Patent ID: 6599086
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
An adjustable wear plate positioning assembly (150) for a pump (100) having a casing (102) housing an impeller (104) and defining a circumferential (106) and a rear face (108) of an impeller chamber (110) disposed about said impeller (104),a discharge chamber (112) fluidly communicating with said impeller chamber (110) and having a discharge outlet (114) for discharging fluid from said casing, (102), an inlet chamber (116) fluidly communicating with said impeller chamber (110) having an inlet port (118) through said casing (102) and providing a fluid passage to an inlet face 120 of said impeller (104), said impeller chamber (110) being further defined by a wear plate (122) adjacent said inlet face (120) of said impeller (104) and having an fluid passage (124) therethrough for admitting fluid axially into said impeller chamber (110), said casing (102) having a front wall (126) opposite said inlet face (120) of said impeller (104) and a partition wall (128) dividing said inlet chamber (116) from said discharge chamber (112), said adjustable wear plate positioning assembly (150) comprising: a wear plate carrier (160) extending between said front wall (126) and said partition wall (128) and having an outer end (162) slidably received in a first aperture (164) through said front wall (126) remote from said inlet port (118) and opposite said inlet face (120) of said impeller (104) and an inner end (166) opposite said outer end slidably received in a second aperture (168) through said partition wall (128) adjacent said inlet face (120) of said impeller (104); said wear plate (122) being rigidly securable to said inner end (166) of said wear plate carrier (160) and said wear plate carrier (160) having a passage (172) extending through said inner end and registering with said fluid passage (124) through said wear plate for providing fluid communication between said inlet chamber (116) and said impeller chamber (110); a mounting plate, disposed externally of said casing (102) adjacent said front wall (126) and secured to said outer end (162) of said wear plate carrier (160); adjustable limit means (184) extending between said mounting plate (180) and said front wall (126) to limit movement of said mounting plate (180) and in turn said wear plate (122) toward said impeller (104); and releasable locking means (186, 188) acting between said front wall, (126) and said mounting plate (180) for securing said mounting plate (180) in position relative to said front wall (126).