US1785480A - Pumping apparatus for sewage and other liquids - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1930. Q DURDIN'VJR 1,785,480

PUMPING APPARATUS FOR SEWAGE AND owrma LIQUIDS Filed April 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 lu/enivrl Dec. 16, 1930. 'A. c. DURDIN. JR I 1,785,480

PUMPING APPARAI U$ FOR SEWAGE AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed April 27,- 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1930 aueus'rus c. nuanm, In, or, CHICAGO, ILLIuoIs 'runrme mum roR'sEwAeE am) o'rnnn mums Application filed Apri1 27,

This invention relates to apparatus for pumping sewage and other liquids containing more or less solid substances. A centrifugal pump is usually employed in eppar'atus of this kind and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved means for preventing the more or less solid substances from entering the pump and clogging the' same or causing serious injury thereto. Another object is to provide pumping a paratus of this kind wherein a plurality Q centrifugal pumps may be connected to or interposed in the conduit for the sewage water or other liquids and having means whereby the pumps operate alternately or in a regular sequence, thereby reducing the wear and tear upon the pumps. Another ob ject is to provide means in pumping apparatus of this'kind in which the control means for the pumps operate'to start more than one pump in case the incoming liquid exceeds the capacity of onepump. Another object is to provide aseparating device or straining de-' vice for each pump interposed between the inlet to the apparatus and the pump and arranged in such manner that the incoming material is strained or screened before entering the pump and thereafter discharged from the apparatus when the amp is started, whereby the pump is not en angered or liable tobecome clogged.

With these" andother objects and tages in view, this invention consists in a pumping apparatus embodying a tank or other receptacle in which is contained one ,or

more motor operated centrifugal pumps Having its inlet opening communicating with the interiorof the tank and a separator or strainer for each pump interposed in the inlet 4 pipe of the tank and connected with the ,dis-

charge end of each pump,whereby the more. or less solid substances entering the tank,

are separated or strained from the liquid before theliquid enters the pumps. The, in- 4 ven'tion further consists in pumping appara-' tus embodying a tank or receptacle and a plurality of alternately acting pumps therein capable of acting simultaneously,'a nd a separator or strainer interposed in the inlet 5 conduit of the tank, and connectedwith the advan connects with the.v sewage water 1927. Serial m5. 187,007.

discharge ends of the pumps. It further consists in the several novelfeatures of construc- -tion,-arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which:

'Fig. 1 is a View, partly in side-elevation and partly in central vertical section, of pumping apparatus embodying a simple form of the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the apparatus looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1 and showing the tank partly broken out to illustrate parts that Wouldotherwise I be hidden from View; Fig.4 is adetail View of a certain control device for effecting alternate and simultaneous action of the two pumps employed; Fig. 5 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

- 3; Fig. v6 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line '6-6 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character 10. designates a tank or other re,-' .ceptacle of suitable size having a cover 11 upon which the pump motor or motors 12- are mounted. Two centrifugal pumps 13, 8 are illustrated and said pumps are. oontainefl in the tank or receptacle 10 and locatedadjacent 'the bottom thereof. Each pump is connected to an associated motor 12 by a. pump shaft 14 contained in a pipe or other houslng 15 which may also form the sup'porting connection for the pump. The

iignlet end of each ,pum is indicated at 16 and its discharge endat 1 While operating as a pump,-the liquid enters the pump through 9 the inlet end 16 and discharges thrdhgh the discharge end 17, but whenthe pump is idle, liquid may flow through it from the, i

discharge end 17 to the inlet end 16. At

such times the pump merely acts as a con-' duit for the flow of liquid through it. Extending throu h the Wall of the tank; or receptacle 10 is t e inlet fitting18, which."

I v i e. (not 1 shown) or other conduit employed or con- 9" i ducting the sewage water or other liquids to the pumping ap aratus. When two pumps are emplo ed 1n an outfit the inletfitting is in the orm of a Y, each of the branches 18 of which communicates with the discharge end 17 of a pump through a conduit, which maycomprise a pipe 19, a check valve interposed between the inlet fitting 18- and pipe-19, a fitting 22, and a separator or strainer 21. The check valves 20 open in a direction toward the pumps, whereby the incoming material may flow through said conduits and through the pumps and thereby enter the tank through the inlet ends of the pumps, the more or less solid substances being separated or strained from the liquid during the passage thereof through the separators of strainers 21. In accordance with the form of the invention illustrated'in the drawing each pipe '19 is connected to its associated separator or strainer 21, by a T fitting 22, and one branch of each T fitting 22 is connected to a discharge pipe 23, which leads out through the tank or receptacle 10 and is connected to the dischar e pipe or conduit (not shown) of the system y a fitting 24.

While the construction of the separators or strainers 21 is immaterial to this inven- -through the perforations in the screen 21"' "and pass on through the discharge end of the pump and enter the tank through'th'e inlet 1 end of the pump, whereas more or less solid substances will be caught in the cylindrical screen and held therein until subsequently discharged through tlie'open end thereof.

When a plurality of pumps are used, as for instance two pumps, it is prefera Is to have only one pump operate at a tiine'so as to minimize the wear on .the pumps and it is also desirous that the pumps operate alternately and that bothoperate in unison if the material accumulates in the tank faster than it can be discharged by one ofthe pumps.

In other words if the capacity of one-pump is not suflicient to discharge the accumulatedmatter as rapidly as it .accumulates in the tank then both pumps are started to avoid any backing up of the accumulated mater1al. I

The means shown for controlling the 0 eration-of the two pumps, comprises two oat operated switch mechanisms 25, 25 one for h float rod 27.having spaced buttons 28,29- thereon and arranged for engagement. with' the switch lever 30 and having in the tank and on the lower end of the float rod a ball float 31. The switch is supported by a standard or other support 32 mounted on the cover of the tank. Obviously as the liquid rises in the tank each float is carried upward and at a certain predetermined upper level the button 28 engages the switch lever 30 and closes the switch thereby starting the motor. In order to have the motors operate alternately, a control device 33 is provided upon each float rod, which device is constructed and arranged to make the associated float. rod efl'ective for the purpose of closing the switch only upon the alternate upstrokes of the float rod. One form of control device is more fully shown and described inan application for patent on means for operating electric switches and other mechanism, filed by me onDecember 29, 1926, Serial No. 157,856. Briefly each float rod comprises an upper section 27*. and a lower section 27", the lower one having the hollow, cylindrical member 33 of the.control;devic e secured to it and the upper one having the member 33 secured to it. The annular wall of the member 33*v may be. formed with a continuous groove or track having long sections 33? and short sections 33 connected thereto by obli ue sections, in which travels the other mem r. 33",-which usually comprises a pin on theupper'rod section 27. :The arrange-.-

ment is such'that when thelower section-27F of the rod-27 of the float rod moves upward,

during one of its strokes, a relatively short section: o fithe groove or track is moved relative'to the pin 33 before the lower end of.

the groove or track engages the pin and"lifts..-

.the upper section 27 of the rod; thereby closing the switch, and. startingthe associated pump anddischarging the liquid. As

theli'q'uid lowers, the float. and float rod move down and the cylindrical member 33" of the control devicejmoves down relative to the pin 33" (the upper: float rod section bein held stationary by the engagement of the utton 29 with the switch ever 30 As the-pin approaches the upper 'end of t e short ove, it encountersganoblique portion an enters the top portion of the groove. When the float nears its lower limit it moves the entire float rod down-thereby opening the switch and stopping-the associated motor. During the next-up stroke of the floatrod the pin enters the relatively long partof the oov or track'so that while the-lower sectlon' of the float. rodmay be-li-fted to the samepred'e- '15. be operated, whereby the tank may be empthereto during each alternate up strokeof the float and float rod. By properly setting the control devices 33, the switch to one pump isthe bolts are tig tened up leak proo joints closed by the control apparatus each time that the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the tank and the umps are thereby operated alternatel T l ie arrangement is such however, that 111C388 the liquid in the tank rises above the predetermined level, both floats and float rods will thereupon be lifted higher and consequently the inactive one will be lifted far enough tocclose the switch controlled thereby, thus causing both motors to be set in operation and both pumps to tied as rapidly as it fills.

In cases of installation, where the tank is furnished by one concern and the pumps and other apparatus are furnished by another concern, it sometimes happens that the pipe connections between the inlet to the tank and the pumps do not line up perfectly and to compensate for any misalignment, I provide special joints between the pipes 19 and check valves 20, and between said pipes and the fittings 22. As shown in Fig. 6, aper tured plates 34 are secured to the ends of each check valve 20 and fitting 22 which plates contain central openings a trifle larger n diameter than the diameter of the pipe 19, whereby the pipe may have a conslderable amount of vertical and horizontal play with respect to the check valve and fitting. Collars 35 encircle the pipe 19 and are connected to the check valve and fitting 22 by bolts 36, and packing rin s 37 are'placed between the plates 34 and co la-rs 35 and forced into con-. tact with the pipe19 by tightening up the bolts 36. The opposing faces of the plates 34 and collars 35 have beveled portions surrounding the central openings thereof, which engage with the acking rings wherebfy when are obtained between the pipe 19 and check valve 20 and fitting 22, regardless of anymisalignment between said arts. Furthermore b providinga joint of t is character between die check valve 20 d fitting 22 the parts may be readily disco nected 1n the tank in case it becomes. necessary to remove any part for the "urpose of repair or replacement. In or or to entirel shut'ofl theinflow, I provide valves 38' etween the inlet fittin 18 and check'valves 20 which may beclosed whenevernecessary to make repairs.

' tl eachvalve 38 ma com risea- M Convemen y p surrounded-omits sides'by the cas1ng 2l, the

flatnarrow casing 38 having a removablew1t in the casing and havi an o ening'therethroughfor the assaged t liqui i The valve may be closed by removing the cover and raising the plate sufilciently to close the passage through'the valve easing.

It is sometimes ne to provide a separate inlet to the tank for liquids that are not conducted thereto through the inlet fitting 18 and in such cases a fitting 39 is provided at one side of the tank which fitting is connected to .the inlet pipe for such liquids. When an additional inlet pipe is used it is preferable to provide a strainer 40 for the inlet of each pump 13.

In the operation of the apparatus above described and assuming that both pumps are stationary, liquid and other matter enters the tank through the inlet fitting 18, passes through the check valves 20, pipes 19, fittings 22 and strainers 21,- and the liquid enters the pumps through their discharge ends and escapes into the tank through their inlet ends.

As the liquid rises in the tank, both floats 31 are lifted and one of the control devices 33 being set so as to operate one switch lever 30, the float rod actuates the switch lever of one of the switches when its liquid reaches a certain predetermined level, thereby closing the circuit to one of the pump motors, whereby the pump associated therewith is started and the liquid withinf. the. tank isv pumped back through the strainer or separator 21 associated with the pump in operation and the accumulated foreign matter is discharged with the liquid through the pipe rapidly then one pump may eject it, the other pump will be started as soon as the level of the liquid in the tank reaches a place where the float rod is lifted high enough to close the I switch in the stationary pump motor. When the tank has'been emptied to-a certain predeterminedrlow level and the" floats lowered sufiiciently to open the switches, the motors are stopped and remain stationary until the tank subsequently fills to the predetermined ,hi-ghilevel, whereupon the pump which was previously inactive or put into operation as an emergency, is .now put into ope-ration and the tank' again emptied.- In this manner the pumps operate alternately in discharging the contentsof; the tank and simu1taneously in case of necessity.

a screen 21? of cylindrical form and the liquid is discharged back through the of the screen, and-around the collected solid matter therein, there compressing the solid casing 21 and' i'nwards through the apertures thereto.

More or less variation of the exactdetails of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire,

therefore, not-to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

. I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

'1. Pumping afparatus comprising in combination a liqui receiving receptacle, an inlet conduit entering said receptacle and ada ed to be connected with a source of liqu1d supply, a centrifugal pump contained in said receptacle and having an inlet side and a discharge side within said receptacle, the inlet side opening directly into said receptacle an upright dischar e pipe leadin frbm the discharge si eof the an; and connected to said lnlet conduit, and a away screen within said pipe and located-between the discharge side of the pumpand the conreceptacle and nection between the inlet conduitand discharge pipe. n

2. Pumping apparatus comprising in combination a liquid receiving receptacle, an inlet conduit entering said receptacle and ada ted to be connected with a source of liqu1d supply,'an inwardly opening check valve in said inlet conduit, a motor driven centrifugal pump contained in said receptacle and havin an inlet side and, a -d1scharge sidewithm said receptacle, the inlet side 0 enin directly into the receptacle, an

uprig t disc arge pipe'leadin from the dis-' charge side of the pump an connected to said inletconduit,'and a cylindrical screen open at the top and contained within the dischar epipe, said screen being located between t e dlscharge side of the pump and the connection between the inlet conduit and discharge-pipe.

3. Pumping apparatus comprisin in combinationa liquid receiving receptac e, an inlet conduit entering' smd receptacle and adapted-to be connected with; a source of liquid supply, an intermittently acting motor driven centrifu al pump contained in said avmg an inlet side and a discharge side within thereceptacle, the inlet side opening directly into the receptacle, an upright discharge pipe leading from the discharge side of the pump and connected discharge pipe and located between the" discharge side of the pump and the connection between the inlet conduit and the discharge I pipe.

4. Pumping apparatus comprising in combination a'liquid receiving receptacle, an inlet conduit entering said receptacle and adapted to be connected with a source of liqu1d supply, a pump having its inlet side opening into said receptacle, a discharge pipe leading away from the discharge side of said pump and connected to said inlet conduit, and a cylindrical screen within said discharge pipe for receiving solid matter, said screen elng of less diameter than the discharge pipe to aflt'ord an annular water passage around the same and located between the discharge side of the pum and the connection between the inlet con uit and discharge pipe.

5. Pumping a paratus comprising in combination a liqui receiving receptacle, an inlet conduit adapted to be connected with a source of liquid supply, a pump having an inlet side connected to said receptacle, a discharge pipe leading away from the discharge side of the ump and connected to said inlet conduit, and a cylindrical screen within said discharge pipe for receiving solid matter, said screen being of less diameter than the discharge pipe and located between the discharge side of the pump and the connection between the inlet conduit and discharge pipe,

there being an annular discharge liquid passage between saidscreen and discharge pipe and surroundin the screen, said annular passage being close at one end.

6.- Pumping a paratus comprisin in combination a liqui receiving receptac e, an in- .let conduit thereforand adapted to be connected to a source of liquid supply, a pu having its inlet side in communication wit said receptacle, a discharge pifpe leading away from the-discharge side 0 the pump and connected to said inlet conduit, and a cylindrical screen within said discharge pipe ferreceiving solid mattentherein, there being bination a liquid receiving receptacle, an in- -let conduit entering said receptacle and adapted to. be connected with a source of liquid supply, a centrifugal pump contained in said receptacle and having an inlet side and a discharge side within said receptacle,

the inlet side opening directly'into said receptacle, a discharge pipe leading away from the discharge side of the pump and connected to said inlet conduit, and a cylin-, fdrical screen within said discharge. pipe of less diameter than the discharge pipe and located between the discharge; side of the mam-18o pump and the connection between the inlet conduit and discharge pipe, there being an annular liquid passageway insaid discharge pipe surrounding said screen.

8. Pumping apparatus comprisin in combination a liquid receiving receptac e, an inlet conduit entering said receptacle and adapted to be connected with a source of liquid supply, a centrifugal pump having an inlet side communicating-with the interior of said receptacle, a discharge pipe leading away from the discharge side of the pump and connected to said inlet conduit, and a cylindrical screen within said discharge pipe of less diameter than the discharge pipe and located between the discharge side of the pump and the connectionbetween the inlet conduit and discharge pipe, there being an annular liquid passageway in said discharge pipe surroundin said screen.

AUG sTUs o. DURDIN, JR.

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