Self-priming centrifugal pump

A priming vacuum control valve for a self-priming pump, wherein the priming vacuum control valve is disposed between a vacuum pump and a priming chamber for the self-priming pump so as to decouple the vacuum communication between the vacuum pump and the priming chamber when the priming vacuum control valve is closed, wherein the priming vacuum control valve includes:

• a valve stem including:
• an upper valve stem end and a lower valve stem end, a valve stem shoulder positioned between the upper valve stem end and lower valve stem end, and an elastomeric valve stem seal positioned above the valve stem shoulder;
• a valve body including:
• a valve body opening having a vacuum pump side and a priming chamber side;
• a tapered valve stem seat positioned within the valve body opening;
• and a valve spring seat surrounding the valve body opening on the vacuum pump side;
• an upper valve stem cap connected to the upper valve stem end, and a valve spring operatively positioned between the valve spring seat of the valve body and the upper valve stem cap of the valve stem so as to apply a default closing force between the valve body and the valve stem so as to form a vacuum tight seal between the elastomeric valve stem seal and the tapered valve seat.

A priming vacuum control system for use on a self-priming pump, comprising:

• a priming vacuum control valve and a priming vacuum control valve-actuating system, wherein the priming vacuum control valve is disposed between a vacuum pump and a priming chamber for the self-priming pump so as to decouple the vacuum communication between the vacuum pump and the priming chamber when the priming vacuum control valve is closed, and wherein the priming vacuum control valve includes:
• a valve stem including:
• an upper valve stem end and a lower valve stem end;
• a valve stem seal positioned between the upper valve stem end and lower valve stem end;
• a valve body including:
• a valve body opening having a vacuum pump side and a priming chamber side;
• a tapered valve stem seat positioned within the valve body opening between the vacuum pump side and the priming chamber side;
• and a spring seat at least partially surrounding the vacuum body opening on the vacuum pump side;
• an upper valve stem cap connected to the upper valve stem end;
• a valve spring operatively positioned between the spring seat of the valve body and the upper valve stem cap of the valve stem so as to apply a default closing force between the valve body and the valve stem so as to form a vacuum tight seal between the elastomeric valve stem seal and the tapered valve seat;
• and wherein the priming vacuum control valve-actuating system included:
• an actuator bracket, the actuator bracket being fixedly mounted inside the priming chamber and having an upper pivot point and a lower pivot point;
• an upper compound lever arm, wherein the upper compound lever arm has a valve-actuating end, a link arm end, and a pivot point positioned between the valve-actuating end and the link arm end, wherein the upper compound lever arm is pivotally coupled to the actuator bracket at the upper pivot point, and wherein the valve-actuating end is disengagedly coupled to the lower valve stem end;
• a lower compound lever arm, wherein the lower compound lever arm has a link arm end and a float rod end and a pivot point positioned between the link arm end and the float rod end, wherein the lower compound lever arm is pivotally coupled to the actuator bracket at the lower pivot point;
• a link arm, wherein the link arm is operatively coupled to the link arm end of the upper compound lever arm and is operatively coupled to the link arm end of the lower compound lever arm;
• a float rod, wherein the float rod has a lower compound lever arm connecting end and a float connecting end, wherein the lower compound lever arm connecting end of the float rod is operatively coupled to the float rod end of the lower compound lever arm;
• and a float, wherein the float is positioned within the priming chamber such that the float is capable of substantially vertical movement within the priming chamber in response to the fluid level in the priming chamber;
• and wherein the float is operatively coupled to the float connecting end of the float rod, and wherein a downward motion of the float within the priming chamber results in the transfer of a valve opening force to the upper compound lever arm, thereby frictionally engaging the valve-actuating end of the upper compound lever arm to the lower portion of the valve stem, and wherein when the valve opening force is greater than the default closing force, the valve is opened.

A priming vacuum control system for use on a self-priming pump, comprising:

• a priming vacuum control valve and a priming vacuum control valve-actuating system, wherein the priming vacuum control valve is disposed between a vacuum pump and a priming chamber for the self-priming pump so as to decouple the vacuum communication between the vacuum pump and the priming chamber when the priming vacuum control valve is closed, wherein the priming vacuum control valve includes:
• a valve stem including an upper valve stem end and a lower valve stem end, and a valve stem sealing means positioned between the upper valve stem end and lower valve stem end;
• a valve body including a valve body opening and a valve seat positioned within the valve body opening;
• means for biasing the valve stem sealing means against the valve seat, the means for biasing being operatively positioned so as to apply a default closing force between the valve stem and the valve body so as to form a vacuum tight seal between the valve stem sealing means and the valve seat;
• means for retaining the biasing means in an operatively biasing relationship between the valve body and the valve stem;
• and wherein the priming vacuum control valve-actuating system includes:
• an actuator bracket, the actuator bracket being fixedly mounted inside the priming chamber and having a pivot point;
• an upper compound lever arm, wherein the upper compound lever arm has a valve-actuating end, a link arm end, and a pivot point positioned between the valve-actuating end and the link arm end, wherein the upper compound lever arm is pivotally coupled to the actuator bracket at the pivot point, and wherein the valve-actuating end is disengagedly coupled to the lower valve stem end;
• a float in the priming chamber, the float being capable substantially vertical movement within the priming chamber in response to the fluid level in the priming chamber;
• means for operatively coupling the link arm end of the upper compound lever arm to the float;
• wherein a downward motion of the float results in the transfer of a valve opening force to the upper compound lever arm, thus frictionally engaging the valve-actuating end of the upper compound lever arm to the lower valve stem end such that when the valve opening force is greater than the default closing force, the valve is opened.

A method of retrofitting a self-priming pump, wherein the pump includes:

• a centrifugal pump section including:
• an intake;
• a volute, wherein the volute is in fluid communication with the intake;
• an impeller disposed in the volute, an impeller shaft, wherein the impeller is supported on the impeller shaft, and wherein the impeller shaft has a drive end opposite the impeller;
• and a bearing housing, wherein the impeller shaft is supported in the bearing housing;
• and a vacuum pump assembly including:
• a vacuum pump;
• and a priming chamber, wherein the priming chamber is in vacuum communication with the vacuum pump, and wherein the generation of a vacuum in the priming chamber by the vacuum pump causes the fluid to be drawn into the intake, the volute and at least partially into the priming chamber, thereby priming the centrifugal pump section, the method comprising:
• installing between the vacuum pump and the priming chamber a priming vacuum control valve, wherein the priming vacuum control valve includes:
• a valve stem including an upper valve stem end and a lower valve stem end, and a valve stem sealing means positioned between the upper valve stem end and lower valve stem end;
• a valve body including a valve body opening and a valve seat positioned within the valve body opening;
• means for biasing the valve stem sealing means against the valve seat, the means for biasing being operatively positioned so as to apply a default closing force between the valve stem and the valve body so as to form a vacuum tight seal between the valve stem sealing means and the valve seat;
• means for retaining the biasing means in an operatively biasing relationship between the valve body and the valve stem;
• installing a upper compound lever arm, wherein the upper compound lever arm has a valve-actuating end, a link arm end and a pivot point positioned between the valve-actuating end and the link arm end, wherein the upper compound lever arm is pivotally mounted to an actuator bracket in the priming chamber and the linking arm end is operatively coupled to a float in the priming chamber, wherein the float is capable of substantially vertical movement within the priming chamber in response to the fluid level in the priming chamber, and wherein a downward motion of the float results in the transfer of a valve opening force to the upper compound lever arm, thus frictionally engaging the valve-actuating end of the upper compound lever arm to the lower valve stem end such that when the valve opening force is greater than the default closing force, the valve is opened.