Disposable pump assembly

A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through elongated shaft means, comprising:

• a pump body including a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly from said volute portion, said riser portion being integrally joined to said volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from said riser portion to said volute portion, said elongated shaft means being adapted to be inserted into said riser portion, through said restricted opening and into said volute portion of said pump body;
• and
• a shaft-receiving impeller disposed in said volute portion of said pump body for driven movement by said motor, said impeller and said elongated shaft means each having corresponding rapid interconnect and drive means adapted for axially releasable mating engagement upon axial insertion of said elongated shaft means through said riser portion and into said volute portion of said pump body, said impeller being adapted for driven movement upon axially releasable mating engagement of said rapid interconnect and drive means;
• said volute portion of said pump body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and said pump body including an outlet tube extending upwardly from said outlet opening in said volute portion, said outlet tube being disposed in spaced relation to said riser portion;
• said riser portion having an upper end remote from said volute portion, said upper end of said riser portion and said motor each having corresponding rapid interconnect means for releasably securing said motor to said riser portion, said outlet tube also having an upper end remote from said volute portion;
• said upper end of said outlet tube including means for releasably coupling a supply tube thereto;
• said volute portion, riser portion, outlet tube and impeller all being formed of a plastic material;
• said impeller being generally cup shaped and having a plurality of blades extending radially therein;
• said rapid interconnect and drive means comprising in part a centrally disposed axial shaft receiving portion of said impeller, said centrally disposed shaft receiving portion including first and second axially spaced hexagonally shaped regions, said first hexagonally shaped region being dimensioned larger than said second hexagonally shaped region, said elongated shaft means including correspondingly sized first and second axially spaced hexagonally shaped regions for insertion into said shaft receiving opening of said impeller;
• said shaft-receiving portion further including a socket-defining projection extending from said bottom of said impeller, said first hexagonally shaped region of said shaft-receiving portion being disposed adjacent said blades of said impeller and said second hexagonally shaped region being disposed in said projection, said socket defining projection of said shaft-receiving portion including an axially disposed opening adapted to receive a detent on the end of said elongated shaft means.

A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through elongated shaft means, comprising:

• a pump body including a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly from said volute portion, said riser portion being integrally joined to said volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from said riser portion to said volute portion, said elongated shaft means being adapted to be inserted into said riser portion, through said restricted opening and into said volute portion of said pump body;
• and
• a shaft-receiving impeller disposed in said volute portion of said pump body for driven movement by said motor, said impeller and said elongated shaft means each having corresponding rapid interconnect and drive means adapted for axially releasable mating engagement upon axial insertion of said elongated shaft means through said riser portion and into said volute portion of said pump body, said impeller being adapted for driven movement upon axially releasable mating engagement of said rapid interconnect and drive means;
• said volute portion of said pump body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and said pump body including an outlet tube extending upwardly from said outlet opening in said volute portion, said outlet tube being disposed in spaced relation to said riser portion;
• said riser portion having an upper end remote from said volute portion, said upper end of said riser portion and said motor each having corresponding rapid interconnect means for releasably securing said motor to said riser portion, said outlet tube also having an upper end remote from said volute portion;
• said upper end of said outlet tube including means for releasably coupling a supply tube thereto;
• said volute portion, riser portion, outlet tube and impeller all being formed of a plastic material;
• said rapid interconnect means of said riser portion being associated with said upper end of said rise portion, said releasable coupling means of said outlet to also being associated with said upper end of said outlet tube, said rapid interconnect means and said releasable coupling means each being disposed in a common plane of generally the same distance above said volute portion;
• said rapid interconnect means of said riser portion including a collar at said upper end thereof, and including a motor-supporting mounting block associated with said motor and adapted to fit over said collar of said riser portion, said motor-supporting mounting block further including at least one clamp assembly adapted to cooperate with said collar;
• and
• said releasable securing means of said outlet tube including an externally threaded upper end thereof adapted to receive an internally threaded coupling of a liquid supply tube.

A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through an elongated shaft, said pump assembly being formed of a plastic material at least in part by a blow molding process, said disposable pump assembly comprising:

• a pump body including a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly from said volute portion, said riser portion being integrally joined to said volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from said riser portion of said volute portion, said elongated shaft being adapted to be inserted into said riser portion, through said restricted opening and into said volute portion of said pump body;
• and
• a shaft-receiving impeller disposed in said volute portion of said pump body for driven movement by said motor, said impeller and said elongated shaft each having corresponding rapid interconnect and drive means adapted for axially releasable mating engagement upon axial insertion of said elongated shaft through said riser portion and into said volute portion of said pump body, said impeller being adapted for driven movement upon axially releasable mating engagement of said rapid interconnect and drive means;
• said rapid interconnect and drive mans comprising in part a centrally disposed axial shaft receiving portion of said impeller, said centrally disposed axial shaft receiving portion including first and second axially spaced regions, at least one of said regions being non-circular in cross-section, said first region being dimensioned larger than said second region, said elongated shaft means including correspondingly sized and shaped first and second regions for insertion into said shaft receiving opening of said impeller;
• said volute portion of said pump body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and said pump body including an outlet tube extending upwardly form said outlet opening in said volute portion, said outlet tube being disposed in spaced parallel relation to said riser portion;
• said riser portion having an upper end remote from said volute portion, said upper end of said riser portion and said motor each having corresponding rapid interconnect means for releasably securing said motor to said riser portion, said outlet tube also having an upper end remote from said volute portion;
• said upper end of said outlet tube including means for releasably coupling a supply tube thereto;
• said pump body initially being formed of said plastic material by said blow molding process into two generally symmetrical pump body halves;
• each of said pump body halves being matingly engagable with the other of said pump body halves, and with said impeller in said volute portion, in such a manner as to fully define said volute portion, riser portion and outlet tube;
• said pump body finally being formed after completing said blow molding process by permanently securing said pump body halves.

A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through an elongated shaft, said pump assembly being formed of a plastic material at least in part by a thermoforming process as an entirely self-containing unit, said disposable pump assembly comprising:

• a pump body including a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly form said volute portion, said riser portion being integrally joined to said volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from said riser portion to said volute portion, said elongated shaft being adapted to be inserted into said riser portion, through said restricted opening and into said volute portion of said pump body;
• said volute portion and said riser portion of said pump body each being shaped so as to be generally cylindrical in cross-section, said restricted opening defining said neck between said volute portion and said riser portion also being shaped generally cylindrical in cross-section said neck having an inner surface adapted to serve as a bearing surface for said elongated shaft when said elongated shaft is driven by said motor;
• and
• a shaft-receiving impeller confined within said volute portion of said pump body for driven movement by said motor, said impeller and said elongated shaft each having corresponding rapid interconnect and drive means adapted for axially releasable mating engagement upon axial insertion of said elongated shaft through said riser portion and into said volute portion of said pump body, said impeller being adapted for driven movement upon axially releasable mating engagement of said rapid interconnect and drive means;
• said rapid interconnect and drive means comprising in part a centrally disposed axial shaft receiving portion of said impeller, said centrally disposed shaft receiving portion including first and second axially spaced regions, at least one of said regions being non-circular in cross-section, said first region being dimensioned larger than said second region, said elongated shaft means including correspondingly sized and shaped first and second regions for insertion into said shaft receiving opening of said impeller;
• said volute portion of said pump body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and said pump body including an outlet tube extending upwardly from said outlet opening in said volute portion, said outlet tube being disposed in spaced parallel relation to said riser portion;
• said riser portion having an upper end remote from said volute portion, said upper end of said riser portion and said motor each having corresponding rapid interconnect means for releasably securing said motor to said riser portion, said outlet tube also having an upper end remote from said volute portion;
• said upper end of said outlet tube including means for releasably coupling a supply tube thereto;
• said pump body initially being formed of said plastic material by said thermoforming process into two generally symmetrical pump body halves;
• each of said pump body halves having a flange corresponding to a flange of the other of said pump body halves, said corresponding flanges of said pump body halves extending at least partially about the respective ones of said pump body halves, each of said pump body halves having corresponding flanges matingly engaged and permanently secured to finally form said pump body.

A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through an elongated shaft, said pump assembly being formed of a plastic material at least in part by a thermoforming process as an entirely self-contained unit, said disposable pump assembly comprising:

• a pump body including a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly from said volute portion, said riser portion being integrally joined to said volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from said riser portion to said volute portion, said elongated shaft being adapted to be inserted into said riser portion, through said restricted opening and into said volute portion of said pump body;
• said volute portion and said riser portion of said pump body each being shaped so as to be generally cylindrical in cross-section, said restricted opening defining said neck between said volute portion and said riser portion also being shaped generally cylindrical in cross-section, said neck having an inner surface adapted to serve as a bearing surface for said elongated shaft when said elongated shaft is driven by said motor;
• and
• a shaft-receiving impeller confined within said volute portion of said pump body for driven movement by said motor, said impeller and said elongated shaft each having corresponding rapid interconnect and drive means adapted for axially releasable mating engagement upon axial insertion of said elongated shaft through said riser portion and into said volute portion of said pump body, said impeller being adapted for driven movement upon axially releasable mating engagement of said rapid interconnect and drive means;
• said volute portion of said pump body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and said pump body including an outlet tube extending upwardly from said outlet opening in said volute portion, said outlet tube being disposed in spaced parallel relation to said riser portion;
• said riser portion having an upper end remote from said volute portion, said upper end of said riser portion and said motor each having corresponding rapid interconnect means for releasably securing said motor to said riser portion, said outlet tube also having an upper end remote from said volute portion;
• said upper end of said outlet tube including means for releasably coupling a supply tube thereto;
• said pump body initially being formed of said plastic material by said thermoforming process into two generally symmetrical pump body halves;
• each of said pump body halves having a flange corresponding to a flange of the other of said pump body halves, said corresponding flanges of said pump body halves extending at least partially about the respective ones of said pump body halves, each of said pump body halves having corresponding flanges matingly engaged and permanently secured to finally form said pump body;
• said impeller being generally cup-shaped and having a plurality of blades extending radially therein;
• said rapid interconnect and drive means comprising in part a centrally disposed axial shaft-receiving portion of said impeller including first and second axially spaced hexagonally shaped regions, said first hexagonally shaped region being dimensioned larger than said second hexagonally shaped region, said elongated shaft means including correspondingly sized first and second axially spaced horizontal shaped regions for insertion into said shaft-receiving opening of said impeller;
• said shaft receiving portion further including a socket-defining projection extending from said bottom of said impeller, said first hexagonally shaped region of said shaft-receiving portion being disposed adjacent said blades of said impeller and said second hexagonally shaped region being disposed in said projection, said socket-defining projection of said shaft-receiving portion including an axially disposed opening adapted to receive a detent on the end of said elongated shaft means.

A disposable pump assembly adapted to be driven by a motor through an elongated shaft, said pump assembly being formed of a plastic material at least in part by a thermoforming process as an entirely self-contained unit, said disposable pump assembly comprising:

• a pump body including a volute portion and an elongated riser portion extending upwardly from said volute portion, said riser portion being integrally joined to said volute portion by a neck defining a restricted opening leading from said riser portion to said volute portion, said elongated shaft being adapted to be inserted into said riser portion, through said restricted opening and into said volute portion of said pump body;
• said volute portion and said riser portion of said pump body each being shaped so as to be generally cylindrical in cross-section, said restricted opening defining said neck between said volute portion and said riser portion also being shaped generally cylindrical in cross-section, said neck having an inner surface adapted to serve as a bearing surface for said elongated shaft when said elongated shaft is driven by said motor;
• and
• a shaft-receiving impeller confined within said volute portion of said pump body for driven movement by said motor, said impeller and said elongated shaft each having corresponding rapid interconnect and drive means adapted for axially releasable mating engagement upon axial insertion of said elongated shaft through said riser portion and into said volute portion of said pump body, said impeller being adapted for driven movement upon axially releasable mating engagement of said rapid interconnect and drive means;
• said volute portion of said pump body having an inlet opening ana an outlet openings, and said pump body including an outlet tube extending upwardly from said outlet opening in said volute portion, said outlet tube being disposed in spaced parallel relation to said riser portion;
• said riser portion having an upper end remote from said volute portions, said upper end of said riser portion and said motor each having corresponding rapid interconnect means for releasably securing said motor to said riser portion, said outlet tube also having an upper end remote from said volute portion;
• said upper end of said outlet tube including means for releasably coupling a supply tube thereto;
• said pump body initially being formed of said plastic material by said thermoforming process into two generally symmetrical pump body halves;
• each of said pump body halves having a flange corresponding to a flange of the other of said pump body halves, said corresponding flanges of said pump body halves extending at least partially about the respective ones of said pump body halves, each of said pump body halves having corresponding flanges matingly engaged and permanently secured to finally form said pump body;
• said impeller being generally cup-shaped and having a plurality of blades extending radially therein;
• said rapid interconnect and drive means comprising in part a centrally disposed axial shaft-receiving portion of said impeller including first and second axially spaced hexagonally shaped regions, said first hexagonally shaped region being dimensioned larger than said second hexagonally shaped region, said elongated shaft means including correspondingly sized first and second axially shaped horizontal shaped regions for insertion into said shaft-receiving opening of said impeller;
• said shaft receiving portion further including a socket-defining projection extending form said bottom of said impeller, said first hexagonally shaped region of said shaft-receiving portion being disposed adjacent said blades of said impeller and said second hexagonally shaped region being disposed in said projection, said socket-defining projection of said shaft-receiving portion including an axially disposed opening adapted to receive a detent on the end of said elongated shaft means;
• and
• said inlet opening in said volute portion of said pump body being disposed in a bottom wall thereof, said inlet opening being generally coaxial with said volute portion, riser portion and neck therebetween, said outlet opening in said volute portion of said pump body being disposed radially outwardly of said inlet opening in a side wall thereof.