Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – Static constructional installations
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-06
2001-06-19
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
Static constructional installations
C137S372000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247490
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to pumping apparatus and in particular to a partially buried booster station for increasing the pressure of water being transferred from one location from another.
BACKGROUND ART
Booster stations are commonly used to assist in the transfer of water from one location to another. Booster stations commonly employ a pump which receives the water, boosts the pressure of the water to a desired level and discharges the water for transfer to a location downstream from the booster system. A system of pipes within the booster station connect the pump to underground water pipes. The pump is enclosed in a station enclosure located above ground. When installed in the field, the station enclosure is supported by a foundation within the ground. The system of booster station pipes are located within the foundation and connect to the underground water pipes that extend through the foundation walls.
Field installation of a typical booster station is a relatively lengthy and complex process. After excavating the desired location along the water transfer system, a concrete foundation is poured around the existing underground water pipes. The foundation usually consists of four walls and a partial foundation floor which has a relatively large opening for fluid drainage. The foundation must cure a minimum amount of time before the booster station must be installed, so completion of the booster station is delayed during this cure time. In addition, in many regions of the country weather conditions prevent pouring of concrete during the winter months thereby limiting the season during which booster stations may be installed.
Once the foundation has properly cured, the booster station pipes are installed. Because the underground water pipes are fixed in place by the poured concrete foundation, misalignment between the underground pipes and those of the booster station may cause difficulty in the installation process. The booster station pipes are connected to the water pipes and routed to the above ground pump. Thrust blocks, which may require significant adjustments, are used to support and locate the booster station pipes during installation. The booster station pipes must be pressure tested after they are installed to verify that the connections will hold during booster station operation. This field testing of the pipes is time consuming and if a defect is detected, replacement parts not available in the field may be needed, further delaying installation.
The pouring of the concrete foundation, field connection of the attendant components, and testing of the booster station pipes adds significant cost and delay to the installation of booster stations.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new and improved booster station which reduces the time and expense of installation. The present invention provides a prefabricated foundation which eliminates the need for pouring a foundation in the field. The present invention also provides a booster station which is essentially completely assembled but for connection to the underground water pipes, so that thrust blocks and field installation of station pipes is no longer necessary. The present invention provides a booster station which more easily compensates for misalignment between the underground water pipes and station pipes by eliminating the need for a poured foundation.
In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the booster station comprises an above ground pump enclosure, a pump mounted within the pump enclosure for receiving water and discharging water at a predetermined pressure and a relatively rigid foundation integral to the pump enclosure. The foundation has an inner wall surface forming a chamber, an outer wall surface, a top wall supporting the pump enclosure, and a foundation floor opposite the top wall. The foundation is adapted to be buried in the ground during installation of the booster station. A relatively large opening in the top wall of the foundation allows for placement of backfill material such as pea gravel.
The present invention provides a fully assembled booster station including the prefabricated foundation and the plumbing contained within the station. Inlet and outlet ports in the foundation receive water from and discharge water to, respectively, the water transport system. An inlet pipe is connected between the foundation inlet port and the pump inlet. Similarly, an outlet pipe is connected between the foundation outlet port and the pump outlet. To facilitate station installation and allow for settling of the station after installation, the inlet and outlet pipes include a relatively flexible boot extending through the foundation outer wall surface. The pipes protrude through the boots and are connected to the water transport system. A plurality of pipe restraints rigidly secure the inlet and outlet pipes within the foundation. Field installation of a booster station in accordance with the present invention requires only the excavation of the installation site and connection to the underground water pipes. The plumbing located within the station may be tested at the factory, eliminating the need for field testing of connections. As such, booster stations in accordance with the present invention significantly reduce installation time and expense. Further, weather conditions no longer limit the installation of booster stations in accordance with the present invention.
According to a feature of this embodiment, the foundation floor includes an opening therein to allow for drainage of water from the foundation. In the preferred arrangement, non-compactible backfill such as pea gravel fills the foundation chamber to filter drainage and to support the inlet and outlet pipes against hydraulic forces. In the preferred arrangement, the foundation is made of concrete, but fiberglass is also suitable. The flexible boots of the inlet and outlet pipes may be made of synthetic rubber or other flexible material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3938545 (1976-02-01), Nagy et al.
patent: 4269240 (1981-05-01), Cutore
patent: 4348158 (1982-09-01), Wood
patent: 4865526 (1989-09-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5538035 (1996-07-01), Gavin
Mosher Randall Lee
Oswalt David W.
Chambers A. Michael
McShane Thomas L.
The Gorman-Rupp Company
Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher & Heinke Co. L.P.A.
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