US 11,536,289 B1Granted

Water pumping and distribution systems and louie pump assemblies

OwnerRick Spargoinventor

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Abstract

A pumping unit operable to pump water has a longitudinal pumping unit axis. A pump shaft engages shaft bearings in a pump shaft housing. A drain conduit includes a drain conduit inlet segment, a drain conduit ascending segment, and a drain conduit terminal segment. The drain conduit inlet segment has a longitudinal drain conduit axis disposed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal pumping unit axis. The drain conduit ascending segment is disposed at an obtuse angle to the drain conduit inlet segment. The drain conduit terminal segment is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the drain conduit ascending segment and is disposed at a level above the shaft bearing. Accordingly, backflow water flowing through the drain conduit terminal segment, the drain conduit ascending segment and the drain conduit inlet segment, respectively, flows into the pump shaft housing to contact and cool the shaft bearing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A pump assembly suitable for a water pumping and distribution system, comprising:

a pumping unit operable to pump water, the pumping unit having a longitudinal pumping unit axis;
a pump drive unit comprising:
a pump shaft housing;
at least one shaft bearing in the pump shaft housing;
a pump shaft engaging the at least one shaft bearing in the pump shaft housing, the pump shaft drivingly engaging the pumping unit;
and
a power unit drivingly engaging the pump shaft for rotation;
and
a drain conduit comprising:
a drain conduit inlet segment disposed in fluid communication with the pumping unit and the pump shaft housing of the pump drive unit, the drain conduit inlet segment having a longitudinal drain conduit axis disposed at an obtuse drain conduit inlet angle to the longitudinal pumping unit axis of the pumping unit;
a drain conduit ascending segment disposed in fluid communication with and ascending from the drain conduit inlet segment, the drain conduit ascending segment disposed at an obtuse ascending segment angle to the drain conduit inlet segment;
and
a drain conduit terminal segment disposed in fluid communication with the drain conduit ascending segment, the drain conduit terminal segment disposed at an obtuse terminal segment angle with respect to the drain conduit ascending segment, the drain conduit terminal segment disposed at a valve segment level above the at least one shaft bearing, whereby backflow water is capable of flowing through the drain conduit terminal segment, the drain conduit ascending segment and the drain conduit inlet segment, respectively, to flow into the pump shaft housing and contact the at least one shaft bearing.

10 more elements

A pump assembly suitable for a water pumping and distribution system, comprising:

a pumping unit operable to pump water, the pumping unit having a longitudinal pumping unit axis;
a pump drive unit comprising:
a pump shaft housing;
at least one shaft bearing in the pump shaft housing;
a pump shaft engaging the at least one shaft bearing in the pump shaft housing, the pump shaft drivingly engaging the pumping unit;
and
a power unit drivingly engaging the pump shaft for rotation;
a drain conduit comprising:
a drain conduit inlet segment disposed in fluid communication with the pumping unit and the pump shaft housing of the pump drive unit, the drain conduit inlet segment having a longitudinal drain conduit axis disposed at an obtuse drain conduit inlet angle to the longitudinal pumping unit axis of the pumping unit;
a drain conduit ascending segment disposed in fluid communication with and ascending from the drain conduit inlet segment, the drain conduit ascending segment disposed at an obtuse ascending segment angle to the drain conduit inlet segment;
and
a drain conduit terminal segment disposed in fluid communication with the drain conduit ascending segment, the drain conduit terminal segment disposed at an obtuse terminal segment angle with respect to the drain conduit ascending segment, the drain conduit terminal segment disposed at a valve segment level above the at least one shaft bearing, whereby backflow water is capable of flowing through the drain conduit terminal segment, the drain conduit ascending segment and the drain conduit inlet segment, respectively, to flow into the pump shaft housing and lubricate the at least one shaft bearing;
at least one flow control valve in the drain conduit, the at least one flow control valve configured to facilitate unidirectional flow of floodwater through the drain conduit from an upstream side to a downstream side of the at least one flow control valve;
and
a valve bypass assembly disposed in fluid communication with the drain conduit on the upstream side and the downstream side of the at least one flow control valve, the valve bypass assembly configured to facilitate bypass backflow of water with respect to the at least one flow control valve in the drain conduit, the valve bypass assembly comprising:
a bypass assembly inlet segment disposed in fluid communication with the drain conduit on the downstream side of the at least one flow control valve;
a valve bypass segment disposed in fluid communication with the bypass assembly inlet segment;
a bypass assembly outlet segment disposed in fluid communication with the valve bypass segment and the drain conduit on the upstream side of the at least one flow control valve;
and
at least one air vent disposed in pneumatic communication with the valve bypass segment.

17 more elements

A water pumping and distribution system, comprising:

a ditch;
a slope extending upwardly from the ditch;
elevated ground extending adjacent to and away from the slope;
a plain spreading adjacent to and away from the elevated ground;
at least one irrigation field on the plain;
and
a pump assembly comprising:
a pumping unit disposed along the slope in fluid communication with the ditch and operable to pump water from the ditch, the pumping unit having a longitudinal pumping unit axis;
a pump drive unit operably engaging the pumping unit, the pump drive unit comprising:
a pump shaft housing;
at least one shaft bearing in the pump shaft housing;
a pump shaft engaging the at least one shaft bearing in the pump shaft housing, the pump shaft drivingly engaging the pumping unit;
a power unit drivingly engaging the pump shaft for rotation;
and
a drain conduit extending along the lev ted ground and comprising:
a drain conduit inlet segment disposed in fluid communication with the pumping unit and the pump shaft housing of the pump drive unit, the drain conduit inlet segment having a longitudinal drain conduit axis disposed at an obtuse drain conduit inlet angle to the longitudinal pumping unit axis of the pumping unit;
a drain conduit ascending segment disposed in fluid communication with and ascending from the drain conduit inlet segment, the drain conduit ascending segment disposed at an obtuse ascending segment angle to the drain conduit inlet segment;
a drain conduit terminal segment disposed in fluid communication with the drain conduit ascending segment and extending along the elevated ground, the drain conduit terminal segment disposed at an obtuse terminal segment angle with respect to the drain conduit ascending segment, the drain conduit terminal segment disposed at a valve segment level above the at least one shaft bearing, whereby back flow water is capable of flowing through the drain conduit terminal segment, the drain conduit ascending segment and the drain conduit inlet segment, respectively, to flow into the pump shaft housing and lubricate the at least one shaft bearing;
at least one primary discharge conduit disposed in fluid communication with the drain conduit terminal segment and extending along the plain;
and
at least one secondary discharge conduit disposed in fluid communication with the at least one primary discharge conduit and discharging at the at least one irrigation field.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.