Jan. 14, 1964
`
`F. N. ZIMMERMANN
`PORTABLE ELECTRIC IMMERSION LIQUID PUMP
`Filed Nov. 21, 1962
`
`3,117,526
`
`3 Sheets-Sheet 1
`
`FIG . .L
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`INVENTOR.
`
`FREDERICK N. ZIMMERMANN.
`
`PETITIONERS' EXHIBIT 1111
`
`PAGE 1 OF 6
`
`

`

`Jan. 14, 1964
`
`F. N. ZIMMERMANN
`PORTABLE ELECTRIC IMMERSION LIQUID PUMP
`
`3,117,526
`
`Filed Nov. 21, 1962
`
`3 Sheets-Sheet 2
`
`INVENTOR.
`
`FREDERICK N. Z/Mv!ERMANN.
`
`PAGE 2 OF 6
`
`

`

`Jan. 14, 1964
`
`F. N. ZIMMERMANN
`PORTABLE ELECTRIC IMMERSION LIQUID PUMP
`Filed Nov. 21, 1962
`
`3,117,526
`
`3 Sheets-Sheet 3
`
`INVENTOR.
`
`FREDERICK N. ZIMMERMANN.
`
`PAGE 3 OF 6
`
`

`

`United States Patent Office
`
`3,117,526
`Patented Jan. 14, 1964
`
`1
`
`3,117,526
`PORTABLE ELECTRIC IMMERSION LIQUID PUMP
`Frederick N. Zimmermann, Deerfield, m., assignor to
`March M:mufactud!!.g Co., Skokie, lll., a corporation
`of Ininois
`FHed Nov. 21, 1%2, Ser. No. 239,284
`(CI. 103-87)
`3 Claims.
`
`2
`was the sole means to transfer, or transmit the heat de(cid:173)
`veloped by the pump while in use in an outer shell, the
`shell transmitting the heat rto the liquid in which the pump
`unit is immersed and cooled thereby. However, when
`5 all of the liquid was removed from around the motor,
`and the motor continued to run, the shell became very
`hot, the oil coolant got hot, and the motor became dam(cid:173)
`aged due to excessive heat The present invention does
`not embody a metal shell as described above, but has
`10 water, or liquid carrying coils embedded within a resin
`sheath enclosing the motor, the motor being safeguarded
`from excessive heat art any and all times; the resin sheath
`providing breathe-in means to assist ·the coils and in(cid:173)
`crease the heat transfer to the atmosphere, or the liquid
`15 surrounding the motor.
`Other objects include providing means for making an
`efficient, compact,
`longlived, rugged por.table
`liquid
`pump economically and effectively.
`Other objects and a fuller understanding of the inven-
`20 tion may be had by referring to the following description
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
`which:
`FIGURE ·1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of
`the pumping unit of this invention, illustrating the unit
`25 in operative relation in a .reservoir, being shown in cross
`section, from which liquid is to be pumped and in which
`the unit is partially immersed;
`FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the pumping
`unit with the electric motor thereof totally encapsulated
`30 by resin sealant material, the water cooling coil being
`shown by dotted lines;
`FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the pumping unit il(cid:173)
`lustmted in FIG. 2;
`FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary top view of
`the pumping unit shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the resin
`sealant material broken away showing the water cooling
`coil encompassing the top bearing cap shield;
`FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the pumping unit
`shown in FIGURE 2 with portions broken away show-
`ing inlet and outlet channels associated with the water
`cooling coil;
`FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view of
`the pumping unit shown in FIG. 2, the motor shown by
`dotted lines with its field coil and water cooling coil in
`45 full solid lines; and
`FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical central sectional
`view of the pumping unit shown in FIG. 2, having the
`serpentine type cooling coil extending from ·the pump
`housing and extending upwardly and around the upper
`50 bearing cap shield.
`The present liquid pumping unit is adapted for use in
`a dry atmosphere, a humid atmosphere, more or less sub(cid:173)
`merged in a liquid and/or completely submerged in the
`liquid being pumped thereby. As best shown in FIG-
`55 URES 2, 3 and 6, the pumping unit is substantially rec(cid:173)
`tangular in top plan form with a circular pump housing
`attached .with the motor unit. However, it is to be un(cid:173)
`derstood that the pump may take any other suitable
`shape as rrequired by its specific application.
`Referri.."lg now to the drawings of the pumping unit
`.assembly and in accordance with my invention, ,the refer(cid:173)
`ence numeral 20 designates a suitable conventiocnally illus(cid:173)
`tmted reservoir, or the like, in which a quantity of liquid
`22 ·is contained, said liquid to be pumped by the pumping
`65 unit which is generally indicated by .the reference nu(cid:173)
`meral 2:5. Refer·ring to FIGURES 4 and 7 specifioaHy,
`wherein details of the comtruction are iLlustrated, the
`pump unit 25 consists of a motor 31 ml!d pump housing
`54, said motor 31 having a rotor 32 rotatable on a ver-
`70 tical a,'{is and driving a shaft 33. It will be noted that
`t!he motor 31 has a laminated iron field 24 with a field
`coil 34, the field coil 34 being mounted to one side of
`
`35
`
`This invention relates to certain new and useful im(cid:173)
`provements in submersible motor driven pumps.
`An object of .the invention is to provide an electric,
`submersible, portable liquid pump, specifically including
`a liquid-tight resin sheathed submersible electric motor.
`Another object is to provide a motor dt;iven pump suit(cid:173)
`able for pumping liquids in which the unit is immersed,
`or partially immersed.
`A further object is to provide a motor driven pump
`suitable for pumping liquids in which the pump impeller
`housing is immersed at all times, while the motor assem(cid:173)
`bly is suitable to operate immersed in the liquid at cer(cid:173)
`tain periods and exposed to the air at other periods.
`A still further object is ,to provide means to cool the
`motor and the resin sheathed coating applied to the ex(cid:173)
`terior of the motor by inducing liquid at pump pressure
`through a serpentine type copper cooling coil embedded
`within the resin sheathed coating to materially increase
`the heat transfer surface of the motor when the motor
`is exposed to air and not immersed in the liquid sur(cid:173)
`rounding the impeller housing of the pump unit.
`Submersible elec{rk liquid pumps usually are partial(cid:173)
`ly, or entirely exposed to the liquid 'being pumped and
`therefore protection of the pumps, the heat tr·ansfer sur(cid:173)
`face of the motor, and in particular the electrical connec(cid:173)
`tions to the pump from the moisture and corrosive ef(cid:173)
`fects of such liquids presents a serious problem in the
`maintenance of such pumps, said undesirable effects
`causing the pumps to operate at unusually high tem(cid:173)
`peratures.
`Therefore, it is another object to provide an electric
`liquid pump wherein the laminated iron field, the field
`coil, the bearing cap shields and associated par•ts are com(cid:173)
`pletely encapsulated in a resin sheath, and the resin
`sheath having serpentine type coil means embedded there-
`in to transfer the heat generated within the motor to
`the exterior, thus adapting it to situations where the sur(cid:173)
`rounding liquid being pumped thereby changes ilits level,
`at one time covering the motor and cooling its surface
`and later having only the pump chamber in liquid and
`leaving the motor exposed to the atmosphere, the air
`normally allowing the motor to become excessively hot,
`but here .the liquid carrying coils within the resin sheath
`will increase the heat transfer means and keep the motor
`cool while exposed to air during operation.
`A still further object is to provide resin means which
`can be applied in liquid form to encapsulate the pump
`motor and electrical connections, allowed to harden at
`room temperature, and provide the necessary sheath to
`protect the parts and assist in the dissipation of heat.
`A still fmther object is to provide a liquid pump with
`an electric motor, the motor having assembled therewith 60
`a pair of bearing caps arranged in vertical alignment and
`with cap shields arranged thereover for preventing the
`liquid being pumped from seeping into a compartment
`formed around the motor rotor normally suitable to re(cid:173)
`tain coil within the compartment, the lower cap shield
`having an integral flange portion for spacing the pump
`housing at a desired distance below the motor and al(cid:173)
`lowing the pump housing to be solely supported by suit(cid:173)
`able means secured to and beneath the motor unit.
`Earlier inventions embodying pump assemblies adapted
`to be submerged in water were constructed with oil cool(cid:173)
`ant sealed chamber with the rotor therein where the oil
`
`40
`
`PAGE 4 OF 6
`
`

`

`3,117,526
`
`10
`
`3
`fue. rotor 32. . By using this arr•angement, it is possible
`to keep the field coi·l cooled by vertical and horizontally
`arranged ·cooling coils. The motor 31 is provided with
`an upper bearing cap 36 and a lower bearing cap 37,
`a hollow upper bearing cap shield cap 38 and a hollow 5
`Jower b:eming cap shield 41 having upwardly extending
`side and. end w<llls and a flanged bottom extension 42,
`all suitably secured in vertical alignment ;and cooper·ating
`with drive shaft 33 and associ:Med parts. 11he lower bear(cid:173)
`ing cap shield <!1 is provided with a counter bore 1and a
`shield forming •a grommet cavity 44 to retain a grom(cid:173)
`met 45, or shraft seal therein, ~he grommet 45 having a
`venturi-shaped bore therein to receive .the shaft 33 therein;
`the gronm1et 45 being enclosed within the meta:l shield
`46 which fits tightly within said counter bore. The
`be,aring cap shield 41 has a horizontal fla·nge po;rtion 42
`with a pluvality of protuberant parts vertically ananged
`about its periplheml edge po<Dtion having interior threaded
`bores 47 to receive threaded bolts therein. A base plate
`49, with holes aligned with bores 47 is assembled below
`said flange 42 and .in conllact therewith, forming a sup(cid:173)
`porting member ror •attaching the pump housing thereto.
`The pump housing 54 is constructed from •any suitable
`mate·'riaJl, shown here as nylon, •and consists of a cup(cid:173)
`shaJ,Ped base portion with a flat base wall and 'an upwardly 25
`extending side wall. The side wa;ll of the housing ·54 is
`provided with several boss pmtions 70 around the circu-
`1ar perimeter thereof. . The boss portions 70 have vertical
`bores extending therethrough tand bolts 71 extending up(cid:173)
`wan:lly 'therethrough and are screwed into threaded open- 30
`ings 72 in the base plate 49. The housing 54 .is provided
`with a ·central depending boss with a central liquid irJet
`opening 56 ·therein extending vertically into the pump
`chamber or impeller cavity 58. The side wall of the
`housing is provided with a la;temlly and outwardly tubular 35
`boss extension forming tangential outlet 57, the boss ex(cid:173)
`tension being provided with exterior threads 68 at its free
`end for the attachment of a pipe, or a hose 6il secured
`by a c1amp 59, as shown by FIG. 1. It is seen by FIG. 3
`that the base plate 49 has ·an enlarged portion extending 40
`outwardly from .the pumping unit and is provided with a
`plma:lity of ·openings 69 whereby suppmting boLts of any
`suitable kind may be used for attaching the pLate to an
`object, thereby supporting the pumping unit as desired
`\Vi·th·in a reservoir or the like.
`The rotor shaft 3•3 becomes the driving shaft for the
`impeHer ·62 which consists of a body plate and four ra(cid:173)
`ikal blades, the impeHer 62 being secured to the lower
`end of shaft 33 ;and arranged wiLl-tin the impeller cavity
`58. 11he rot:aotion of the impeiler 62 draws the liquid 50
`through the inlet 56 into the cavity 53 and forces it out
`thi·ou~h the tangential outlet p£pe 57 •and ~through the hose
`60 to any desired desti1wtion. The side wall of housing
`54 is provided with two channels 76 and 77 arranged
`parill•lel with each other and at ninety degrees with the 55
`outlet pipe 57, thereby forming two liquid passageways
`disposed tangent to the circumference of the inner wall of
`the ciavHy :and extending from the impeller cavity .to the
`exterior of the pump !housing. As viewed by FIG. 5,
`as the impeUer rotates in a clockwise direction, the im- 60
`peHer is forcing sub!>tlantially •aU the liquid out the outlet
`pipe 57 which is dr-awn in •through the inlet 56; however,
`ta minor portion of the liquid is forced out L'1e outlet
`pass.age 76, through the tube fitting 78, through a serpen(cid:173)
`tine duct, or coil of tubing SO, .through the tube fitting 65
`in •and through the passageway 77 where it is again
`within 1the impeller cavity 56. The Jiquid passing through
`the serpentinre coil SO is ·a cooiant fluid and absorbs the
`he.at from adjacent bodies. As shown by FIGURES 3,
`4, 6 and 7, the coil 30 consists of tan endkss piece of 70
`<tubing with a vertical riser 90, a horizontal substantiaJlly
`U-shaped ·poDtion 91, ;a vertical substantially U-shaped
`portion 92 and ~a vertical return tube 93 ~attached to the
`tube fiuing 81.
`The space surrounding the rotor 32 ·and between the 75
`
`4
`upper and Jower bea11ing cap shields and inside tile motor
`wall, will be considered :the motor chamber. It is clear(cid:173)
`ly s~en tha:t the rotor and the bearings may be sur-
`ro~mded by tan oi·l coolant poured into the motor chamber
`£5 simply by momentarily removing .the grommet 45
`and ;thereafter sealing it ~again by replacing the grommet
`in cavity 44 and about shaH 33.
`As shown in FIG. 7, the horizontal portion 91 of coil
`80 is polaced on top of the motor 3·1 so· 1:!hat it surrounds
`'the bearing crup shield 33 and momentarily held in said
`position by sui·table securing tape or the like. Then the
`motor 3il with a stator and its field coil 34, bearing caps
`38 tand 41, and woli1'1g coil &ll, is substantially covered
`with epoxy resin in fluid condition. The epoxy resin will
`15 enclose the coo1ing coil SO :except for the two depending
`free ends -thereof, later ·assembled with the tube fittings
`78 and ,g1 screw threaded .in exterior ends of passage(cid:173)
`ways 76 and 77. The epoxy •resin cures itself without
`pressure o.f any kind curing the curing process and be-
`20 ·comes completely hardened and encapsu1ates the entire
`electric motor tas shown by FIG. 2. The dectric lead in
`wire 95 exbnds outwardly from the epoxy re8in coating
`and free for ;attachment with suitable source of electric
`current.
`IT'he base of the plate 49 attached to the 'lower surface
`of the lower bearing oap shield 42, is free of epoxy resin
`:and :eoas1ly assembled wi.th the cup-shaped pump housing
`54 ·and at the S•anle time t!he free ends of woling coil
`SO are connected with tube fittings 73 and 81. Since
`the impeller is secured to the lower end of shaft 33, and
`driven .thereby, the impeller is. free tto be removed shu-
`ply by remov.ing the pump housing 54 should ·the ocoa(cid:173)
`sion arise. The epoxy resin coating covers the non(cid:173)
`insillated parts preventh1g mo,isture and liquid from con(cid:173)
`taoting vit<al metal·and moving parts. No metbal covering
`is required about the motor tas the epoxy resin coating is
`a liquid protector and heat transfer agent or heat conduc(cid:173)
`tive medium combined. The thickness of the epoxy resin
`coating is clearly shown by FIG. 7 and it is well known
`that the resin involves the mixing of two components, a
`resin ~and a 'hardener. Once <the components are mixed,
`the chemioal•action takes place and develops into a water(cid:173)
`tight bond with heat conductive features.
`In the past, pumps to be submerged or partially sub-
`45 merged had tthe motor units enclosed in oil, the oil ab(cid:173)
`sorbing the heat from ·the motor coil and associated pal'ts
`and the outer metatl shell conveying the he,at collected to
`the water in which itt is submerged. However, when the
`water level becomes low, -or the reservoir becomes sub(cid:173)
`s-tantially dry, the shell stays hot and cannot cool the
`oi·l causing overhe:ati..'1g of the motor, damaging .the gaske,ts
`and ·allowing water to seep into the motor cavity ruining
`the moto·r. My coated unOCt provides •a comploteiy sealed
`mo,tor chamber with oH therein; tl1e heat o£ the moving
`parts is conducted by the oil to the cavity walls and then
`to the resin coating and thereby to the liquid in which
`the pump is immersed. Should the wruter become sub(cid:173)
`stantiaiiy pumped out of the reservoir, the ·air wilt! tend to
`cool the resin coating; :however the cooling coil 80 ex(cid:173)
`tends upwardly along the fidel coil, over the field coil
`and around tVhe upper bearing oap shield, and the cold
`water therein will cool the epoxy resin wating and adja(cid:173)
`cent metal par.ts as t1le coolant water is circulated through
`''rhere will always be water circulating through
`the coil.
`•the coil as long ·as there is any water within the pump
`impeller cavity 56.
`It is important to 'remember that my pump can be used
`in any posMion; the location of the pump housing need
`be only with the J&quid inlet thereof under the desired
`water level during use by :an operator.
`The water cooJed ·epoxy resin coaJting surrounding the
`electric motor keeps the motor in running condition
`whe~her •the pump unit is submerged or partially sub(cid:173)
`merged. The cooling wate:r in the cooling coil is supplied
`by the common impeller and to discharge the water from
`
`PAGE 5 OF 6
`
`

`

`3,117,526
`
`5
`the reservoir. J,t is noted that the cooling coH is attached
`a:t its free ends to connections secured ~to the pump hous(cid:173)
`[ng, but ~he remainder thereof is embedded and held in
`the epoxy resin, solely by ~he resin cO'ating; no additiomJ
`supports required rto support the intermediate portion of
`tthe cooling coil. The cooling coil !lO is 1attao'hed to fit(cid:173)
`tings located at the peripheral parts or sides of the im(cid:173)
`peller 'Cavity and is preferably tangen'uial thereto to effec(cid:173)
`tively ha,ndie a portion of the flow of water created by
`the :rotation of the impellers: The electric motor is
`effectively cooled by the pumped fluid pa,ssing upwardly
`and around Vhrough the coil (]10, ~the walls of tihe coil being
`in direct contact with the epoxy resin coating which is in
`direct contact with the motor laminations, the motor field
`coil and bearing cap shiet1ds.
`i'Jthough I have described my invention with a certain
`degree of particularity, ,j,t is understood tthat the present
`disclosure has been made only by way of example, and
`that clhanges in details of construction and arrangement
`of parts may be resorted to without depm'i:ing from the
`:spir1t and scope of the invention ihere presented.
`I claim:
`~1. In a pumping unit of Vhe type described free of pro(cid:173)
`tective shell members comprising 'a motor and a pump
`housing connected therewith, said pump housing having
`~a pump cavity therein provided with ,a main liquid inlet
`in the bottom wall thereof and :a main liquid outlet in
`the side wall thereof arranged horizonta:Ily and tangen(cid:173)
`tially with the interior side wall thereof, said pumping
`unit adapted to be totaJ!y immersed in a supply of Hquid
`to be pumped ~and having ;a vertical impeller shaft rotat(cid:173)
`ably mounted in top and bottom bearings witlhin said
`motor, said sha£t rhaving an impeller on its lower end
`rotatable ~in sa1id pumping cavky, the said motor ror driv(cid:173)
`ing said shaft in said top and bottom bearings, a rotor
`mounted on said shaft, a field arranged adjacent the side
`of said rotor, said bearings covered by upper and lower
`bearing cap shields, said pump housing embodying a top
`wall pltate member ~attached to the }ower beaDing cap
`shield and supported solely thereby, ~an auxiliary liquid
`outlet channel in the side wall of said pump housing and
`al'ranged horizontally a.t"Id tangentially re1ative 'to t!he in(cid:173)
`terior side wail of the pump cavHy, ta..ll 1auxili:ary J,iquid
`inlet channel in the side wall of said pump housing and
`arranged !horizontally and tangentially relative to the
`interior side wall of the pump cavity and spaced at a dis(cid:173)
`vance away from said auxHiary outlet, a serpentine cool-
`ing coil having two free ends and an intermediate pol'tion,
`said free ends o:f said coil connected by suitable means
`with s1aid auxiliary outlet and inlet chmmels, said im(cid:173)
`peller forcing liquid out through said auxiliary outlet
`through s~aid coil and back into said pumping cavity, said
`intermediate portion of s~aid coil arranged to encircle the
`top bearing area and adjacent field surfaces, and a coat-
`ing of epoxy resin covering the entire intermediate por- 55
`tion of said coil to provide a direct conductive path for
`dissipation of heat collected by the coi,] other than that
`removed by tlhe water returned to the pumping cavity and
`discharged through the main liquid outlet.
`2. An electrically ~actuated liquid pump assembly com- 60
`prising an electric motor unit and a Iiquid pump housing
`rigidly secured together, said motor unit having a vertical
`drive shaft, a rotor, a field of magnetic material, a field
`
`coil mounted at one side of said field, said rotor mounted
`on said vertioal drive shaft ~and rotatable therewith, a!ll
`upper bearing oap mounted upon said field and supporting
`the upper end portion of said driv:e shaft, a lower bearing
`5 cap mounted upon the lower surface cf said field and
`supporting the lower end portion of said drive shaft, an
`upper bearing cap shield enclosing &aid upper bearing cap
`and secured in intimate contact with the upper surface of
`said field, a lower :bearing cap shield enclosing said lower
`10 bearing cap, and secured in intimate contact with the lower
`surface of said field, a supporting plate attached solely to
`said 'lower bearing cap shield, said pump housing attached
`s'Olely to said supporting plate by suitable means, s~aid
`pump housing having a bottom wall with a central ver~t,ical
`15 liquid ,inlet opening therein and a circular vertical side
`wall providing an impe,1ler cavity therein, the ~ower end
`of said drive shaft extending into S'aid impeller cavity
`and arranged to rotate therein, an impeller affixed to the
`lower end of said drive shaft witJhin said impeUer cavity
`20 and arranged to rotate with said drive shaft, said support(cid:173)
`ing plate forming a top wall for said cvity, said impeller
`cav1ty ~having a main liquid 'OUtlet embodied tlherein and
`extending ,tJhrough said side wall of said housing and
`,a,rranged tangentially relative to the interior side wall
`25 thereof, an auxiliary cooiling liquid outlet channel extend(cid:173)
`ing horizontally 'and tangentially through <the side wall
`o.f the cavity, an auxiliary liquid inlet channel extending
`horizont~ally aclJ'd tangentiaUy through the side wall of the
`cavity, said channels spaced on opposite sides of said
`30 cavity and paraHel with eaoh other, a serpentine cooling
`coil with two free ends and ~an intermediate section, one
`of s;:otid free ends connected by elbow means with said
`auxiliary outlet channel, the other of said f11ee ends con(cid:173)
`nected with elbnw means assembled in said auxhliary inlet
`35 ohannel, whereby a quantity of cooling water in said cavity
`is forced through said serpentine coil by the impeHer when
`in motion, said intermediate section of said serpentine
`coil 1an-wnged in juxtaposition with the exterior surfaces
`of said field and field 'coil with a horizontal U-shaped
`40 mid-portion thereof encircling the upper bearing cap
`shield, and a coating of epoxy resin encapsuJ,ating said
`motor unit ,and said intermediate section of said coorring
`coil leaving said rotor t~md bearing caps in ~an uncoated
`condition along with ,the uncoated pump housing, the
`45 cooling coil ;acting 1as 1a heat tra..'lsfer medium for !heat
`generated by said electric motor unit and the coating act(cid:173)
`ing as ,a heat transfer medium from the cooling co[] to
`the air.
`3. The construction according to daim 2 wherein the
`50 inter'mediate section of said serpentine coil embodies a
`vertical U-sdraped portion between the ~two said risers,
`said vertical U-shaped portion joining the said horizontal
`U-shaped mid-portion and forming an integral part
`thereof.
`
`Refet·ences Cited in the file of this patent
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`3,041,976 Maynard --------------- Jufy 3, 1962
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`Great Britain----------- Jan. 17, 1924
`Great Britain ---------- Feb. 16, 1949
`
`209,606
`618,111
`
`PAGE 6 OF 6
`
`