초록 ▼

A pump system, including an impeller and an impeller shaft, which has one end secured to the impeller and another end that may be coupled to a motor to drive the impeller. The pump system further includes a substantially liquid-proof barrier which has an opening through which the impeller shaft exte

A pump system, including an impeller and an impeller shaft, which has one end secured to the impeller and another end that may be coupled to a motor to drive the impeller. The pump system further includes a substantially liquid-proof barrier which has an opening through which the impeller shaft extends. The opening in the barrier is sealed with a shaft sealing system that includes a supply chamber fluidly coupled with a cavity. The cavity surrounds, and is at least partially bounded by, the impeller shaft. The shaft sealing system further includes a pressure mechanism that is configured to pressurize lubrication matter contained within the supply chamber and cavity, so as to inhibit liquid from passing along the impeller shaft through the cavity and thereby penetrating the liquid-proof barrier. The pressure mechanism is further configured to vary pressure of the lubrication matter based on atmospheric pressure surrounding the pump system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pump system, comprising:an impeller;an impeller shaft having an impeller end secured to the impeller and a drive end configured to be operatively coupled to a motor in order to drive the impeller; anda substantially liquid-proof barrier having an opening through which the impeller shaft extends

1. A pump system, comprising:an impeller;an impeller shaft having an impeller end secured to the impeller and a drive end configured to be operatively coupled to a motor in order to drive the impeller; anda substantially liquid-proof barrier having an opening through which the impeller shaft extends, the opening being sealed with a shaft sealing system that includes:a supply chamber in fluid communication with a cavity that surrounds, and is at least partially bounded by, the impeller shaft; anda pressure mechanism configured to pressurize lubrication matter contained within the supply chamber and cavity so as to inhibit liquid from passing along the impeller shaft through the cavity and thereby penetrating the liquid-proof barrier, where the pressure mechanism is configured to act upon the lubrication matter in the supply chamber to vary pressure of the lubrication matter during operation of the pump system based on atmospheric pressure surrounding the pump system. 2. The pump system of claim 1, where the supply chamber is fluidly coupled with the cavity via a channel. 3. The pump system of claim 2, where the channel is defined through the liquid-proof barrier. 4. The pump system of claim 1, where the pressure mechanism includes a piston having an operative surface that at least partially bounds the supply chamber, where the piston is movable in order to vary pressure applied to the lubrication mailer. 5. The pump system of claim 4, where the pressure mechanism includes a biasing mechanism configured to urge the piston toward the supply chamber so as to maintain pressure in the lubrication mailer. 6. The pump system of claim 5, where the biasing mechanism is a spring. 7. The pump system of claim 6, where the piston and spring are disposed within a housing, such that the operative surface of the piston and an interior surface of the housing define the supply chamber, the spring being positioned opposite the operative surface of the piston. 8. The pump system of claim 7, where a hole is defined through a portion of the housing such that a side of the piston opposite the supply chamber is exposed to atmospheric conditions surrounding the pump system. 9. The pump system of claim 1, where two lip seals are positioned within the opening in the liquid-proof barrier such that ends of the lip seals contact the impeller shaft, and where the lip seals at least partially define the cavity surrounding the impeller shaft. 10. The pump system of claim 1, where a mechanical seal is positioned within the opening in the liquid-proof barrier such that the mechanical seal at least partially defines the cavity surrounding the impeller shaft. 11. The pump system of claim 1, where the impeller shaft extends through and is supported by a sealed bearing frame coupled between the impeller and the motor, and where the shaft sealing system seals around the impeller shaft at an end of the bearing frame. 12. The pump system of claim 11, where the shaft sealing system is one of two such shaft sealing systems, and where the second shaft sealing system seals around the impeller shaft at another end of the bearing frame. 13. The pump system of claim 11, where the bearing frame includes a vent for venting an interior of bearing frame, the pump system further comprising a float valve assembly coupled to the bearing frame and configured to selectively close the vent when the bearing frame is in an at least partially immersed state. 14. The pump system of claim 1, where the lubrication matter is grease. 15. The pump system of claim 1, where the lubrication matter is oil. 16. A pump system, comprising:an impeller disposed within a pump casing having an inlet and an outlet;a motor;an impeller shaft coupled between the motor and the impeller and configured to impart rotation to the impeller upon activation of the motor; anda sealed bearing frame through which the impeller shaft extends, where the bearing frame is secured between the motor and impeller and includes an air vent that is closeable via operation of a float valve assembly upon flooding of the pump system. 17. The pump system of claim 16, where the impeller shaft extends through a sealed opening at a first end of the bearing frame and through a sealed opening at a second end of the bearing frame, each of the sealed openings being sealed with a variable-pressure sealing system including:a supply chamber in fluid communication with a cavity that surrounds, and is at least partially bounded by, the impeller shaft; anda pressure mechanism configured to pressurize lubrication matter contained within the supply chamber and cavity so as to inhibit liquid from passing along the impeller shaft through the cavity and into the bearing frame, where the pressure mechanism is configured to vary pressure of the lubrication matter based on atmospheric pressure surrounding the pump system. 18. The pump system of claim 17, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the supply chamber is fluidly coupled with the cavity via a channel. 19. The pump system of claim 17, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the pressure mechanism includes a piston having an operative surface that at least partially bounds the supply chamber, where the piston is movable in order to vary pressure applied to the lubrication matter. 20. The pump system of claim 19, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the pressure mechanism includes a biasing mechanism configured to urge the piston toward the supply chamber so as to maintain pressure in the lubrication matter. 21. The pump system of claim 20, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the biasing mechanism is a spring. 22. The pump system of claim 21, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the piston and spring are disposed within a housing, such that the operative surface of the piston and an interior surface of the housing define the supply chamber, the spring being positioned opposite the operative surface of the piston. 23. The pump system of claim 22, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, a hole is defined through a portion of the housing such that a side of the piston opposite the supply chamber is exposed to atmospheric conditions surrounding the pump system. 24. The pump system of claim 17, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, two lip seals are positioned within the corresponding sealed opening such that ends of the lip seals contact the impeller shaft, and where the lip seals at least partially define the cavity surrounding the impeller shaft. 25. The pump system of claim 16, where the float valve assembly includes a linkage coupled between a float and a valve structure, the float valve assembly being configured so that the float rises as liquid rises around the bearing frame, thereby moving the linkage and valve structure so as to close the vent prior to liquid rising to a level where it can enter the vent. 26. A pump system, comprising:an impeller;a motor; andan impeller shaft coupled between the motor and the impeller and configured to impart rotation to the impeller upon activation of the motor, where the impeller shaft extends through a sealed bearing frame enclosure coupled between the impeller and the motor, and where first and second ends of the bearing frame enclosure are each sealed around the impeller shaft with a variable-pressure sealing system, including:a supply chamber in fluid communication with a cavity that surrounds, and is at least partially bounded by, the impeller shaft; anda pressure mechanism configured to pressurize lubrication matter contained within the supply chamber and cavity so as to inhibit liquid from passing along the impeller shaft through the cavity and into the bearing frame enclosure, where the pressure mechanism is configured to act upon the lubrication matter in the supply chamber to vary pressure of the lubrication matter during operation of the pu mp system based on atmospheric pressure surrounding the pump system. 27. The pump system of claim 26, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the pressure mechanism includes a piston having an operative surface that at least partially bounds the supply chamber, where the piston is movable in order to vary pressure applied to the lubrication matter. 28. The pump system of claim 27, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the pressure mechanism includes a biasing mechanism configured to urge the piston toward the supply chamber so as to maintain pressure in the lubrication matter. 29. The pump system of claim 28, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the biasing mechanism is a spring. 30. The pump system of claim 29, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the piston and spring are disposed within a housing, such that the operative surface of the piston and an interior surface of the housing define the supply chamber, the spring being positioned opposite the operative surface of the piston. 31. The pump system of claim 30, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, a hole is defined through a portion of the housing such that a side of the piston opposite the supply chamber is exposed to atmospheric conditions surrounding the pump system. 32. The pump system of claim 26, where for each of the variable-pressure sealing systems, the cavity is at least partially defined by the impeller shaft and by a dual lip seal configuration including two lip seals that are resiliently biased into contact with the impeller shaft.