Improvements in Centrifugal Pumps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
COME LUIE DIMUITICATION.
Improvements in Centrifugal Pumps.
We, EDWARD SEITZ and RICHARD PICKUP PARK, both of Blackburn, in the
Colony of Victoria, Engineers, 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 :-
This invention has been devised for the purpose of overcoming certain objectionable
features in connection with centrifugal pumps at present in common use, and at the
same time to supply additional facilities for the more efficient working of this class
of pumps than has hitherto been achieved.
In the past it has been found that when working ordinary centrifugal pumps in
connection with water or fluids containing impurities, such as sand, grit, sludge, etc.,
such impurities find their way to, or circulate from the body of the pump towards
and into the bearings, bearing surfaces, or glands, and cause, by the consequent
friction, such parts to wear away abnormally; also that the fluid finds its way from
the body of the pump back again to the intake end of the runner.
It has also been found desirable to provide some means to efficiently prevent any
communication or circulation between the body of the pump and the bearings
towards the inlet, or suction end of the pump, in order to obviate the ingress of any
air or other fluid which might find its way through the worn surfaces of such
bearings into the pump and thus interfere with the vacuum in said pump.
also been found desirable that some efficient mechanism should be provided for
balancing or adjusting the thrust pressure usually trending in centrifugal pumps
towards the suction end of the runner.
It has
Now our invention fulfils these functions by the medium of simple, efficient and
easily adjustable mechanisms, and in order that our invention may be more easily
understood, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 illustrates a semi-sectional elevation of a single action centrifugal pump
fitted with our improvements.
Figure 2 a semi-sectional elevation of a double action centrifugal pump similarly
fitted.
Figure 3 an end view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 a plan view, partly in section, of mechanical details shewn in elevation
at one end of Figure 1 and at both ends of Figure 2.
Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of an alternative mechanism for operating
certain portions of our improvements, hereinafter to be described, whilst
Figure 6 illustrates a sectional elevation of certain of our improvements as applied
to a pump different in pattern to that shewn on the other figures.
"
In these figures A represents the runner of a centrifugal pump which, for the
purposes of illustration, I have shewn constructed on the "hollow pipe shaft
principle, but, so far as the invention is concerned, this runner may be of any design
usually employed in centrifugal pumps.
B is the pulley by which motion is transmitted to the pump and which (as shewn
in Figure 1) is placed upon the small solid shaft C and in Figure 2 upon the
hollow pipe shaft D, which latter constitutes part of the pump and is de facto a
continuation of the tubular runner A. E represents the casing and frame-work of
the pump.
F is an annular faced plate or ring of metal conveniently arranged anywhere
along the outer area or diameter of the runner A, but preferably in the position
shewn on Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the drawing. In lieu of this face plate or annular
ring F, a face may be turned upon the metal of A, but we prefer such ring or plate

page_text: to be distinct from the runner A, so that it may be unscrewed and replaced if it
becomes unduly worn.
G (see Figures 1, 2 and 5) is an annular plate or ring of metal, preferably, hut
not arbitrarily, constructed of an L shaped section as shewn, and its face is neatly
turned to agree with the face on the annular plate F, so that the face of F may
revolve against the face of G with as little friction but as close proximity as possible.
The annular plate or ring G is kept in position by reason of the pressure of the
rubber rings, or their equivalents G', which in their turn are adjusted in position by
the screw H pressing upon the ring G³, which is annular, the whole being so
arranged that a gentle, but sufficient, pressure or contact is maintained by the
plate G against the plate F during the revolution of the latter to prevent sludge or
gritty matter from finding its way from the body of the pump at A¹ into the
chambers I, or as shewn in Figure 6 to prevent the fluid passing from the main
chamber of the pump into the entrance of the runner.
The chamber (I) herein before referred to (see Figures 1, 2, and 5) is provided at
its bottom with lead away canals or ducts 1', which terminate in one or more escape
cocks, and so arranged that, should any fine sludge or grit pass between the faces
of the plates F and G into the chamber I, it may pass away, through the cock, to
any convenient place, a slot above such canal or duct being cut away in the annular
plate G. The canal or duct is made sufficiently wide to allow of an altered position
of the slot in the annular plate, consequent on its movement forward through wear
of the faces of G and F.
We would here have it understood that the annular plate G may be kept forward
in its position by any approved adjustable and, or, elastic mechanism; that is to say,
either by bolts as H, shewn on Figures 1 and 2, or by an annular pressure water
liquid, pneumatic or gaseous chamber as M (Figure 5), in which latter case the
pressure either of water liquid, air, or gas in the said chamber M automatically
keeps forward the ring G2, and exerts a sufficient pressure through the medium G¹,
upon the faced ring G.
If it be found desirable, the cock or cocks at the bottom of the duct or ducts I¹,
may be closed, and water or other lubricant supplied to the chamber I. The said
cocks being also closed when it is desired to "prime
"the pump
when starting work
and in which case the annular sleeve U is screwed forward, so as to squeeze up the
rubber U and prevent any primage water from escaping.
The faced ring G performs a triple function-firstly, for the purpose, as
aforesaid, of preventing any gritty or frictional matter from finding its way out to
the bearing surfaces or glands; secondly, for preventing circulation from the main
chamber of the pump to the suction or inlet pipe, and rice versa, and thirdly, to
adjust or to equalize the thrust pressure of the runner in either direction by
reducing the area of the runner exposed to the pressure of the fluid in the main
chamber of the pump.
We would now call attention to the mechanism illustrated at the suction end of
Figure 1, both ends of Figure 2, and also in views 3 and 4.
In this case an L shaped annular faced plate N is arranged to butt against the
end of the pump runner shaft D, and kept in position by the ring O and
packing (). The ring is adjusted in its forward movement by two pusher
rods P, P, the adjustment action of these latter being set by a plate P (see
Figures 3 and 4), which said plate is kept in position on the rods P by shoulders
and screw nuts P, whilst a bolt and nut P³ is arranged as shewn to adjust the
forward pressure by both of the said rods P to the ring O. The annular plate N
also fulfils a triple function; that is to say-
1. To make a tight joint with the end of the runner A, to prevent the entrance
of air from the bearing to the vacuum or flow of fluid inside the runner A.
2. To prevent any grit or frictional matter from finding its way from the interior
of runner A or suction pipe S into the bearings Q, and
3. To receive and adjust the thrust, caused by the working of the pump, in
manner somewhat similar to the annular plate G, hereinbefore described.

page_text: R are lubrication cups for supplying the wearing surfaces with any suitable
lubricant, but in practice the frictional surfaces at the ends of plates N and G may
be found not to require any additional lubricant other than the water or fluid
passing through the pump.
The modus operandi of our invention is as follows:-
Presume that the single pump in Figure 1 is to be worked. Rotary motion is
imparted to the pulley from any convenient power, the solid shaft C revolves,
carrying with it the runner A. A vacuum is produced in A, which causes the
fluid (required to be pumped), to enter at the suction pipe S and proceed through
the runner in the direction shewn by the small arrows. The fluid then finds its
way into the casing E and escapes at the outlet E' (Figure 3). This working of
the pump will cause a thrust to be exerted by the runner A in a direction opposite
to that shewn by the arrows, and the operator will, at his discretion, adjust the
position of the ring N (by the medium of the mechanism P, P1, P2, and P³,
Figure 4), so as to exert just sufficient intimacy between the said plate N and the
end of the runner pipe shaft D to prevent any circulation to or ingress from the
bearing Q.
In like manner the operator will adjust the annular plates G, so as to fulfil the
required functions herein before referred to. Should the operator find that any
sludge or undesirable matter is finding its way through the annular plates G and F,
he will be enabled to judge the necessary adjusting pressure required to be exerted
by the screw bolts H, or their equivalent; if it be found that no sludge or gritty
matter or fluid passes from the main chamber E, into the small chamber I he may,
if he desires, close the cocks at I, and allow a supply of water, oil or other
lubricant to fill the chamber I, and surround portions of G and F.
With regard to the annular chamber M, Fig. 5, water or air under pressure may
be arranged to fill such said chamber M and act as an alternative to the screws H,
on Figs. 1 and 2, in keeping the ring G2 forward in its position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In Centrifugal Pumps. An adjustable annular plate or ring as G for the
purpose of preventing grit or frictional matter from finding its way to bearing
surfaces or glands, and for preventing the circulation from one part of the pump
to the other, and also for adjusting or equalising the thrust pressure of the runner
substantially as described and explained.
2. In Centrifugal Pumps.-Annular plates or turned faces as F placed at any
portion of the diameter of a centrifugal runner in combination with a faced annular
plate or ring as G, as and for the purposes described and explained.
3. In Centrifugal Pumps.-The combination with an adjustable annular plate or
ring as G of means for adjusting same by the action of the screw bolts as H and
intermediary parts, substantially as and for the purposes described and as illustrated
on the accompanying drawings.
4. In Centrifugal Pumps.-The combination with rings as G2 of bolts or plugs
arranged in such a manner as to adjust the movement and position of the said rings,
substantially as and for the purposes described and explained.
5. In Centrifugal Pumps.-The combination with an annular faced plate or ring
as G of an annular liquid or gaseous pressure chamber as M, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
6. In Centrifugal Pumps.-The combination of an aqueous or pneumatic pressure
chamber M, annular ring as G2, and packing as G', with an annular faced plate or
ring as G, substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
7. In Centrifugal Pumps.-An annular plate or ring as N in combination with
any approved means of adjustment such as O and P, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and explained.
8. In Centrifugal Pumps.-The combination of the bolts P, plate P¹ and

page_text: adjustable bolt and nut P³, substantially as and for the purposes described and as
illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In Centrifugal Pumps. A chamber as I supplied with lead away ducts as I¹
and a cock trap or shutter at its bottom, as and for the purposes described and
substantially as illustrated.
10. In Centrifugal Pumps.-The general combination, mechanical construction
and arrangement of the whole of the parts illustrated on Figure 2, forming a
complete double action grit resisting centrifugal pump.
Dated this 9th day of January 1894.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.