US2651259A - Apparatus for controlling the operation of domestic water systems - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1953 A. P. BRUSH 2,651,259

. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEMS Filed May 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALANSON anus FIG. 5.

ATTORNEY P 19 53 A. P. BRUSH 2,651,259

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEMS Filed May 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- i I? 38 I I8 Y /z 75 V 62 L F76. 6 l as S 64 73 f I x l4 INVENTOR. ALA/V80 R BRUSH Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPER- ATION F DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEMS- Alanson P. Brush, Detroit, Mich. Application May 20, 1949, Serial N 0. 94,407

other building removed from mimicipal water service facilities, with Water from a well, lake or stream. However, the method and apparatus of my invention may have other uses such as the pumping of liquids in industrial plants in which case a pneumatic tank may or need not be employed. The apparatus and method of my inven tion will be shown and described in connection with the operation of both a deep well system and a shallow well system since broadly the principles of my invention may be applied to both systems.

By a deep well system is meant one in which the jet pump of the jet-centrifugal system is located in the well, the distance from the normal water level to the ground level being usually well in excess of 33.9 feet (the theoretical practical limit of use of a shallow well system). In adeep well system, two drop pipes extend down to the jet pump in the well, one for supplying water under pressure from the centrifugal pump to activate the jet pump and draw water from the well, and the other the suction pipe through which water flows from the jet pump to the centrifugal pump. A shallow well system is one in which the distance from the ground level to the water level is less than 33.9 feet but allowances for losses and adequate margins of safety limitthe application of a shallow well system to substantially less than that depth of well. In a so-called jet-centrifugal system which comprises the combination of a jet pump and a centrifugal pump, the system is extremely'vulnerable for its efiicient and, in some cases, its continued operation to the presence of air in the system. This air may enter the system'in a number of difierent ways. It may enter the system through leaks in the long lengths of piping which may extend 100 feet or more into the ground. Of course such leaks should be repaired as soon as practical but often-times it is not convenient for the farmer immediately to tear up the piping for repair. It is therefore, desirable that the system be arranged so that it may at least temporarily function to supply water until the farmer has time to shut itdown for repair.

9 Claims. (01. 1os

' above.

Another way in which air or gases enter the system is through or carried by the'water being pumped; A significant portion of water wells contains gases or air, the amount thereof varying from Well to Well. Most frequenly the amount of air present is insufficient to cause conventional jet-centrifugal systems to discontinue their functioning although the presence of air or gas reduces the efiiciency of the jet pump, the centrifugal pump and the eificiency of the entire system insofar as its ability to pump its normal water capacity and develop its normal pressure.

In other wells, the quantity of air or gases present in the water being pumped is suflicient to prevent the conventional jet-centrifugal system from operating at all. In such cases the air drawn into the system with the water being pumped accumulates in the system by reason of the fact that the air is not removed. This air recirculates back to the jet pump through the pressure pipe and augments the air entering the system with the water drawn from the well. The continuous accumulation of air in' the system without any adequate means for its disposal from the system causes the water to become aerated to an extent suflicient that the centrifugal pump becomes air bound and ceases to function. Under such conditions th jet-centrifugal system must be manually reprimed with water.

Still another cause of air entering a jet-can trifugal system arises due to the fact that in dry spells the water level in a great many wells If the drought is of continued duration, the end of the suction pipe may become uncovered due to the fact that the capacity of the system draws water from the well at a faster rate than water enters the well. Under such circumstances the end of the suction pipe may be uncovered for a length of time suflicient to draw enough air into the system to cause the centrifugal pump to become air bound and discontinue functioning. When the water level rises to an extent suflicient to again cover the end of the suction pipe, the

In the above discussion I have employed the expression conventional jet-centrifugal system as meaning one in which no or inadequate means is employed for disposing of the air which may enter the system in any one of the ways described The term conventional jet-centrifugal system is not intended to mean a system such as shown and described in Mann Patent No. 2,257,507 issued September 30,1941. In that system means are provided on the discharge side of drops.

for continuously removing air from the system; discharging that removed air into the pneumatic tank; and preventing it from recirculating back to the jet pump and accumulating in any substantial quantities likely to cause the system to become air bound. The method and apparatus of my invention, unlike that shown in the above mentioned Mann patent, is designed to remove the air entering the system in any charge it from the system prior to its entry into the suction of the centrifugal .pump. The same above described considerations are also applicable to a shallow well system although in .a :shallow well system the problems are not so acute.

An object of my invention is to method and apparatus adapted for both shallow and deep well systems which is simple in construction and operation and adapted to remove automatically from the system any air which may be drawn into the system before it has an opportunity to enter the suction of thecentrifugal pump.

Another object of my invention is to provide a jet-centrifugal system for both shallow and deep wells which is reliable in operation and which is designed to prevent any substantial amount of air which may get into the system from circulating through the centrifugal pump and recirculating to and through the jet of the jet pump to the end that the jet pump-and the centrifugal pump are maintained at maximum efficiency.

A further object of my invention is to provide a jet-centrifugal system wherein means are provided on the suction side of the centrifugal pump for continuously removing such air as may enter the system to the end that the centrifugal pump is at all times required to handle only water from which substantially all the air has been removed whereby it will continuously function to maintain the system at full efiiciency, full Water pumping capacity and full pressure regardless of whether air is entering the system; the system further being so constructed and arranged that if the quantity of air entering the system is extremely large, or if the supply of water from the well is entirely out 01f, the discharge from the centrifugal pump to the pneumatic tank is automatically closed so as to retain a body of water in the system sufficient that-when water in sufficient quantities again enters the suction pipe the system will automatically recover without any attention on the part of the owner thereof and regain its ability to discharge water into the pneumatic tank for use.

My invention further contemplates a jet centrifugal system in which an'air separating ;chamber is employed on the suction side of the centrifugal pump wherein air may separate from the water and be discharged from the air separating chamber, the air separating chamber being provided with a float control arranged to actuate a valve located between the discharge of the centrifugal pump and the pneumatic tank; the valve being retained open when suf icient water is present in the air separating chamber and arranged to close automatically before the water level in the air separating chamber drops to a level such that the centrifugal pump is likely to draw air in any substantial quantities from the airseparating chamber, to the end that the system is completely protected and water will at all times be retained therein in sufficient quantities to maintain the system primed.

the centrifugal pump one of the ways mentioned above and dis-.

provide a novel Other objects and advantages of my invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims and will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with th accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view largely diagrammatic of a deep well jet-centrifugal system having incorporated therein the novel apparatus of my iinvention and which is adapted to carry out my novel method of protecting the system from becoming air bound;

Fig. '2 isra-sectionalview taken substantially on .Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of an air escape valve suitable for use with the novel apparatus of my invention;

Fig. are an enlarged sectional view of the float and the float controlled valve adapted to close the delivery from the pump to the pneumatic tank or other po nt of us under certain conditions of operation;

Fig.5 is a top plan view of thevalve with the housing which contains it 'being shown in section;

Fig. 'fiisa diagrammatic view-similarto Figq-l showing an arrangement wherein tl're princ'iples of my invention are incorporated in a shallow well system; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view 'of a-portion-of Fig.6 showing the arrangement of the inlet and =outle't 'to the air separating chamber or air trap.

In the drawings I have shown (Fig. a centrifugal pump ll a jet pump generally indicated by the numeral 12 and-a-pneumat-ictank iii-comprising the principal parts of a jet-centrifugal pumping system. These same principal parts are duplicated in the shallow well system of Fig. 6.

While I have 'shown'only the exterior casing of the centrifugal pump since centrifugal pumps are well known in the art, it need not b more particularly described. In general, the pump may be mounted with its axis of rotation horizontal or vertical and includes a suction I 4 and-a discharge H5. While I have shown a-centrifugal pump it will be-obvious that other types-of-pumps may be employed. However, since the problem of air handling by the pump and the effects of air getting into the system is not serious inxconnection with a positive displacement pump, this invention .is primarily directed to such systems as-employ centrifugal pumpsorlother non-positive displacement types of pumps. A centrifugal pump will handle only limited '-quantities of allwithout losing its primeand-even limitedquantities of air seriously aifect its e'fficiency and its ability to develop normal pressures.

The discharge of the centrifugal pump :is corn.

nected by :a :pipe 11 to the :pneumatic tank 1Z3 which may have an outletifaucet .-i 8 and is usually.

connected by .an outlet '(not shown) :to the :house service lines. Any suitable means (not shown) maybe rovided .for admitting airto the :system for the purpose of replenishing the air in the pneumatic tank and maintaining a sufficient quantity of air therein to provide -:the necessary pneumatic cushion for forcing :the water under pressure from the pneumatic tank to the point of use.

.As shown .in-the drawings, the pipe I! is provided with a T :18 preferably located adjacent the centrifugal discharge 126. .A pipe -2l :is con-- nected to the T and is adapted to convey part of the water discharged by the centrifugal .pump under pressure to the jet pump 12.

The jet pump 12 may be of conventional construction and comprises a nozzle '22 and a diff'usrfl. As is well understood in theart, the

nozzle converts the pressure energy supplied to it by the centrifugal pump into velocity energy, a stream of water issuing from the tip of the nozzle at high velocity. The velocity of the stream creates a subatmospheric pressure in the space 24 adjacent the nozzle. The pressure of air on the surface of water in the Well forces the water up the well pipe 25 through a strainer 26 and a check valve 21 to satisfy the subatmospheric pressure existing in the space 24. The combined streams of liquid, that issuing from the nozzle 22 and that drawn from the well, flow through the mixing chamber 28 of the diffuser where the velocities of the two streams are made more nearly uniform. The combined stream then flows through the outwardly flaring portion of the diffuser where the velocity energy of the water is converted into pressure energy. As is well understood in the art the pressure developed by the jet pump is added to that developed by the centrifugal pump to increase the overall pressuredeveloped by the system, in some cases doubling that pressure.

7 The water under pressure flows upward through a suction pipe 3i. From the suction pipe the flow of water is through an elbow and nipple 32 into an air separating chamber 33 or what might be termed an air trap. As shown at 30 (Fig. 2) the water enters the air separatingchamber preferably in a tangential direction. Preferably at the bottom of the air separating chamber 33 an outlet 34 is provided which through suitable connections is connected to a suction pipe 36 which connects with the suction l4 of the centrifugal pump. Preferably the outlet 34 is arranged tangentially of the air separating chamber. The tangential inlet and outlet cause the water to rotate in the air separating chamber which tends to cause the water to seek the outer portions of the air separating chamber while the lighter air tends to flow toward the center of the air separating chamber and rise toward thetop thereof.

- Adjacent the entrance end of the air separating chamber 33, a bafile may be provided, if desired, for the purpose of cutting down the turbulence in the air separating chamber which might be caused by the water freely entering the chamber. Adequate air separation is dependent upon slowing down the velocity of liquid which in this case is accomplished by the relatively large volume of the air separating chamber 33 and by introducing the water into the air separating chamber in a manner such as to create as little turbulence as possible. Adequate air separation is further assisted by the rotary motion imparted to the water as previously mentioned.

By employing an air separating chamber of relatively large volume, minimizing turbulence and circulating the water in the air separating chamber, substantially all the air is removed from the water except such air as may be held by the water in solution and such small amounts of air as may be held in suspension. This separation occurs prior to the water reaching the bottom outlet 34 from the'air separating chamber. Thus the water flowing to the suction I 4 of the centrifugal pump through the pipe 36 is substantially air free, regardless of whether air is entering the system in one of the ways above mentioned.

For the purpose of removing air from the system on the suction side of the centrifugal pump and preventing it from passing thereto, I have provided the top of the air separating chamber: with suitable means for permitting the escape.

nected into the top of the air separating chamher as shown at M. The casing has a generally cylindrical chamber 42 therein adapted to house a float valve 43.

The float valve element 43 is adapted nor-' mally to seat upon, a valve seat, 46, the upper end of the valve element being partly spherical to provide for accurate seating. The valve chamber has guides 41 with respect to which the float valve is free to float by reason of theclearance allowed and in accordance with the water level existent in the chamber 42. The lower ends of the guides are turned inward to provide a stop 45 for the float valve. Above the valve seat is a bore 48 ber having a ball valve element 49 therein. The ball valve chamber except for an air escape passagej5l is closed by a plug 52. The lower end of the plug 52 has a rib or ribs 53 to prevent the ball valve element 49 from closing the air escape passage 5! Whenair even under a slight pressure enters the space beneath the ball valve element, the ball is lifted to allow the escape of air to atmosphere through-the passage 5!.

When the system is operating normally with little or no' air entering the system, the float valve 43 is maintained against its seat 46 due to the float action of the float. If, however, any air is separated out in the air separating chamber 33, that air rises and enters the float chamber 42 and flows to the top thereof. With any substantial amount of air in the float chamber, the float valve 43 lowers and leaves its seat. This action allows the air to escape until the water level againrises to close the valve 43-46. Thus the valve 43-46 can be open only during periods when a volume of air is in the chamber 42 sufficient to cause the float valve 43 to leave its seat. As soonv as the chamber 42' is filled with water the valve 43-46 seats and the system is tightly sealed against the escape of water. The air passing the valve 43-46 rises upward, opens the ball valve 49 and the air is allowed to escape assuming a pressure above atmosphere in the air separating chamber. Whenever a'subatmospheric pressure exists in the. air separating chamber the ball valve 49 is closed and prevents the entry of air into the system.

The'oondition illustrated in Fig. 3 is one during which air is entering the system. Under normal conditions of operation, when no air is entering the system in any one of the ways set forth above, the water level will be above that shown and the water level will in fact extend up to the valve 43-46. The condition illustrated in the drawings is one during which relatively larg'ejquantities' of air are entering the system and the 'top of theair separating chamber up to the valve 43-46 is filled with air separated from the water entering the system, through the suctionpipe. It will be noted that the valve 43-46 is open.

( Mounted in the air separating chamber is a float 62' which is connected by a float stem 63 to a cylindrical valve 64. For this purpose the float stem 63 extends through an elongated slot which terminates in a ball valve chame.

shaped :opening ---.6.6:forn:led,-in 'adlxture 65 mounted in the wall :of the air separating chamber. The .fioat sstem extends :into :a val-ve:chan1ber 1. The float stem is threaded into the valve, as'indicated at '53. The valve 64 hasra thronghwater passage H.

The .air separating chamber .333 and the air handling capacity of 'the :air .nutlet 38 are sufficient in air separating and removing capabilities to :take care of .most normal :conditions :aof operation including those encountered in a moderately aerated :origaseous well. That is, .the system will continuously operate with the centrifugal pump handling substantially air free water andzth'e air being 'continuously removed from the air separating chamber in the manner described above.

However, when abnormal well :conclitions are encountered as inthe case of a -particu'lar'ly gaseous :well cr'under drought conditions, the water level may be pumped to below the end of "the suction pipe so that :air or water mixed with air may enter the system. The air'may enter the system in such large quantities that it cannot be exhausted from the air separating chamber-rapidly enough. Particularly under the latter condition when air in considerable quantities is entering the suction pipe, the water inthe air separating chamber 33 'will'be depleted and the float 62 will drop. As the float drops, the valve 64 gradually throttles the flow of water to the pneumatic'tank and when in its lower position, indicated in dotted lines, the flow of water to the pneumatic tank is entirely cutofi.

The system is arranged so thatwhen the valve 34 closes sufficient volume of water is :retained in the air separating chamber, the piping and in the pump casing to maintain a body of liquid therein sufiicient so that a circulation of water through the system occurs. The valve is arranged for purposes of illustration so that it closes when moved through approximately 145 degreesat which point of closing'the 'air separating chamber still retains "a substantial volume of water. That is, the centrifugalpump-is"flooded and maintains a continuous circulation through the pipe 2-! down to the jet pump I72. fiow'of water continuously draws in air through'thefoot valve. This "air, as described above, is discharged through the air outlet. 'Since the discharge "of water from the system is 'cut off, a residual body of water is maintained .in the system.

The air separating chamber 33 should be of sufiicientvolume to replace any 'water'in thesystemthat has been lost :due to the ,foot valvebeing exposed'to atmosphere and-air entering the suction pipe. When the valvefii closes and shuts off the flow to thepneumatic tank,.a body of liquid should be retained in the system .tsufiicient in volume to maintain the ipiping'full of water with circulation by the centrifugal pump still continuing. Under such "conditions the system will continuously .pump air and any water which may be available, discharging the air through the air outlet 38.

When theilow or liquid to thewell'returns to normal the valve will automatically open and normal pumping will ,again be restored. Assuming the how of water to the well .iscfsu'fiicient quantity, the air will gradually beeiihaustedfrom the air separating chamber 33, the float 62 willrise and open the valve 63 at which time water will flow to the pneumatic tank. .Shoul-d the tend of the suction pipe be again exposed :to :air. as .is likely to occur during zaclrysp ll, the float 16.2 will again .dro eto :close'the valve .64 and retain .a' body :of .liguid :in the system sufiicient to insure starting or the system when the water level again covers-the endroi the suction pipe. The only-condition which may arise which will require the attentionrof the operator that an extended dry spell result iii evaporation or the water in the :system thus requiring that thesystem-be -.reprimed.

Eh-us the system is automatic in operation, being capable of withdrawing, without substantially any possibility :of failure, whatever flow-of water occurs into the well. :Moreover, regardless .of the conditions of operation, the flow of water to the centrifugalpumpis substantiallyiair freeso :that'the efficien'cy of the centrifugal pump is maintained. Moreover, the water flowing through the lpressurepipe it to the nozzle of the jet pump isalways substantially air .free so that that unit zis-m-aintained at its maximum efficiency.

.If, asisusualinzthe case of a dry spellthe-ilow of water into the well is merely less than-the vfull capacity 10f the system, the system will .reach a condition of equilibrium in which the valve =64 ina throttlingjpositicn,throttledso as to-cut-down the new 10f water'to-the pneumatic tank to equal the flow of water into the-well. The system'will supply to the pneumatictankall the water flowing into well without any attention :on the part of the owner.

The above described conditions of operation may exist when very large quantities -of air enter the system. When an in smaller quantities enters the system, the system will discharge that air to atmosphere withoutrair-accumulatingin the air separating chamber in sufiicient quantities to :cause the float '62 to drop. This results from the fact :that air isdischarged from the air-separating chamber whenever a pressure above :atmospher-eiexists therein. In any event, when the system stops under thecontrol of the usual pressure switchwith which such systems are provided,

the pressures on opposite :sides of the centrifugal pump equalize and all air present is discharged fromwthe :air. separating chamber. In other words, any air in the air separating :chamber is :discharged therefrom each time "the system cycles and the .fioat zdrops only under abnormal conditions of operation. As previously mentioned the valve during closing throttles the discharge. If desired -this throttling action may be eliminated by=a snap action valve. If desired, .for example, the float may be arranged to .open and :close contact whichzenergizea solenoid. The solenoidin turn :controls itheva-lvefid. By this meansza snap action .oithe valve lid-maybe secured to avoid the throttling effect above mentioned.

In the drawings :I;havessho.wn azpressure control valve 11.6 fm the "line between the discharge of (13b6, centrifugal pump and the valve '64. This valve is adapted :to beset for maintaining a'predetermined tpressure of "water on the nozzle 22 :of the jet :pump :12. Itmay beof the same construction as that shown in the ."Mann ipatent above mentioned, the valve being indicated in that patent-generally ibyi'bhe :numeral '39. The valve 16, as the corresponding valve of the Mann patent, opens at a predetermined pressure and remains openras'ilong aszth'e pressure in the-system is above the setpoint'regardless of whether the .pump .is running or :not.

In Figs. 6 and '7, I have illustrated the application of my invention to a shallow well system. The function and ioperation of the centrifugal pump I l, the 'jet pump 12,, the pneumatic tank l3, the air separating chamber 33, the air relief valve 38 and the valve 64 and its controlling float 62 are essentially the same as in the deep well system above described. However, in the shallowwell system no foot valve is required. A single pipe H extends into the well through which water is drawn from' the well. The jet pump I2 is located preferably above the centrifugal pump and water'flows from the diffuser of the jet pump through pipe 72 into the air separating chamber. The nozzle of the jet pump receives part of the water discharged by the centrifugal pump through a pipe 13. r

Preferably between the valve 64 and the pneumatic tank l3 a check valve is provided so that when the system reaches the shut off pressure and the motor is stopped by the usual pressure switch, water from the pneumatic tank cannot back flow through the system to cause a drop in pressure in the pneumatic tank to atmospheric pressure.

The system is provided with a syphon breaker to prevent the draining of the water from the air separating chamber and the centrifugal pump casing when the pump is stopped. The syphon breaker may comprise a pipe 15 extending into the pipe 13 which is in the form of an inverted U. The other end of the U is formed with a valve seat upon which a ball valve 11 seats to normally close the inlet to the pipe 15 when the system is operating under pressure. When the system reaches shut-off pressure, the water tends to drop down the suction pipe creating a subatmospheric pressure which opens the ball valve, breaks the syphon and prevents the air separating chamber and the centrifugal pump from being drained.

It will be noted that suction pipe H together with the air separating chamber and the pipe 12 form a U loop on what may be termed a knee bend extending well above the level of the centrifugal pump. The syphon breaker and knee bend protect the centrifugal pump and the air trap from being drained of water. In the shallow well system I have also shown a pressure control valve 16 which, although not essential in a shallow well system, is advantageous under some conditions.

The operation is essentially the same as in the deep well system except that the necessity of employing a check valve in the line between the centrifugal pump and the pneumatictank prevents the discharge of air from the air separating chamber each time the pump cycles. If a checkvalve is used'in the suction pipe the operation is identical.

While I have described my method of operat ing a jet centrifugal system and have described an apparatus forcarrying out that method, it will be obvious that various changes may be madetherein particularly in the form and relation of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth'in the appended claims. I

I claim: 1. A water system trifugal pump, a jet pump and a pneumatic tank, said system having connections arranged so that water under pressure is supplied from the centrifugal pump to the jet continuously when the system is in normal operation, water is drawn from the source of supply into the suction of the jet pump, the combined stream of water flows from the. discharge of the jet pump tothe connected to a-source of' water supply comprising, in combination, a cenwater and in which air and centrifugal pump suction of the centrifugal pump and the water discharged by the centrifugal pump passes to the pneumatic tank except for such water as is continuously recirculated to the jet of the jet pump, an air trap between the discharge of the .jet pump and the suction of the centrifugal pump adapted normally to contain a substantial volume of water and in which air and water separation may occur so that the water supplied to the centrifugal pump is substantially air free, means for automatically releasing air from said air trap to atmosphere comprising a float valve having a seat against which it is normally pressed, a valve in the connection to the pneumatic tank from the discharge of the centrifugal pump, and mechanical means in the air trap connected to said second valve for closing said second valve when the water in the air trap falls to a predetermined level. I

2. A water system connected to a source of water supply comprising, in combination, a centrifugal pump, a jet pump and a pneumatic tank, said system having connections arranged so that water under pressure is supplied from the to the jet continuously when the system is in normal operation, water is drawn from the source of supply into the suction of the jet pump, the combined stream of water flows from the discharge of the jet pump to the suction of the centrifugal pump and the water discharged by the centrifugal pump passes to the pneumatic tank except for such water as is continuously recirculated to the jet of the jet pump, an air trap between the discharge of the jet pump and the suction of the centrifugal pump adapted normally to contain a substantial volume of water separation may occur so that the water supplied to the centrifugal pump is substantially air free, means for automatically releasing air from said air trap to atmosphere comprising a float valve having a seat against which it is normally pressed, a valve in the connection to the pneumatic tank from the discharge of the centrifugal pump, a float in said air trap the position of which is determined by the water level in the air trap, and a connection between said float and said second valve for progressively closing the second valve as the water in the air trap drops.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the water level in the air trap when said valve is closed is above the level of the centrifugal pump and a syphon breaker is provided in the connection from the-centrifugal pump to the jet whichv opens when the pump stops to prevent draining of water from the air trap and the centrifugal pump.

4. In combination, a power driven water pump, a jet pump connected to a source of water supply,

aconnection from the discharge of said power driven pump to the jet of said jet pump, an air trap for accumulating a substantial volume of water, a connection from the discharge of said jet pump to said air trap, an air outlet valve for said air trap, a connection from said air trap to the intake of said power driven pump for supplying said pump intake with substantially air free water, a second connection from the discharge of said power driven pump for delivering water therefrom, means including a valve in said second connection for preventing delivery of water therethrough whenever a predetermined volume of air has accumulated in said air trap until at least some of the accumulated air in said air trap has been discharged through-the afore- 1 11 pump to said air trap,

I1 said air-outlet valve, apneumatic tank connected to said second connection, and a pressure control valve in said. second: connection for maintainingat least a minimum pressure on the jet of said; jet pump.

5. In combination, a power'drivenwater-pump, a jet pump connected to a source of water supply, a connection from the discharge of said power driven pump to the jet, of said jet pump, an air trap for accumulating a substantial volume of water; a connection from the discharge of said an air outlet valve for said air trap, a connection from said air trap to the intake of said power driven pump for supplying said; pump inta 'e; with substantially air free water, a second connection from the discharge ofsaid power-driven pump for delivering water therefrom, a valve in; said second water delivery connection for preventing delivery of water therethrough, means in said air trap connected tosaid valve for closing said valve when a predetermined volume of air has accumulated in said air trap, apneumatictank, and means between the discharge of the centrifugal pump and said pneumatic tan for maintaining at least a minimum pressure on the jet of said 'j'et pump.

6. A water system connected to a source of water supply comprising, incombi'nation, a= centrif'ugal pump, a jet pump and a discharge for use, said system having connections arranged so that water under pressure is supplied from the centrifugal pump tothe jet continuously when the system is in normal operation, water is-drawn from the source of supply intothe' suction of the jet pump, the combined stream of" water flows from the discharge of the jet pump to the suction of the centrifugal pump and the water-discharged by the centrifugal pump passes tothe discharge for use except for such water as is continuously recirculated tothe jet of" the jet pump, an air trap between the discharge of the jet pump and the suction of the centrifugal pump adapted normally to contain a substantial volume of water and in which air and water separation may occur so that the water supplied to the centrifugal pump is substantially-air free, an air outlet from said air' trap, afloat valve normally closing said outlet, a valve in the discharge for use, and means in the air trap for closing said valve in the discharge foruse when the water in the air trap falls-- to a predetermined level.

7; A domestic watersystem connected to a source of water supply comprising; in combination, an intermittently operated centrifugal pump, a jet pump and a pneumatic tank, said system having connections arranged so that water under pressure is supplied from the centrifugal pump to the jet pump when thesystem is in normal operation, Water is drawn from the source of supply into the suction of the jet pump, the combined stream flows from the discharge of the jet pump to the suction of the centrifugal pump and the water discharged by the centrifugal pump passes to thepneumatietank except for such water as is continuously recirculated to the jet pump, an air trap having ama-jorportion thereof above the centrifugal pump and located between the discharge of the jet pump and the suction of the centrifugal pump and adapted normally to contain a substantial volume of water and in which air and water separation may occur so that the water supply to the centrifugal pump is substantially air free, an air release valve at the top of said trap, means formaintaining said release valve closed except when air fspresentin said air trap in an appreciable quantity whereby the system operates normally as a closed system and release of air occurs only at intervals when air enters the system with the water from the source of supply or through leaks insaid connections, a normally open valve in the connection between the centrifugal pump and the pneumatic tank and means in said airtrap for closing said normally open valve when air enters the system and a subatmospheric pressure exists in said" air trap, said means closing said normally open valve before the water level in the air trap falls below said centrifugal pump.

8 A domestic water system connected to a source of" water supply comprising, in combination, an intermittently operated centrifugal pump, a jet pump and a discharge for use, said system having connections arranged so that water under pressure is supplied from the centrifugal pump to the jet pump when the system is in normal operation, water is drawn from the source of supply into the suction of" the jet pump, the combined stream flows from the discharge of the jet pump to the suction of the centrifugal pump and the water discharged by the centrifugal pump passes to the discharge for use except for such water as is continuously recirculated to the jet pump, an air trap having a major portion thereof above the centrifugal pump and located between the discharge of the jet pump and the suction of the centrifugal pump and adapted normally to contain a substantial volume of water and in which air and water separation may occur so that the water supplied to the centrifugal pump is substantially air free, an air release valve at the top of said trap, means for maintaining said release valve closed except when air-is present in said air trap in an appreciable quantity whereby the system operates normany as a closed system and release of air occurs only when a positive pressure exists in the air trap and at intervals when air enters the system with the water from the source of supply or through leaks in said connections, a normally open valve in the discharge for use, means in said air trap forclosing said normally open valve when air enters the system and a subatmospheric pressure exists in said air trap, said means clos ingsaid normally open valve before the water level in the airtrap falls below said centrifugal pump, and a pressure control, valve in the dischargefor use, said pressure control valve being open so long as the pressure in, the system is above-a predetermined positive minimum sothat when the pump stops the pressure in the, discharge for use and the air trap will equalize and any accumulation of air in the air trap will be discharged therefrom.

9. In a water pump system the combination of a power driven water pump, a jet pump, a connection from the discharge of said. power driven water pump to the jet of the said jet pump, a

.water supply normally exceeding the capacity of the pumping system connected to the intake of the said jet pump, said water supply having no other connection to or association with the water pumping system, a water container adapted, to permit. the separation of air from the water and being of sufficient; capacity to contain a. substantial volume of separated air and a considerable amount of substantially air free water, a connection from the discharge of the said jet pump to said water" container, a one way outlet device allowing air only to be forced out of said water container, a connection from said water container to the intake of said power driven water pump for supplying said pump intake with substantially air free water, a second connection from the discharge of said power driven water pump for delivering water out of the said water pumping system, a valve in said second connec tion, means for closing said valve whenever a predetermined volume of air has accumulated in said water container whereby the entire delivery of water from said power driven water pump passes through the jet of the jet pump to prevent delivery of water out of said system and to increase the pressure in said water container to force at least a portion of said accumulated air out of said water container through said one way outlet device, and thereafter reopen said valve to reestablish delivery of water out of said system.

ALANSON P. BRUSH.

Number 5 1,470,796 1,576,687 1,734,567 1,782,489 1,802,383 10 2,176,658 2,257,507 2,433,021 2,486,288

Number Name Date Bachman Oct. 16, 1923 Thomas Mar. 16, 1926 Dunham Nov. 5, 1929 Thomas Nov. 25, 1930 Jarvis Apr. 28, 1931 Gruman Oct. 17, 1939 Mann Sept. 30, 1941 Bergh Dec. 23, 1947 Jacuzzi et al. Oct. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1932

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