초록 ▼

Some embodiments of the invention provide a pump including a pump chamber, a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber, an impeller coupled to the shaft, and a seal coupled to the shaft. The pump also includes a wet seal chamber with a first fluid. The wet seal chamber can include a bl

Some embodiments of the invention provide a pump including a pump chamber, a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber, an impeller coupled to the shaft, and a seal coupled to the shaft. The pump also includes a wet seal chamber with a first fluid. The wet seal chamber can include a bladder that compresses to compensate for volumetric expansion of the first fluid. The wet seal chamber substantially prevents fluid from contacting the seal in order to prolong a life of the seal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pump comprising: a pump chamber including an inlet and an outlet;a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber;an impeller coupled to the shaft;a seal coupled to the shaft;a wet seal chamber including a first fluid; the wet seal chamber including a separator having a resilient membe

1. A pump comprising: a pump chamber including an inlet and an outlet;a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber;an impeller coupled to the shaft;a seal coupled to the shaft;a wet seal chamber including a first fluid; the wet seal chamber including a separator having a resilient member abutting a disc,the resilient member substantially preventing fluid in the pump chamber from contacting the seal in order to prolong a life of the seal; anda bladder positioned within the wet seal chamber. 2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the bladder compresses when the first fluid volumetrically expands in the wet seal chamber. 3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the bladder includes a compressible fluid. 4. The pump of claim 3, wherein the compressible fluid is air. 5. The pump of claim 3, wherein the compressible fluid is at atmospheric pressure in a starting condition of the pump. 6. The pump of claim 1, wherein the disc including at least one slot through which fluid pressure from the pump chamber is transferred to the resilient member, the resilient member decreases a volume of the wet seal chamber in order to increase a pressure in the wet seal chamber. 7. The pump of claim 6, wherein the resilient member is a diaphragm. 8. The pump of claim 6, wherein the resilient member includes a second bladder enclosing a second fluid. 9. A pump comprising: a pump housing;a pump chamber including an inlet and an outlet;a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber;an impeller coupled to the shaft, the impeller residing in the pump chamber;a seal coupled to the shaft; anda wet seal chamber defining a reservoir for holding a first fluid having a first fluid pressure, the wet seal chamber including a separator having a resilient member abutting a disc for separating the first fluid of the wet seal chamber from a second fluid of the pump chamber to prevent fluid contact between the first fluid and the second fluid, the wet seal chamber further including a bladder enclosing a third fluid. 10. The pump of claim 9, wherein the third fluid is compressible such that the bladder compresses when the first fluid volumetrically expands. 11. The pump of claim 9, wherein the third fluid is air. 12. The pump of claim 9, wherein the first fluid pressure is greater than a second fluid pressure of the second fluid. 13. The pump of claim 9, wherein the disc including at least one slot through which a second fluid pressure from the pump chamber is transferred to the resilient member, the resilient member adjusting to increase the first fluid pressure by reducing a volume of the reservoir upon the second fluid pressure in the pumping chamber being greater than the first fluid pressure in the reservoir. 14. The pump of claim 13, wherein the resilient member includes a diaphragm. 15. The pump of claim 13, wherein the resilient member includes a ring and a second bladder, the second bladder enclosing a fourth fluid. 16. The pump of claim 9, wherein the bladder is ring-shaped with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the distal end. 17. The pump of claim 16, wherein the proximal end is connected to the distal end by a connector. 18. The pump of claim 9, wherein the bladder is attached to a back wall of the wet seal chamber. 19. A wet seal chamber for a pump, the pump including an inlet, an outlet, and a pump chamber, a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber, and an impeller coupled to the shaft, the wet seal chamber comprising: a separator having a resilient member abutting a disc;a seal coupled to the shaft;a back wall, the resilient member and the back wall defining a reservoir for enclosing a first fluid having a first fluid pressure, the resilient member positioned between the pump chamber having a second fluid and the reservoir, the resilient member preventing the second fluid from penetrating into the reservoir and mixing with the first fluid; anda bladder positioned in the reservoir, the bladder enclosing a third fluid. 20. The wet seal chamber of claim 19, wherein the third fluid is compressible such that the bladder compensates for volumetric expansion of the first fluid. 21. The wet seal chamber of claim 19, wherein the bladder is ring-shaped. 22. The wet seal chamber of claim 19, wherein the third fluid is air. 23. The wet seal chamber of claim 19, wherein the resilient member deforming when a second fluid pressure of the second fluid in the pumping chamber is greater than the first fluid pressure of the first fluid in the reservoir. 24. The wet seal chamber of claim 23, wherein the disc including at least one slot through which the second fluid pressure from the pump chamber is transferred to the resilient member. 25. The wet seal chamber of claim 23, wherein the resilient member includes a diaphragm. 26. The wet seal chamber of claim 23, wherein the resilient member includes a second bladder enclosing a fourth fluid. 27. A pump comprising: a pump chamber including an inlet and an outlet;a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber;an impeller coupled to the shaft;a seal coupled to the shaft;a wet seal chamber including a first fluid; the wet seal chamber including a separator,the wet seal chamber substantially preventing fluid in the pump chamber from contacting the seal in order to prolong a life of the seal; anda bladder positioned within the wet seal chamber;wherein the bladder includes a compressible fluid. 28. A pump comprising: a pump housing;a pump chamber including an inlet and an outlet;a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber;an impeller coupled to the shaft, the impeller residing in the pump chamber;a seal coupled to the shaft; anda wet seal chamber defining a reservoir for holding a first fluid having a first fluid pressure, the wet seal chamber including a separator for separating the first fluid of the wet seal chamber from a second fluid of the pump chamber, the wet seal chamber further including a bladder enclosing a third fluid;wherein the third fluid is compressible such that the bladder compresses when the first fluid volumetrically expands. 29. A wet seal chamber for a pump, the pump including an inlet, an outlet and a pump chamber, a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber, and an impeller coupled to the shaft, the wet seal chamber comprising: a separator;a seal coupled to the shaft;a back wall, the separator and the back wall defining a reservoir for enclosing a first fluid having a first fluid pressure, the separator positioned between the pump chamber having a second fluid and the reservoir; anda bladder positioned in the reservoir, the bladder enclosing a third fluid;wherein the third fluid is compressible such that the bladder compensates for volumetric expansion of the first fluid.