US2022904A - Vacuum pump - Google Patents

Description

Dec- 3, 1935. L. G. L. THOMAS 2,0229QJ41 VACUUM PUMP Filed Aug. 50, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 E j 713 u- 2 2:1., Q Z,

:ze ff LZ] /l//ll/ l/ ////H/ /T/Z Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,022,904 VACUUM PUMPA Louis G. L. Thomas, chicago, m. Application August 30, 1934, Serial No. 742,034 5 Claims. (Cl. 103-5) This invention relates to a vacuum pump primarily designed for heating systems but susceptible of other uses.

The object of this invention is to increase the efficiency of such pumps when applied to a heating system in avoiding the lifting of the condensate through the vacuum.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointedout and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarifeatures in the different views: I

Figure l is a front elevational view of a vacuum pump involving this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken upon the line II-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line III--III of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken upon the line IV-IV of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. I

In the drawings, there is shown a casing I having an upper vacuum chamber 2 and a lower storage or water circulating chamber 3. The vacuum chamber is provided with an inlet 4 (Figure 1) which is designed to be connected with the radiators or the like of a heating system and to receive the condensate and air from the radiators. 'Ihis vacuum chamber has a downwardly extending passage 5 that registers with an opening 8 in the casing. A collar 1 is attached to the casing and extends into the opening 6. A check valve 8 is pivoted to the collar 1 as indicated at 9 and abuts a stop I0 upon the collar to prevent the same from swinging inwardly. The passage 5 and opening 6 communicate with a chamber II formed in a jet injector casing I2 attached to the casing I or any other vacuum producing apparatus. 'Ihe jet injector I3 is adapted to discharge into a flaring tubular passage I4 formed in a tubular member I 5 extending into the casing. This jet injector is well known and forms no part of this invention except in so far as it cooperates communicates with the chamber 3 through a passage I8 formed in the pump casing.

When the centrifugal pump is operating, it will draw water through the passage I8 and discharge the same back into the chamber 3 through the jet injector, creating thereby a water circulating system and producing a vacuum in the 5 chamber II which causes the check valveto open so that a vacuum will also be produced in the gravity to mingle with the water in the circulat- 10 ing system.

`The pump is adapted to be driven by a vertical motor I9 resting upon a standard 20 attached to the pump casing. Y

A float 2I is located in the vacuum chamber 2 15 and isequipped with a stem 22 which is secured in a coupling member 23 fast upon a short shaft 24 which extends through the wall of a hollow boss 25 formed upon a plate 26 attached to the side of the casing I. An arm 21 is attached to the 20 shaft 24 within the hollow boss and a switch operating link or rod 28 is connected to the arm 21.

In the water` circulating chamber, there is a similar float 2l having a stem 22 anchored in a 25 coupling 23 fastened to a similar shaft 24 extending into a hollow boss 25 on a second plate 26. An arm 21 secured upon the shaft within this second boss has a switch operating link or rod 29 connected thereto. The rods 28 and 29 are 30 adapted to control one or more switches located in a switch box 30 for controlling the motor.

When the motor stops for any reason and the circulation of water ceases, the chamber I I will have atmospheric pressure while there will be a 35 partial vacuum in the chamber 2. 'Ihis difference in pressure will keep the check valve closed with the result that the condensate will accumulate in the vacuum chamber 2 until the float 2| therein is raised suiliciently to actuate the switch 4o for starting the motor. The starting of the motor will cause a circulation of the water in the circulating system and create a vacuum in the chamber II so that the check valve will open and allow the condensate to flow by gravity to the 45 circulating chamber.

'I'he float 2| in the circulating chamber will also start the motor when the water reaches the proper height after a discharge to the boiler.

It will be appreciated that the eiort hereto- 50 fore required in pumps of this character to raise or elevate the condensate has been eliminated. In thepresent instance, the condensate returns by gravity when the vacuums in the chambers 2 and II are in proper relation. 55

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I do not therefore purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum pump; a casing, a partition dividing said casing into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower circulating chamber, a pump having connections with said circulating chamber for .circulating a fluid therethrough, a vacuum producer in one of said connections, said vacuum chamber having a passage leading to said vacuum producer and a check valve in said passage. i

2. In a vacuum pump, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing the same into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower circulating chamber, an injector housing attaching to said casing and forming a chamber therebetween, an injector in said housing, a pump connected with said injector and said casing for circulating water therethrough, said vacuum chamber having a passage leading to said injector chamber, a check valve in said passage controlled by the vacuum in said vacuum chamber and said injector chamber, a motor connected to said pump, and means including a oat in said vacuum chamber for starting said motor, when the vacuum in said vacuum chamber exceeds the vacuum in said injector chamber and the condensate in said vacuum chamber has risen a predetermined extent.

`3. In a vacuum pump for heating systems, a caslnga horizontal partition dividing said casing into an upper vacuum chamber and a lower water circulating chamber, an injector housing on said casing and forming an injector chamber therebetween, said upper chamber having a passage leading to said injector chamber for conveying condensate by gravity, a check valve in said passage, a water circulating pump connected to said injector housing and said Water circulating chamber, a motor for operating said pump, a switch for controlling said motor, and a iloat in said vacuum chamber adapted for operating said switch when the condensate therein rises a predetermined amount when the vacuum in said vacuum chamber and said injector chamber maintain said check valve in closed position.

4. In a vacuum pump for heating systems, a casing having a partition dividing the same into an upper vacuum chamber for receiving condensate and a lower circulating chamber, an injector housing attached to said casing and forming a chamber therebetween, an injector in said housing, a pump operatively connected to said injector and to said water circulating chamber, said vacuum chamber having a passage leading to said injector chamber, a check valve in said passage adapted to be maintained in'closed position by a greater pressure in said injector chamber than the pressure in said vacuum chamber, a motor connected to said pump, and means including a oat in said vacuum chamber for starting said motor when said check valve is maintained in closed position and the condensate in said vacuum chamber has risen a predetermined extent.

5. In a vacuum pump for heating systems, a casing having a partition dividing the same into an upper vacuum chamberadapted for receiving condensate and a lower water circulating system, a pump having connections with said circulating chamber for circulating water therethrough, a vacuum producer in one of said connections, said vacuum chamber having a passage communicating with said vacuum producer, a check valve in said passage adapted to be opened by excess pressure against the side thereof facing said vacuum chamber, a motor for operating said pump and means controlled by the condensate level in said vacuum chamber for starting said motor should said check valve remain closed.

' LOUIS G. L. THOMAS.

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