Patent GB-1215534-A (GB)
Title: Assemblies for attaching liquid-submersible pumps to an outlet pipe disposed in a well
IPC: F04D29/60
Filed: 1968-02-19
Abstract: 1,215,534. Centrifugal pumps. RIMA A.B. Feb.19, 1968 [March 10, 1967], No.7972/68. Heading F1C. [Also in Division F2] In an assembly for the attachment of a submersible pump to an outlet pipe in a well, using magnetic attraction between a flange on the pipe and a flange on the pump, guide means are provided for guiding the pump when being lowered from the top of the well, and stop means arrest the lowering motion of the pump and position its flange opposite the pipe flange to permit magnetic attraction to be effected, the opposing contact surfaces of the two flanges being sufficiently smooth to permit the pump flanges to slide on the pipe flange when the pump is raised for breaking the magnetic attraction. A centrifugal pump 3, Figs. 1 and 2, is lowered into a well 1 by means of a wire or chain 16, with its delivery branch 3<SP>1</SP> engaging a pair of guide rods or tubes 13, the distance between the guide rods or tubes being increased at the top to clear the flange 4 of the delivery branch when the latter is initially inserted between the guide rods or tubes. When it reaches the bottom of the well, the pump 3 rests on a cross-bar 14 and on a resilient support 15. The flange 4 is now opposite the flange 2<SP>1</SP> of the delivery pipe 2 but at a distance from it. As shown in Figs. 3 3 and 4, the flange 4 is magnetized by means of permanent magnets 5 so that when the pump 3 is moved sideways towards the delivery pipe 2 until the flange 4 is sufficiently close to the flange 2<SP>1</SP>, the attraction between the magnets and a soft iron washer 10 completes the coupling between the flanges. Leakage is prevented by a seal ring 6. The sideways movement may be effected by acting on the wire or chain 16. Alternatively there may be provided a wire loop 18 extending from top to bottom of the well and engaging behind hooks 17 on the flange 4. To move the pump 3 sideways, the normally slack loop 18 is jerked at its upper end. At least one of the flanges 2<SP>1</SP>, 4 may be resiliently attached to the pipe or pump, as the case may be, by a rubber sleeve which allows a limited universal articulation of the flange to ensure that the contact surfaces of the flanges are co-planar. In another embodiment, Figs. 5-7 (not shown), the pump is lowered into the well by means of a pair of wires or chains (21, 22) until it is arrested by a hood (20) carried by the flange (4) engaging over the flange (2). A further wire or chain (27) extending from the pump to an anchorage at the top of the well and preferably somewhat extendible, as by being connected to a spring, takes over part of the weight of the pump. The pump then swings towards the discharge pipe (2), the hood (20) riding over the flange (2<SP>1</SP>) to guide the flanges into magnetic engagement. In a further embodiment, Figs.8, 9 (not shown), the pump is lowered on a single wire or chain (39), with hook-shaped parts (34, 35) on the pump engaging a vertical guide rod (30) of square crosssection. When the pump has reached the bottom of the well, the guide rod (30) is turned about its vertical axis to bring the flange (4) into magnetic engagement with the flange 2<SP>1</SP>.