SELF PRIMING PUMP ASSEMBLY WITH A DIRECT DRIVE VACUUM PUMP

• US 20110044827A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Muhs
• Original Assignee: David Muhs
• Inventors: Muhs, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/199.2
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 9/041 the priming pump having evacuating action F04D9/043 and F04D9/06 take precedence

Abstract

A self-priming pump assembly is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, the self-priming pump assembly includes a motor, a main pump having a main pump impeller, a vacuum pump having a vacuum pump impeller, and a drive shaft driven by the motor. The main pump impeller and the vacuum pump impeller may be directly coupled to and driven by the drive shaft, and may rotate about the rotation axis of the drive shaft. In some instances, the vacuum pump impeller is situated between the motor and the main pump impeller, while in other instances, the main pump impeller may be situated between the vacuum pump impeller and the motor. In some cases, bearings may be provided at or near the vacuum pump to help support the vacuum pump relative to the drive shaft.

Claims

1. A self-priming pump assembly, comprising:

a motor having a motor housing;

a main pump having a main pump impeller;

a drive shaft having a rotation axis, the drive shaft extending between the motor and the main pump impeller, the drive shaft directly driving the main pump impeller from the motor; and

a vacuum pump having a vacuum pump impeller rotatably disposed in a vacuum pump housing along a rotation axis, the vacuum pump impeller situated between the main pump and the motor, and the vacuum pump impeller being coupled to the drive shaft and rotating about the rotation axis of the drive shaft.

2. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the main pump has a main pump housing, the main pump housing is coupled to the vacuum pump housing, and the vacuum pump housing is coupled to the motor housing.

3. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the main pump has a main pump inlet and a main pump outlet.

4. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 3, further comprising a priming tank in fluid communication with the main pump inlet.

5. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 4, wherein the vacuum pump has a vacuum pump inlet and a vacuum pump outlet, wherein the vacuum pump inlet is in fluid communication with the priming tank.

6. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 5, further comprising a separator tank in thermal communication with the fluid being pumped by the main pump, the vacuum pump outlet in fluid communication with the separator tank.

7. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump impeller has an average surface roughness of about 100 microns or less.

8. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump impeller has an average surface roughness of about 50 microns or less.

19. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first bearing about the drive shaft, the first bearing situated between the vacuum pump impeller and the main pump impeller.

20. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 19, further comprising a second bearing about the drive shaft, the second bearing situated between the vacuum pump impeller and the motor.

9. A self-priming pump assembly, comprising:

a motor having a motor housing;

a main pump having a main pump impeller;

a drive shaft having a rotation axis, the drive shaft extending between the motor and the main pump impeller, the drive shaft directly driving the main pump impeller from the motor; and

a vacuum pump having a vacuum pump impeller rotatably disposed in a vacuum pump housing along a rotation axis, the vacuum pump impeller positioned on the opposite side of the main pump from the motor, and the vacuum pump impeller being coupled to the drive shaft and rotating about the rotation axis of the drive shaft.

10. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 9, wherein the main pump has a main pump inlet and a main pump outlet.

11. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 10, further comprising a priming tank in fluid communication with the main pump inlet.

12. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the vacuum pump has a vacuum pump inlet and a vacuum pump outlet, wherein the vacuum pump inlet is in fluid communication with the priming tank.

13. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 12, further comprising a separator tank in thermal communication with the fluid being pumped by the main pump, the vacuum pump outlet in fluid communication with the separator tank.

14. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 9, wherein the vacuum pump impeller has an average surface roughness of about 100 microns or less.

15. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 9, wherein the vacuum pump impeller has an average surface roughness of about 50 microns or less.

16. A self-priming pump assembly, comprising:

a motor;

a main pump having a main pump impeller;

a vacuum pump having a vacuum pump impeller;

a drive shaft driven by the motor about a rotation axis; and

wherein the main pump impeller and the vacuum pump impeller are directly coupled to and driven by the drive shaft and rotate about the rotation axis of the drive shaft.

17. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 16, wherein the drive shaft is driven by the motor about a rotation axis, and wherein the main pump impeller and the vacuum pump impeller rotate about the rotation axis of the drive shaft.

18. The self-priming pump assembly of claim 17, wherein the drive shaft extends through a central aperture of the vacuum pump impeller.