Seal adjustment device for an operating pump

Abstract

A seal adjustment system for a centrifugal pump includes a movable arm having two opposing ends, one end being positioned relative to a sealing mechanism of a pump and the other end being arranged for connection to a portion of the pump spaced from the sealing mechanism, and an adjustment mechanism having a first end positioned for attachment to a portion of a pump and a second end connected to the said other end of the movable arm in articulating engagement therewith, wherein activation of the adjustment mechanism provides movement of the movable arm to effect axial adjustment of a portion of the sealing mechanism of the pump.

1 . A seal adjustment system for a centrifugal pump, comprising:
 a movable arm having two opposing ends, one end being positioned relative to a sealing mechanism of a pump and the other end being arranged for connection to a portion of the pump spaced from the sealing mechanism;   an adjustment mechanism having a first end positioned for attachment to a portion of a pump and a second end connected to said other end of the movable arm in articulating engagement therewith,   wherein activation of the adjustment mechanism provides movement of the movable arm to effect adjustment of a portion of the sealing mechanism of the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more angular compensation devices positioned between the other end of the movable arm and the portion of the pump to which it is connected by the adjustment mechanism to compensate for angular movement of the movable arm relative to the sealing mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection of the movable arm to the adjustment mechanism further includes an angular compensation device. 
     
     
         4 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 3 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is connected to the pump by an articulating element. 
     
     
         5 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 4 , wherein the articulating element is structured to provide angular compensation to movement of the movable arm. 
     
     
         6 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a length-adjustable device structured to provide variable adjustment of the distance between the first end of the adjustment mechanism and the second end of the adjustment mechanism to provide movement of the movable arm relative to the portion of the pump to which the adjustment mechanism is connected. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 6 , wherein the length-adjustable device comprises a threaded rod positioned at one end for connection to an attachment member that is secured to said portion of the pump, and a block having a threaded aperture for receiving a threaded end of the threaded rod therethrough, the block having an engagement end for articulating connection to the said other end of the movable arm. 
     
     
         9 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one locking element for locking the position of the block relative to the threaded rod following activation of the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 9 , further comprising a threaded pin threadingly received in one end of the threaded rod, the threaded pin having a head end structured for articulating connection to the attachment member. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the one end of the movable arm has attached thereto a drive member having a contact surface that engages a portion of a sealing mechanism to effect axial adjustment of a portion of the sealing mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 12 , wherein the drive member comprises a ring element that is positioned to be coaxial with the drive shaft of a pump. 
     
     
         14 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 13 , wherein the ring element is comprised of two semi-circular halves that are connected together to be coaxially positioned about a drive shaft. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable arm is further secured at a point between the two opposing ends thereof to stabilize the movable arm relative to the pump and to provide a point of pivotal movement of the movable arm thereabout. 
     
     
         17 . The seal adjustment system of  claim 16 , wherein the point between the two opposing ends of the movable arm is provided with an angular compensation element to compensate for angular movement of the movable arm. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The seal adjustment device of  claim 12 , wherein the movable arm is further comprised of a first end connected to the adjustment mechanism and a second end that engages with the drive member, the second end being U-shaped and having opposing terminal ends that pivotally engage the drive member. 
     
     
         22 . The seal adjustment device of  claim 21 , wherein the opposing terminal ends are structured with slots for receiving pivot pins therethrough. 
     
     
         23 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A centrifugal pump having a pump casing defining a pump chamber with an impeller positioned within the pump chamber, the impeller being connected to a drive shaft that is positioned through a bearing assembly, and having a seal mechanism positioned between the drive shaft and the pump casing, the centrifugal pump further having a seal adjustment device for effecting adjustment of a portion of the seal mechanism, comprising:
 a movable arm having two opposing ends, one end being positioned relative to a seal mechanism of a pump and the other end being arranged for connection to a portion of the pump spaced from the seal mechanism;   an adjustment mechanism having a first end positioned for attachment to a portion of a pump and a second end connected to said other end of the movable arm in articulating engagement therewith,   wherein adjustment of the other end of the movable arm relative to the portion of the pump to which it is connected causes movement of the one end of the movable arm relative to the seal mechanism to effect an adjustment of a portion of the sealing mechanism.   
     
     
         31 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 30 , wherein the seal adjustment device further comprises a drive member that is operatively attached to the movable arm and is positioned in contact with a portion of the seal mechanism to effect an axial adjustment of a portion of the seal mechanism upon adjustment of the movable arm. 
     
     
         32 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 30 , wherein the seal adjustment device further comprises at least one angular compensation mechanism positioned between the attachment of the adjustment mechanism to the pump and the attachment of the adjustment mechanism to the movable arm. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of adjusting a seal mechanism of a centrifugal pump that is positioned between the pump casing of the pump and the drive shaft of the pump, comprising:
 providing a seal adjustment system that is positioned in contact with the seal mechanism of the pump to effect axial movement of a portion of the seal mechanism, the seal adjustment system comprising,
 a movable arm having two opposing ends, one end being positioned relative to the seal mechanism of the pump and the other end being operatively connected to an adjustment mechanism by articulating attachment, the adjustment mechanism being attached to a portion of the pump and which provides adjustment of the said other end of the movable arm relative to the portion of the pump to which the adjustment mechanism is attached; and 
   actuating the adjustment mechanism of the seal adjustment system to effect movement of the movable arm by adjusting the length of the adjusting mechanism and causing the movable arm to pivot at the point of connection of the movable arm to the adjustment mechanism.   
     
     
         35 - 41 . (canceled)