Modular skid with check valve support for pumps with electric motors

Abstract

A modular skid assembly is provided for a pump driven by an electric motor. The skid assembly has a base including slats. A motor support to position the motor is configured to rest on the slats and to be bolted to the slats. A frame support to position a pump bearing frame is configured to rest on the slats and to be bolted to the slats. A volute support to support a pump volute is configured to rest on the slats and to be bolted to the slats. A lifting bail is configured to be bolted to the slats in one of multiple longitudinal positions along the base. A check valve support is configured to brace a check valve extending from the pump volute. The check valve support includes an adjustable arm that extends to put the adjustable arm in compression between the check valve and the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skid assembly, comprising:
 a base including:
 slats having first bolt holes and first longitudinal slots formed therein, and 
 a cross beam connected to the slats; 
   a motor support configured to rest on the slats and to be bolted to the slats, wherein the motor support positions a motor;   a frame support configured to rest on the slats and to be bolted to the slats, wherein the frame support positions a pump bearing frame;   a volute support configured to rest on the slats and to be bolted to the slats, wherein the volute support supports a pump volute;   a lifting bail configured to be bolted to the slats in one of multiple longitudinal positions along the base; and   a check valve support configured to brace a check valve extending from the pump volute, wherein the check valve support includes an adjustable arm that extends to put the adjustable arm in compression between the check valve and the base.   
     
     
         2 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor bracket attached to the pump bearing frame and the motor and around a coupling, wherein the motor bracket is configured to align the coupling of the pump bearing frame to the motor.   
     
     
         3 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor support includes second slots configured to align with some of the first bolt holes and to receive bolts to enable adjustment of a longitudinal position of the motor support relative to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame support includes third slots configured to align with some of the first bolt holes and to receive bolts to enable adjustment of a longitudinal position of the frame support relative to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the volute support includes second holes configured to align with some of the first longitudinal slots in the slats and to receive bolts to enable adjustment of a longitudinal position of the volute support relative to the base. and wherein the volute support includes a second projection configured to receive a bolted connection. 
     
     
         6 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting bail includes multiple lifting holes distributed transversely on the lifting bail between the slats. 
     
     
         7 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical cabinet configured to be bolted to the slats, wherein the electrical cabinet includes third holes configured to align with some of the first longitudinal slots in the slats and to receive bolts to enable adjustment of a longitudinal position of the electrical cabinet relative to the base.   
     
     
         8 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame support includes two first projections, each of the two first projections being on opposite sides of the frame support, and
 wherein the volute support includes two second projections, each of the two second projections being on opposite sides of the volute support.   
     
     
         9 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame support includes a first projection configured to receive a bolted connection,
 wherein the volute support includes a second projection configured to receive a bolted connection, and   wherein the check valve support includes a first adjustable length arm that attaches to the first projection and a second adjustable length arm that attaches to the second projection.   
     
     
         10 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the check valve support further includes a bracket configured to attach to a flange of the check valve and to attach to an end of the adjustable arm. 
     
     
         11 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable arm includes:
 two threaded rods with threads in opposite orientations,   a turnbuckle joining the two threaded rods, and   a ball joint at a respective end of each of the two threaded rods.   
     
     
         12 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the motor,   wherein the motor includes a motor footprint, wherein the motor support further includes holes that align with the motor footprint to enable bolting of the motor to the motor support.   
     
     
         13 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump, wherein the pump includes the pump bearing frame and the pump volute,   wherein the pump bearing frame includes a pump footprint,   wherein the motor support further includes holes that align with the pump footprint to enable bolting of the motor to the motor support.   
     
     
         14 . The skid assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the volute support further includes a flange brace including a set of bolt holes configured to match a flange pattern at a suction flange of the pump volute. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a pump skid assembly, the method comprising:
 selecting, from a group of differently-sized skid bases, a skid base for a pump class that corresponds to a chosen pump, wherein the skid base includes a pair of longitudinal slats connected by cross beams;   selecting, from a group of differently-sized bearing frame supports, a bearing frame support that corresponds to a bearing frame of the chosen pump;   selecting, from a group of differently-sized volute supports, a volute support that corresponds to a volute of the chosen pump;   resting the bearing frame support on the pair of longitudinal slats and attaching the bearing frame to the bearing frame support;   resting the volute support on the pair of longitudinal slats and attaching the volute to the volute support;   securing the volute support and the bearing frame support to the pair of longitudinal slats;   connecting a check valve to the volute;   attaching a check valve support to the check valve, the bearing frame support, and the volute support, wherein the check valve support includes at least one adjustable arm connected between the check valve and one of the bearing frame support or the volute support; and   extending the adjustable arm between the check valve and one of the bearing frame support or the volute support to place the adjustable arm in a compressive state.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 selecting, from a group of differently-sized motor supports, a motor support that corresponds to a chosen motor;   resting the motor support on the pair of slats and attaching the chosen motor to the motor support; and   coupling an output shaft of the chosen motor to an input shaft of the bearing frame, and   securing the motor support, the volute support, and the bearing frame support to the skid base.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 attaching, prior to the coupling, a first end of a motor bracket to one of the bearing frame or the chosen motor; and   attaching, after the coupling, a second end of the motor bracket to another one of the bearing frame or the chosen motor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 adjusting a longitudinal position of the motor support, relative to the skid base, to align slots on a mounting bracket of the motor support with bolt holes on top surfaces of the pair of longitudinal slats.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 selecting an electrical cabinet; and   securing the electrical cabinet to the skid base.   
     
     
         20 . A check valve support for a skid assembly, the check valve support comprising:
 an adjustable arm configured to connect between a check valve for a pump volute and a base of the skid assembly, wherein the adjustable arm includes:
 two threaded rods with threads in opposite orientations, 
 a turnbuckle joining the two threaded rods, and 
 a ball joint at a respective end of each of the two threaded rods; and 
   a bracket configured to attach to a flange of the check valve and to attach to an end of the adjustable arm,   wherein the adjustable arm is configured to extend to put the adjustable arm in compression between the check valve and the base.