Canned pump with ultrasonic bubble detector
First Claim
1. A canned pump assembly comprising:
- a pump impeller driven by a shaft, said shaft being driven to rotate by a motor rotor;
a housing defining a pump chamber including an inlet and a discharge portion, and said housing further including a shroud providing a sealed fluid chamber around said shaft and said motor rotor;
a drive for driving said rotor positioned outwardly of said shroud; and
a cooling system comprising a tap for tapping a fluid from said pump chamber, said tap directing fluid into said sealed chamber and over said motor rotor, and a return path for directing said tapped fluid back into said pump chamber, and a fluid detector positioned within said return path for detecting the presence of fluid in said return path.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved fluid detection mechanism for a canned motor pump includes a return passage which receives a fluid detector. The fluid detector is a bubble detector which can sense the presence of bubbles, or the lack of a fluid. The detector is preferably positioned in a return path for returning a cooling and lubricating pump fluid back to the pump chambers from the canned motor chamber. This location will likely be the hottest location and the lowest pressure location in the pump. This location provides a very good indication of when the motor is overheated. Also, the location provides a very good indication to identify the lack of adequate lubricating and cooling fluid being directed to the bearings. As such, the location provides benefits over the prior art.
66 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A canned pump assembly comprising:
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a pump impeller driven by a shaft, said shaft being driven to rotate by a motor rotor;
a housing defining a pump chamber including an inlet and a discharge portion, and said housing further including a shroud providing a sealed fluid chamber around said shaft and said motor rotor;
a drive for driving said rotor positioned outwardly of said shroud; and
a cooling system comprising a tap for tapping a fluid from said pump chamber, said tap directing fluid into said sealed chamber and over said motor rotor, and a return path for directing said tapped fluid back into said pump chamber, and a fluid detector positioned within said return path for detecting the presence of fluid in said return path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A canned pump assembly comprising:
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a pump impeller driven by a shaft, said shaft being driven to rotate by a motor rotor;
a housing defining a pump chamber including an inlet and a discharge portion, and said housing further including a shroud providing a sealed fluid chamber around said shaft and said motor rotor, a pair of bearings positioned between said housing and said shaft;
a drive mechanism for driving said rotor positioned outwardly of said shroud; and
a cooling system comprising a tap for tapping a fluid from said pump chamber, said tap directing fluid into said sealed chamber and over said motor rotor, said fluid also flowing over said bearings, and there being a return path for directing said tapped fluid back into said pump chamber, and a fluid detector positioned within said return path for detecting the presence of fluid in said return line. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification