Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-12-04
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps
Combined
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325594
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to drains for pumps, and particularly to a sealed drain for removing toxic materials from a pump.
Case pumps are known in the art and typically have a stationary outer housing or shell with an interior chamber and a rotary case therein. Typically, the rotary case has a drain hole and a plug received therein to prevent fluid from escaping. The outer stationary housing also has a drain opening. When the drain opening of the outer housing and the drain hole of the rotary case are aligned, the plug may be removed and the fluid drained from the pump cavity under force of gravity.
In some instances, these types of pumps are used to move hazardous or toxic materials. These materials pose many risks and may cause problems if exposed to the atmosphere. Therefore, the conventional method of draining such a pump is not adequate in that one cannot simply pour the hazardous material from the pump through the drain hole and drain opening into a container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a sealed drain tool which may be utilized to drain fluid from such a case pump. Another object of the present invention is to provide a drain tool which seals against the case pump so that the drained fluid does not leak from the case pump or from the drain tool. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a drain tool which is directly connectable to a hazardous or toxic fluid collection device so that the fluid drained via the drain tool does not escape to the atmosphere. To accomplish these and other objects of the invention, a novel sealed drain tool is disclosed.
In an embodiment of the invention, a sealed drain tool for a pump having a drain opening is provided. The drain tool has a cylindrical tool housing having a mounting end which attaches the tool to the pump. The tool housing also has a free end and a bore extending longitudinally through the housing from the mounting end to the free end. The bore defines an inlet opening at the mounting end for communicating with the drain opening of the pump and a plunger opening at the free end of the housing. The tool also has a plunger slidably received within the bore. The tool also has a stop element which prevents the plunger from exiting the housing bore via the plunger opening at the free end. The tool also has a seal provided between the plunger and the bore at the free end for preventing escape of fluid from the drain tool. A discharge opening is provided on the tool housing which permits fluid to pass from the drain opening of the pump through the inlet opening and the bore of the tool and then to exit the tool housing through the discharge opening.
In an embodiment of the invention, the drain tool also has an O-ring seal in the bore at the free end which forms the seal. In an embodiment, three O-rings are provided adjacent one another at the free end which form the seal between the bore and the plunger.
In an embodiment of the invention, external threads are provided on the tool housing at the mounting end which are utilized for attaching the tool housing to the pump concentric with the drain opening.
In an embodiment of the invention, an engaging end is provided on one end of the plunger which attaches to a drain plug for removing the plug from the drain opening of the pump.
In an embodiment of the invention, a seal is provided on the mounting end of the tool housing to seal between the pump and the drain tool when attached to the pump. In an embodiment of the invention, the seal is in the form of a O-ring on the mounting end of the housing.
In an embodiment of the invention, the plunger has an elongate circular cylindrical shaft machined from a material such as steel to a first diameter and an annular shoulder machine as a part of the shaft to a second diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter of the shaft and therefore defines a portion of the stop element.
In an embodiment of the invention, a method of draining a pump having a drain opening in a stationary housing and a drain outlet in a rotary case held within the housing is disclosed. The method first includes aligning the drain outlet of the rotary case with the drain opening of the housing. A drain tool is then attached to the pump at the drain opening. The tool has a cylindrical tool housing with a fluid discharge in the tool housing and a plunger received within a longitudinal bore of the tool housing. The housing of the tool is then sealed to the pump. A sealed collector is attached to the discharge for receiving the material drained from the pump. The plunger is then retreated away from the pump within the bore to permit the fluid to pass from the drain opening of the pump into the bore of the tool housing and then to exit the tool housing through the discharge into the collector.
In an embodiment of the invention, the method further includes coupling an engaging end of the plunger to a drain plug held within the drain outlet of the rotary case and then removing the drain plug by manipulating the plunger. In an embodiment, the step of removing the drain plug is done partially simultaneously with the step of retreating the plunger.
In an embodiment of the invention, the step of sealing also includes providing a seal on the mounting end of the tool housing and then threading the mounting end of the tool housing into the pump at the drain opening so that the seal is formed between the housing and the pump.
In an embodiment of the invention, the step of attaching the collector includes attaching a vacuum scrubber to the discharge in order to collect fluid evacuated from the pump.
In an embodiment of the invention, the step of aligning includes inserting an alignment device through an alignment opening in the stationary housing and into an additional alignment opening in the rotary case which serves to correspondingly align the drain outlet of the rotary case with the drain opening of the pump housing.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are described herein, and will become apparent from the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and related drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4073294 (1978-02-01), Stanley et al.
patent: 5327862 (1994-07-01), Bedi
patent: 5452695 (1995-09-01), Bedi
patent: 6092570 (2000-07-01), Densel et al.
patent: 6142161 (2000-11-01), Abbruzze
patent: 6216732 (2001-04-01), Apostolides
Johnson Donald W.
Schultz, Sr. David G.
Gross Dennis A.
Look Edward K.
McAleenan James M
Thomas Pump & Machinery, Inc.
LandOfFree
Sealed drain for rotating case pumps does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sealed drain for rotating case pumps, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sealed drain for rotating case pumps will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579001