Drain Vent for Petroleum/Chemical Pumping Devices and Methods of Making the Same

Abstract

A fluid pumping device for use in the petroleum and/or chemical industries includes a cast fluid housing having an inlet to or an outlet from the fluid pumping device, a drain/vent tubular connection extending through the cast fluid housing to communicate with the inlet to or the outlet of the fluid pumping device and a flange adapter sealingly secured to the cast fluid housing. A method of providing a drain/vent tube to structurally communicate with an inlet to or the outlet from a fluid pumping device is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid pumping device for use in the petroleum and/or chemical industries, comprising:
 (a) a cast fluid housing member having an inlet to or an outlet from the fluid pumping device and having a sidewall thereon;   (b) a drain/vent tubular connection positioned in said cast fluid housing to engage and communicate with said inlet to or said outlet from the fluid pumping device, with said drain/vent tubular connection exiting as said sidewall; and   (c) a flange adapter member secured to said cast fluid housing and structurally arranged to communicate with said drain/vent tubular connection.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said drain/vent tubular connection is positioned in said fluid housing to communicate with said inlet to or outlet from said pumping device by drilling said drain/vent connection in said fluid housing. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said sidewall of said cast fluid housing is positioned substantially perpendicular to said exit of said drain/vent tubular connection from said fluid housing. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said sidewall of said fluid housing includes an annular recess extending around the exit of said drain/vent tubular connection. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said flange adapter member includes an axial bore extending therethrough and a male projection portion structurally arranged to engage said cast fluid housing to communicate with said drain/vent tubular connection. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said flange adapter member includes a axial bore therethrough and a male projection portion structurally arranged to engage said annular recess in said sidewall of said fluid housing. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said male projection portion includes at least one annular groove extending therearound. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid pumping device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein each of said at least one annular groove in said male projection portion includes an—o-ring member to seal said flange adapter member to said fluid housing. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a drain/vent tube to structurally communicate with the inlet or outlet of a cast fluid pumping device, comprising the steps of:
 (a) drilling a drain/vent tubular connection in the cast fluid pumping device to engage and communicate with the inlet or outlet therein; and   (b) mounting a flange adapter member to the cast fluid pumping device to communicate with said drain/vent tubular connection to permit release of fluid from the pumping device.