An Improved Centrifugal Pump.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
An Improved Centrifugal Pump.
I EDWARD SEITZ of Market Buildings Flinders Lane Melbourne in the
Colony of Victoria Australia Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
This invention relates to that class of pumps known as centrifugal pumps and
has been devised for the purpose of obtaining a greater economy in the pumping
of water sludge air gases and other liquids and fluids than that now resulting
from existing apparatus. In existing pumps a number of webs or blades attached
to discs are rotated to produce a centrifugal action and the water or other liquid or
fluid from the main supply has of necessity to be subdivided in an equal ratio to
the number of such blades thus causing a considerable amount of friction to result
from the water having to be drawn through small orifices.
The invention consists of a single web (or "blade") of a gracefully curved pipe
formation which is practically a continuat.on of the main feed pipe and the shaft
which rotates what I term the "single curved pipe web" is also of a pipe or
hollow form and on this latter is mounted a pulley receiving rotatory power from a
belt or other source.
For the purpose of equilibrium 1 continue a closed metal box around the
remainder of the diameter of the disc attached to my said "single curved-pipe web"
and in order to overcome the objectionable sludge accumulations usually occurring
in ordinary pumps I employ one or more small bent pipes (which are connected
with the sides of the discs surrounding my aforesaid "single curved pipe web")
and which when rotated create (on a small scale) a centrifugal action and cause a
back wash which latter prevents the collection of sludge. To overcome the thrust
caused by the centrifugal action and water pressure I key into the centre of the
front of the disc a small solid shaft and allow it to proceed through the outer
casing (in which it is journalled) and at its outer termination I place thereon a
collar washer and two lock nuts the whole of which rotate with the disc.
Referring to the pipe shaft before-mentioned at convenient intervals I place
around same liners of any approved metal which run in bearings suitably supplied
with pressure lubricators and glands the said liners being grooved for the purpose
of retaining the lubricant.
Any distance between the liner and outer casing of bearing can be cast up with
magnolia or other similar metal.
In the pump (and before the first gland bearing) I place around the pipe shaft a
metal spring ring which fits closely between the said shaft and the outer casing
(faces having been previously turned up for its reception).
For the purpose of retaining the said spring ring in its proper position on the
said pipe shaft and to make it revolve therewith I employ a counter sunk screw
which proceeds through the ring for some distance into a tapped hole in the
metal of the said hollow-pipe shaft. At the back of this said spring ring I leave
a. small space to allow of an accumulation of lubricant to collect. At the end of
the said pipe shaft I place a ring of lignum-vitæ (or analogous material) for the
purpose of receiving any thrust which the adjustment of the before-mentioned
solid shaft and set screws permits and immediately on the other side of this ring
I place the inlet water supply pipe.
In the single curved pipe aforesaid the debouching end is either increased in
diameter parallel or decreased to suit the different liquids or special heights of
delivery or when pumping obstructive fluids and this increase or decrease may

page_text: The casing surrounding my
hereinbefore described pump is as nearly as possible circular in form and on the
bottom and immediately under the rotating curved pipe and disc is arranged a false
bottom which is movable as circumstances require, and can be made in the form of
a trap door, so that stones or other obstructions can be removed and wear and tear
of the bottom renovated as desired. The whole is mounted on a suitable frame.
In the drawings herewith I show an alternate method of driving my said pumps
which consists in placing the pulley on the small solid shaft (previously described
for relieving the thrust) the framing being altered to suit and an extra gland
provided on the exterior of the casing at the position previously allotted to the
collar and lock nuts. I also show an alternate method of arranging the casing and
the lead-away duct for the fluid from the pipe web and as will be seen in this
arrangement the driving may be performed by either of the two schemes herein-
before described.
Reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved pump.
Figure 2 is a section on line - of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan whilst
Figure 4 shows a plan and an elevation of the spring ring.
Figures 5 and 6 being a longitudinal section and plan respectively of an alternate
form of construction of the pump.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of an alternate form of casing.
In these figures A is the revolving hollow pipe shaft terminating in the curved
web discharge end A 1 which can be either expanded or contracted as at A 2 and A3
(shown in Figure 2) such expansion or contraction may commence at any point in
the pipe A the purpose of same is herein explained.
The curved end A 1 is balanced by the formation A 4 in which are formed the
auxiliary exhaust passages or pipes A 5 for removing the sludge or other foreign
matters that may collect and for delivering same into the main current in the
discharge pipe.
At the
The pipe shaft A works in bearings A. 6 formed on the frame A 7 and fitted at
its bearing points with liners A 8, having recesses A. 9 formed therein for receiving
and holding oil or other lubricant, also for same purpose recesses A 10 are formed
in the bearings. These bearings A 6 are provided with glands B and packing B 1
(for preventing escape of fluid or lubricant) and with pressure lubricant cups B 2.
At a central point between the bearings A 6 a pulley C is keyed on shaft A to
said pulley motion is imparted for driving the pump in the usual manner.
operative end of shaft A a boss D is formed in which is keyed a trunnion spindle D 1
on which the pipe shaft A axiates, this spindle D1 works in a bearing D 2 formed
on the cover D3 of the pump casing D4. The spindle being provided with
washer D5 and jam nuts D6 for adjusting the wear or thrust of the pipe A. At
the other, or suction, end E a lignum-vitæ ring E1 is fitted for receiving the
thrust caused by the working of the pump.
E2 is the suction pipe leading from well or other source of the liquid or fluid
required to be pumped E3 being the delivery or discharge pipe.
At the aforesaid operative end of pipe A is placed a spring ring F for the
purpose of preventing leakage from the casing D4 into the recess A 10. This
ring is placed in a recess suitably formed in pipe A and held therein by a
counter-sunk set screw F1. The construction of this ring is clearly shown in
Figure 4.
At the back of this ring F a space F2 is formed to allow of an accumulation of
lubricant for the ring. A false bottom G is provided at the lowest part of the
casing D 4 or in latter a trap door can be placed so that sludge, stones etc. can be
easily removed. This false bottom when worn can be replaced by a new one, thus
preventing injury to the bottom of said casing by foreign deposits.
The whole pump is mounted on the frame A 7 which can be bolted to wood work
or other suitable foundation.

page_text: In Figures 5 and 6, where an alternate construction is shown, the spindle D 1 is
elongated and on same is placed the driving pulley C, the spindle working in
bearings H and H1 formed on the frame A 7, the latter bearing is provided with
gland H 2 and packing H 3.
In Figure 7 is shown an alternate construction of the outer casing for leading
away the discharge water from the rotating curved pipe A. In this view J is a
partly conical water guide box for leading the liquid or fluid to a point of union in
the forward delivery pipe. This guide box J is held in central position by stay
plates J1 attached to the outer shell J 2 of the discharge casing. In this box J
bearings J 3 are fitted for the spindle D 1, the latter passes through the discharge
pipe 4 on which is formed a bearing J5 fitted with a gland J 6, the spindle
extending sufficiently to receive the pulley C.
The dotted lines represent the application of the driving system as shown in
Figure 1.
The mode of operation of my pump is as follows:-
Motion being imparted to pulley the pipe shaft A rotates causing centrifugal
action to be generated at A 1 and the fluid or liquid to be drawn up through the
pipe E2 into pipe shaft A, through the mouth A 1, casing D4 and thence into the
delivery pipe E 3. The adjustable trunnion D1 regulating the thrust which is
received by the lignum-vitæ ring E1.
Any sludge or similar matter collecting in the casing D 4 is removed by the centri-
fugal action of, and backwash caused by, the small curved passages A 5 rotating.
During the rotation of the shaft A a tendency to expand is maintained by ring F
thus keeping a tight joint so that no liquid can escape from casing D 4 towards the
bearing A 6.
Lubrication is performed through the cups B2 from which the lubricant proceeds
by space A 10 to grooves A 9, glands B and spring ring F at the back F2 of
which a supply can accumulate, also the lignum-vitæ bearing E1 is in like manner
lubricated from cups B 2.
It will thus be seen that I overcame a very objectionable feature in existing
pumps inasmuch as the water in my pump flows right through it in an even and
graceful manner thus minimising friction to the lowest degree but in the said
existing pumps the supply fluid when it arrives into the pump has to be suddenly
branched or drawn into small streams (in accordance with the number of "blades"
or "webs") and by being thus "wire-drawn " and churned an obstruction or friction
is necessarily caused with consequent loss of power and inefficiency in pumping.
From the drawings it will be seen that the debouching end of my rotating
curved pipe is alternately shown parallel expanded or contracted as beforementioned
by dotted lines and it will be seen also that I especially endeavour to cause the
water or other fluids to flow or pass through the pumps in an unobstructed manner
and to this end I make any increase or decrease in diameter as gradual as possible
in accordance with the elevations to be pumped to or to suit the consistency of the
fluids to be operated upon.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to any particular sizes
or materials of construction nor to the number of any of the parts herein described
and specified neither do I confine myself to a rigid adherence to the placing of any
of the specified parts of my invention in regard to one another as such arrangement
must to a great extent depend on local requirements and peculiarities.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In centrifugal pumps :-A pipe acting as a driving shaft ("A") and
terminating at one end against a thrust ring and at the other end in a curved
bend (A1) with a gradual increase or decrease in its internal diameter at any point
and having mounted on it a spring ring with counter sunk set pin metal liners with
grooves on same for lubrication and an open space for lubricant to collect in and

page_text: also on which is mounted a pulley water tight glands and bearings substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In centrifugal pumps :-A curved pipe ("A1") of the same diameter as the
inlet or of a gradually increasing or decreasing diameter attached to the end of a
hollow pipe shaft (A) and rotated to produce a centrifugal force substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. In centrifugal pumps :-A circulating curved pipe (A 5) which is rotated for
the purpose of removing any sediment matter or sludge that may accumulate
behind or in front of the discs substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In centrifugal pumps-A thrust ring (E1) of lignum-vitæ or analogous
material for receiving the thrust at the end of a rotating pipe shaft substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
5. In centrifugal pumps-A spring ring (F) having a countersunk set screw
pin (F1) for holding and drawing it substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. In centrifugal pumps :-The method of the forward delivery of the fluid or
liquid to the centre and the peculiar apparatus and casing therefor substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described and explained and as illustrated in
Figure 7 in the accompanying drawings.
7. In centrifugal pumps :-A false bottom (G) either in the form of a movable
plate or an adjustable renewable trap door substantially as described and illustrated
in the drawings.
8. In centrifugal pumps :-The special arrangement and peculiar construction of
the bearings (A6) lubrication grooves (A9) glands (B) and pressure lubricant
cups (B 2) substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and explained
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In centrifugal pumps :-The combination of any of the parts above described
and claimed with one another or altogether as hereinbefore set forth and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of April 1891.
EDWARD SEITZ.
W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.