US3667715A

US3667715A - Mounting apparatus for remote disengagement and engagement of submersible pumps

Info

Publication number: US3667715A
Application number: US109182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johann Mertens
Original assignee: NUCLEAR WASTE SYSTEMS CO
Current assignee: NUCLEAR WASTE SYSTEMS CO
Priority date: 1971-01-25
Filing date: 1971-01-25
Publication date: 1972-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-06

Abstract

MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR LOWERING, RAISING AND SECURING IN PLACE A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES AN ALIGNMENT RACK FOR ALIGNING WITHIN A LIQUID HOLDING VAT A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP WITH A DISCHARGE PIPE WITHIN THE VAT FOR COUPLING TO THE PUMP. ADJUSTABLE MEMBERS ARE ADAPTED FOR ENGAGING THE PUMP WITHIN THE VAT AND EXTENDING OUTSIDE THE VAT. THE MEMBERS ARE FURTHER ADAPTED TO URGE THE PUMP IN AND OUT OF COUPLING RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISCHARGE PIPE RESPONSIVE TO ADJUSTMENTS PERFORMED ON SAID MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE VAT. A PUMP CAGE IS GUIDED RELATIVE TO THE ALIGNMENT RACK AND DISCHARGE PIPE. THE CAGE IS MOVABLE LATERALLY WITH RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISCHARGE PIPE SO AS TO MOVE THE PUMP LATERALLY CLEAR OF THE DISCHARGE TUBE WHEN THE PUMP AND PIPE ARE UNCOUPLED, AND PULLEY MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE PUMP FROM AND TO THE CAGE WHEN CLEAR OF THE DISCHARGE TUBE.

Description

June 6, IQIZ ER 3,667,715

MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR REMOTE DISENGAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OF SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1971 23 LA 19 E?) a 20 22 E ILO IN V EN TOR. JO/MN/V MERTENJ 4 TTOR/VEY United States Patent US. Cl. 248-327 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mounting apparatus for lowering, raising and securing in place a submersible pump. The apparatus includes an alignment rack for aligning within a liquid holding vat a submersible pump with a discharge pipe within the vat for coupling to the pump. Adjustable members are adapted for engaging the pump within the vat and extending outside the vat. The members are further adapted to urge the pump in and out of coupling relationship to the discharge pipe responsive to adjustments performed on said members outside the vat. A pump cage is guided relative to the alignment rack and discharge pipe. The cage is movable laterally with relationship to the discharge pipe so as to move the pump laterally clear of the discharge tube when the pump and pipe are uncoupled, and pulley means are provided for raising and lowering the pump from and to the cage when clear of the discharge tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to apparatus for use in conjunction with submersible pumps employed for pumping, recirculating or decanting liquids or slurries from a vat. Since submersible pumps are submerged in the liquid medium on which they operate, leakage is not as of critical concern as it is with centrifugal and reciproeating pumps which are located outside the medium.

A problem encountered in installing or removing submersible pumps from tanks or wells for repair, inspection or replacement is that pipe joints must be broken or pipes cut in order to lift the pump out of the tank or well. This operation is time consuming and exposes workmen to hazards of working within the tank or well vat. The problem is of even more concern in industrial nuclear power plants where the pump is utilized with liquids or slurries contaminated with radioactive substances.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Apparatus for use in installing and removing submersible pumps from a vat such as tanks and wells. The apparatus allows installation, including pipe connections, to be done remotely from outside the vat. Similarly, when it is desired to remove the pump, disconnection of the pump and pipes and bringing the pump to the exterior is all controllable from outside the vat.

An exemplary embodiment includes a secured alignment rack within the vat. The rack position is selected relative to that of the pump-pipe coupling end of a discharge pipe. The rack is adapted to guide a pump cage supporting a pump so as to provide alignment of the pump-pipe coupling of the pump and pipe. The cage is movable laterally relative to the rack such that the pump outlet can be positioned in longitudinal alignment with the pipe while being out of coupling relationship. The cage includes an extension extending near an opening of the vat. The end of the extension engages a slide rail near the opening such that lateral movement of the end of the extension along the slide rail results in lateral movement of the cage towards and away from the rack. Accordingly, the pump within the cage is moved laterally in and out 3,667,715 Patented June 6, 1972 of longitudinal alignment with the discharge pipe. A tie rod means extends from the exterior of the vat to the vicinity of the alignment rack. The interior end of the tie rod means includes engaging means for engaging the pump when the pump is in proper longitudinal alignment with the pump-pipe coupling of the pipe such that the pump and pipe are in alignment compatible for coupling. Adjusting means are included on the exterior ends of the tie rods to urge the pump, through the engaging means, towards the pipe for coupling the pipe and pump. The coupling fit between the pipe and pump are preferably of a pressure fit nature with the pressure being controlled by the external adjusting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of mounting apparatus of the present invention for mounting a submersible pump in a liquid containing vat;

FIG. 2 is a front view of that portion of FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship of the pump and discharge pipe prior to coupling;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the alignment rack of FIG. 1 and illustrating the guide forks; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the mounted apparatus of FIG. 1 from outside the vat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the mounting apparatus of the present invention and referred to by the general reference character 1. The mounting apparatus is illustrated within a liquid containing vat in the form of a tank 3. Exit between the interior and exterior of the tank 3 is through an exit-adit opening 5 of a top plate 6. The entrance way may be sealed with a portable cover 7. Within the tank 3 there is a submersible type pump 9 which is designed to pump the liquid within the tank through a pump discharge pipe 11 having a female conical shaped coupling 12. Extending from the exterior of the top plate 6 to the interior of the tank 3 is a support rod means in the form of a pair of tie rods 13 spaced apart in one lateral direction and positioned laterally to the opening 5 in another direction. The tie rods 13 each carry a threaded, externally exposed end joined by securing means in the form of nuts 15 and a support plate 17 laterally joining the exposed ends of the rods 13. The interior ends of the tie rods each carry a tie rod engaging hook 19 opening to receive a pair of studs 20 of a pair of support arms 21 on the pump 9. The pump 9 also includes a pair of hooks 22 and a male coupling 23 complementary to the coupling 12 and joined to a nipple 24.

Adjacent to the engaging hooks 19 is a pump alignment rack referred to by the general reference character 25. The rack 25 carries a pair of V-shaped guide forks 27 longitudinally spaced apart an adequate distance to engage the pump 9 at spaced apart points. The guide alignment rack also carries a pair of laterally displaced tie rod guides 29 each of which includes eyes 31 for guiding the supporting tie rods 13. The rods 13 are slideable through the eyes 31. The rack 25 further includes a support means in the form of a V-shaped angle iron support 33 for supporting the guides and forks. The support 33 may be secured in place to the side of the bottom of the tank 3.

Supported by the top plate 6 and beneath the opening 5 is a guide track means in the form of a pair of roller guide tracks 35 supporting and guiding a pair of roller members 37. Each of the roller members 37 joins a cage extension arm 39 which extends within the tank 3 beneath the hooks 19.

At the lower internal end of the extension arms 39 is a cage medium, referred to by the general reference character 41, for supporting the pump 9. As shown, the cage medium 41 carries a bottom support plate 43 with a plurality of side rails 45 about the periphery so as to cup the end of the pump 9. The cage medium 41 further includes a U-shaped bumper guide 47 and a U-shaped support 49. A lateral support 51 extends between the arms 39 and joins a spring-type member 53 extending: to one of the rails 45 so as to firmly hold the pump 9 in place. Accordingly, the entire cage medium 41 and arm extensions 39 may be moved laterally Within the tank 3 towards and away from the pump alignment rack 25 by movement of the roller member 37 along the tracks 35. The cage medium 41 and pump 9 may thus be moved to a select position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 for coupling of the pump 9 and pipe 11 and to a position relative to the opening for entrance and exit of the pump to and from the interior of the tank 3.

Joining the hooks 22 are a pair of cables 55 which may extend to the exterior of the tank 3, e.g. to a winch. Accordingly, the cable 55 may be utilized to hoist the pump 9 to and from the cage 41 through the adit-exit opening 5. Assuming, the pump 9 is to be installed, the pump is lowered through the opening 5 to the cage medium 41 by the cables 55. When in the cage medium 41, the studs 20 on the pump are in alignment with the open ends of the books 19. The roller members 37 are then urged along the guide tracks 35 thereby laterally shifting the cage medium 41 and the pump 9 toward the alignment rack 25. The bumper guide 47 comes into contact with the rail 33 and the forks 27 with the pump 9 for guiding the position of the cage medium and pump relative to the rack. The studs 20 slide through the openings of the hooks 19. Thus, the hooks 19 and studs 20 serve as a coupling means when the cage medium 41 and the pump 9 are in a select position. The tie rods 13 are then tightened from the exterior through the nuts 15 to a predesignated position to assure proper pressure fit of the male coupling 23 with the female coupling 12. The engagement and disengagement distance of the pump 9 may be indicated on an indicator scale 57 supported by the top plate 6. The desired setting may be indicated at the time the pump 9 is initially installed.

Accordingly, as illustrated by the figures, the present invention provides a mounting apparatus in which a submersible pump may be mounted and replaced or repaired without the necessity of an individual entering the interior of the tank. The necessary operations may all be done remotely from the exterior of the tank medium.

I claim:

1. Mounting apparatus for supporting a submersible group in a vat and for coupling the pump to a pipe medium from a remote location, the apparatus comprising, in combination:

support rod means extending from the exterior to the interior of a vat, the position of said support rod means within the vat being controllable from the exterior of the vat;

a cage medium placed within the vat for supporting a submersible pump;

means for said support rod means and a submersible pump supported by said cage medium when said cage medium and pump are in a select position relative to said support rod means;

extension arm means engaging said cage medium at one end; and

guide track means engaging the extension arm means for guiding the extension arms relative to said support rod means to move said cage medium between said select position and a position relative to an eXit-adit opening in said vat to receive said pump.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said support rod means include adjustment means at the exterior end for adjusting the position of said support rod means within the vat.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and comprising pump alignment rack means secured within said vat adjacent to said support rod means within the interior of the vat.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said pump alignment rack includes guide means for guiding the position of said cage medium.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the pump includes a coupling for pressure coupling to a pressure pipe coupling within said vat.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said pump alignment rack guide means are positioned to guide said cage means and the pump to position the pump coupling and pipe coupling in alignment, and in which said adjustment means of the support rod means urge the pump coupling and pipe coupling into engagement.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and comprising hoisting engagement means for engaging a pump and hoisting the pump to and from said cage medium through the adit-exit opening.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said pump alignment rack means further include guide means for guiding said support rod means relative to said pump alignment rack.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said guide track means include rail means for attachment to the vat adjacent to said adit-exit opening and roller means secured to the extension arm means and in engagement with said rail means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the means for coupling the support rod means and said pump include hook means supported by said support rod means, said hook means including an opening through which stud means on said pump may slide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,018,925 1/l962 Englesson 417-360 UX 3,234,885 2/1966 Englesson 417-360 UX 3,427,982 2/1969 Englesson 417360 UX 3,517,738 6/1970 Petersen 166.6 3,570,722 3/ 1971 Montelius 222-333 I. FRANKLIN FOSS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.