US 12,435,722 B2
Vacuum priming system for close-coupled pumps
Seth Michael James, Colton, OR (US); and Jordan Russell White, Canby, OR (US)
Assigned to Cornell Pump Company LLC, Clackamas, OR (US)
Filed by Cornell Pump Company LLC, Clackamas, OR (US)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/297,727.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/329,552, filed on Apr. 11, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0323882 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. F04D 9/04 (2006.01); F04D 9/00 (2006.01); F04D 13/02 (2006.01); F04D 13/06 (2006.01); F04D 29/60 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 9/041 (2013.01) [F04D 9/045 (2013.01); F04D 9/048 (2013.01); F04D 13/0686 (2013.01); F04D 29/605 (2013.01); F04D 9/004 (2013.01); F04D 9/043 (2013.01); F04D 13/021 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vacuum priming system for a centrifugal pump, the system comprising:
a vacuum pump;
a motor coupled to the vacuum pump and configured to run the vacuum pump;
a suction assembly including a volute end section configured for connection to a volute casing of the centrifugal pump and a vacuum end section for connection to the vacuum pump, wherein the suction assembly includes:
a tube located between the volute end section and the vacuum end section, the tube configured for providing fluid communication between the vacuum pump and the volute casing of the centrifugal pump,
a prime sensor connected at the volute end section, the prime sensor configured to detect when a liquid level in the volute casing reaches a primed state,
a solenoid valve connected at the volute end section between the prime sensor and the tube, the solenoid valve configured to selectively permit fluid flow through the tube, and
a water separator connected at the vacuum end section, the water separator configured to prevent moisture from entering the vacuum pump, and wherein the water separator comprises a check valve configured to release collected water when there is no suction in the suction assembly; and
a controller including logic to:
receive signals from the prime sensor,
start the motor and open the solenoid valve to provide suction through the suction assembly when the signals from the prime sensor indicate an unprimed state, and
stop the motor and close the solenoid valve to prevent suction through the suction assembly when the signals from the prime sensor indicate the primed state.