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Vertical pump arrangement

Vertical pump arrangement description/claims

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to devices for configuring vertical pumps and methods for servicing vertical pumps.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vertically aligned pumps are used in many applications because of their relatively small “footprint,” i.e., the amount of floor space or area they need for installation and operation. A typical vertical centrifugal pump includes a centrifugal pump, an electric motor module superposed on the pump module, and an intermediate drive train that transmits rotary power from the motor module to the pump module. The small footprint is mostly attributed to the motor module being positioned vertically over the pump module.

In a conventional vertical pump arrangement, the weight of the motor module is typically supported directly or indirectly by a mechanical connection to the pump module. Such an arrangement can have certain disadvantages. For instance, servicing the drive train or pump module may first require removal of the motor module. In one conventional servicing operation, the motor module is disconnected from the pump module and moved to a separate storage area. Thereafter, one or more components of the drive train or pump module are repaired or replaced, e.g., seals, gaskets, impellers, etc. After servicing is completed, the motor module has to be moved back and reinstalled onto the pump module. Also, reinstallation of the motor module often requires the step of properly aligning the rotational axis of the rotating elements of the pump module and the motor module. As can be appreciated, servicing a vertical centrifugal pump module can be time consuming and expensive. Moreover, in some applications, vertical centrifugal pumps are employed in very harsh operating conditions. Such conditions, which can include high operating speeds, high pressures or contact with abrasive materials, can cause the components of a vertical pump to have relatively short operating lives. Thus, the time consuming and expensive service operation described above must be repeated frequently through the service life of the vertical pump. In some cases, the accumulated cost of these frequent servicing operations can be five to ten times the cost of the pump itself.

One conventional arrangement for reducing the difficulty for servicing a vertical centrifugal pump is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,612 (the '612 patent). The '612 patent teaches a vertical centrifugal pump that includes a frame separating a motor module casing and a pump casing to provide access to the bearing assembly. However, the frame is connected at one end to the motor module casing and connected at the other end to the pump casing. With this frame arrangement, most, if not all, of the weight of motor module section is applied to the pump section. Thus, access to the pump section will still require a separate operation for removing and separately supporting the motor module section.

The present disclosure is directed to the ever-present need for more easily serviceable vertical centrifugal pumps.

In aspects, the present disclosure provides a pump having a vertically and serially aligned pump module and motor module. In one arrangement, the motor module is positioned substantially vertically above the pump module and serially coupled thereto with a drive train. The pump includes a support member that substantially supports a weight of the motor module. The support member uncouples the pump module from the weight of the motor module by transferring a substantial portion of the weight of the motor module to a location below or adjacent to the pump module. In aspects, the present disclosure also includes methods for servicing vertical pumps. One exemplary method includes supporting a weight of the motor module using a support member, disconnecting the motor module from the pump module without moving the motor module; and servicing a selected component associated with the pump. The selected component can be the motor module, the pump module, the drive train, or any elements used within these devices. Such elements include wear components such as seals, impellers, stuffing box covers, wear pads, casings, gaskets, shaft sleeves, shafts, etc.

It should be understood that examples of the more important features of the disclosure have been summarized rather broadly in order that detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

For detailed understanding of the present disclosure, references should be made to the following detailed description of the described embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a pump in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a pump in accordance with the present disclosure with the pump module removed;

FIG. 2B illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a pump in accordance with the present disclosure with the motor module removed; and

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a pump module made in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

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• Utility Patent

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