Anti-airlock valve assembly

Abstract

A pump, having a pump housing with an impeller arranged therein, features an anti-airlock valve assembly configured with a valve housing having a passageway configured with a vent hole to allow air to bleed out of the pump housing into the atmosphere so liquid can fill the pump housing, rise and engage the impeller in order to get the pump running; and a valve ball arranged in the passageway, the valve ball configured to rest against one part of the passageway so air can pass out of the vent hole, and also configured to be light or buoyant enough to respond to the liquid filling the pump housing, float upwardly and rest against another part of the passageway so as not to allow water to escape readily from the vent hole after the liquid rises to a sufficient level and substantially engages the impeller.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pump having a pump housing with an impeller arranged therein, comprising:
 an anti-airlock valve assembly configured with
 a valve housing having a passageway configured with a vent hole to allow air to bleed out of a chamber of the pump housing into the atmosphere so liquid can fill the pump housing, rise and engage the impeller in order to get the pump running; and 
 a valve ball arranged in the valve housing, the valve ball configured to rest against one part of the valve housing so air can pass out of the vent hole, and also configured to be light or buoyant enough to respond to the liquid filling the pump housing, float upwardly and rest against another part of the valve housing so as not to allow water to escape readily from the vent hole after the liquid rises to a sufficient level and substantially engages the impeller. 
   
     
     
         2 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-airlock valve assembly is configured in, or forms an integral part of, the pump housing. 
     
     
         3 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-airlock valve assembly is configured on the discharge side of the pump. 
     
     
         4 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-airlock valve assembly is configured on the suction side of the pump, including forming part of a suction chamber of the pump. 
     
     
         5 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing comprises:
 an upper valve seat configured with the vent hole; and   a lower valve seat configured to contain the valve ball in the valve housing and allow air to bleed out of the pump housing into the atmosphere via the vent hole.   
     
     
         6 . A pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper valve seat comprises a frustoconical wall configured to form part of the passageway. 
     
     
         7 . A pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the frustoconical wall comprises
 one end configured with a wide opening dimensioned to be larger in diameter than the valve ball; and   another end configured with the vent hole dimensioned to be smaller in diameter than the valve ball,   so that when the valve ball floats upwardly and seals against part of the frustoconical wall, water cannot escape readily from the vent hole after the liquid rises to the sufficient level and substantially engages the impeller.   
     
     
         8 . A pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises an outlet nozzle having a backflow preventer assembly coupled thereto with a duckbill-type check valve arranged therein to allow only liquid flow in only one direction. 
     
     
         9 . A pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the valve ball is configured to respond to a suction discharge pressure once the pump is running and seal against the lower valve seat in order to prevent air from passing from the atmosphere into a suction discharge chamber of the pump housing.