Pump assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11333151-B2
Application number	US-201816492795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 14, 2017
Publication date	May 17, 2022
Grant date	May 17, 2022

Abstract

A centrifugal pump assembly includes an electrical drive motor (4, 6), an impeller (14) which is driven by the drive motor and a pump casing (12) surrounds the impeller and including two branches (27, 32, 34). A movable valve element (18) is arranged in the pump casing and is movable between two switching positions, in which the flow paths through the two branches (27, 32, 34) are opened to a different extent. The valve element (18) is configured and arranged in the pump casing (12) such that it separates a suction chamber (24) which is connected to a suction side of the impeller (14) from a delivery chamber (26) which is in connection with the delivery side of the impeller (14). The valve element (18) is mechanically and/or hydraulically coupled to the drive motor (4, 6) for at least a movement between the two switching positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A centrifugal pump assembly comprising:
an electrical drive motor
an impeller which is driven by the electrical drive motor;
a pump casing which surrounds the impeller and which comprises at least two branches;
a movable valve element arranged in the pump casing, said valve element being movable between at least two switching positions, in which the flow paths through the at least two branches are opened to a different extent, wherein the valve element is configured and arranged in the pump casing such that the valve element separates a suction chamber, which is connected to a suction side of the impeller, from a delivery chamber, which is in connection with the delivery side of the impeller, the valve element being rotatable between the at least two switching positions about a rotation axis aligned to a rotation axis of the impeller;
a coupling configured to mechanically and/or hydraulically couple the valve element to the drive motor for at least a movement between the at least two switching positions, the coupling being completely inside the pump casing.

2. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve element is rotatably mounted with respect to a valve element center and is rotatably mounted in the pump casing independently of the impeller.

3. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve element is rotatably mounted in the inside of the pump casing, in a space which is filled with a fluid to be delivered.

4. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve element is configured and arranged such that the valve element is movable along a first movement path between the least two switching positions and additionally along a second movement path which runs angled to the first movement path, wherein the valve element is movable along the second movement path between a first position, in which the valve element is distanced to at least one contact surface, and a second position, in which the valve element is in bearing contact with the at least one contact surface.

5. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the second movement path is aligned with the rotation axis of the impeller.

6. A centrifugal pump unit according to claim 4 , wherein an end position of the movement of the valve element along the second path of movement is defined by a stop at an axial end of a rotor shaft of the driving motor.

7. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the valve element is subjected to a restoring force by way of a restoring element, said restoring force acting along the second movement path and acting in the direction of the first position.

8. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the valve element comprises a pressure surface which faces the delivery chamber and upon which the pressure prevailing in the delivery chamber acts such that the valve element along the second movement path is subjected to a pressing force which acts in the direction of the second position.

9. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one contact surface is a sealing surface.

10. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one sealing surface is situated such that the delivery chamber is sealed with respect to the suction chamber by way of the valve element bearing on the sealing surface.

11. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one sealing surface is situated such that one of the branches is sealed with respect to the suction chamber by way of the valve element bearing on the sealing surface.

12. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one contact surface extends angled to the second movement path.

13. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve element is configured such that the valve element is movable, by way of a fluid flow in the delivery chamber, in a rotation direction of the impeller and/or the valve element is coupled to the impeller or to a shaft which drives the impeller for movement, via a coupling which is pressure-dependent and/or speed-dependent and/or rotation-direction-dependent releasable.

14. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration and arrangement of at least one valve element is such that a flow which is produced by the impeller, in the delivery chamber, acts upon the valve element for valve element movement between the at least two switching positions.

15. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve element comprises an opening, via which the suction chamber is in connection with a suction port of the impeller, wherein the suction port of the impeller is in bearing contact or engagement with the valve element in a peripheral region of the opening.

16. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor comprises a control device, via which the drive motor is activated such that the drive motor can be driven in two rotation directions.

17. A centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor comprises a control device, via which the drive motor is adjustable in motor speed and in is started up with different acceleration courses.

18. A centrifugal pump assembly comprising:
a pump casing having two branches;
an impeller rotatably arranged in said pump casing about an axis;
a drive motor configured to rotate said impeller about said axis;
a valve element rotatably arranged in the pump casing, said valve element being rotatable between two switching positions about said axis, movement of said valve element between said two switching positions variably opening said two branches;
a mechanical and/or hydraulic coupling physically arranged between said valve element and said impeller in a direction of said axis, said coupling being configured to move said valve element between said two switching positions.

19. A centrifugal pump assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein:
said coupling is entirely arranged between said valve element and said impeller in said direction of said axis.

20. A centrifugal pump assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein:
said impeller has a suction side and a delivery side;
said pump casing defines a suction chamber being in communication with said suction side of the impeller;
said pump casing defines a delivery chamber being in communication with said delivery side of the impeller;
said valve element being arranged to separate said suction chamber and said delivery chamber.

Assignees

• Grundfos Holding As

Inventors

• Blad Thomas

Classifications

• F04D13/06 Primary

  the pump being electrically driven · CPC title

• F04D29/4273

  suction eyes · CPC title

• F04D1/006 Primary

  double suction pumps · CPC title

• F24D3/105

  pumps combined with multiple way valves · CPC title

• F04D29/4293

  Details of fluid inlet or outlet · CPC title