US3814543A - Pump systems for liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for pumping of liquid under pressure, in which a pressure switch is adapted to control the starting and stopping of the pump within a safe pressure range, and in the event of malfunction of the pressure switch, the serviceline and associated plumbing is isolated from the pump to protect against development of pressures in the serviceline which might damage the plumbing.

Description

United States Patent 9Gr tz 1 June 4, 1974 PUMP SYSTEMS FOR LIQUIDS 3,141,475 7/1964 Guinard ct 111 137/568 I 3,150,684 9/1964 Guinard et ul 137/568 [75] lnvemor- Rock Ark-1 3.322.145 5/1967 P105581 137/517 [73] Assignee: Jacuzzi Bros. Incorporated, Littl 3,739,810 6/1973 Horan; Jr .1 4l7/38 X Rock, Ark. Primary Examiner Clarence R. Gordon [22] Ffled' 1973 Assistant EtanzinerRichard Sher [2i] Appl. No.: 327,955

1 1 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 417/26, l37/505.44, 137/6253,

251/] [8, 251/21O 417/38 A system for pumpmg of l1qu1d under pressure. 1n 1511 1m. (:1. F04b 49/08 which a Pressure Switch is adapted to control the 15s1 Field of Search 417/38, 43, 31, 441, 507. mg and Stopping of the P Within aSafe Pressurc 7/26, 28 137/568, 6253 11150544. range, and in the event of malfunction of the pressure 251/210 118, switch, the serviceline and associated plumbing is isolated from the pump to protect against development [56] References Cited of pressures in the serviceline which might damage the UNITED STATES PATENTS plumbmg' 2,737,975 3/1956 Wilkins 137/505.44 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 4 m4 SHEET 2 I]? 3 PATENTEU 4 I974SHEET 30F 3 FEG.

1 PUMP SYSTEMS FOR LIQUIDS My invention relates to systems for pumping of liquid under pressure and more particularly to water pressure systems.

While the system of the present invention can be employed in general to the pumping of liquids under pressure, it is more specifically adapted to water pressure systems and will be described with respect to its application to such a system.

In water pressure systems of the type to which the present invention relates, a pump supplies one or more branch service lines, each terminating in a service valve. A pressure switch normally exposed to pressures within a service line, is adjusted to energize the pump drive motor when the pressure in the serviceline drops to a predetermined low value, say of the order of or pounds per square inch, and de-energize the pump drive motor should the pressure in the serviceline reach a predetermined high value of the order of say 50 pounds per square inch.

Where the system involves a number of branch service lines or, in some cases, where the pump is not matched to the system which it is to supply, the pump may be capable of developing pressures far in excess of the shut-down value setting of the pressure switch, and such pressures, if permitted to develop in the service line, can wreck havoc with the plumbing associated with this portion of the system. This kind of a disruptive situation can develop should the pressure switch, for example, fail to function to de-energize the pump motor when the service demand ceases, thus allowing the pump to continue functioning despite the fact that there is no demand for service. Under the circumstances, there will be a build up of pressure in the serviceline, to the capability of the pump, and this could be destructive of plumbing associated with the service line.

Among the objects of my invention are:

1. To provide a novel and improved pump system for supplying liquid under pressure within a safe range and which will preclude a rise in pressure in the serviceline to values dangerous to existing plumbing should the pump fail to shut down when the demand for service ceases.

2. To provide a novel and improvedpump system having automatic pump start and stop control, wherein upon failure of the stop control to shut down a pump, the serviceline of the system is isolated from the pump.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. I is a view depicting one type of water system and the application of the present invention hereto;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a control assembly in such system and which embodies the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken through pressure regulator valve assembly constituting an important component of the control assembly of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c are related views depicting the manner of operation of a valve involved in the pressure mersible type illustrated in the system of FIG. I, and a curve depicting the corresponding pressures which I would exist in the serviceline of the system with the present invention incorporated therein.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, I have illustrated the invention in FIG. 1 as embodied in a system of the submersible pump type which involves asubmersible pump 1 and drivemotor 2, both submerged below water level in awell casing 3 from which the pump discharges through aline 5 to acontrol assembly 7 such as depicted in the enlarged view in FIG. 2, and from which a main serviceline 9 extends. The serviceline may couple to a plurality of branch servicelines, each terminating in a service valve (not illustrated but which may be of any conventional type).

Thecontrol assembly 7 includes a novel and improved pressure regulatingvalve assembly 11 constituting the heart of the present invention.

This pressure regulating valve assembly involves ahousing 12 having a threaded inlet opening 13 at one end for connection of thepump discharge line 5, to receive liquid at the prevailing pump pressure, and a threaded outlet opening 15 at the opposite end for connection of the service line 9.

The inlet opening is blocked off by thepartition 17 having a threadedopening 19 therethrough substantially at right angles to the axis of the inlet opening, and into which a threadedfitting 21 is installed to provide avalve seat 23.

In axial alignment with such valve seat, is avalve 25 supported by abracket 27 from adiaphram 29 spanning an opening in the housing and retained in such position by aspring housing 31 threadedly installed in such opening.

In the spring housing is acompression spring 33 seating at one end against the diaphragm and at its other end, engaging the end of an adjustingscrew 35 installed through the end of the spring housing, leaving thescrew head 37 exposed for adjustment purposes. The adjustment of the spring determines the value of the regulated pressure at the outlet opening 15 of the valve assembly in accordance with conventional practice.

Ascreen 41 in the flow path between the inlet opening 13 and the partition opening 19, will serve to screen out any debris in the water coming from the pump.

As thus far described, the pressure regulating valve assembly receives liquid under pressure through the inlet opening from the pump, when running, such liquid passing through the valve and, depending on conditions beyond the outlet opening, will build up a back pressure against the diaphragm in opposition to the compression spring, and when such back pressure overcomes the pressure setting of the spring, the diaphragm will begin to move toward and compress the spring, in the course of which, it will carry the valve in the direction of seating. During such movement of the valve, a resulting increase in pressure drop across the valve will result in a tendency for the diaphragm to be restored to its original position. As a result, the valve will hover about a position which will enable the pressure at the outlet opening to be maintained at substantially a value corresponding to the setting of the spring, despite the pump pressure at the inlet end of the valve assembly.

Threadedly coupled to the housing of the pressure regulator valve assembly and exposed to the pressure on the outlet side of the valve, is apressure switch 43, which, by reason of such coupling, is exposed to the pressure prevailing in the serviceline of this system. This pressure switch is connected in the conventional manner, in circuit with themotor 2 which drives thepump 1 and is adjusted to connect the pump motor in circuit when the pressure in the serviceline drops to a predetermined low value, say of the order of or 30 pounds per square inch, and disconnect such pump motor when the pressure in the serviceline raises to a higher predetermined value, which is still safe for the plumbing associated with the serviceline.

In conjunction with the pressure regulator valve assembly and the pressure switch, is a smallexpandable cell assembly 45 or pressure device whose function is to maintain pressure in the serviceline during quiescent conditions of the system, and upon opening of a serviceline, to quickly drop the pressure to the low pressure setting of the pressure switch to start the pump motor, while at other times delaying the start up of the pump motor in the event of small leaks inthe system. Such assembly comprises arubber bladder 46 in areceptacle 47 which limits permissible expansion of the bladder to a, limited volume or capacity of the order of 12 ounces of water.

This pressure device is preferable threadedly installed in apassageway 48 in the pressure regulator housing on the low pressure side, the passageway preferably being in alignment with thevalve 25.

With such pressure maintaining device coupled into the system, then during closing off of demand for service, the pressure device will be charged to the pressure prevailing in the serviceline at the time of shut off. Upon subsequently opening of a service valve the pressure device will promptly discharge to the pressure value at which the pressure switch will start the pump motor and cause the pump to function.

Though the pump may conceivably, at times, build up to pressures which if permitted to develop in the serviceline, would likely damage plumbing associated with the serviceline portion of the system, the pressure actually developed in the serviceline, while supplying service requirements, will, due to the functioning of the pressure regulator be considerably less andat a safe value, as determined by the setting of the pressure regulator spring. I

It is, however, during that period in the operation of the system, when the demands from service are approaching cut-off, that pressure trouble in the serviceline can be expected, for, if, during this period of operation, high pressures are permitted'to develop in the serviceline, such pressures will be maintained by the pressure device, and will continue to be maintained until the next service demand on the system. Thus the plumbing associated with the serviceline, under these conditions, might well be exposed to destructive pressures for extended periods of time and with probable resulting damage to such plumbing. It becomes imperative therefore, to prevent the development of such destructive pressures during the closing of a service valve in terminating demands for service.

This requirement will normally be met by satisfactory functioning of the pressure switch, which is set to shut down the pump while service line pressure is still at a safe value. However, should the pressure switch malfunction, the pump will continue running despite the closing of all service valves and under this condition,

the pump, in a conventional system, would be free to develop its maximum capable pressure in the serviceline. The system of the present invention, in its preferred form, solves this latter problem through a simple modification of the structure of the pressure regulator valve assembly. v

in accordance with such modification, thevalve seat 23 is rendered imperfect by the provision of one or more small V notches 24 in the seat itself, and thevalve component 25 is provided with asealing disc 55 of rubber or equivalent material, preferably of neo- Pr n rubber 59:6 qqrqm srt held. t a backingplug 57 of metal which is threaded intothesupporting bracket 27. The metal backing plug. referably extends into thepassageway 48 and is provided at its remote end with a screw driver slot. Thus, upon removal of the pressure device, the valve may be installed or removed by way of the passageway with the use of common tools.

The notches may be of 60 angle, to. a depth of 0.032 inches across the valve seat, depending on characteristics of the sealing material.

Actual sealing material and notch dimensions may vary to satisfy varying conditions in different systems.

In maintaining a regulated pressure at the outlet side of the pressure regulator valve, the spacing of the valve from its valve seat will vary with service demands. As the demands become less, as during closing of a service valve, the valve will move toward its closingposition. Ultimately, as the serviceline demand approaches zero, the valve will seat except for the notches which provide by-pass leak passages for a limited amount of flow. When such limited amount of flow exceeds the dwindling demand of service, a pressure build-up will be initiated in the serviceline, which, within a rise of the order of 9 pounds, for example, depending on the character of the sealing disc material and size of notches, will compress the sealing disc into the notches and completely block off the serviceline from the pump,

whereby, if in the mean time the pressure switch had malfunctioned and failed to shut down the pump motor, the continued operation of the pump could not effect prevailing pressure in the serviceline, as theserviceline would now be completely isolated or blocked off from the pump.

, Thus, though the pump itself might be capable of developing excessively high pressures, which would be destructive to plumbing associated with the serviceline, the serviceline portion of the system would now be protected against the development of such excessively high pressures. r

Through the use of notches to provide the by-pass paths around the valve, as distinguished from small holes or the like, clogging is avoided, as the notches become self cleaning during openings of the valve.

As an example of an installation embodying the present invention, reference will be made to the characteristic curves of FIG. 5 which relate to a typical submserible pump system such as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In this particular system, thepump performance curve 61 indicates that at a discharge of A gallons per minute, the pump was capable of developing a maximum pressure exceeding pounds per square inch, far in excess of what may be deemed a safe value for plumbing. The pressure regulating valve was capable of blocking .off the service line from the pump at a safe serviceline should the pressure switch malfunction and the pump continue to run.

Relative to such safe value pressure as indicated by thereference numeral 63, the pressure regulator valve assembly is adjusted to deliver at pressure below such value along acurve 67, starting at the cut-inpressure 69 of the pressure switch, with the cut-off pressure setting of the pressure switch at the value designated by thereference numeral 65, all as clearly depicted in FIG. 5.

From the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form as applied to a water system, it will be apparent that the same is applicable for the pumping of liquids in general and is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved. I, accordingly, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A system for pumping liquid comprising a pump, drive means coupled to said pump for driving the same, a serviceline terminating in a service valve, said pump being capable of developing pressures above a predetermined value of pressure in said service line deemed a safe value for operation of said system, means in said system between said pump and said serviceline for reducing pump pressure to operating pressure along a curve below said predetermined value, said means for reducing such pump pressure to such operating pressure below said predetermined value, including a pressure regulator valve assembly comprising a housing having an input opening for receiving discharge from said pump and an outlet opening for discharging liquid at such reduced operating pressure to said serviceline, a valve and associated valve seat in the flow path between said openings, means responsive to a pressure below such operating pressure curve for energizing said drive means to start said pump, said means also being responsive to a cut-off pressure between said predetermined value and such lower operating pressure curve for de-energizing said drive means to stop said pump, and means, upon failure of said pressure responsive means to deenergize said drive means and stop said pump, adapted to isolate said serviceline from said pump at a safe pressure in said serviceline, said service line isolating means including a bypass passageway in by-pass relationship to said valve, and means for closing said by-pass passageway to continued flow from said pump, following the seating of said valve and when the serviceline pressure is of the order of said predetermined value.

2. A system in accordance withclaim 1, characterized by said by-pass passageway including at least one notch in said valve seat, said valve including a sealing disc adapted to deform under pressure and seal said notch following initial seating of said valve.

3. A system in accordance withclaim 2, characterized by said safe serviceline isolation pressure being of the order of 9 pounds per square inch above the cut-off pressure of said pressure responsive de-energizing means.

4. A system in accordance withclaim 1, characterized by said pump starting and stopping means being in constant pressure communication with said serviceline.

Claims (4)

1. A system for pumping liquid comprising a pump, drive means coupled to said pump for driving the same, a serviceline terminating in a service valve, said pump being capable of developing pressures above a predetermined value of pressure in said service line deemed a safe value for operation of said system, means in said system between said pump and said serviceline for reducing pump pressure to operating pressure along a curve below said predetermined value, said means for reducing such pump pressure to such operating pressure below said predetermined value, including a pressure regulator valve assembly comprising a housing having an input opening for receiving discharge from said pump and an outlet opening for discharging liquid at such reduced operating pressure to said serviceline, a valve and associated valve seat in the flow path between said openings, means responsive to a pressure below such operating pressure curve for energizing said drive means to start said pump, said means also being responsive to a cut-off pressure between said predetermined value and such lower operating pressure curve for de-energizing said drive means to stop said pump, and means, upon failure of said pressure responsive means to deenergize said drive means and stop said pump, adapted to isolate said serviceline from said pump at a safe pressure in said serviceline, said serviceline isolating means including a by-pass passageway in by-pass relationship to said valve, and means for closing said by-pass passageway to continued flow from said pump, following the seating of said valve and when the serviceline pressure is of the order of said predetermined value.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said by-pass passageway including at least one notch in said valve seat, said valve including a sealing disc adapted to deform under pressure and seal said notch following initial seating of said valve.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by said safe serviceline isolation pressure being of the order of 9 pounds per square inch above the cut-off pressure of said pressure responsive de-energizing means.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said pump starting and stopping means being in constant pressure communication with said serviceline.

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