Pump system with vacuum source

• US 6,315,524 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Water Management Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Water Management Systems LLC
• Inventors: Muhs, David, Parma, Gianfranco
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryznic, John E.
• Application Number:
  US09/531,631
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 415/196, 417/199.1, 417/199.2, 417/200, 417/435, 417/68, 417/69, 417/53
• US Class Current: 417/199.2
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2288 for comminuting, mixing or separating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/045 with means for comminuting, mixing stirring or otherwise treating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 9/041 the priming pump having evacuating action F04D9/043 and F04D9/06 take precedence

Abstract

A pumping system is disclosed that includes a vacuum source. The pumping system includes a motor coupled to a centrifugal pump and a separator defining a reservoir in fluid communication with an inlet of the centrifugal pump. A water liquid ring vacuum pump having an inlet is provided in fluid communication with the reservoir of the separator. Accordingly, the vacuum pump may provide the required vacuum to prime the pump. To backflush that pumping system, the pumping system may include a first valve provided between the discharge port of the vacuum pump and the reservoir of the separator. A second valve may be provided between the reservoir of the separator and the inlet of the water liquid ring vacuum pump. During normal operation, the first valve fluidly connects the discharge of the vacuum pump to the atmosphere and the second valve fluidly connects the inlet of the vacuum pump to the reservoir of the separator. During a back flush operation, the first valve fluidly connects the discharge of the vacuum pump to the reservoir of the separator and the second valve fluidly connects the inlet of the vacuum pump to the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the amount of pollution emitted by a self priming pump system, comprising the steps of:

providing a self priming pump system including a motor, an oil lubricated vacuum pump, and a separator;

removing the oil lubricated vacuum pump from the self priming pump system;

removing the separator from the self priming pump system;

installing a new separator having a reservoir and a inner tank extending through the reservoir;

the inner tank defining a passageway which is fluidly isolated from the reservoir and thermally coupled to the reservoir;

coupling a liquid ring vacuum pump to the motor of the self priming pump system;

connecting a discharge port of the liquid ring vacuum pump to the inner tank of the separator so that the discharge port of the liquid ring vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the passageway of the inner tank; and

connecting an intake of the liquid ring vacuum pump to the reservoir of the separator so that the intake of the liquid ring vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir of the separator.

2. A method of back flushing a self priming pump system, comprising the steps of:

providing a centrifugal pump system having an inlet;

providing a separator defining a reservoir wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the inlet of a centrifugal pump;

providing a vacuum source;

providing a pressure source;

providing a first valve between the pressure source and the reservoir of the centrifuigal pump system;

providing a second valve between the vacuum source and the reservoir of the centrifugal pump system;

actuating the first valve so that the pressure source is placed in fluid communication with the reservoir;

actuating the second valve so that the vacuum source is isolated from the reservoir; and

pressurizing the reservoir with the pressure source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the vacuum source is an intake of a vacuum pump.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the pressure source is a discharge port of a vacuum pump.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the separator further includes a inner tank extending through the reservoir and the inner tank defines a passageway which is fluidly isolated from the reservoir and thermally coupled to the reservoir.

6. A self priming pump system, comprising:

a motor coupled to a centrifugal pump for driving the centrifugal pump;

the motor coupled to a vacuum pump for driving the vacuum pump;

a separator defining a reservoir in fluid communication with an inlet of the centrifugal pump;

the vacuum pump including an inlet that is at least selectively connected with the reservoir of the separator; and

a first valve means for selectively fluidly connecting a discharge port of the vacuum pump to the reservoir of the separator.

7. The self priming pump of claim 6, wherein the separator further includes an inner tank defining a passageway extending through the reservoir of the separator;

and

the passageway defined by the inner tank is fluidly isolated from the reservoir and thermally coupled to the reservoir.

8. The self priming pump of claim 7, wherein the inner tank includes an outer surface exposed to a pumped fluid disposed within the reservoir of the separator.

9. The self priming pump of claim 6, wherein the first valve has a first port in fluid communication with the discharge port of the vacuum pump, a second port in fluid communication with the atmosphere, and a third port in fluid communication with the reservoir of the separator.

10. The self priming pump of claim 9, wherein the first valve has a first position in which the discharge port of the vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the atmosphere and a second position in which the discharge port of the vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir of the separator.

11. The self priming pump of claim 6, further including a second valve interposed between the inlet of the vacuum pump and the reservoir of the separator.

12. The self priming pump of claim 11, wherein the second valve has a first port in fluid communication with the inlet of the vacuum pump, a second port in fluid communication with the reservoir of the separator, and a third port in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

13. The self priming pump of claim 12, wherein the second valve has a first position in which the inlet of the vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir of the separator and a second position in which the inlet of the vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

14. The self priming pump of claim 11, wherein the first valve has an actuating mechanism and the second valve has an actuating mechanism.

15. The self priming pump of claim 14, wherein the first valve and the second valve are manually actuated valves.

16. The self priming pump of claim 14, wherein the first valve and the second valve are pneumatically actuated valves.

17. The self priming pump of claim 14, wherein the first valve and the second valve are electrically actuated valves.

18. The self priming pump of claim 14, wherein the first valve and the second valve are spool valves.