Pump housing coupling

• US 20080079259A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Parcell, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/22
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/121 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/164 Stoffing boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/036 characterised by the tensioning members, e.g. specially adapted bolts or C-clamps

Abstract

An assembly is disclosed for forming a fluid-tight seal between a pump housing and a seal plate. The housing includes a first flange with a first plurality of apertures formed therein, and the seal plate includes a second flange with a second plurality of apertures formed therein. A gasket is provided between the pump housing and the seal plate. A plurality of inserts extend through the first plurality of apertures, and a plurality of spacers extend through the second plurality of apertures. A plurality of threaded connectors are used to couple the seal plate to the pump housing to form a fluid-tight seal. The dimensions of the inserts and spacers are selected so as to inhibit crushing of the gasket and the flanges when the connectors are fully tightened.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly for forming a liquid-tight seal in a water pump, comprising:

a pump housing defining an opening and including a first flange formed about a periphery of said opening, said first flange including a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a first plurality of apertures formed through said first flange, said pump housing being provided with a first sealing surface disposed at a first angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second surface of said first flange;

a seal plate including a second flange formed about a periphery thereof, said second flange including a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a second plurality of apertures formed through said second flange, said seal plate being provided with a second sealing surface disposed at a second angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second surface of said second flange;

a gasket disposed between said first sealing surface, said second sealing surface, and said second surface of said second flange;

a plurality of inserts each having a threaded boring extending therethrough and each including an insert head portion and an insert shank portion extending from said insert head portion through one of said first plurality of apertures;

a plurality of spacers each having a boring extending therethrough and each including a spacer head portion and a spacer shank portion extending from said spacer head portion through one of said second plurality of apertures to align said boring with said threaded boring; and

a plurality of connectors each including a connector head portion abutting said spacer head portion, a connector shank portion extending from said connector head portion, through said boring, and at least partially through said threaded boring, and a plurality of threads formed on said connector shank portion cooperating with said threaded boring to induce a liquid-tight seal between said gasket, said first sealing surface, said second sealing surface, and said second surface of said second flange.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said first angle is about forty-five degrees.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said second angle is about ninety degrees.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first plurality of apertures has a substantially square-shaped cross section, and wherein each insert shank portion has a corresponding substantially square-shaped cross section.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said second plurality of apertures has a substantially circle-shaped cross section, and wherein each spacer shank portion has a corresponding substantially circle-shaped cross section.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of inserts and said plurality of spacers each include a first material of a first rigidity, and wherein said first flange and said second flange each include a second material of a second rigidity less than said first rigidity.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 6, wherein said first material is sintered bronze.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 6, wherein said second material is glass fiber polypropylene.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 8, wherein said first material is sintered bronze.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein each spacer shank portion includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially disposed.

11. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein each insert shank portion has a first length, wherein each spacer shank portion has a second length, wherein said first flange has a first width between said first surface of said first flange and said second surface of said first flange, wherein said second flange of said seal plate has a second width between said first surface of said second flange and said second surface of said second flange, and wherein a sum of said first length with said second length is substantially about equal to a sum of said first width with said second width.

12. The coupling assembly of claim 1, including an impeller disposed within said pump housing and an electric motor coupled to said impeller through said seal plate.

13. A coupling assembly for forming a liquid-tight seal in a water pump, comprising:

a pump housing defining an opening and including a first flange formed about a periphery of said opening, said first flange having a first plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said pump housing being provided with a first sealing surface disposed at a first angle with respect to an inner periphery of said first flange;

a seal plate including a second flange formed about a periphery thereof, said second flange having a second plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said seal plate being provided with a second sealing surface disposed at a second angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second flange;

a gasket disposed between said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface;

a plurality of inserts each having a threaded boring extending therethrough and each including an insert head portion and an insert shank portion extending from said insert head portion through one of said first plurality of apertures;

a plurality of spacers each having a boring extending therethrough and each including a spacer head portion and a spacer shank portion extending from said spacer head portion through one of said second plurality of apertures to align said boring with said threaded boring; and

a plurality of connectors each including a connector head portion abutting said spacer head portion, a connector shank portion extending from said connector head portion, through said boring, and at least partially through said threaded boring, and a plurality of threads formed on said connector shank portion cooperating with said threaded boring to induce a liquid-tight seal between said gasket, said first sealing surface, and said second sealing surface;

wherein each insert shank portion has a first length, wherein each spacer shank portion has a second length, wherein said first flange has a first width, wherein said second flange has a second width, and wherein a sum of said first length with said second length is substantially about equal to a sum of said first width with said second width.

14. The coupling assembly of claim 13, wherein each of said first plurality of apertures has a substantially square-shaped cross section, wherein each insert shank portion has a corresponding substantially square-shaped cross section, wherein each of said second plurality of apertures has a substantially circle-shaped cross section, and wherein each spacer shank portion has a corresponding substantially circle-shaped cross section.

15. The coupling assembly of claim 13, wherein each spacer shank portion includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially disposed.

16. The coupling assembly of claim 13, wherein said plurality of inserts and said plurality of spacers are formed of a first material of a first rigidity, and wherein said first flange and said second flange are formed of a second material of a second rigidity less than said first rigidity.

17. The coupling assembly of claim 16, wherein said first material is sintered bronze.

18. The coupling assembly of claim 17, wherein said second material is glass fiber polypropylene.

19. A coupling assembly for forming a liquid-tight seal in a water pump, comprising:

a pump housing defining an opening and including a first flange formed about a periphery of said opening, said first flange having a first plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said pump housing being provided with a first sealing surface disposed at a first angle with respect to an inner periphery of said first flange;

a seal plate including a second flange formed about a periphery thereof, said second flange having a second plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said seal plate being provided with a second sealing surface disposed at a second angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second flange;

a gasket disposed between said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface;

a plurality of inserts each having a threaded boring extending therethrough and each including an insert head portion and an insert shank portion extending from said insert head portion through one of said first plurality of apertures;

a plurality of spacers each having a boring extending therethrough and each including a spacer head portion and a spacer shank portion extending from said spacer head portion through one of said second plurality of apertures to align said boring with said threaded boring; and

a plurality of connectors each including a connector head portion abutting said spacer head portion, a connector shank portion extending from said connector head portion, through said boring, and at least partially through said threaded boring, and a plurality of threads formed on said connector shank portion cooperating with said threaded boring to induce a liquid-tight seal formed between said gasket, said first sealing surface, and said second sealing surface;

wherein said plurality of inserts and said plurality of spacers are formed of a first material of a first rigidity, and wherein said seal plate and said pump housing are formed of a second material of a second rigidity less than said first rigidity.

20. The coupling assembly of claim 19, wherein said first angle is about forty-five degrees, and wherein said second angle is about ninety degrees.