The Marley-wylain Company

Joe A Harbison

Darryl M Nielsen

Nyle D LaGrange

Dorothy D McDaniel

Nyle D La Grange

Structure for guiding a submersible pump along an upright path of travel includes a wire-like connector coupled to the pump unit, and the connector is shaped to slidably engage two outwardly extending portions of an upright guide rail which is I-shaped in transverse configuration. The wire-like connector cleans debris from the rail during vertical movement of the pump and also enables the unit to be tilted as necessary. When the pump unit is shifted to approach a lowermost position for pumping fluids, a directing means comprising outwardly extending plates with inclined surfaces thereon engages horizontal arms connected to a pump outlet flange so that the pump is precisely guided both vertically and horizontally to a position wherein the pump outlet flange is in flat, parallel, face-to-face relationship with an inlet flange of a stationary discharge pipe. A curved peg which extends outwardly from the discharge pipe flange is received within a recess of the pump unit flange as the pump is lowered, and the peg functions to retain the pump flange in spaced disposition relative to piping inlet flange so that seizing of the two flanges is substantially precluded. The guide structure and directing means provide minimal contact areas between moving components so that entrapment of debris and particles, which would otherwise cause frictional resistance to free movement of the pump, is minimized, and the possibility of seizing is virtually eliminated.

Guide structure for submersible pump system

A check valve assembly includes a generally bell shaped casing having a flared, open end section and a fluid inlet in opposed relation to the flared end section. A body removably connected to the casing covers a portion of the flared end section and has a fluid outlet as well as two spaced, outwardly extending ball guiding members which are matingly received within opposed walls of the casing. The ball guiding members are configured to shift the ball along a path of travel between a first, flow impeding position adjacent the fluid inlet and a second position spaced from the inlet and disposed laterally of a substantially straight fluid passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet. In preferred forms of the invention, the path of travel of the ball has a variable slope which approaches zero as the ball reaches its uppermost, flow enabling position so that a minimum amount of fluid pressure on the ball can retain the latter in its uppermost position, ball flutter and fluid turbulence is substantially reduced. In other forms of the invention, the body includes a stop which contacts the ball in a relatively small surface area of the latter when the ball is in its flow enabling position so that a portion of the fluid flowing through the valve assembly travels around the ball and cleanses the same, and so that stagnant pockets of fluid are eliminated.

Ball check valve

A float assembly for use in tanks, sumps or other liquid-containing vessels includes an elongated, upright, extruded support which maintains individual float switches at preselected heights. The support includes upright, elongated, recess-defining walls with a pair of flat, spaced, parallel sidewall portions that are configured to grippingly engage an outer, deformable insulative covering of a cord connected to the float switch. The cord may be grasped and pulled to an appropriate height, and is thereafter secured by the sidewall portions without the use of tools, fasteners or other components. In preferred forms, the recess-defining walls have a transverse, generally U-shaped configuration with an internal passageway for housing an upper portion of the cord between the float switch and an overlying junction box.

Adjustable float assembly for pumps

A tank mounted discharge conduit assembly for use with a submersible pump unit comprises a base member connected to the tank as well as an upright body having a fluid conduit therein. The base member has an upwardly extending portion which is complementally received within a lower portion of the upright body, in order to provide support against lateral deflection of the body as well as to prohibit the flow of fluids through a lower end of the conduit. The body also integrally includes a pair of upright, spaced, elongated, U-shaped guides which are configured to slidably receive an outlet flange of the pump and shift the latter toward a position of fluid communication between the pump and an opening in the body communicating with the fluid conduit therein. The guides advantageously include yieldable wall portions which accommodate lateral movements of the pump unit to facilitate raising and lowering of the pump by a rope-equipped hoist when the latter is unintentionally vertically misaligned with the center of gravity of the pump unit.

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Gladstone, MO, United States of America

Joe A Harbison