Patent ID: 7824161

Claim:
A pump secondary seal assembly for use with a centrifugal pump having a pump motor with a motor drive shaft, and a pump housing with an impeller having an impeller shaft operatively connected to the motor drive shaft, said assembly comprising: a motor casing cover having a central hole through which the motor drive shaft is disposed, a pump housing cover for attachment to the pump housing to enclose and cover the impeller, said pump housing cover having a seal chamber side, a pump housing side, and a interior portion with a central opening through which the impeller shaft and the motor drive shaft are axially disposed, said pump housing cover attached to said motor casing cover and interposed between said motor casing cover and the centrifugal pump so as to define a seal chamber space between said seal chamber side and said motor casing cover; and an annular flange protector disposed on said seal chamber side of said pump housing cover and having a substantially annular cup portion with an interior space and a central opening through which the pump motor drive shaft and/or impeller shaft are axially disposed for intercepting water that leaks from the pump housing before it enters the seal chamber and discharging it to the environment outside; and a fluid discharge tube in fluid communication with the interior space of said flange protector and extending to the environment outside the seal chamber; wherein said pump housing cover includes a raised inner ring surrounding its central opening, and wherein said flange protector includes said substantially annular cup portion comprising an underside having an interior space, a top side, and a central opening through which the pump motor drive shaft and/or impeller shaft are disposed; wherein said underside includes spaced-apart annular outer and inner rims defining a channel; and wherein said outer rim rests atop said interior portion of said pump housing cover and said inner rim rests atop said inner raised ring.