Pump bushing device and associated methods

Abstract

A pump bushing device that is adapted and configured to admit pressurized flushing fluid into a seal cavity of a pump, flushing debris therefrom without removal of the pump bushing device, including a cylindrical body defining an axial bore extending therethrough for accommodating a shaft of a pump; a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, axially-extending, angled slots formed in an inner peripheral wall of the axial bore; and a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of angled slots, the plurality of apertures extending radially inward at an angle from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body to the axial bore. Wherein the plurality of angled slots and the plurality of apertures receive pressurized flushing fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pump bushing device that is adapted and configured to admit pressurized flushing fluid into a seal cavity of a pump, flushing debris therefrom without removal of the pump bushing device, the pump bushing device comprising: 
 a cylindrical body defining an axial bore extending therethrough for accommodating a shaft of a pump;    a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, axially-extending, angled slots formed in an inner peripheral wall of the axial bore;    a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of angled slots, the plurality of apertures extending radially inward at an angle from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body to the axial bore; and    wherein the plurality of angled slots and the plurality of apertures receive pressurized flushing fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises two hemi-cylindrical portions.  
     
     
         3 . The pump bushing device of  claim 2 , wherein the two hemi-cylindrical portions are secured together by a plurality of fasteners.  
     
     
         4 . The pump bushing device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise a plurality of fasteners selected from the group consisting of threaded fasteners and dowel pins.  
     
     
         5 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of inlet ports are in communication with an inlet port groove.  
     
     
         6 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , further comprising an annular discharge groove formed in the cylindrical body at an end of the axial bore.  
     
     
         7 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump bushing device comprises a rotary pump bushing device.  
     
     
         8 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump bushing device comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a metallic material, and a non-metallic material.  
     
     
         9 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a centrifugal pump.  
     
     
         10 . The pump bushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises an impeller shaft.  
     
     
         11 . A method for admitting pressurized flushing fluid into a seal cavity of a pump, flushing debris therefrom without removal of a pump bushing device, the method comprising: 
 providing a cylindrical body defining an axial bore extending therethrough for accommodating a shaft of a pump;    providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, axially-extending, angled slots formed in an inner peripheral wall of the axial bore;    providing a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of angled slots, the plurality of apertures extending radially inward at an angle from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body to the axial bore; and    wherein the plurality of angled slots and the plurality of apertures receive pressurized flushing fluid.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises two hemi-cylindrical portions.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the two hemi-cylindrical portions are secured together by a plurality of fasteners.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise a plurality of fasteners selected from the group consisting of threaded fasteners and dowel pins.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of inlet ports are in communication with an inlet port groove.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing an annular discharge groove formed in the cylindrical body at an end of the axial bore.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pump bushing device comprises a rotary pump bushing device.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pump bushing device comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a metallic material, and a non-metallic material.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pump comprises a centrifugal pump.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft comprises an impeller shaft.