Integrated reciprocating primer drive arrangement

A method of priming a centrifugal pump, comprising:

• providing a drive assembly including an impeller shaft, a drive shaft and a clutch assembly, the drive shaft being coaxial with the impeller shaft;
• positioning two piston assemblies on opposite sides of the drive shaft, the drive shaft including an eccentric portion engaging the piston assemblies to provide reciprocating motion of the piston assemblies upon rotation of the drive shaft;
• rotating the impeller shaft;
• engaging the clutch assembly such that the drive shaft rotates with and surrounds the impeller shaft;
• and
• operating a primary system coupled with the drive shaft to remove air from the centrifugal pump.

A pump assembly, comprising:

• a centrifugal pump having an intake, a discharge, a pump chamber, a volute housing and an impeller disposed within the pump chamber, the volute housing defining a passageway and a drain port, the drain port further including an outlet and an elongated opening positioned between the passageway and the outlet, wherein the elongated opening has a smaller width than the outlet when viewed in cross section in a direction perpendicular to the water flow;
• a priming system including a passageway fluidly coupled to the pump chamber and an air outlet;
• and
• a drive assembly including an impeller shaft coupled to the impeller, a drive shaft coupled to the priming system and a clutch assembly coupled to the impeller shaft, the clutch assembly configured to selectively rotationally couple the drive shaft and the impeller shaft.

A pump assembly, comprising:

• a centrifugal pump having an intake, a discharge, a pump chamber, and an impeller disposed within the pump chamber;
• a priming system including a passageway fluidly coupled to the pump chamber, a priming valve fluidly coupled to the passageway and a conduit fluidly coupled with an air outlet, the priming valve operable between an open configuration, wherein the passageway is fluidly coupled to the conduit and a closed configuration, wherein the passageway is fluidly isolated from the conduit;
• a drive assembly including an impeller shaft coupled to the impeller, a drive shaft coupled to the priming system and a clutch assembly coupled to the impeller shaft, the clutch assembly configured to selectively rotationally couple the drive shaft and the impeller shaft;
• a control system operable to transition the priming valve between the open and closed configurations;
• and
• a first sensor providing a signal indicative of a rotational speed of the drive shaft and a second sensor providing a signal indicative of a rotational speed of the impeller shaft, wherein the control system is configured to receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor and transition the priming valve between the open and closed configurations as a function of the received signals.