Patent ID: 6579077
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
A submersible pump comprising:a cylindrical side wall having opposite exterior and interior surfaces, the interior surface surrounding an interior volume of the pump, the interior volume having a center axis defining mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the pump and the side wall having axially opposite inlet and outlet ends; an inlet cap at the inlet end of the side wall, the inlet cap having an inlet opening and an interior surface that faces toward the pump interior volume, a peripheral portion of the inlet cap interior surface extending radially away from the inlet opening and curving toward the pump interior volume and then extending axially and merging with the side wall interior surface as a continuous surface; an electric motor in the pump interior volume, the electric motor having a motor casing with an exterior surface and a motor shaft projecting from the motor casing toward the inlet cap inlet opening, the motor casing exterior surface being spaced radially inward from the side wall interior surface defining an annular channel between the motor casing exterior surface and the side wall interior surface; a cowling in the pump interior volume and mounted on the motor, the cowling surrounding the motor and motor shaft and having an exterior surface that is spaced axially from the peripheral portion of the inlet cap interior surface and is spaced radially from the side wall interior surface whereby the cowling exterior surface and the peripheral portion of the inlet cap interior surface and the side wall interior surface define an annular flow path that is first directed radially outwardly between the cowling exterior surface and the peripheral portion of the inlet cap interior surface and then curves and is directed axially between the cowling exterior surface and the side wall interior surface to the annular channel between the side wall interior surface and the motor casing exterior surface.