Centrifugal pump systems

Abstract

A pumping system for pumping a mixture, e.g. a drilling fluid mixture, containing liquid and solids, the pumping system including a container, centrifugal pump apparatus for pumping the mixture, the pump apparatus including a pump shaft, a drive motor, a shaft packing structure, and bearing apparatus around the pump shaft, the packing structure, bearing apparatus and part of the pump shaft within an enclosed non-vented housing. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 CFR 1.72(b).

1 . A pumping system for pumping a drilling mixture containing liquid drilling fluid and solids entrained in the liquid drilling fluid, the pumping system comprising
 a container for receiving and holding the drilling mixture,   centrifugal pump apparatus for transferring the drilling mixture from the container,   the centrifugal pump apparatus including a pump shaft, a motor to drive the pump shaft, a packing structure around the pump shaft and bearing apparatus around the pump shaft,   a housing, the housing comprising an enclosed non-vented structure, and   the packing structure, bearing apparatus and part of the pump shaft within the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising
 seal apparatus for sealing the housing to prevent the ingress of contaminants into the housing.   
   
   
       3 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising
 a lubricant port through the housing for providing lubricant to the bearing apparatus.   
   
   
       4 . The pumping system of  claim 3  further comprising
 lubricant within the housing for lubricating the bearing apparatus, the lubricant expandable upon heating to increase pressure within the housing to inhibit contaminants from entering the housing through the pump-shaft/housing interface.   
   
   
       5 . The pumping system of  claim 2  wherein the seal apparatus contains at least one seal. 
   
   
       6 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein
 the packing structure surrounds the pump shaft and maintains the bearing apparatus in position adjacent the pump shaft and above the packing structure.   
   
   
       7 . The pumping system of  claim 6  wherein
 the packing structure inhibits contaminants from flowing to the bearing apparatus.   
   
   
       8 . The pumping system of  claim 6  further comprising
 a retainer with a base and a cylinder, the cylinder encircling a portion of the drive shaft and the base abutting a bottom of the packing structure.   
   
   
       9 . The pumping system of  claim 8  wherein
 the retainer acts as a barrier inhibiting contaminants from contacting the pump shaft.   
   
   
       10 . The pumping system of  claim 8  further comprising
 seal apparatus for sealing the housing to prevent the ingress of contaminants into the housing, the seal apparatus including at least one seal, and   the at least one seal sealingly contacting an exterior surface of the retainer ring's cylinder.   
   
   
       11 . The pumping system of  claim 6  wherein
 the packing structure comprises
 at least one seal, and 
 at least one retainer ring for holding the seal in a sealing position. 
   
   
   
       12 . The pumping system of  claim 11  wherein
 the at least one retainer ring has a ring diameter,   the bearing apparatus has a bearing diameter, and   the ring diameter is greater than the bearing diameter.   
   
   
       13 . The pumping system of  claim 8  further comprising
 impeller apparatus on the pump shaft,   the impeller apparatus abutting the retainer.   
   
   
       14 . The pumping system of  claim 8  wherein
 the retainer supports and guides the pump shaft in the event of failure of the bearing apparatus.   
   
   
       15 . The pumping system of  claim 11  further comprising
 a grease port for introducing grease into the housing for the at least one seal of the seal apparatus.   
   
   
       16 . The pumping system of  claim 12  further comprising
 grease adjacent the at least one seal, the grease under pressure to provide a positive internal pressure at a location of the packing structure.   
   
   
       17 . A pumping system for pumping a drilling mixture containing liquid drilling fluid and solids entrained in the liquid drilling fluid, the pumping system comprising
 a container for receiving and holding the drilling mixture,   centrifugal pump apparatus for transferring the drilling mixture from the container,   the centrifugal pump apparatus including a pump shaft, a motor to drive the pump shaft, a packing structure around the pump shaft and bearing apparatus around the pump shaft,   a housing, the housing comprising an enclosed non-vented structure,   the packing structure, bearing apparatus and part of the pump shaft within the housing,   seal apparatus for sealing the housing to prevent the ingress of contaminants into the housing,   the packing structure surrounds the pump shaft and maintains the bearing apparatus in position adjacent the pump shaft and above the packing structure,   the packing structure inhibits contaminants from flowing to the bearing apparatus,   a retainer with a base and a cylinder, the cylinder encircling a portion of the drive shaft and the base abutting a bottom of the packing structure, and   the retainer acts as a barrier inhibiting contaminants from contacting the pump shaft.   
   
   
       18 . A centrifugal pump apparatus comprising
 a pump shaft,   a motor to drive the pump shaft,   a packing structure around the pump shaft,   bearing apparatus around the pump shaft,   a housing comprising a non-vented housing, and   the packing structure, bearing apparatus and part of the pump shaft within the housing.   
   
   
       19 . A method for pumping a mixture containing liquid and solids, the method comprising
 feeding the mixture from a container for receiving and holding the mixture to a centrifugal pump apparatus for transferring the mixture from the container, the centrifugal pump apparatus including a pump shaft, a motor to drive the pump shaft, a housing, a packing structure around the pump shaft and bearing apparatus around the pump shaft, the housing comprising a non-vented housing, the packing structure, bearing apparatus and part of the pump shaft within the housing, and   with the centrifugal pump, pumping the mixture from the container.   
   
   
       20 . A pumping system for pumping a mixture containing liquid and solids, the pumping system comprising
 a container for receiving and holding the mixture, centrifugal pump apparatus for transferring the mixture from the container,   the centrifugal pump apparatus including housing, a pump shaft, a motor to drive the pump shaft, a packing structure around the pump shaft and bearing apparatus around the pump shaft, the housing comprising a non-vented enclosure, and   the packing structure, bearing apparatus and part of the pump shaft within the housing.