Discharge head for a vertical pump and vertical pump

Abstract

A discharge head for a vertical pump includes a base plate configured to mount the discharge head, a top plate, at least one support member connecting the base plate with the top plate, a discharge pipe with an outlet configured to deliver a fluid, and an inner tube. The discharge pipe extends through the base plate. The inner tube is configured to receive a shaft that connects a drive unit with an impeller of the vertical pump, and extends in an axial direction and coaxially within the discharge pipe in a region of the base plate, passing through a wall of the discharge pipe at an intersection, and further extending to the top plate. The inner tube includes a bellows member disposed between the intersection and the top plate.

1 . A discharge head for a vertical pump, comprising:
 a base plate configured to mount the discharge head;   a top plate;   at least one support member connecting the base plate with the top plate;   a discharge pipe with an outlet configured to deliver a fluid, the discharge pipe extending through the base plate; and   an inner tube configured to receive a shaft that connects a drive unit with an impeller of the vertical pump, the inner tube extending in an axial direction and coaxially within the discharge pipe in a region of the base plate, passing through a wall of the discharge pipe at an intersection, and further extending to the top plate, the inner tube comprising a bellows member disposed between the intersection and the top plate.   
     
     
         2 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bellows member is firmly connected to the top plate. 
     
     
         3 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bellows member extends over at least half a distance between the intersection and the top plate. 
     
     
         4 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the discharge pipe has a vertical section extending in the axial direction, a horizontal section extending perpendicular to the axial direction and an intermediate section connecting the vertical section with the horizontal section. 
     
     
         5 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate section extends at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the axial direction. 
     
     
         6 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member has a main extension being in a plane that is parallel to the axial direction. 
     
     
         7 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member includes a plurality of support members, and each support member of the plurality of support members has a main extension being in a plane that is parallel to the axial direction. 
     
     
         8 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the discharge pipe includes a discharge support firmly connected to the base plate, discharge support having a main extension being in a plane that is parallel to the axial direction. 
     
     
         9 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the discharge support has no contact with the top plate. 
     
     
         10 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the discharge support is connected only to the base plate and to a horizontal section of the discharge pipe. 
     
     
         11 . A discharge head in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a supply line ending in the inner tube, the supply line being configured to supply a sealing medium to the inner tube. 
     
     
         12 . A vertical pump for conveying a fluid, comprising:
 a pumping unit with an inlet and an impeller, and configured to convey the fluid;   a discharge head in accordance with  claim 1 ;   a drive unit configured to rotate the impeller; and   a shaft extending in an axial direction and connecting the drive unit with the impeller.   
     
     
         13 . A vertical pump in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising an axial bearing unit with an axial bearing for the shaft, the axial bearing unit being mounted to the top plate of the discharge head, and the motor unit being mounted to the axial bearing unit. 
     
     
         14 . A vertical pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the vertical pump is configured to convey a fluid of at least 250° C. 
     
     
         15 . A vertical pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the vertical pump is configured to be mounted to at least one of a tank for a molten salt in a solar energy system and to a support structure at the tank. 
     
     
         16 . A vertical pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the vertical pump is configured to convey a molten salt.