Abstract:
The present invention is an integrated pump having structure that a plurality of cell pumps having an inlet and an outlet to send out fluid absorbed from the inlet to the outlet is connected in serial or parallel. A plurality of the above structured integrated pump may be connected in parallel. Thus, the integrated pump of the present invention can be obtained desired output according to the number of the connected cell pumps. Further, even if it becomes high output integrated pump by connecting many cell pumps for high capacity and high head, by unitizing individual cell pumps during the transportation or the installation, the transportation and the installation work for the integrated pump can be easily done.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. P2001-271773 filed on Sep. 7, 2001, the contact of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention is related to a pump formed as an integral structure by the integration of multiple parts of in-line pumps forming the flow paths in the internals and externals of a motor.  
           [0004]    2. Discussion of the Background  
           [0005]    An example of the use of such type of multiple piece pumps, in the in the Application Publication No. P2000-240564, a pump unit, connected by pipes and flanges so as to enable dismantling and assembly as separate and free by support the frame of rectangular parallel piped cross-lattice of multiple pumps, was made public. In case of the pump device of such construction, for increasing size of such device, necessary fixed installation spaces becomes a problem area. Further for single pump, output of each pump is fixed. Hence, in case pump of desired output is not available as a standard product, the same must be specially ordered. Generally, as the pump output desired by users is not uniform, there is a strong tendency of limited production of a wide variety of products. Hence the cost tends to be high. Above this, a high output pump for high capacity as well as high head, is very heavy and big, and large effort is required for transportation and installation which becomes a problem.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The first basic purpose of this invention is, without depending on limited production of a wide variety of products, obtaining a pump having output corresponding to needs of each type by the integration of standard pumps.  
           [0007]    Further, reduction in the starting current at time of starting of large output pumps, and achieving easy and efficient flow control of the same, is the second purpose of this invention.  
           [0008]    And the third aim of this invention is to make easy the transportation and the installation of large output pump for high capacity and high head.  
           [0009]    The integrated pump of this invention is made up of multiple cell pumps each having an inlet and an outlet, fluid sucked in from the above mentioned inlet is sent towards the above mentioned outlet. It is also equipped with a consolidated inlet for sucking fluid and a consolidated for discharging the fluid. Depending upon an operation of the above mentioned cell pump, fluid is sucked in from the above mentioned consolidated inlet, sucked in fluid is then completely sent from the above mentioned inlet of the above mentioned cell pump towards the above mentioned outlet, and fluid discharged from the above mentioned outlet of the above mentioned cell pump is then finally discharged from the above mentioned consolidated outlet. Therefore, by addition of connected cell pumps, the head can be increased easily, and as pump output can be improved, desired output can be achieved depending upon number of connected cell pumps. Therefore, pumps having various output can be obtained without depending upon limited production of a wide variety of products.  
           [0010]    Further, by connecting many cell pumps for high capacity and high head, even if it becomes a high output pump, during the transportation or the installation, by unitizing individual cell pumps the transportation and the installation work can be made very easy.  
           [0011]    Further, while starting of high flow, high head pump, individual cell pumps can be started one by one with some time interval and thus excess input current can be controlled.  
           [0012]    Also, the control of pump flow rate can be achieved by operation of required cell pumps only. As only necessary cell pumps required for the correct flow and head need to run, the energy saving operation can be achieved. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    A more complete understanding of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection to the attached drawings wherein:  
         [0014]    As the first application of the integrated pump of this invention,  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is the complete isometric view.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a full body elevation showing one part of the cell pump cut.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an isometric view seen from the bottom with a cutting of the consolidated parallel inlet.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a plane figure, showing the outlet side of cell pumps arranged in parallel, viewed from a circular fixing plate.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section showing the internal structure of the cell pumps equipped with the check valve, as a second application of the integrated pump of this invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a full body vertical cross-section, showing the condition of flow at suction and discharge with the check valve open.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a full body isometric view seen from top, as a third application of the integrated pump of this invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a partial vertical cross-section of above.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a full body isometric view, as a fourth application of the integrated pump of this invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a full body vertical cross-section cutting one part of the cell pump, as a fifth application of the integrated pump of this invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-section showing the internal structure of cell pumps using a centrifugal impeller, as a sixth application of this integral pump of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a drive control block diagram of this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    This invention is an integrated pump where multiple cell pumps are connected in series or parallel, or those connected in series are connected in parallel and output is improved totally.  
         [0028]    Following is the explanation of the application of this invention by referring to FIGS.  1  to  12 .  
         [0029]    Embodiment 1  
         [0030]    The first embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 is the isometric view of a cell pump viewed from the top.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 is the full body elevation.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 is the full body isometric view viewed from the bottom with one section of a consolidated parallel inlet cut.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is the plane figure viewed from a circular fixing plane, showing a cell pump arranged in parallel configuration.  
         [0035]    The integrated pump  201  of this application is of a structure using series type and parallel type together. In short, integrated pump  201  has two cell pumps  202  connected in series to form series connected structure  203 . Further, multiple such two cell pumps  202  connected in series are then arranged in parallel to form parallel connected structure  204 . Consolidated inlet body  206  having consolidated inlet  205  is provided on the suction side, and consolidated outlet body  208  having consolidated outlet  207  is provided on the discharge side of this structure.  
         [0036]    Hence, the integrated pump  201  has a flow structure wherein, in case of operation of cell pump  202 , fluid enters through the consolidated inlet  205 , is guided to a inlet  213  of cell pump  202 , and after being discharged from outlet  214  of cell pump  202 , it is guided towards the consolidated outlet  207 . This flow structure is realized because of series connected structure  203 , parallel connected structure  204 , consolidated inlet body  206  and consolidated outlet body  208 .  
         [0037]    The series connected structure  203  having each cell pump  202  connected in series is a structure wherein flange  210 , formed at the end of housing  209  of each cell pump  202 , is fixed by bolts  211  and nuts  212 . These individual cell pumps  202  connected in series are each provided with inlet  213  and outlet  214 . Inside the cylindrical stator  215  a free rotating rotor  217  is provided which has an axial impeller  216  that sends the fluid sucked in from inlet  213  towards outlet  214 , in the axial direction.  
         [0038]    Now as is clear from FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, out of a cell pumps  202  arranged in series, rotor  217  of the cell pump positioned at suction side of the fluid is arranged so as to get into inlet  213  of the cell pump  202  positioned at the discharge side of the fluid.  
         [0039]    Then as is clear from FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, parallel connected structure  204 , wherein series connected two cell pumps  202  are arranged in parallel, is a structure made up of multiple two series connected cell pumps  202  fixed between two circular fixing plates  218 . In case of such a fixed structure, flange  210  formed at the end of each cell pump  202 , is fixed by means of bolts  211  and nuts  212 , on each fixing plate  218 .  
         [0040]    Here, an opening  219  is provided on each fixing plate  218 , corresponding to inlet  213  and outlet  214  positioned on both sides of two cell pumps  202  connected in series, making suction and discharge operation of the fluid possible.  
         [0041]    Like this, for parallel connected structure  204 , consolidated inlet  206  on the suction side of the fluid and consolidated outlet  208  on the discharge side of the fluid are provided. The consolidated inlet body  206  and consolidated outlet body  208  are in the shape of a flat cover, and parallel consolidated inlet  205  and parallel consolidated outlet  207  are formed in the middle of each respectively. Such consolidated inlet body  206  and consolidated outlet body  208  are also fixed by means of bolt s  211  and nuts  212  to individual fixing plates  218 .  
         [0042]    Here a space is formed between a consolidated inlet body  206  and the suction side fixing plate  218  as well as between consolidated outlet body  208  and discharge side fixing plate  218  respectively. It is possible to form a pressure room  220 , particularly in the space formed between consolidated outlet body  208  and discharge side fixing plate  218 . Further, in case of this application, out of two cell pumps  202  connected in series of connected the structure  203 , also for discharge side cell pump  202 , pressure room  221  is there besides its discharge mouth  214 . Regarding such a structure, after starting of each cell pump  202 , depending upon rotation of axial impeller  216  of each cell pump  202 , fluid is sucked in from parallel consolidated inlet  205 , flows from inlet  213  of each cell pump  202  through the axial impeller  216  towards outlet  214 , and is discharged from parallel consolidated outlet  207 .  
         [0043]    Here, in this application, one integrated pump  201  is formed by integrating single cell pump  202  in series as well as in parallel. Thus, on increasing the number of connected cell pumps  202 , head can be increased depending upon series connection of individual cell pumps  202 , capacity can be increased depending upon the parallel connection of cell pumps  202 , and subsequently output of the pump on the whole can be increased and hence without depending upon the method of multiple variety low production, it is possible to achieve a pump of different outputs. Further, by connecting many cell pumps  202  for high capacity and high head, even if pump becomes of high output, by unitizing individual cell pumps  202  during the transport or the installation, the same can be made easy.  
         [0044]    Embodiment 2  
         [0045]    The second embodiment of this invention is explained with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.  
         [0046]    The explanation will be shortened, as one section is similar to one part of the first application of this integrated pump.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5 is the vertical cross-section showing the internal structure of the cell pump equipped with a check valve.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 6 is the full body vertical section, showing the fluid suction and discharge condition with the check valve open.  
         [0049]    In this embodiment, in series connected structure  203 , out of the two cell pumps connected in series, a check valve is provided and positioned at suction mouth  213  of suction side cell pump  202 . The check valve  231  is so arranged as to pull in the suction direction a free sliding valve  232  filled to the suction side cell pump  202 . This valve  232  opens and closes the opening  219  formed on the fixing plate  218  shaping the parallel connected structure  204 . For this, opening  219  is formed in a taper shape, tapering out on the inner side to form a valve sheet  234  matching to the valve  232 .  
         [0050]    With such an arrangement, as indicated in FIG. 6, with starting of the cell pump  202 , the check valve  231  opens against to force of the spring  233 , thus enabling flow of fluid into the cell pump  202 . Thus also, for non-started cell pump  202 , due to the check valve  231  back flow of fluid from cell pump  202 , i.e. back flow of the fluid from inlet  213  can be prevented.  
         [0051]    Such type of fluid back flow can occur when one cell pump  202  is started. However, due to the check valve  231 , such a phenomenon is positively prevented, thus avoiding the output drop of integral pump  201  in case any cell pumps are stopped in control.  
         [0052]    Embodiment 3  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the integrated pump  201  of this application has a structure of 2 cell pumps  202  connected in series and arranged in 3 rows and then, for series connected structure  203 , out of 2 cell pumps  202  connected in series, check valve  231  is provided at the inlet  213  of the suction side cell pump  202 .  
         [0054]    Thus various integrated pumps are possible depending upon arrangements of cell pump  202 .  
         [0055]    Embodiment 4  
         [0056]    The fourth embodiment of the integrated pump of this invention is explained with reference to FIG. 9. The explanation is abbreviated, as one part of this application is similar to the embodiment 1.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 9 is the full body isometric view seen from the top and cutting one part of the cell pump. Integrated pump  201  of this application is basically of the similar structure as that of the integrated pump of the embodiment 1.  
         [0058]    However there is a difference of two points. One is that 3 cell pumps  202  are connected directly from a series connected structure, and the second is that only 3 assemblies of cell pump  302  connected in such a structure are fixed between two numbers of fixing plates  218  and further are enclosed within external pipe  220 .  
         [0059]    Thus, various types are possible depending upon the arrangement of cell pump  202 .  
         [0060]    Now, as a different arrangement, only 1 assembly of multiple pump  202  connected in series for series connected structure  203 , fixed between 2 numbers of fixing plates  218 , and it is better to have integrated pump  201  only as a series connected structure and not a parallel arranged structure.  
         [0061]    In such a case, on the suction side of multiple cell pumps  202  connected in series, it is possible to provide consolidated inlet body  206  having the series connected inlet instead of parallel connected inlet  205 , as well as provide consolidated outlet body  208  having the series connected outlet instead of parallel connected outlet  207  on the discharge side.  
         [0062]    Embodiment 5  
         [0063]    The fifth embodiment of the integrated pump of this invention is explained with reference to FIG. 10. The explanation is abbreviated, as one part of this application is similar to the embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is the full body vertical cross-section seen from the top and cutting one part of the cell pump.  
         [0064]    The integrated pump  201  of this application has a structure made up of 2 layers of assemblies connected in parallel as parallel connected structure  204 , wherein the assemblies are made of 2 cell pumps  202  connected in series as a series connected structure.  
         [0065]    Embodiment 6  
         [0066]    The sixth embodiment of the integrated pump of this invention is explained with reference to FIG. 11. The explanation is abbreviated, as one part of this application is similar to the embodiment 1  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 11 is the vertical cross-section showing internal structure of the cell pump using a centrifugal impeller.  
         [0068]    The integrated pump of this application has no difference with that indicated in application 2 except that the cell pump  202  in this case are the cell pump P 4  using a centrifugal impeller  151  as indicated in the embodiment 5.  
         [0069]    Thus, in this example, if the centrifugal impeller  151  is rotated by means of the motor  155 , fluid flows into the flow path  167  from the inlet  152 , and is then discharged from the outlet  153 . Such flow is generated by 2 cell pumps  202 , and hence increase in head can be handled.  
         [0070]    Further, this embodiment indicates arrangement of the integrated pump as indicated in the embodiment 2, however even regarding cell pump P 4  which drives the fluid to the centrifugal impeller  151 , various arrangements are possible.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 12 indicates the drive control block diagram of the cell pump  202 , indicated in the embodiment 1 to the embodiment 6. Depending upon a command signal of the integrated drive circuit  301 , individual cell pump driving circuits (X 1 ,X 2 , . . . Xn) are arranged so that an independent control of individual cell pumps  202  becomes possible. Normally at the time of starting of the pump large load is generated as compared to normal run and thereby increasing the input current. Therefore if individual cell pumps (Y 1 ,Y 2 , . . . Yn) are started simultaneously, starting current of each cell pump gets added and thus very large input current is generated. However depending upon provision of the integrated driving circuit as mentioned above, at the time of starting of the integrated pump  201 , starting from the cell pump  202  located on the suction side each cell pump can be started one by one giving a starting interval between them. Thereby the input current at the time of starting can be drastically reduced, and consequently a considerable reduction in rated capacity of power can be achieved.  
         [0072]    Further, in case of the output control or reducing capacity or head, normally the same is done by means of valve etc. without changing the pump output. As a result even with reduction in capacity same power is to be supplied. However in case of the integrated pump of this invention, each cell pump is operating at rated output for maximum efficiency. By stopping of cell pumps one by one starting with cell pump  202  located on the discharge side, and thereby controlling the number of cell pumps operating, running of the integrated pump  201  without any drop in efficiency of total output is possible.  
         [0073]    Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described here in.