US3708239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means and method of regulating flow from centrifugal pumps
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-23
•
Granted: 1973-01-02
•
Expires: 1991-09-23
Abstract
Abstract The flow regulating means includes a regulator shell having a tangentally placed inlet tube at its lower closed end, the upper end being open. The shell is submerged at a level below the normal level of the liquid to be pumped. The shell receives a concentrically disposed suction pipe connected with the intake of a centrifugal pump. In the exercise of the method, when the level of the liquid body is above the shell a predetermined distance, the liquid is drawn downwardly in the shell around the suction pipe, then upwardly through the suction pipe with minimal turbulance so that the pump operates at maximum capacity. When the liquid approaches the top of the shell, an increased volume of liquid enters the tangent inlet tube to produce a vortex which increases in force as the liquid level subsides to cause proportionately decreasing pump capacity, tending to produce an equilibrium between liquid input and pump output.
Inventors
- 👤 M Stahle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:36
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D15/00; F04D15/0027; F04D29/00; F04D29/40; F04D29/42; F04D29/426; F04D29/4273
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of regulating the withdrawal of liquid from a body of liquid utilizing a centrifugal pump having a maximum output exceding the inflow of liquid to the liquid body, the method characterized by: a. causing an essentially vortex-free flow of liquid to the pump when the surface of the liquid body is above a predetermined level, thereby to produce maximum output from the pump tending to cause the surface of the liquid to subside; b. and causing increased vortex-flow of liquid to the pump as the surface of the liquid subsides below the predetermined level, thereby to produce a decreasing output from the pump until the surface level ceases to subside.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of regulating the withdrawal of liquid from a body of liquid utilizing a centrifugal pump having a maximum output exceding the inflow of liquid to the liquid body, the method characterized by: a. causing an essentially vortex-free flow of liquid to the pump when the surface of the liquid body is above a predetermined level, thereby to produce maximum output from the pump tending to cause the surface of the liquid to subside; b. and causing increased vortex-flow of liquid to the pump as the surface of the liquid subsides below the predetermined level, thereby to produce a decreasing output from the pump until the surface level ceases to subside.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein; a. essentially vortex-free flow is caused moving the liquid axially downwardly between a pump suction pipe and a surrounding shell and then upwardly to the pump through pipe; b. vortex flow is caused by introducing liquid tangently into the bottom of the shell below the inlet to the pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
Means for controlling the surface level of a body of liquid which receives an inflow of liquid, comprising; a. a centrifugal pump having a maximum output in excess of the liquid inflow; b. a first means operable to produce an essentially vortex-free flow to the pump, when the surface of the liquid body is above a predetermined level, thereby to produce a maximum output from the pump tending to cause the surface of the liquid to subside; c. a second means operable to produce increasing vortex-flow to the pump, as the surface of the liquid subsides below the predetermined level, thereby to produce a decreasing output from the pump tending to match the inflow of liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
Means for controlling the surface level of a body of liquid which receives an inflow of liquid, comprising; a. a centrifugal pump having a maximum output in excess of the liquid inflow; b. a first means operable to produce an essentially vortex-free flow to the pump, when the surface of the liquid body is above a predetermined level, thereby to produce a maximum output from the pump tending to cause the surface of the liquid to subside; c. a second means operable to produce increasing vortex-flow to the pump, as the surface of the liquid subsides below the predetermined level, thereby to produce a decreasing output from the pump tending to match the inflow of liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
A controlling means as defined in claim 3, wherein: a. a suction pipe depends from the pump and terminates in an inlet submerged in the body of water; b. the first means is a shell surrounding the suction pipe, having a closed lower end spaced below the suction pipe inlet as well as below the intended lower level of the liquid body and an open upper end below the intended level of the liquid body whereby flow of liquid into the upper end of the shell tends to produce flow of essentially vortex free-liquid to the Suction pipe; c. the second means is at least one tangently disposed inlet near the bottom of the shell tending to produce increasing vortex flow into the suction pipe as the liquid level subsides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A controlling means as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the inlet end of the suction pipe is spaced above the bottom of the shell a distance approximating the inside diameter of the inlet tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A controlling means as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the inside diameter of the suction pipe is larger than the inside diameter of the inlet tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A controlling means as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the inlet ends of the suction pipe and inlet tube are flared.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |