Combined-purpose pressure booster pump

Abstract

This disclosure relates fluid moving devices such as pumps and associated components such as to pump casings, pump casing assemblies, and pumps, systems and methods of manufacture and use. In particular, this disclosure relates to combined-purpose devices, such as pump casings and pumps, that can operate as standard centrifugal pumps, booster pumps, and hybrid pumps. The combined-purpose device devices can produce different pressure and flow characteristics that are desirable in, for example, bathing environments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centrifugal pump for directing fluid, the centrifugal pump comprising:
 a casing configured to direct a fluid through the casing;   an inlet opening configured to direct the fluid into the casing;   an outlet opening configured to direct the fluid out of the casing;   an impeller positioned in the casing, the impeller configured to direct the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening by directing fluid from a center of the impeller to a periphery of the impeller;   a motor configured to rotate the impeller to cause the impeller to direct the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;   a venturi device comprising a venturi inlet and a venturi outlet, the venturi device configured to recirculate at least a portion of the fluid in the casing from the periphery of the impeller via the venturi inlet back toward the center of the impeller via the venturi outlet, wherein the venturi outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet opening, and wherein the venturi device is configured to increase fluid flow rate from the venturi inlet directed to the venturi outlet to decrease pressure of the at least a portion of the fluid directed to the venturi outlet to draw fluid through the inlet opening; and   a plug configured to selectively move from an open position to a closed position, wherein in the open position, the at least a portion of the fluid is recirculated in the casing through the venturi device, and wherein in the closed position, the plug is configured to inhibit recirculation flow through the venturi device to inhibit recirculation of the at least a portion of the fluid in the casing,   wherein with the plug in the open position, the centrifugal pump is configured to provide a lower fluid flow rate at a higher fluid pressure relative to with the plug in the closed position, wherein with the plug in the closed position, the centrifugal pump is configured to provide a higher fluid flow rate at a lower fluid pressure relative to with the plug in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is configured to be selectively moved to one or more positions between the open position and the closed position to vary fluid flow rate through the venturi device and provide a range of fluid flow rates and fluid pressures for fluid exiting the outlet opening, ranging from the lower fluid flow rate and the higher fluid pressure in the open position to the higher fluid flow rate and the lower fluid pressure in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 1 , wherein with the plug in the open position, the centrifugal pump is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of about 3 GPM at a fluid pressure of about 35 to 45 PSI, and wherein with the plug in the closed position, the centrifugal pump is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of about 40 GPM at a fluid pressure of about 10 PSI. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises an actuator configured to move the plug from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is configured to be moved manually or automatically. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a silicone stopper configured to at least partially conform to the venturi inlet to block the venturi inlet. 
     
     
         7 . A pump casing assembly configured to direct fluid, the pump casing assembly comprising:
 an inlet opening configured to direct a fluid through the pump casing assembly;   an outlet opening configured to direct the fluid out of the pump casing assembly;   an impeller positioned in the pump casing assembly, the impeller configured to direct the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;   an ejector assembly, wherein the ejector assembly comprises a tube inlet and a tube outlet, wherein an intermediary inner diameter of the ejector assembly, disposed between the tube inlet and tube outlet, is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube inlet and an inner diameter of the tube outlet, wherein the ejector assembly is configured to recirculate at least a portion of the fluid in the pump casing assembly, wherein the tube outlet is in fluid communication with the tube inlet, and wherein the ejector assembly is configured to increase fluid flow rate from the tube inlet directed to the tube outlet to decrease pressure of the at least a portion of the fluid directed to the tube outlet to draw fluid into the inlet opening; and   a stopper configured to selectively move from an open position, allowing fluid to be recirculated in the pump casing assembly through the ejector assembly, and a closed position, inhibiting recirculation flow through the ejector assembly to inhibit recirculation of the at least a portion of the fluid in the pump casing assembly,   wherein with the stopper in the open position, the pump casing assembly is configured to provide a lower fluid flow rate at a higher fluid pressure relative to the stopper in the closed position, wherein the pump casing assembly is configured to provide a higher fluid flow rate at a lower fluid pressure.   
     
     
         8 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the impeller is configured to direct the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening by generally directing fluid from a center of the impeller to a periphery of the impeller. 
     
     
         9 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the pump casing assembly comprises a motor configured to rotate the impeller to direct the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. 
     
     
         10 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the passage of fluid through the ejector assembly has a venturi effect. 
     
     
         11 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein an inner diameter of the ejector assembly gradually decreases in size from the inner diameter of the tube inlet to the intermediary inner diameter, and wherein the inner diameter of the ejector assembly gradually increases in size from the intermediary inner diameter to the inner diameter of the tube outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the ejector assembly is configured to recirculate at least a portion of the fluid in the pump casing assembly from a periphery of the impeller via the tube inlet back toward a center of the impeller via the tube outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the stopper is configured to be selectively moved to one or more positions between the open position and the closed position to vary fluid flow rate through the ejector assembly and provide a range of fluid flow rates and fluid pressures for fluid exiting the outlet opening, ranging from the lower fluid flow rate and the higher fluid pressure in the open position to the higher fluid flow rate and the lower fluid pressure in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein with the stopper in the open position, the pump casing assembly is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of about 3 GPM at a fluid pressure of about 35 to 45 PSI. 
     
     
         15 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein with the stopper in the closed position, the pump casing assembly is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of about 40 GPM at a fluid pressure of about 10 PSI. 
     
     
         16 . The pump casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the stopper comprises an actuator configured to move the stopper between the open, closed, and intermediary positions. 
     
     
         17 . An ejector assembly configured to direct fluid, the ejector assembly comprising:
 a tube or first pipe including a tube inlet and a tube outlet;   a fluid passageway or second pipe fluidly connecting the tube outlet to the tube inlet to recirculate fluid, wherein an inner diameter of the tube is smaller than an inner diameter of the fluid passageway; and   a flow controller configured to selectively move from an open position, allowing fluid flow into the tube inlet to recirculate through the ejector assembly, and a closed position, inhibiting recirculation fluid flow in the tube inlet and through the tube to inhibit recirculation of the fluid,   wherein the tube is configured to increase fluid flow rate from the tube inlet to the tube outlet to decrease pressure of the fluid directed through the tube.   
     
     
         18 . The ejector assembly of  claim 17 , wherein passage of fluid through the ejector assembly has a venturi effect. 
     
     
         19 . The ejector assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the flow controller between the open, closed, and intermediary positions. 
     
     
         20 . The ejector assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the flow controller comprises a valve.