Pumps – Motor driven – Electric or magnetic motor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-03-06
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Motor driven
Electric or magnetic motor
C417S360000, C417S423100, C417S423110, C417S423120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196813
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to enhancing durability and reliability of a pump and, more particularly, to a pump assembly including an integrated adapter arranged to align the motor drive shaft and secure a motor housing to an associated pump housing.
There is a continuing drive in pump design and manufacture to enhance reliability and durability by extending bearing and seal life. Conventionally, bearing and seal life are extended by providing heavy duty components and ensuring precision manufacture. Specifically, heavy duty shafts, bearings, and seals are commonly incorporated into the pump design. For example, according to conventional motor-driven pump designs, two bearing assemblies are provided on opposite ends of a drive shaft in the motor housing. In addition, supplemental or additional rotational supports are arranged about the drive shaft between the motor housing and the pump housing. Practical limits on motor housing size and manufacturing costs limit the commercial effectiveness of pump design strategies that merely seek to extend bearing and seal life by increasing the durability of individual components or by providing additional heavy duty components. Accordingly, there is a need for a pump design that enhances pump reliability and durability without relying solely upon selection of the most rugged components or on provision of additional components.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This need is met by the present invention wherein a pump assembly is provided comprising a motor, a motor housing, a dual-bearing rotational drive assembly, an integrated adapter, a pump housing, and an impeller.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a pump assembly is provided comprising a motor, a motor housing, a drive shaft, a first rotational support, a second rotational support, an integrated adapter, a pump housing, a seal assembly, and an impeller. The motor housing is disposed about the motor and defines a front end and a rear end. The pump housing is disposed about the impeller. The integrated adapter is arranged to couple mechanically the rear end of the motor housing to the pump housing. The motor is arranged to impart rotational movement to the drive shaft about a drive shaft axis. The drive shaft is coupled to the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the impeller. The drive shaft defines a first end disposed proximate the front end of the motor housing and a second end disposed proximate the impeller such that the drive shaft extends from the front end of the motor housing, through the rear end of the motor housing, and to the pump housing. The first rotational support is arranged proximate the front end of the motor housing. The second rotational support is accommodated by the integrated adapter. The pump assembly is arranged such that the drive shaft and the first and second rotational supports define a rotational drive assembly characterized by the absence of additional rotational support between the first rotational support proximate the front end of the motor housing and the second rotational support accommodated by the integrated adapter.
The pump assembly is preferably characterized by no more than two points of rotational support along the drive shaft. The first and second rotational supports preferably comprise bearings and the rotational drive assembly may be characterized by the absence of additional bearings between the first rotational support and the second rotational support. The first rotational support is preferably disposed within the motor housing and may comprise a radial bearing. The second rotational support comprises a combination radial bearing and axial thrust bearing.
The integrated adapter is preferably mounted to the motor housing and to the pump housing and may accommodate an axial adjustment mechanism arranged to adjust an axial position of the second rotational support along the drive shaft axis. The axial adjustment mechanism may comprise a threaded support housing and at least one set screw. The threaded support housing is preferably arranged to engage a complementary receiving thread formed in the integrated adapter and the threaded support housing and the complementary receiving thread are arranged about the drive shaft axis.
The second rotational support is arranged such that axial movement of the second rotational support results in axial movement of the drive shaft, and wherein the drive shaft is coupled to the impeller such that axial movement of the drive shaft results in axial movement of the impeller. The motor housing, the pump housing, and the integrated adapter preferably comprise separate components of the pump assembly, and the integrated adapter is arranged to couple the motor housing to the pump housing such that the motor housing, the pump housing, and the integrated adapter form a unitary assembly.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a pump assembly is provided comprising a motor, a motor housing, a drive shaft, an integrated adapter, a pump housing, a seal assembly, and an impeller. The motor housing includes no more than one rotational support disposed therein and the integrated adapter is arranged to accommodate an additional rotational support such that the drive shaft, the one rotational support, and the additional rotational support define a rotational drive assembly supported proximate the first drive shaft end by the one rotational support and proximate the second drive shaft end by the additional rotational support.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a pump assembly is provided comprising a motor, a motor housing, a dual-bearing rotational drive assembly, an integrated adapter, a pump housing, a seal assembly, and an impeller. The dual-bearing rotational drive assembly comprises a drive shaft and first and second bearings. The drive shaft extends from the front end of the motor housing, through the rear end of the motor housing, and to the pump housing. The first bearing is arranged proximate the front end of the motor housing. The second bearing is accommodated by the integrated adapter.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pump design that enhances pump reliability and durability without relying solely upon selection of the most rugged components or on provision of additional components. Other objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein.
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Hery Frederick Dague
Stauble Frank Edward
Turley Roger Scott
Flowserve Management Company
Killworth, Gottman Hagan & Schaeff, L.L.P.
Pwu Jeffery
Walberg Teresa
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