Impeller attachment method

A slurry pump, comprising:

• a pumping assembly combination configured with a casing having first and second outer casing subcomponents and an impeller arranged therein, the impeller configured with a tapered bore having tapered impeller threads formed therein;
• and
• a combination of a power frame, a pedestal, a bearing cartridge mounted on the pedestal and configured with a power transmission shaft arranged therein, the combination being configured to slide the power frame and bearing cartridge in relation to the pedestal and a first outer casing subcomponent of the casing of the pump assembly combination along the axis of the power transmission shaft when attaching the impeller to the power transmission shaft during assembly and when removing the impeller from the power transmission shaft during disassembly, the power transmission shaft having a tapered shaft end with tapered shaft threads configured to couple directly to, and rotationally mate and frictionally engage with, the tapered impeller threads of the tapered bore of the impeller when aligned along the axis of the power transmission shaft, so as to transmit torque directly through the tapered shaft threads and provide axial and/or radial self alignment even if rotational coupling and engagement of the tapered shaft threads and the tapered impeller threads start out of alignment along the axis of the power transmission shaft when the power frame and bearing cartridge are slid in relation to the pedestal and the first outer casing subcomponent of the casing of the pump assembly combination during the alignment of the tapered impeller threads of the impeller of the pump assembly combination and the tapered shaft threads of the tapered shaft end of the power transmission shaft, the tapered impeller threads and the tapered shaft threads forming a tapered thread configuration that substantially reduces the need for lifting equipment and time needed for the assembly and disassembly of the impeller and the power transmission shaft, substantially eliminates the need for a precise alignment of the tapered shaft threads and the tapered impeller threads when the power transmission shaft is attached to the impeller, and reduces the number of turns to release the tapered shaft threads from the tapered impeller threads when the power transmission shaft is removed from the impeller.

A method of attachment of a combination of a power frame, pedestal, bearing cartridge and power transmission shaft to a pumping assembly combination of a slurry pump, comprising:

• configuring a pumping assembly combination with a casing having first and second outer casing subcomponents and an impeller arranged therein that has a tapered bore having tapered impeller threads formed therein;
• configuring a combination of a power frame, a pedestal, a bearing cartridge mounted on the pedestal and configured with a power transmission shaft arranged therein having a tapered shaft end with tapered shaft threads, so that the power frame and bearing cartridge can be slid in relation to the pedestal and a first outer casing subcomponent of the casing of the pump assembly combination along the axis of the power transmission shaft when attaching the impeller to the power transmission shaft during assembly and when removing the impeller from the power transmission shaft during disassembly;
• sliding the power frame and bearing cartridge in relation to the pedestal and the pump assembly combination along the axis of the power transmission shaft;
• and
• coupling directly, rotationally mating and frictionally engaging tapered shaft threads of a tapered shaft end of the power transmission shaft to the tapered impeller threads of the tapered bore of the impeller when aligned along the axis of the power transmission shaft so as to transmit torque directly through the tapered shaft threads and provide axial or radial self alignment even if rotational coupling and engagement of the tapered shaft threads and the tapered impeller threads start out of alignment along the axis of the power transmission shaft when the power frame and bearing cartridge are slid in relation to the pedestal and the pump assembly combination during the alignment of the tapered impeller threads of the impeller of the pump assembly combination and the tapered shaft threads of the tapered shaft end of the power transmission shaft, the tapered impeller threads and the tapered shaft threads forming a tapered thread configuration that substantially reduces the need for lifting equipment and time needed for the assembly and disassembly of the impeller and the power transmission shaft, substantially eliminates the need for a precise alignment of the tapered shaft threads and the tapered impeller threads when the power transmission shaft is attached to the impeller, and reduces the number of turns to release the tapered shaft threads from the tapered impeller threads when the power transmission shaft is removed from the impeller.