Centrifugal pump having adjustable clean-out assembly

Abstract

A centrifugal pump having an adjustable clean-out assembly (60), the position of which determines the face clearance between a wear plate (72) and an impeller (20). The clean-out assembly includes an end cover (63) that threadedly mounts a plurality of adjustment assemblies. The adjustment assembly includes an adjuster (104) that defines a through bore for slidably receiving a retaining stud (66) that extends from the pump housing. Each adjuster includes an abutment surface (108) which engages a pump surface and which establishes the face clearance between the wear plate and the impeller. Each adjuster includes a hex-shaped head which is engageable by an associated locking member (120) secured to the end cover. Each locking member includes a locking collar (120a) having 18 teeth which allows the collar to engage the hex-shaped head of the adjuster in 18 different postions. By knowing the thread pitch of the adjuster thread, precise rotations of the adjuster can be used to establish a precise clearance between the wear plate and impeller. Once the adjustment is made, the locking collar is secured to the end cover which enables the clean-out assembly to be removed from the pump without disturbing the adjustment.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to a fluid pump and, more particularly, to a centrifugal pump having means for adjusting the face clearance between a wear plate and a pump impeller. Background technique [0002] Centrifugal pumps are well known in the art and are used in many fluid pumping applications. For example, centrifugal pumps can be used to pump water from one water station to another. They are also used in the construction industry, i.e. to pump water from excavation sites. [0003] Occasionally, the pump may draw solid matter that would clog the pump or otherwise jeopardize its operation. Such blockages often require disassembly of the centrifugal pump in order to remove the material. [0004] A purge assembly that allows access to the impeller cavity has been used in internal self-priming centrifugal pumps. An example of a pump having this feature is known as the "T-Series" pump sold by the company Gorman-Rupp. A self-priming pu...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In the past, it was preferable to shim swivel assemblies rather than purge end cap assemblies because purge assemblies were removed quite frequently compared to swivel assemblies

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