Patent ID: RE39813

Claim:
A self-priming pump, comprising: a centrifugal pump section including a volute and an impeller disposed in the volute and supported on an impeller shaft, the impeller shaft being supported in a bearing housing and having a drive end opposite the impeller, the pump section further including a bracket attached to the bearing housing and surrounding the drive end of the impeller shaft; a motor mounted to the bracket and configured to turn the impeller shaft; a vacuum pump assembly mounted to the centrifugal pump section and having a vacuum pump input shaft configured to actuate a diaphragm-type vacuum pump upon rotation , where the diaphragm- type vacuum pump includes a diaphragm and an output check valve centered over the diaphragm ; and a drive linkage extending from the drive end of the impeller shaft through the bracket and to the vacuum pump input shaft, the drive linkage being configured to transfer power from the drive end of the impeller shaft to the vacuum pump assembly when the motor turns the shaft.