Centrifugal pump with governor actuated seal

A method for attaching a cartridge seal device to a pump, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cartridge seal device comprising:
• a cylindrical shaft sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior, and an interior, and having a plurality of apertures spaced about the circumference of the exterior to receive set screws to interconnect the cartridge seal device to a pump drive shaft;
• a mounting plate having a central aperture and a collar, the collar extending axially outwardly proximate the perimeter of the central aperture and having a radially inwardly facing surface with a groove formed in the surface;
• a movable seal having an exterior surface and a plurality of slots aligned around the exterior;
• positioning the mounting plate and cylindrical shaft sleeve around the pump drive shaft such that the cylindrical shaft sleeve is positioned in the central aperture of the mounting plate and positioning the movable seal around the exterior of the cylindrical shaft sleeve;
• aligning the mounting plate relative to the cylindrical shaft sleeve such that the groove in the collar is radially aligned with the apertures in the exterior of the cylindrical shaft sleeve and aligning the slots in the movable seal with the apertures in the cylindrical shaft sleeve;
• advancing a plurality of set screws in the apertures formed in the cylindrical shaft sleeve to engage the drive shaft;
• and,
• securing the mounting plate to the pump.

A centrifugal pump cartridge seal device, comprising:

• a cylindrical shaft sleeve having a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior, and an interior, the cylindrical shaft sleeve adapted to axially interconnect to a pump drive shaft;
• a plurality of governors positioned about the exterior of the proximal end of the cylindrical shaft sleeve, each governor configured to extend outwardly in a substantially common plane with drive shaft rotation, and at least one score line formed in each governor to facilitate removing weight from each governor;
• a movable seal with a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the movable seal operatively associated with a respective surface of each governor, the distal end of the movable seal positioned distally of each respective governor and radially outward of the cylindrical shaft sleeve and providing a first and second sealing surface;
• wherein when the drive shaft is at rest the movable seal is at a first position and the first sealing surface creates a fluid seal with respect to the fluid pressure, and
• wherein when the drive shaft is at a rotational speed each of the plurality of governors extend to displace the movable seal to a second position and the second sealing surface creates a fluid seal.