Motor electrical connector employing liquid immersion protection

Abstract

A discharge head having an internal electrical receptor for receiving and supporting an electrical connector, preferably for submersible turbine pumps. The electrical connector is protected by liquid immersion. The electrical connector is inserted into an internal electrical receptor within the discharge head. The electrical connector electrically couples a motor, which is attached to the discharge head, to control electronics via wiring coupled to the electrical connector. A liquid inlet is formed at the base of the discharge head between an outer wall of the discharge head and the inner electrical receptor that supports the electrical connector. One or more supporting structures in the form of ribs connect the outer wall to the electrical receptor forming a plurality of orifices that receive liquid from the motor. The support structures contain indentations to form an annular ring flow path that allows liquid to completely surround the electrical connector and/or electrical receptor.

1 . A discharge head for receiving liquid from a motor housing and providing a liquid flow path to discharge the liquid to a piping assembly and that receives an electrical connector from the piping assembly for coupling to a motor to control the motor, wherein the electrical connector is immersed by the liquid, comprising: 
 an outlet consisting of an orifice for receiving the piping assembly and the electrical connector;    a main liquid flow path that is fluidly coupled to the orifice and to the piping assembly when installed in the orifice;    an inlet fluidly coupled to the main liquid flow path, and comprised of an outer wall surrounding an inner electrical receptor coupled to the orifice, such that the electrical connector is supported by the electrical receptor when the electrical connector is inserted into the orifice, whereby a liquid inlet is formed between the outer wall and the electrical receptor; and    at least one supporting structure coupling the electrical receptor to the outer wall at ends of the at least one supporting structure and containing at least one indentation there between, wherein the at least one supporting structure divides the liquid inlet into a plurality of inlet orifices that are fluidly coupled to the main liquid flow path, thereby forming an annular liquid flow path coupled to the main liquid flow path that completely surrounds the electrical receptor.    
     
     
         2 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one supporting structure is comprised of at least one rib.  
     
     
         3 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one indentation is at least one groove.  
     
     
         4 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting screw orifice that is adapted to receive a mounting screw to firmly attached the discharge head to the motor housing.  
     
     
         5 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , wherein the annular liquid flow path is a circular flow path.  
     
     
         6 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice for receiving the piping assembly is threaded for receiving a threaded end of the piping assembly to connect the piping assembly to the discharge head.  
     
     
         7 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded throat that is connected to the electrical receptor on one end and is threaded on its other end to receive an electrical conduit containing the electrical connector.  
     
     
         8 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle formed in the outer wall on the liquid inlet side of the discharge head for receiving the motor housing.  
     
     
         9 . The discharge head of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment pin orifice that is adapted to receive an alignment pin from the motor housing to align the connection of the discharge head to the motor housing.  
     
     
         10 . A motor housing assembly for driving a pump to pump liquid from a storage tank, comprising a motor inside a motor housing that is adapted to be coupled to a discharge head to discharge the liquid to a piping assembly and for coupling a discharge head electrical connector to the motor to electrically control the motor, comprising: 
 a motor housing containing a motor that electrically drives the pump;    an outer housing surrounding the motor housing, and forming a liquid flow path between the outside of the motor housing and the inside of the outer housing, wherein the outer housing comprises a liquid inlet coupled to the liquid flow path and the liquid in the storage tank and a liquid outlet, and wherein the outer housing contains the pump that pumps liquid from the tank into the liquid flow path;    the motor housing, comprising: 
 at one end, an outer wall surrounding an inner motor housing electrical receptor, wherein the motor housing electrical receptor contains a motor housing electrical connector that is coupled to the motor to electrically control the motor, wherein the discharge head electrical connector is coupled to the electrical connector when the discharge head is coupled to the motor housing; and  
 at least one supporting structure coupling the motor housing electrical receptor to the outer wall at ends of the at least one supporting structure and containing at least one indentation there between, wherein the at least one supporting structure divides the liquid outlet into a plurality of liquid outlet orifices that are fluidly coupled to the liquid flow path, thereby forming an annular liquid flow path coupled to the liquid flow path that completely surrounds the motor housing electrical receptor.  
   
     
     
         11 . The motor housing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one supporting structure is comprised of at least one rib.  
     
     
         12 . The motor housing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one indentation is at least one groove.  
     
     
         13 . The motor housing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one mounting screw orifice that is adapted to receive a mounting screw to firmly attached the discharge head to the motor housing.  
     
     
         14 . The motor housing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the annular liquid flow path is a circular flow path.  
     
     
         15 . The motor housing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a receptacle formed in the outer wall on the liquid outlet side of the motor housing for receiving the discharge head.  
     
     
         16 . The motor housing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the motor housing further comprises an alignment pin that is adapted to be inserted into an alignment pin orifice in the discharge head to align the connection of the discharge head to the motor housing.  
     
     
         17 . A gasket for providing a sealed connection between a motor housing and a discharge head, comprising: 
 a liquid inlet coupled to a liquid flow path and a liquid outlet;    an outer wall surrounding an electrical receptor ring forming an electrical receptor orifice inside the electrical receptor ring;    at least one supporting structure coupling the electrical receptor ring to the outer wall at ends of the at least one supporting structure and containing at least one indentation there between, wherein the at least one supporting structure divides the liquid outlet into a plurality of liquid outlet orifices that are fluidly coupled to the liquid flow path, thereby forming an annular liquid flow path coupled to the liquid flow path that completely surrounds the electrical receptor ring.    
     
     
         18 . The gasket of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one supporting structure is comprised of at least one rib.  
     
     
         19 . The gasket of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one indentation is at least one groove.  
     
     
         20 . The gasket of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one mounting screw orifice in the outer wall that is adapted to align with a mounting screw orifice in the discharge head and receive a mounting screw that is connected to the motor housing to attached the discharge head to the motor housing.  
     
     
         21 . The gasket of  claim 17 , wherein the annular liquid flow path is a circular flow path.  
     
     
         22 . The gasket of  claim 17 , further comprising an alignment pin orifice in the outer wall that is adapted to receive an alignment pin from the motor housing and to be inserted into an alignment pin orifice in the discharge head to align the connection of the discharge head to the motor housing.