Centrifugal pump

Claim 1

The combination comprising: a pump casing defining a pumping chamber having an impeller positioned for rotation about an axis within said chamber, said casing having a pair of axially aligned apertures opening to the exterior of said casing on opposite sides of said impeller and each being of a size to permit removal of said impeller therethrough; an inlet and an outlet opening into said pumping chamber; a suction cover releasably attached to said casing and closing one of said apertures; a cover assembly closing the other of said apertures and both of said apertures being of a diameter to permit passage therethrough of said assembly; walls defining a shaft opening through said cover assembly; shaft sealing means connected to said cover assembly, aid sealing means being of a size to permit passage thereof through said apertures; a drive shaft extending through said shaft opening and said shaft sealing means; means releasably connecting said pump impeller to said shaft for rotation therewith; and fastening means releasably supporting said cover assembly to said pump casing whereby removal of said fastening means and said suction cover permits removal of said impeller and said cover assembly through said one of said apertures and said shaft sealing means through both of said apertures and whereby removal of said fastening means permits removal of said impeller and said cover assembly through the other of said apertures.