GB254832A - Improvements in or relating to centrifugal borehole pumps and apparatus, using thrust bearings - Google Patents

Abstract

254,832. Stocks, C. H. May 4, 1925. Arrangement of bearings; casings.-Centrifugal pumps for boreholes are supported by an ordinary thrust bearing and have, in addition, extra ball or roller thrust bearings acting on the shaft under the reactive force of a non-rotary spring to assist in supporting the weight. These bearings are enclosed in a two-part casing supported on the usual surface water-exclusion pipe a by a tubular flange b<3> on the lower half of the casing which also has fins b<4> to steady and centralize it. The upper part b<1> of the casing is bolted to the lower part when all the mechanism is in position, and the driving motor d is mounted on the top of the casing, its shaft being connected by a flexible coupling f to the shaft e which is in turn coupled to the pump shaft i. An internal extension b<5> of the tubular flange b<3> supports a boss k<1> which carries the pump riser pipe j and the delivery nozzles l<1>, l<2>. A spider m is also carried by the boss k<1> and it supports a bearing with an indiarubber bush off the type described in Specification 159,473, the inner face of the bush being spirally grooved to permit grit to escape. The annular passage o through the bearing is of double-cone or hour glass section so that grit in the rising stream is directed into the more rapid part of the stream and projected beyond the bearing. The upper part of the casing supports a container b<6> for the usual radial and thrust bearings. Beneath this container is a conical enlargement e<1> or flange on the shaft; this fits into a collar e<2> which forms the upper part of a ball bearing e<5>. The lower race of this bearing engages a coned ring e<6> carried by the inturned flange of a sleeve e' which is supported by a heavy helical spring e<8> in a box b<7> bolted to the container b<6>. The spring thus helps to support the pump. Extra spring-supported bearings may be added if desired. Lubricating oil is led to the top of the container b<6> by a pipe, q from a tank q<2>. The oil passes through the bearings and is led by the pipe q' to the tank q<4>. It can be returned to the tank q<2> by means of the hand pump q<5>.