High speed whirlpool pump

• US 5,156,535 A
• Filed: 10/31/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yedidiah, Shmariahu, Hessler, William D., Patel, Ramesh M., Budris, Allan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Leonard E.
• Application Number:
  US07/607,179
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 417/423.1, 417/423.7, 417/423.8, 417/423.11, 417/423.14, 416/183, 416/184, 416/185, 416/186 R, 415/172.1, 415/228, 415/206, 415/119, 415/231, 277/96.2
• US Class Current: 417/423.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H35/00 takes precedence; sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; isolation chambers A61M21/0094; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/126 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/167 of a centrifugal flow wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2277 for increasing NPSH or dealing with liquids near boiling-point
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/281 for fans or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/422 Discharge tongues F04D17/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4273 suction eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 23/66 Structural association with auxiliary electric devices influencing the characteristic of, or controlling, the machine, e.g. with impedances or switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings

Abstract

A pump for Whirlpool and Spa applications has a series wound universal motor which is directly coupled to a centrifugal impeller for operation in the range of 4000 to 9000 RPM. Variable speed of the pump is easily accomplished with a universal motor by varying the voltage to the motor.

Claims

1. In combination:

a universal motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft having an end extending axially from one end of said motor housing;

a pump housing being mounted to said one end of said motor housing and forming a chamber;

an impeller being mounted on said one shaft end for rotation within said chamber; and

said motor housing includes a vent having a skewed peeler tongue adjacent the outer diameter of said fan blades and vanes, and said peeler tongue is formed at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees with respect to the axis of one of fan blades.

15. The combination of claim 1 including an elastomeric motor foot mounting means enclosing a compartment in said motor housing for mounting therein a motor control circuit board.

16. The combination of claim 15 including a backplate enclosing another compartment in said motor housing for mounting therein another motor control circuit board, and said backplate including cooling fins for heat dissipation.

2. In combination:

a universal motor including an injection moldable plastic motor housing and a motor shaft having an end extending axially from one end of said housing, and an extension on said housing opposite said one end forming a compartment;

an injection moldable plastic self-draining pump housing being mounted to said one end of said motor housing and forming a chamber;

an injection moldable plastic inducerpeller being mounted on said one shaft end for rotation within said chamber, said inducerpeller having vanes each of which extend forward to its axial eye portion and sweep backward therefrom toward the axis of said inducerpeller, and a two-step front seal wear ring surface which is displaced from a complementary surface in said pump housing;

an injection moldable plastic fan mounted on another end of said shaft within said motor housing adjacent said compartment, said fan having alternating and equally spaced fan blades and splitter vanes cooperating with a vent in said motor housing having a skewed peeler tongue to reduce fan noise;

component means being mounted in said compartment for controlling operating of said motor in the range of 4000 to 9000 RPM;

rotating seal means including a ceramic seal and rubber boot mounted on a hub position of said inducerpeller and retained thereon by a metal band; and

stationary seal means mounted in said pump housing for rotating contact with said rotating seal means.

3. In combination:

a universal motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft having an end extending axially from one end of said motor housing;

a pump housing being mounted to said one end of said motor housing and forming a chamber;

an inducerpeller being mounted to said one shaft end for rotation within said chamber, said inducerpeller having vanes which extend forward into the axial portion of the eye forming the inducerpeller;

a motor fan mounted on another end of said shaft within said motor housing, said fan having alternating fan blades and splitter vanes, with splitter vanes equally spaced between full length fan blades, and a rear shroud having a diameter less than the outer diameter of the blades and vanes; and

said motor housing includes a vent having a skewed peller tongue adjacent the outer diameter of said fan blades and vanes.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said peeler tongue is formed at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees with respect to the axis of one of fan blades.

5. A pump for Whirlpool and Spa applications having an inducerpeller operating in the range 4000 to 9000 RPM and comprising:

a series wound universal motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft having an end extending axially from one end of said housing;

a self-draining pump housing being mounted to said one end of said motor housing and forming a chamber;

said inducerpeller being mounted on said one shaft end for rotation within said chamber, and said inducerpeller having vanes which extend forward to the axial portion of the eye of the inducerpeller;

a fan mounted on another end of said shaft within said motor housing, said fan having alternating and equally spaced fan blades and splitter vanes; and

said fan includes a fan shroud having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of said fan blades and vanes, and said motor housing includes a vent having a peeler tongue adjacent the outer diameter of said fan blades and vanes, said peeler tongue being formed at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees with respect to the axis of one of fan blades.

6. The pump of claim 5 including motor mounting foot means enclosing a compartment in said motor housing for mounting therein a motor control circuit boards;

and

a backplate enclosing another compartment in said motor housing for mounting therein another motor control means.

7. In combination:

a universal motor including an injection moldable plastic motor housing and a motor shaft having an end extending axially from one end of said housing;

an injection moldable plastic pump housing being mounted to said one end of said motor housing and forming a chamber;

an injection moldable plastic inducerpeller being mounted on said one shaft end for rotation within said chamber, said inducerpeller having vanes which extend forward to its axial eye portion, and a two-step front seal wear ring surface which is displaced from a complementary surface in said pump housing;

an injection moldable plastic fan mounted on another end of said shaft within said motor housing, said fan having alternating and equally spaced fan blades and splitter vanes;

means for controlling operating of said motor in the range of 4000 to 9000 RPM;

rotating seal means mounted on a hub position of said inducerimpellar;

stationary seal means mounted in said pump housing for rotating contact with said rotating seal means; and

said fan includes a fan shroud having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of said fan blades and vanes; and

said motor housing includes a vent having a peeler tongue adjacent the outer diameter of said fan blades and vanes.

8. The combination of claim 7 including injection moldable motor mounting foot means enclosing a compartment in said motor housing for mounting therein a motor control circuit board comprising a part of said controlling means;

and

a backplate enclosing another compartment in said motor housing for mounting therein another motor control circuit board comprising another part of said controlling means.

9. In combination:

a universal motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft having an end extending axially from one end of said motor housing;

a pump housing being mounted to said one end of said motor housing and forming a chamber; and

an inducerpeller being mounted on said one shaft end for rotation within said chamber, said inducerpeller having vanes, each vane having a leading edge portion which flows smoothly into a portion of the axial impeller eye and sweeps backward at an angle of approximately 5 to 15 degrees to the axis of the impeller.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said inducerpeller includes a two-step front seal wear ring surface which is displaced from a complementary surface in said pump housing.

11. The combination of claim 9 including a motor fan mounted on another end of said shaft within said motor housing, said fan having alternating fan blades and splitter vanes, with splitter vanes equally spaced between full length fan blades, and a rear shroud having a diameter less than the outer diameter of the blades and vanes.

12. The combination of claim 9 including motor control means to operate said motor in the 4000 to 9000 RPM range.

13. The combination of claim 9 including rotating seal means mounted on a hub position of said inducerpeller;

and

stationary seal means mounted in said pump housing for rotating contact with said rotating seal means.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein

said rotating seal means includes a ceramic ring seal and a metal seal band for retaining said seal on said hub portion;

and

said stationary seal means includes a carbon ring seal.