges

67 and 69 extend toward each other and screen means 70 is disposed between the collar 66 and base 57 and is retained in place by the

flanges

67 and 69. Base member 57 also, preferably includes a plurality of stops or lugs 71, which prevent the screen means from being forced inwardly at its adjacent edges. Screen means 70 preferably comprises four molded plastic members 73, of similar size and shape. One screen 73 is mounted on each side of the pump and one screen 73 is pierced as at 74, FIGURE 1, so that outlet 23 may extend therethrough.

In use a pump embodying this invention is disposed in the desired bilge or location of use. If the pump must or is disposed to set on a predetermined or desired side, the base plate is first loosened and positioned, using the indicia as a guide, so that opening 64 opens toward the side upon which the pump is to set. The pump is then actuated, by any desired means, and evacuates the bilge, sump or receptacle within which it is disposed until the liquid level therein is reduced to the level of opening 64 and the pump draws air. Screens 73 protect the pump against deleterious matter which would otherwise reach the impeller or clog the intake opening and the entire structure of the pump is economical and compact, yet efficient and effective.

Impeller 10 is preferably molded of Delrin or other plastic of substantially similar material to the end that the impeller is retained on shaft 7 by an interlocking rib and groove structure whereby the hub expands sufficiently to permit the impeller to be pushed over shaft 7 until the rib and groove are aligned annularly and then contracts so that the rib seats in the groove retaining said impeller on said shaft. To this end shaft 7 is preferably provided with annular groove 76 and hub 49 with the complementary internal annular rib 77.

Also other complementary non-circular shapes may be used, instead of

flats

52 and 54, to transmit torque between shaft 7 and impeller 10, if desired.

Further each screen 73 is preferably provided with spaced parallel flanges extending perpendicularly therefrom at one edge and engaging on either side of the edge of the next adjacent screen in order to stiffen the screen and to limit and prevent relative displacement of the adjacent edges of adjacent screens.

Modifications, changes and improvements to the preferred form of the invention herein described may occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the principles and precepts thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the patent issued hereon should be limited by the advance by which the invention has promoted the art and not by the specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed and described.

I claim:

1. In a submersible pump comprising a housing, a motor, disposed within said housing, and having a shaft extending therefrom, and an impeller, disposed within said housing, and mounted on and driven by said shaft, the improvement of said housing comprising a first cylindrical member, having a side Wall, a closed end, an open end, and a plurality of parallel, internal annular grooves adjacent said open end, a second substantially cylindrical member having a longitudinally extending portion with a trasverse wall intermediate its end, one end of said longitudinally extending portion comprising an interlock and being disposed within said first cylindrical member and engaging the interior of said side Wall and having a plurality of external, parallel, annular ribs, having slanted surfaces facing toward said closed end and fiat, transverse surfaces facing away from said closed end and engaging in and interengag ing with said grooves and exerting an outwardly directed force on said side wall, an annular groove in said interlock, a seal in said annular interlock groove, said seal engaging and sealing between said side wall and said interlock, said first cylindrical member and said transverse wall defining a motor chamber, said motor being disposed in said motor chamber, an aperture in said transverse wall and said shaft extending therethru, a plate closing the end of said longitudinally extending portion remote from said interlock, said plate, transverse wall and longitudinally extending portion therebetween defining a volute chamber, said impeller disposed in said volute chamber, a discharge outlet from saidvolute chamber in said longitudinally extending portion, an intake opening in said plate at the center of said impeller, a running seal on said shaft sealing said aperture, a base detachably secured to said housing exteriorly of said plate, said base comprising an imperforate bottom member, with a square perimeter having a perpendicular flange extending toward said housing, and a perpendicular baflle wall extending between said bottom member and said plate and being closed on three sides and opening toward the fourth side adjacent one edge of said bottom member, a collar mounted on said first cylindrical mem ber remote from said base and having a square perimeter with a perpendicular flange extending toward said base, said flanges of said collar and base being aligned, a plurality of molded plastic screens, disposed, one to a side, between said base and collar andpositioned and restrained against outward displacement by said flanges, respectively, and lugs on said bottom member of said base restraining the adjacent portions of said screens, respectively, against inward displacement.

2. In a submersible pump comprising a housing, a motor having a shaft extending therefrom, and an impeller mounted on said shaft and driven thereby, the improvement of said housing comprising a first part defining the side wall and one end of a motor chamber within which said motor is disposed, a second part having a generally cylindrical side portion and a transverse wall intermediate its ends, and a plate closing one end of said second part, said transverse wall, plate and the part of said side portion therebetween defining a volute, said transverse wall defining the other end of said motor chamber, an aperture in said transverse wall, said motor shaft extending through said aperture and said impeller being disposed in said volute, a discharge outlet leading from said volute and an intake opening in said plate central of said impeller, said part of said side portion more remote from said plate than said transverse Wall extending within said side wall, and interengaging complementary annular rib and groove means on said side wall and adjacent part of said side portion, respectively, and retaining a part of said side portion within said first part of said housing to close said motor chamber.

3. The pump according to claim 2 with a base member detachably mounted on said housing, said base having a bottom member extending parallel with said plate and a batfle wall spacing said bottom member from said plate, said baflle Wall having an opening in one direction only, said baflle opening being nearer the side of said pump toward which said baflle opening faces than said intake opening whereby to extend said intake opening toward said direction, said bottom member being imperforate within said baflle wall.

4. The pump according to claim 3 in which said base is selectively rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said bottom member whereby to extend said intake opening in a plurality of selectively predeterminable directions.

5. The pump according to claim 3 in which a collar is mounted on said housing, and screen means is carried by said collar and base and extends therebetween, said screen means cincumscribing said pump and being disposed exteriorly of said baffle opening and within said iImper-forate portion of said bottom member.

6. The pump according to claim 5 in which said collar and base have aligned flanges extending toward each other and said screen means is restrained against outward displacement by said flanges.

7. The pump according to claim 6 in which said flanges enclose a square and said screen means comprises 'fiour members, one disposed on each side of said square, and provide flat sides for said pump.

8. The pump according to claim 2 in Which said annular rib and groove means comprises a plurality of grooves and a plurality of ribs on said side wall and side portion, and said ribs are resiliently urged into said grooves and have one surface sloping away from the direction of entry of said second part into said first part and a second surface nearest said transverse wall and substanitally parallel therewith.

9. In a submersible pump including a housing defining a motor chamber having a motor therein and a volute chamber having an impeller therein adapted to be driven by the motor, and including a bottom plate having an aperture providing an intake opening at the center of the impeller, the improvement of a base mounted on said pump, said base comprising a bottom member extending parallel with said plate and a baffle wall engaging against said plate and spacing said bottom member there- .from, said baflle wall opening in one direction laterally olfset from said intake opening, said ibottom member being imperforate within said baflle wall whereby to extend said intake opening toward said direction in which said baflle wall opens.

10. The pump according to claim 9 in which said base is detachably secured to said housing and is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said bottom member to dispose said bafile wall opening to open in a selectively predetermined direction whereby to extend said intake opening in said predetermined direction.

11. The pump according to claim '10 with an indicia on the side of said bottom-member remote from said plate to indicate the direction in which said baffle Wall lopening faces.

12. The pump according to claim 7 with means to prevent relative displacement of the adjacent edges of adjacent screens.

13. The pump according to claim 12 in which said means comprises spaced parallel flanges formed integral with and extending perpendicular to a said screen and engaging on either side of and adjacent said screen.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, JOSEPH H. BRANSON, JR.,

Examiners.

Claims

1. IN A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP COMPRISING A HOUSING, A MOTOR, DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AND HAVING A SHAFT EXTENDING THEREFROM, AND AN IMPELLER, DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AND MOUNTED ON AND DRIVEN BY SAID SHAFT, THE IMPROVEMENT OF SAID HOUSING COMPRISING A FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, HAVING A SIDE WALL, A CLOSED END, AN OPEN END, AND A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL, INTERNAL ANNULAR GROOVES ADJACET SAID OPEN END, A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION WITH A TRAVERSE WALL INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, ONE END OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION COMPRISING AN INTERLOCK AND BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND ENGAGING THE INTERIOR OF SAID SIDE WALL AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF EXTERNAL, PARALLEL, ANNULAR RIBS, HAVING SLANTED SURFACES FACING TOWARD SAID CLOSED END AND FLAT, TRANSVERSE SURFACES FACING AWAY FROM SAID CLOSED END AND ENGAGING IN AND INTERENGAGING WITH SAID GROOVES AND EXERTING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED FORCE ON SAID SIDE WALL, AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN SAID INTERLOCK, A SEAL IN SAID ANNULAR INTERLOCK GROOVE, SAID SEAL ENGAGEMENT AND SEALING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALL AND SAID INTERLOCK, SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND SAID TRANSVERSE WALL DEFINING A MOTOR CHAMBER, SAID MOTOR BEING DISPOSED IN SAID MOTOR CHAMBER, AN APERTURE IN SAID TRANSVERSE WALL AND SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THERETHRU, A PLATE CLOSING THE END OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION REMOTE FROM SAID INTERLOCK, SAID PLATE TRANSVERSE WALL AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION THEREBETWEEN DEFINING A VOLUTE CHAMBER, SAID IMPELLER DISPOSED IN SAID VOLUTE CHAMBER, A DISCHARGE OUTLET FROM SAID VOLUTE CHAMBER IN SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION, AN INTAKE OPENING IN SAID PLATE AT THE CENTER OF SAID IMPELLER, A RUNNING SEAL ON SAID SHAFT SEALING SAID APERTURE, A BASE DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID HOUSING EXTERIORLY OF SAID PLATE, SAID BASE COMPRISING AN IMPERFORATE BOTTOM MEMBER, WITH A SQUARE PERIMETER HAVING A PERPENDICULAR FLANGE EXTENDING TOWARD SAID HOUSING, AND A PERPENDICULAR BAFFLE WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM MEMBER AND SAID PLATE AND BEING CLOSED ON THREE SIDES AND OPENING TOWARD THE FOURTH SIDE ADJACENT ONE EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM MEMBER, A COLLAR MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER REMOTE FROM SAID BASE AND HAVING A SQUARE PERIMETER WITH A PERPENDICULAR FLANGE EXTENDING TOWARD SAID BASE, SAID FLANGES OF SAID COLLAR AND BASE BEING ALIGNED, A PLURALITY OF MOLDED PLASTIC SCREENS, DISPOSED, ONE TO A SIDE, BETWEEN SAID BASE AND COLLAR AND POSITIONED AND RESTRAINED AGAINST OUTWARD DISPLACEMENT BY SAID FLANGES, RESPECTIVELY, AND LUGS ON SAID BOTTOM MEMBER OF SAID BASE RESTRICTING THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID SCREENS RESPECTIVELY, AGAINST INWARD DISPLACEMENT.