Pump assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9297553-B2
Application number	US-201313932086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2013
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A pump assembly includes a motor and a pump, with the motor having an output shaft that extends into a volute chamber defined by a housing of the pump. An impeller may be mounted to the end of the output shaft. A heating element maybe located within a projection formed in an end of the housing and defines a heat transfer area confronting the volute chamber, wherein heat generated by the heating element may be conducted into the volute chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pump assembly comprising:
a motor having an output shaft;
an impeller mounted to the output shaft;
a housing configured to enclose the impeller and defining a volute chamber and includes a projection that defines a channel having a plurality of convolutions defining alternating peaks and valleys extending from the projection that define a heat transfer area that confronts the volute chamber; and
a heating element provided on an exterior of the housing, at least partially received in the channel, and in heat transfer proximity to the convolutions;
wherein the channel conforms to the shape of the heating element and heat generated by the heating element is conducted into the volute chamber through the plurality of convolutions.

2. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the peaks that form an exterior of the housing define at least a portion of a heater seat on which at least a portion of the heating element rests.

3. The pump assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a filling material provided within the valleys that form an exterior of the housing.

4. The pump assembly of claim 3 wherein the filling material comprises a portion of the heater seat.

5. The pump assembly of claim 4 wherein the heater seat conforms to the shape of the heating element.

6. The pump assembly of claim 5 wherein the heating element comprises at least one of a rectilinear and ovate cross section.

7. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the channel has at least a portion at least twice as wide as the heating element, and the heating element has two segments within the portion of the channel.

8. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the projection forms a continuous channel.

9. The pump assembly of claim 8 wherein the continuous channel is substantially circular.

10. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the projection is located on an end of the housing opposite the impeller.

11. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein an end of the housing defines an end surface and a portion of the channel lies between the end surface and the impeller.

12. The pump assembly of claim 11 wherein the portion of the channel is of a depth at least equal to the height of the heating element.

13. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the depth of the channel is greater than the height of the heating element.

14. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the projection comprises at least three sides in fluid contact with the volute chamber, and the convolutions are provided on at least one of the three sides.

15. The pump assembly of claim 14 wherein the convolutions are provided on at least two of the three sides.

16. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein an inlet opening is provided in an end of the housing opposite the impeller, an outlet opening is provided in a side of the housing, and the projection is located between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

17. The pump assembly of claim 16 wherein the projection is provided in the end of the housing.

18. The pump assembly of claim 1 wherein less than 50% of the cross section of the heating element contacts the channel.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Vallejo Noriega Alvaro
• Welch Rodney M

Classifications

• F24H9/2028 Primary

  Continuous-flow heaters · CPC title

• F04D29/586

  specially adapted for liquid pumps · CPC title

• F01D25/14

  Casings modified therefor (double casings F01D25/26) · CPC title

• F04D29/588 Primary

  cooling or heating the machine (F04D29/5886, F04D29/5893 take precedence) · CPC title