Submersible electric motor

Claim 2

An electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly adapted to be suspended in a liquid from a pipe and to pump the liquid upwardly through the pipe, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including an end ring at the upper end thereof for sealing the upper end of said stator, a rotor rotatably supported in said cavity, a casing positioned around said stator and forming with said stator a liquid conduit around the periphery of said stator, and a connector member, the upper portion of said connector member being adapted to be secured to said pipe and having a liquid passage therein which communicates with said pipe, the lower portion of said connector member being releasably fastened to said end ring of said stator and said liquid passage extending generally radially between the lower end of said lower portion and the upper face of said end ring and communicating with said conduit, whereby liquid flows from said conduit, between said end ring and said lower portion of said connector member, to said pipe.

Claim 3

An electric motor as in claim 1, and further including an electric power line extending through said liquid passage in said connector member and adapted to extend through said pipe, an electrical connector for connecting said power line to windings of said motor, and means for insulating said power line and said electrical connector from said liquid.

Claim 4

An electric motor as in claim 1, wherein said connector member includes a plurality of spaced feet extending from the lower portion thereof, said feet being secured to said end ring and said passage being formed between said feet.

Claim 5

An electric motor as in claim 1, wherein said casing is generally tubular and surrounds said stator, the upper end portion of said casing being sealingly connected to said lower portion of said connector member.

Claim 6

An electric motor as in claim 4, wherein said liquid passage extends from said casing generally radially inwardly between said end ring and said lower portion of said connector member and then generally upwardly through said upper portion of said connector member.

Claim 7

An electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly adapted to be suspended in a liquid from a pipe and to pump the liquid upwardly through the pipe, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including an end ring at the upper end thereof for sealing the upper end of said stator, a rotor rotatably supported in said cavity, a casing positioned around said stator and forming with said stator a liquid conduit around the periphery of said stator, and a connector member, the upper portion of said connector member being adapted to be secured to said pipe and having a liquid passage therein which communicates with said pipe, the lower portion of said connector member being releasable fastened to said end ring of said stator and said liquid passage communicating with said conduit, whereby liquid flows from said conduit, said connector member, to said pipe, said stator including stator windings, and an electrical connector for connecting a power line to said stator windings, said connector comprising an upper part and a lower part, said upper part being secured to said connector member and said lower part being secured to said end ring, said upper and lower parts being sealed from said liquid being pumped when said connector member is fastened to said end ring, connection between said liquid passage and said conduit and connection between said upper and lower parts being automatically made and broken when said connector member is fastened to and released from said end ring.

Claim 8

An electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly adapted to be suspended in a liquid from a pipe and to pump the liquid upwardly through the pipe, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including an end ring at the upper end thereof for sealing the upper end of said stator, a rotor rotatably supported in said cavity, a casing positioned around said stator and forming with said stator a liquid conduit around the periphery of said stator, and a connector member, the upper portion of said connector member being adapted to be secured to said pipe and having a liquid passage therein which communicates with said pipe, the lower portion of said connector member being releasable fastened to said end ring of said stator and said liquid passage communicating with said conduit, whereby liquid flows from said conduit, said connector member, to said pipe, said stator including stator windings, and an electrical connector for connecting a power line to said stator windings, said connector comprising an upper part and a lower part, said upper part being secured to said connector member and said lower part being secured to said end ring, said upper and lower parts being sealed from said liquid being pumped when said connector member is fastened to said end ring, connection between said liquid passage and said conduit and connection between said upper and lower parts being automatically made and broken when said connector member is fastened to and released from said end ring.

Claim 9

A submersible electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly, comprising a stator having a cylindrical rotor cavity formed therein, a rotor positioned in said cavity, said stator including a stator end ring at one end thereof for closing the adjacent end of said stator and for supporting the adjacent end of said rotor for rotative movement within said rotor cavity, a connector member including a portion releasably secured directly to said stator end ring and another portion adapted to be secured to a liquid-carrying pipe, liquid conduit means surrounding said stator, said connector member and said conduit means having interconnected liquid passages, and an electrical connector comprising mating first and second parts, said first part being secured to said connector member and said second part being secured to said stator end ring, said electrical connector being located radially between said pipe and said conduit means and liquid in said liquid passages flowing around at least a portion of said electrical connector, the interconnections between said parts of said electrical connector and between said liquid passages being automatically made and broken when said connector member is secured to and removed from said stator.

Claim 10

A submersible electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly, comprising a stator having a cylindrical rotor cavity formed therein, a rotor positioned in said cavity, said stator including a stator end ring at one end thereof for closing the adjacent end of said stator and for supporting the adjacent end of said rotor for rotative movement within said rotor cavity, a connector member including a portion releasably secured directly to said stator end ring and another portion adapted to be secured to a liquid-carrying pipe, liquid conduit means surrounding said stator, said connector member and said conduit means having interconnected liquid passages, and an electrical connector comprising mating first and second parts, said first part being secured to said connector member and said second part being secured to said stator end ring, said electrical connector being located radially between said pipe and said conduit means and liquid in said liquid passages flowing around at least a portion of said electrical connector, the interconnections between said parts of said electrical connector and between said liquid passages being automatically made and broken when said connector member is secured to and removed from said stator.

Claim 11

A motor as in claim 7 , wherein said motor further includes a bearing support for the rotor, said support being seated on said end ring, said connector member being secured to said end ring and overlying said bearing support.

Claim 12

A motor as in claim 7, wherein said electrical connector is radially displaced from the axis of rotation of said rotor.

Claim 13

A submersible electric motor as in claim 7, wherein said end ring has an opening formed therein, and further including a heat responsive overload protector positioned within said opening and secured to said end ring, one portion of said protector extending into said liquid passage in said connector member and another portion of said protector extending into said stator, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature within said stator and to the presence or absence of liquid in said passage.

Claim 14

A submersible electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly, comprising a stator having a cylindrical rotor cavity formed therein, a rotor positioned in said cavity, said stator including an end ring at one end of said stator for supporting said rotor, a cylindrical casing surrounding said stator in radially spaced reLation to said stator, said space providing a liquid passage between said stator and said casing, a connector member comprising a main body portion and a plurality of spaced-apart feet extending from said body portion toward and into engagement with said end ring, a plurality of bolts positioned in holes formed through at least some of said feet and in said end ring for securing said connector member directly to said end ring. said body portion of said connector member having a liquid passage formed therethrough, the spaces between said feet interconnecting said liquid passage around said stator with said liquid passage in said body portion and thus establishing fluid connection therebetween, one of said feet having a hole formed therethrough, and an electrical connector positioned in said hole.

Claim 15

A submersible electric motor for a submersible motor-pump assembly, comprising a stator having a cylindrical rotor cavity formed therein, a rotor positioned in said cavity, said stator including an end ring at one end of said stator for supporting said rotor, a cylindrical casing surrounding said stator in radially spaced reLation to said stator, said space providing a liquid passage between said stator and said casing, a connector member comprising a main body portion and a plurality of spaced-apart feet extending from said body portion toward and into engagement with said end ring, a plurality of bolts positioned in holes formed through at least some of said feet and in said end ring for securing said connector member directly to said end ring. said body portion of said connector member having a liquid passage formed therethrough, the spaces between said feet interconnecting said liquid passage around said stator with said liquid passage in said body portion and thus establishing fluid connection therebetween, one of said feet having a hole formed therethrough, and an electrical connector positioned in said hole.

Claim 16

A submersible motor as in claim 11, wherein said casing extends beyond the end of said stator around said spaces between said feet, and into sealing engagement with said body portion, said casing thus confining the liquid flowing through said spaces between said feet.

Claim 17

A submersible electric motor comprising a tubular stator, a rotor rotatably mounted within said stator, a connector member releasably connected to said stator at one end of said motor, said motor having interconnected liquid passages formed through said stator and said connector member, and an electrical connector including a first part secured to said stator and a second part secured to said connector member, said first and second parts having mating configurations and being automatically engaged and disengaged upon assembly and disassembly of said connector member with said stator, said electrical connector being radially displaced to one side of the axis of rotation of said rotor and thus serving to angularly orientate said connector member relative to said stator, said connector member having a cable passage formed therein adapted to receive an electrical cable, said cable passage leading to said second part of said electrical connector and being sealed from said liquid passage.

Claim 18

A submersible electric motor comprising a tubular stator, a rotor rotatably mounted within said stator, a connector member releasably connected to said stator at one end of said motor, said motor having interconnected liquid passages formed through said stator and said connector member, and an electrical connector including a first part secured to said stator and a second part secured to said connector member, said first and second parts having mating configurations and being automatically engaged and disengaged upon assembly and disassembly of said connector member with said stator, said electrical connector being radially displaced to one side of the axis of rotation of said rotor and thus serving to angularly orientate said connector member relative to said stator, said connector member having a cable passage formed therein adapted to receive an electrical cable, said cable passage leading to said second part of said electrical connector and being sealed from said liquid passage.

Claim 19

A motor as in claim 13, wherein said cable passage extends through and is substantially surrounded by said liquid passage in said connector member.

Claim 20

A motor as in claim 13, wherein said cable passage is radially displaced to one side of said liquid passage in said connector member.

Claim 21

A submersible motor for use submerged in a liquid, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity, said stator including windings within the interior thereof. a rotor rotatably supported within said rotor cavity, and a thermal overload protector secured to said stator and extending at least partially into the interior of said stator and being in heat exchange relation both with said stator windings and with said liquid, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature of said stator windings and to the presence or absence of said liquid.

Claim 22

A submersible motor for use submerged in a liquid, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity, said stator including windings within the interior thereof. a rotor rotatably supported within said rotor cavity, and a thermal overload protector secured to said stator and extending at least partially into the interior of said stator and being in heat exchange relation both with said stator windings and with said liquid, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature of said stator windings and to the presence or absence of said liquid.

Claim 23

A motor as in claim 16, wherein said stator includes inner and outer walls which are adapted to be directly contacted by said liquid, and said thermal protector is positioned in said stator closely adjacent said windings and also closely adjacent one of said walls.

Claim 24

A motor as in claim 17, wherein said inner wall is made of a relatively thin heat conductive metal, and said protector is positioned in close heat conducting relation with said inner wall.

Claim 25

A motor as in claim 17, and further including heat conducting means positioned around and in close contact with said protector.

Claim 26

A submersible motor for use submerged in a liquid, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including windings, a rotor rotatably supported within said rotor cavity, and a thermal overload protector secured to said stator in heat exchange relation both with said stator windings and with said liquid, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature of said stator windings and to the presence or absence of said liquid, said protector including an inner portion and an outer portIon, said inner portion extending into said stator closely adjacent said stator windings, and said outer portion extending out of said stator and adapted to be directly contacted by said liquid.

Claim 27

A submersible motor for use submerged in a liquid, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including windings, a rotor rotatably supported within said rotor cavity, and a thermal overload protector secured to said stator in heat exchange relation both with said stator windings and with said liquid, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature of said stator windings and to the presence or absence of said liquid, said protector including an inner portion and an outer portIon, said inner portion extending into said stator closely adjacent said stator windings, and said outer portion extending out of said stator and adapted to be directly contacted by said liquid.

Claim 28

A submersible motor for use submerged in a liquid, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including windings, a rotor rotatably supported within said rotor cavity, and a thermal overload protector secured to said stator in heat exchange relation both with said stator windings and with said liquid, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature of said stator windings and to the presence or absence of said liquid, said stator including an end ring closing one end of said stator, said end ring having an opening formed therethrough, and said protector being positioned in said opening and extending into said stator to a location adjacent said windings and also extending out of said stator to a location where it is adapted to be in direct contact with said liquid.

Claim 29

A submersible motor for use submerged in a liquid, comprising a stator forming a rotor cavity and including windings, a rotor rotatably supported within said rotor cavity, and a thermal overload protector secured to said stator in heat exchange relation both with said stator windings and with said liquid, whereby said protector responds both to the temperature of said stator windings and to the presence or absence of said liquid, said stator including an end ring closing one end of said stator, said end ring having an opening formed therethrough, and said protector being positioned in said opening and extending into said stator to a location adjacent said windings and also extending out of said stator to a location where it is adapted to be in direct contact with said liquid.