Centrifugal Pump Casing With Strainer Device Attachment

Abstract

Centrifugal pump arrangements are provided with a pump casing having a volute, an impeller, a backing plate having an annular radial surface and annular skirt portion that encircles the pump casing and an inlet having an annular inlet flange configured to receive a strainer device with brackets that attach to the annular inlet flange, the pump arrangements being comprised of a number or structural parts that facilitate manufacture and assembly while also reducing degradation of parts of the pump arrangement.

1 . A centrifugal pump arrangement, comprising:
 a pump casing having an outer circumferential periphery, an annular radial surface, a volute, an outlet in fluid communication with the volute and an inlet positioned opposite the annular radial surface, the inlet having an annular inlet flange;   an impeller positioned within the volute of the pump casing;   a wear plate located adjacent the impeller;   a backing plate positioned adjacent to the annular radial surface of the pump casing, the wear plate being positioned between the impeller and the backing plate; and   a strainer device secured to the annular inlet flange of the pump casing, where the strainer device comprises one or more brackets configured to engage with the inlet flange.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular radial surface of the pump casing extends radially inwardly from the circumferential periphery to an open end of the pump casing to provide a receiving surface for the backing plate, the open end is further formed with a recess having a shoulder which is sized to receive and retain the wear plate. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular inlet flange extends radially outwardly from the inlet and away from a central axis of the pump casing. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the annular inlet flange is formed with a plurality of recesses extending inwardly toward the central axis from an outer peripheral edge of the annular inlet flange. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the backing plate is configured with a radially-extending annular body and an annular skirt portion that is sized and positioned to encircle the outer circumferential periphery of the pump casing. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the annular body of the backing plate has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being positioned adjacent to the annular radial surface of the pump casing and the outer surface is oriented in a direction away from the inlet of the pump casing, the annular body further having a plurality of apertures for receiving securement devices to attach the backing plate to the pump casing. 
     
     
         7 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base secured to the backing plate and positioned to intercalate the impeller between the base and the backing plate. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 1 , wherein each bracket is formed with an adjustable securement element to secure the strainer device to the inlet flange. 
     
     
         10 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the strainer device is configured as a basket having a top portion, a bottom portion and annular side portion extending between the top portion and bottom portion, the basket having openings formed through the surfaces of the top portion, bottom portion and annular side portion. 
     
     
         11 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drive housing positioned in proximity to the outer surface of the backing plate annular body and attached thereto, the drive housing having a drive shaft extended therefrom for attachment to the impeller for rotation of the impeller within the volute. 
     
     
         12 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 11 , further comprising a slinger apparatus positioned adjacent to the wear plate and connected to the drive shaft for rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the slinger apparatus is located between wear plate and the drive housing. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner surface of the backing plate is configured with a recess into which an upper portion of the wear plate is received. 
     
     
         16 . The centrifugal pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the backing plate is configured with one or more holes formed through the annular body through which connector bolts are positioned to secure the wear plate to the pump casing.