US3861831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vertical shaft impeller pump apparatus
Assignee: Rule Industries LLC
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Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed vertical shaft impeller pump apparatus especially suitable for bilge or other applications where installation space is limited. The pump apparatus, including preferred embodiments thereof, is characterized by high pumping efficiency, long service life, compactness, and flexibility of assembly geometry whereby orientation of the top portion, the discharge means, and the base of the apparatus are variously alignable relative to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Clinton Rule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:27
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D13/00; F04D13/02; F04D13/06; F04D13/08; F04D29/00; F04D29/40; F04D29/42; F04D29/426; F04D29/4293; F04D9/00; F04D9/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A vertical shaft impeller pump apparatus comprising: A. an exTernal enclosure comprising intake means adapted to conduct fluid thereinto; B. a generally cup-shaped housing disposed within and spaced apart from said external enclosure and comprising i. inlet means adapted to conduct fluid from within said external enclosure into said housing, said inlet means being located at the lower portion of said housing, and ii. discharge means adapted to conduct fluid from said housing to the exterior of the pump, said discharge means being located at the upper portion of said housing; C. a fluid-tight casing disposed within and in spaced relationship with said housing, said spaced relationship defining i. an impeller chamber within said housing and below said casing, and ii. an open annular flow passage, extending from said impeller chamber to said discharge means, between the sidewalls of said housing and said casing; D. a prime mover disposed within said casing, said prime mover comprising a drive shaft extending in substantially fluid-tight relationship through the bottom of said casing; and E. an impeller in driving relationship with said drive shaft and disposed within said impeller chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A vertical shaft impeller pump apparatus comprising: A. an exTernal enclosure comprising intake means adapted to conduct fluid thereinto; B. a generally cup-shaped housing disposed within and spaced apart from said external enclosure and comprising i. inlet means adapted to conduct fluid from within said external enclosure into said housing, said inlet means being located at the lower portion of said housing, and ii. discharge means adapted to conduct fluid from said housing to the exterior of the pump, said discharge means being located at the upper portion of said housing; C. a fluid-tight casing disposed within and in spaced relationship with said housing, said spaced relationship defining i. an impeller chamber within said housing and below said casing, and ii. an open annular flow passage, extending from said impeller chamber to said discharge means, between the sidewalls of said housing and said casing; D. a prime mover disposed within said casing, said prime mover comprising a drive shaft extending in substantially fluid-tight relationship through the bottom of said casing; and E. an impeller in driving relationship with said drive shaft and disposed within said impeller chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said annular flow passage extends slightly above said discharge means thereby defining a space thereabove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said annular flow passage is provided with at least one relief aperture therethrough located at least slightly above said discharge means, said aperture being adapted to allow gases to escape from said annular flow passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of said annular flow passage is sufficiently smaller in the region of the bottom of said casing than is the cross-sectional area of said annular flow passage both above and below said region so that a venturi is created.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: i. said external enclosure comprises a substantially cup-shaped lower member and an upper member, said lower and upper members each having the cross-sectional geometry of a regular polygon, and said lower and upper members comprising cooperative interlocking means on at least two respective sides thereof; and ii. said housing comprises web means having apertures corresponding to and adapted to receive said interlocking means therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: i. each of said upper and lower members of said external enclosure have a square cross-sectional geometry; and ii. said lower member is provided with symmetrically oriented interlocking means on each of the four sides thereof; and iii. at least two opposed sides of said upper member are provided with corresponding cooperating interlocking means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
166 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid-tight relationship between said drive shaft and said casing is provided by the combination of: i. a generally cup-shaped casing having an aperture through the bottom thereof; ii. at least one resilient elastomeric or plastomeric wafer seal located at the bottom of said casing, said wafer seal having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said aperture and smaller than the diameter of the bottom of said casing, and said wafer seal having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive said drive shaft in fluid-tight rotating relationship therewith; iii. a compression ring resting upon said wafer seal and having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said aperture and smaller than the diameter of said wafer seal; and iiii. means to compress said compression ring against said wafer seal with sufficient force to cause substantially continuous 360* impingement of said wafer seal against the bottom of said casing to result in the establishment of a fluid-tight relationship therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said compression ring is integral with and extends downwardly from said prime mover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said prime movEr is an electric motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the power cable for said motor passes through a conical aperture in said external enclosure, the smaller diameter end of said aperture being toward the interior of said enclosure, the diameter of said smaller diameter end of said aperture being at least about 0.020 inch smaller than the diameter of said cable and the diameter of the larger end of said aperture being larger than the diameter of said cable.
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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) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |