Pump housing coupling
View Patent ↗An assembly is disclosed for forming a fluid-tight seal between a pump housing and a seal plate. The housing includes a first flange with a first plurality of apertures formed therein, and the seal plate includes a second flange with a second plurality of apertures formed therein. A gasket is provided between the pump housing and the seal plate. A plurality of inserts extend through the first plurality of apertures, and a plurality of spacers extend through the second plurality of apertures. A plurality of threaded connectors are used to couple the seal plate to the pump housing to form a fluid-tight seal. The dimensions of the inserts and spacers are selected so as to inhibit crushing of the gasket and the flanges when the connectors are fully tightened.
1. A coupling assembly for forming a liquid-tight seal in a water pump, comprising:
a pump housing defining an opening and including a first flange formed about a periphery of said opening, said first flange including a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a first plurality of apertures formed through said first flange, said pump housing being provided with a first sealing surface disposed at a first angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second surface of said first flange;
a seal plate including a second flange formed about a periphery thereof, said second flange including a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a second plurality of apertures formed through said second flange, said seal plate being provided with a second sealing surface disposed at a second angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second surface of said second flange;
a gasket disposed between said first sealing surface, said second sealing surface, and said second surface of said second flange;
a plurality of inserts each having a threaded boring extending therethrough and each including an insert head portion and an insert shank portion extending from said insert head portion through one of said first plurality of apertures;
a plurality of spacers each having a boring extending therethrough and each including a spacer head portion and a spacer shank portion extending from said spacer head portion through one of said second plurality of apertures to align said boring with said threaded boring; and
a plurality of connectors each including a connector head portion abutting said spacer head portion, a connector shank portion extending from said connector head portion, through said boring, and at least partially through said threaded boring, and a plurality of threads formed on said connector shank portion cooperating with said threaded boring to induce a liquid-tight seal between said gasket, said first sealing surface, said second sealing surface, and said second surface of said second flange.
2. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first angle is about forty-five degrees.
3. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said second angle is about ninety degrees.
4. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said first plurality of apertures has a substantially square-shaped cross section, and wherein each insert shank portion has a corresponding substantially square-shaped cross section.
5. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said second plurality of apertures has a substantially circle-shaped cross section, and wherein each spacer shank portion has a corresponding substantially circle-shaped cross section.
6. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of inserts and said plurality of spacers each include a first material of a first rigidity, and wherein said first flange and said second flange each include a second material of a second rigidity less than said first rigidity.
7. The coupling assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first material is sintered bronze.
8. The coupling assembly of claim 6 , wherein said second material is glass fiber polypropylene.
9. The coupling assembly of claim 8 , wherein said first material is sintered bronze.
10. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each spacer shank portion includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially disposed.
11. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each insert shank portion has a first length, wherein each spacer shank portion has a second length, wherein said first flange has a first width between said first surface of said first flange and said second surface of said first flange, wherein said second flange of said seal plate has a second width between said first surface of said second flange and said second surface of said second flange, and wherein a sum of said first length with said second length is substantially about equal to a sum of said first width with said second width.
12. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , including an impeller disposed within said pump housing and an electric motor coupled to said impeller through said seal plate.
13. A coupling assembly for forming a liquid-tight seal in a water pump, comprising:
a pump housing defining an opening and including a first flange formed about a periphery of said opening, said first flange having a first plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said pump housing being provided with a first sealing surface disposed at a first angle with respect to an inner periphery of said first flange;
a seal plate including a second flange formed about a periphery thereof, said second flange having a second plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said seal plate being provided with a second sealing surface disposed at a second angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second flange;
a gasket disposed between said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface;
a plurality of inserts each having a threaded boring extending therethrough and each including an insert head portion and an insert shank portion extending from said insert head portion through one of said first plurality of apertures;
a plurality of spacers each having a boring extending therethrough and each including a spacer head portion and a spacer shank portion extending from said spacer head portion through one of said second plurality of apertures to align said boring with said threaded boring; and
a plurality of connectors each including a connector head portion abutting said spacer head portion, a connector shank portion extending from said connector head portion, through said boring, and at least partially through said threaded boring, and a plurality of threads formed on said connector shank portion cooperating with said threaded boring to induce a liquid-tight seal between said gasket, said first sealing surface, and said second sealing surface;
wherein each insert shank portion has a first length, wherein each spacer shank portion has a second length, wherein said first flange has a first width, wherein said second flange has a second width, and wherein a sum of said first length with said second length is substantially about equal to a sum of said first width with said second width.
14. The coupling assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of said first plurality of apertures has a substantially square-shaped cross section, wherein each insert shank portion has a corresponding substantially square-shaped cross section, wherein each of said second plurality of apertures has a substantially circle-shaped cross section, and wherein each spacer shank portion has a corresponding substantially circle-shaped cross section.
15. The coupling assembly of claim 13 , wherein each spacer shank portion includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially disposed.
16. The coupling assembly of claim 13 , wherein said plurality of inserts and said plurality of spacers are formed of a first material of a first rigidity, and wherein said first flange and said second flange are formed of a second material of a second rigidity less than said first rigidity.
17. The coupling assembly of claim 16 , wherein said first material is sintered bronze.
18. The coupling assembly of claim 17 , wherein said second material is glass fiber polypropylene.
19. A coupling assembly for forming a liquid-tight seal in a water pump, comprising:
a pump housing defining an opening and including a first flange formed about a periphery of said opening, said first flange having a first plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said pump housing being provided with a first sealing surface disposed at a first angle with respect to an inner periphery of said first flange;
a seal plate including a second flange formed about a periphery thereof, said second flange having a second plurality of apertures defined therethrough, and said seal plate being provided with a second sealing surface disposed at a second angle with respect to an inner periphery of said second flange;
a gasket disposed between said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface;
a plurality of inserts each having a threaded boring extending therethrough and each including an insert head portion and an insert shank portion extending from said insert head portion through one of said first plurality of apertures;
a plurality of spacers each having a boring extending therethrough and each including a spacer head portion and a spacer shank portion extending from said spacer head portion through one of said second plurality of apertures to align said boring with said threaded boring; and
a plurality of connectors each including a connector head portion abutting said spacer head portion, a connector shank portion extending from said connector head portion, through said boring, and at least partially through said threaded boring, and a plurality of threads formed on said connector shank portion cooperating with said threaded boring to induce a liquid-tight seal formed between said gasket, said first sealing surface, and said second sealing surface;
wherein said plurality of inserts and said plurality of spacers are formed of a first material of a first rigidity, and wherein said seal plate and said pump housing are formed of a second material of a second rigidity less than said first rigidity.
20. The coupling assembly of claim 19 , wherein said first angle is about forty-five degrees, and wherein said second angle is about ninety degrees.