Vertical pump having discharge head with flexible element
A discharge head features at least one low-deflection component that substantially does not deflect in response to high piping forces applied in a direction perpendicular to the discharge head; at least one high-deflection component that deflects in response to the high piping forces; and a flexible element configured between the at least one low-deflection component and the at least one high-deflection component to contain pressure and to be highly flexible in the direction perpendicular to the centerline of the discharge head.
1. A discharge head ( 10 ) for a vertically suspended pump having a motor mounting plate ( 22 ) and a base plate ( 24 ), comprising:
low-deflection components ( 12 , 14 ) having a bearing house ( 14 ) and a motor support ( 12 ) with supports ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ) configured to couple the motor mounting plate ( 22 ) and the base plate ( 24 ), and also having rib supports ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c , 15 d ) configured to couple the bearing housing ( 14 ) and the supports ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c , 12 d ), the low-deflection components ( 12 , 14 ) configured to respond to high piping forces applied in a direction perpendicular to a centerline (CL) of the discharge head ( 10 ) and not substantially deflect;
at least one high-deflection component ( 16 ) having a discharge elbow ( 16 ) configured to deflect in response to the high piping forces, the discharge elbow ( 16 ) being coupled to the base plate ( 24 ); and
a flexible element ( 20 ) configured to couple the bearing housing ( 14 ) and the discharge elbow ( 16 ) and flex in the direction perpendicular to the centerline (CL) of the discharge head ( 10 ) to contain pressure, so that the deflection of the high-deflection components ( 16 , 20 ) is not substantially communicated to the low-deflection components ( 12 , 14 ); wherein the flexible element is coupled with horizontal portion of the discharge elbow, and configured as a bellows-like flexible structure; and
wherein the flexible element is made from a flexible material, including rubber.
2. A vertical suspended pump comprising:
the discharge head ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , having the motor mounting plate ( 22 ) and the base plate ( 24 );
a first pump arrangement having a vertical solid shaft motor ( 132 ) configured for rotating a drive shaft ( 131 );
a second pump combination having a column ( 127 , 129 ) arranged about the drive shaft ( 131 ), and having a bowl assembly ( 126 ) with a rotary impeller coupled to the drive shaft ( 131 ); and
the motor mounting plate ( 22 ) configured to couple to the vertical solid shaft motor ( 132 ) of the first pump arrangement, and the base plate ( 24 ) configured to couple to the column ( 127 , 129 ) of the second pump arrangement.