ENCAPSULATED SUBMERSIBLE PUMP

• US 20110133582A1
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xylem Ip Holdings LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: BINGLER, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,633,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/71
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/08 for submerged use
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/20 for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/12 Impregnating, heating or drying of windings, stators, rotors or machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/132 Submersible electric motors H02K5/128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/19 for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for use in a submersible pump, comprising; a stator having electrical windings and configured with a cavity to receive a rotor of a motor and to provide an electromotive force to drive the rotor arranged inside the cavity; a switch having circuitry configured to response to a level of fluid and control the operation of the stator; and electrical leads and connections configured to electrically couple the stator and the switch, and to provide power to operate the stator and the switch to drive the stator and to turn the electromotive force on and off to control the pumping of the fluid by submersible pump; the stator, the switch and electrical leads and connections being at least partly encapsulated in a material so as to form an encapsulated stator assembly with a watertight seal to prevent fluid from contacting the electrical windings, the circuitry of the switch and the electrical leads and connections.

Claims

1. Apparatus, including a stator assembly, for use in a submersible pump comprising:

a stator having electrical windings and configured to form a cavity to receive a rotor of a motor and to provide an electromotive force to drive the rotor arranged inside the cavity;

a switch configured with circuitry to respond to signaling containing information about a level of fluid and to control the operation of the stator; and

electrical leads and connections configured to electrically couple the stator and the switch, and to provide power to operate the stator and the switch to drive the stator and to turn the electromotive force on and off to control the pumping of the fluid by submersible pump;

the stator, the switch and electrical leads and connections being at least partly encapsulated in a material so as to form an encapsulated stator assembly with a watertight seal to prevent fluid from contacting the electrical windings, the circuitry of the switch and the electrical leads and connections.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly further comprises one or more water passageways configured to allow fluid to pass through and cool the encapsulated stator assembly.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly further comprises metallic inserts configured to wick heat from the encapsulated stator assembly to the fluid.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a solid state switch having a low water sensor and a high water sensor configured to response to low and high water levels of fluid and to provide the signaling to a microprocessor board to control the stator.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly comprises a sensor configured to act as an alarm to warn of a high water level.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly is substantially encapsulated by the material.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material is thermoplastic material.

8. Apparatus, including a submersible pump, comprising:

a motor having a rotor configured to pump of a fluid; and

an encapsulated stator assembly comprising;

a stator configured with electrical windings to form a cavity to receive the rotor of the motor and to provide an electromotive force to drive the rotor arranged inside the cavity;

a switch configured with circuitry to respond to signaling containing information about a level of fluid and to control the operation of the stator; and

electrical leads and connections configured to electrically couple the stator and the switch, and to provide power to operate the stator and the switch to drive the stator and to turn the electromotive force on and off to control the pumping of the fluid by submersible pump;

the stator, the switch and electrical leads and connections being at least partly encapsulated in a material so as to form the encapsulated stator assembly with a watertight seal to prevent the fluid from contacting the electrical windings, the circuitry of the switch and the electrical leads and connections.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly further comprises one or more water passageways configured to allow fluid to pass through and cool the encapsulated stator assembly.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly further comprises metallic inserts configured to wick heat from the encapsulated stator assembly to the fluid.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the switch comprises a solid state switch having a low water sensor and a high water sensor configured to response to low and high water levels of fluid and to provide the signaling to a microprocessor board to control the stator.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly comprises a sensor configured to act as an alarm to warn of a high water level.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the encapsulated stator assembly is substantially encapsulated by the material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the material is thermoplastic material.