Pump system with vacuum source

• US 6,585,492 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Muhs, Gianfranco Parma
• Original Assignee: David Muhs, Gianfranco Parma
• Inventors: Muhs, David, Parma, Gianfranco
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fastovsky, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US09/907,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 417/68, 417/200, 417/199.2, 417/203, 417/202, 415/169.1, 415/115, 415/216.1, 376/310
• US Class Current: 417/68
• 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 changing the capacity of a liquid ring vacuum pump comprising the steps of:

providing a vacuum pump comprising a base member, a first port plate fixed to the base member, an original cover defining an impeller chamber, and an original impeller having a width disposed within the impeller chamber, the base member and the port plate being adapted to receive a drive shaft, and the impeller being fixed to the drive shaft;

removing the original cover from the vacuum pump;

removing the original impeller from the vacuum pump;

installing a new impeller onto the vacuum pump, the new impeller having a width which is different from the with of the original impeller; and

installing a new cover onto the vacuum pump, the new cover defining an impeller chamber that accommodates the different width of the new impeller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump further has a second port plate fixed to the original cover.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of removing the second port plate from the original cover;

and

fixing the second port plate to the new cover before installing the new cover onto the vacuum pump.

4. A method of changing the capacity of a liquid ring vacuum pump comprising the steps of:

providing a vacuum pump comprising a base member, a first port plate, an original cover defining an impeller chamber, and an original impeller having one or more pumping characteristic disposed within the impeller chamber, the base member being adapted to receive a drive shaft, and the impeller being fixed to the drive shaft;

the vacuum pump having an intake port and a discharge port, the port plate separating the intake port from the impeller chamber and having at least one port therethrough for providing fluid communication between the intake port and the impeller chamber;

removing the original cover from the vacuum pump;

removing the original impeller from the vacuum pump;

installing a new impeller onto the vacuum pump, the new impeller having one or more different pumping characteristics than the original impeller; and

installing a new cover onto the vacuum pump, the new cover defining an impeller chamber that accommodates the new impeller.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the original impeller includes a central base and a number of vanes, each of the vanes having a lateral width, a longitudinal length, and a shape, the pumping characteristics of the original impeller being determined by one or more of the number of vanes, the lateral width of the vanes, the longitudinal length of the vanes, and the shape of the vanes.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the new impeller includes a central base and a number of vanes, wherein each of the vanes has a lateral width, a longitudinal length, and a shape, the pumping characteristics of the new impeller being different by changing one or more of the number of vanes, the lateral width of the vanes, the longitudinal length of the vanes, and the shape of the vanes.

7. A liquid ring vacuum pump comprising:

a drive side housing;

an outside housing, the drive side housing and the outside housing defining an impeller chamber having a central axis;

a first port plate;

a second port plate;

an impeller disposed in the impeller chamber between the first port plate and the second port plate and laterally offset from the central axis of the impeller chamber;

an intake port, the first port plate separating the intake port from the impeller chamber and having at least one port therethrough for providing fluid communication between the intake port and the impeller chamber; and

a discharge port, the second port plate separating the discharge port from the impeller chamber and having at least one port therethrough for providing fluid communication between the discharge port and the impeller chamber.