Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A pump comprising a canned motor, a hollow shaft having a cavity with first and second seats mutually spaced therein, and a ball loosely arranged in a portion of said cavity between said first and second seats, said canned motor comprising a motor housing and first and second journal bearings fixedly arranged relative to said motor housing and respectively rotatably supporting said hollow shaft, said motor housing comprising a vent plug for sealing a leakage chamber located above said hollow shaft, said ball forming together with said first seat a first valve for preventing the flow of fluid from a suction side of the pump through said hollow shaft during removal of said vent plug and said ball forming together with said second seat a second valve for preventing the flow of fluid to said suction side of the pump through said hollow shaft during normal operation, wherein said shaft is made of relatively thin-walled tube, and said first and second seats are formed by compressing said tube material at both ends thereof, said first and second seats respectively forming transitions to first and second portions of said shaft, said first and second portions of said shaft having reduced diameters relative to the diameter of the shaft portion therebetween and defining first and second journals which are respectively supported by said first and second journal bearings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A pump comprising a canned motor, a hollow shaft having a cavity with first and second seats mutually spaced therein, and a ball loosely arranged in a portion of said cavity between said first and second seats, said canned motor comprising a motor housing and first and second journal bearings fixedly arranged relative to said motor housing and respectively rotatably supporting said hollow shaft, said motor housing comprising a vent plug for sealing a leakage chamber located above said hollow shaft, said ball forming together with said first seat a first valve for preventing the flow of fluid from a suction side of the pump through said hollow shaft during removal of said vent plug and said ball forming together with said second seat a second valve for preventing the flow of fluid to said suction side of the pump through said hollow shaft during normal operation, wherein said shaft is made of relatively thin-walled tube, and said first and second seats are formed by compressing said tube material at both ends thereof, said first and second seats respectively forming transitions to first and second portions of said shaft, said first and second portions of said shaft having reduced diameters relative to the diameter of the shaft portion therebetween and defining first and second journals which are respectively supported by said first and second journal bearings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin-walled tube has a thickness-to-diameter ratio in the range of 0.04 to 0.2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pump as defined in claim 1, wherein a first end portion of said shaft is provided with a spline on which an impeller is mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The pump as defined in claim 3, wherein said spline comprises a plurality of grooves extending parallel to the axis of said shaft and arranged in diametrically opposing pairs, said grooves being formed as cylindrical pressings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pump as defined in claim 4, wherein the ratio of the depth of the grooves to the outer diameter of the first end portion is in the range of 0.02 to 0.15.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin-walled tube is made of corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said ball is made of semi-resilient material such as rubber or plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The pump as defined in claim 1, wherein the radial clearance between said ball and the inner wall of said hollow shaft is in the range of 0.05 to 4.0 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said seats form an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees with the axis of said hollow shaft.