Dry-pit submersible pump having a fan and a torque-relieving mechanism
AssigneeRoper Holdings, Inc.
InventorMark Qandil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dry-pit submersible pump using a totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) electric motor to power the pump. A release mechanism prevents the fan from creating excessive drag when submerged in water. The fan cools the motor when the water level is below the motor, and the surrounding water combines with the fan to cool the motor when the water level rises to at least partially surround the motor. When the fan is at least partially submerged, the release mechanism substantially prevents the fan from imposing a load on the motor due to the surrounding water. The release mechanism can take the form of a shear key, a torque-release clutch or flexible fan blades.
Claims17
A dry-pit submersible pump, comprising:
- an impeller;
- an electric motor operationally connected to said impeller, said motor driving said impeller;
- a fan operationally connected to said motor, said fan being driven by said motor and thereby imposing a load on said motor;
- and
- a torque-relieving mechanism operationally connected adjacent a circumference of an electric motor shaft between said motor and said fan to limit the load imposed on said motor by said fan when said fan is in an at least partially submerged condition so that said motor does not become overloaded by drag created by the fan running in water.
An apparatus for transferring liquid, comprising:
- a pump;
- an electric motor operationally connected to said pump, said motor adapted to be submerged for at least part of its operation, said motor comprising at least one substantially waterproof compartment;
- a fan operationally connected to said motor and driven by said motor;
- a release mechanism disposed adjacent a circumference of an electric motor shaft between said motor and said fan;
- and
- wherein said release mechanism limits torque transfer from said motor to said fan when said fan is at least partially submerged.
A torque-relieving connection comprising:
- a cooling fan having:
- a central base with a bore centrally disposed therethrough, wherein a diameter of the bore is similar to a diameter of an electric motor shaft, said bore is coaxially disposed on the electric motor shaft, said torque-relieving connection is operationally disposed between the central base of the cooling fan and the electric motor shaft of an electric motor which drives a pump, said electric motor cooperates with said torque-relieving connection to allow the electric motor to operate both in submerged and non-submerged conditions.
An electric motor capable of running both in a submerged condition and in a non-submerged condition, comprising:
- a cooling fan operationally connected to said motor, and driven by said motor to cool said motor during operation in the non-submerged condition, and thereby imposing a load on the motor;
- and
- a shear key operationally connected adjacent a circumference of an electric motor shaft, between said fan and said motor to limit the load imposed on said motor by said fan when said motor is operated in an at least partially submerged condition.
A method of transferring liquid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pump;
- driving said pump via an electric motor;
- cooling said motor at least partially via a fan driven by said motor;
- providing a torque-relieving mechanism adjacent a circumference of an electric motor shaft, operationally connected, between said motor and said fan to at least substantially reduce any load imposed on said motor by said fan when said fan is in an at least partially submerged condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.