Abstract: A vertical-axis cantilevered-shaft centrifugal pump having an impeller within a pump casing, an intake end in fluid communication with a fluid supply, and a dischage end, in which is provided an integral by-pass. The pump is operated at a speed representing a relatively high level of pump efficiency to produce a relatively stable fluid flow from the fluid supply through the casing. The first portion of the fluid flow from the casing is directed through the discharge end of the pump, while a second portion of the fluid flow is diverted from the casing back to the fluid supply. The second diverted portion may be returned to the supply through a plurality of outlets located on volutes of the pump casing. The discharge from the pump can be controlled using a variable control valve adjacent the discharge end of the pump.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating coupling securing first and second shaft sections together for co-rotation and inhibiting heat transfer between the shaft sections. In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling includes a first coupling half secured to the first shaft section, and a second coupling half secured to the second shaft section. A plurality of air ducts extending generally transversely of the rotational axis of the shafts are formed between the first and second coupling halves. The ducts may be formed by grooves in the first coupling half, which are closed by a planar surface of the second coupling half. The ducts extend generally radially, and may be straight, or curved concavely or convexly with respect to the direction of the rotation of the shaft sections. Air may be supplied to the air ducts by providing one of the shaft sections as a hollow shaft in fluid communication with the coupling. Alternatively, air may be supplied to the ducts via a plurality of air inlet holes formed in the coupling itself.

Abstract: Apparatus and system for increasing the efficiency of absorption of oxygen by biodegradable waste and particle break-up thereof, by introducing waste and gas, which may be air, into a collector under a highly agitated state, and agitating the air and waste under pressure in the collector by the impeller of a centrifugal pump as back pressure is provided in the collector. The collector is mismatched relative to the impeller to increase the retention and mixing time of the air and waste in the collector. The collector within the impeller forms a pump designed to operate close to its shut-off condition for increased retention time in the collector.

Abstract: A centrifugal slurry pump includes wear resistant inserts on the wear faces of the first impeller shroud and the wear face of the front pump housing in the impeller chamber. The preferred embodiment provides hardened ceramic material inserts mounted in compression.

Abstract: Apparatus for increasing the efficiency of absorption of oxygen by biodegradable waste and particle break-up thereof, by introducing waste and gas, which may be air, into a collector under a highly agitated state, and agitating the air and waste under pressure in the collector by the impeller of a vortex type centrifugal pump as back pressure is provided to the collector. The collector is mis-matched relative to the impeller to increase the retention and mixing time of the air and waste in the collector.

Abstract: A vertical pump driven by a motor having a construction which permits removal and replacement of the motor by remotely controlled equipment. The motor frame is secured to the pump with hold down bolts and the motor shaft is connected to the pump shaft by a unique, tapered coupling arrangement in which a motor coupling half is rigidly secured to a pump coupling half with a drawbar. The motor shaft is hollow and the drawbar extends through the hollow shaft drawing the coupling halves firmly together. The drawbar and hold down bolts are arranged to be selectively loosened or tightened by a remotely operated nut runner.

Abstract: A bottom inlet submersible mixing pump includes a twin volute centrifugal pump feeding a pair of vertical passageways which in turn feed an annular chamber extending around the motor stator for cooling. The annular chamber has partial dividing walls between the chamber inlets and the chamber outlets which feed discharge nozzles so as to insure a predetermined liquid level within the chamber.

Abstract: Lubricant for support bearings in a bearing housing on a vertical rotating shaft is supplied by a rotating impeller mounted on the shaft which includes a dip ring extending into an annular oil reservoir to draw oil upward to the impeller. A passageway from the impeller to a space above an uppermost one of the support bearings enables the lubricant to flow over the bearings and back to the rotating impeller for recirculation. A heat exchanger may be included to cool the lubricating liquid.

Abstract: A cantilever shaft centrifugal pump including a volute casing and impeller within said casing and mounted on the end of the cantilever shaft. The volute chamber has an inlet coaxial with the axis of the cantilever shaft and an outlet extending tangentially of the wall of said volute casing. The impeller is of the shrouded type having spaced front and rear shrouds opening at the periphery of said shrouds with impeller vanes therebetween. The outer walls of the front and rear shrouds conform to arcs struck from the center of the bearings for the shaft, and the walls of the pumping chamber have clearance with the walls of the front and rear shrouds along arcs struck from the same center as the center of the walls of the front and rear shrouds. This accommodates radial excursions of the impeller and shaft upon large radial thrusts on the impeller and avoids catastrophic contact between the shrouds of the impeller and the stationary surfaces of the pumping chamber.

Abstract: Throttle bushing for a large capacity volute slurry pump in which the impeller is on the end of a cantilever drive shaft a substantial distance from the bearing support for the shaft and the shaft is subject to droop by its weight and the weight of the impeller. The weight of the overhanging shaft and impeller in addition to irregular loads on the shaft gives the shaft an exponential shape. The throttle bushing is between the impeller and packing or seal and is machined to take the same shape the shaft will take under load regardless of the angular direction of the load and to clear the shaft in all conditions of droop thereof as well as gyrations which will occur from unequal loads on the impeller when the pump is starting up or operating at over-capacity.

Abstract: Transmission of a slurry along a pipeline by ultrasonic sound waves introduced at an angle to the direction of flow of the slurry particles to intersect the moving particles with a forward and lifting component. Ultrasonic generators or transducers are placed along the bottom of a pipeline at preselected angles relative to the pipeline and flow of material therealong. The ultrasonic waves are in the nature of mechanical waves and may be of a given frequency for specific types of solids. The slurry for which this apparatus is particularly adapted is a slurry of coal particles in the range of approximately 30 to 70% solids by weight with a general spatial concentration of approximately 50%. The mechanical ultrasonic waves propagating in the slurry, which is an elastic body, lift the particles by the angular components of the waves and propel the particles along the pipeline by the horizontal components of the ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: Locking device locking the suspension nut of a driven shaft from rotation relative to the shaft, upon reversal in the direction of rotation of the shaft or such vibration as would loosen an ordinary nut. The locking device is particularly adapted for cantilevered shaft vertical pumps in which the shaft and pump impeller on the end of the shaft are susceptible to vibration. The locking device includes a pump coupling including a motor shaft coupling part and a pump shaft coupling part detachably secured to the motor shaft coupling part. A nut part having a cylindrical periphery is threaded on the pump shaft and recessed within the pump shaft coupling part, to suspend the shaft from the pump shaft coupling part. The full weight of the pump shaft, coupling and impeller, including the hydraulic thrust, is borne by the threaded connection between the pump shaft and the coupling nut. The coupling nut is tightened by a spanner wrench having projections fitting into drilled holes in the coupling nut.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing solids such as coal from the discharge end of a continuous mining machine in the form of a slurry. The apparatus includes an inner sump for water and mined coal to form a slurry. A high capacity pump is in the bottom of the inner sump and has a capacity sufficient to maintain a uniform level of water in the sump and to pump the heavier solids settling to the bottom of the sump. The mined coal is supplied to the inner sump to be formed into a slurry by the water kept in a state of high agitation by the entrance angle of the water and the coal discharged therein. An outer sump extends about and fully contains the inner sump and has side walls substantially higher than those of the inner sump to collect the overflow from the inner sump in the form of dirty water and fines. A low capacity pump takes the overflow of dirty water and fines.