Pump means

Claim 2

In a pump assembly for submersion in and transfer of fluid ship''s cargoes comprising a hydraulic motor, a rotor means, a relatively short driving shaft connecting said motor to said rotor means and a conduit for transferring up to the ship''s deck the fluid cargo to be pumped on actuation of said rotor means, the improvement comprising a zone for ensuring separation of a driving medium for said motor from the fluid cargo, said zone having a pressure lower than the pressure of both said driving medium and said fluid cargo, said low pressure zone receiving substantially all leakage from the fluid cargo and from the driving medium which may occur to prevent leakage of driving medium to said fluid cargo and leakage of fluid cargo to said driving medium, and means for controlling the removal of said leakage from said zone.

Claim 3

A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the leakage removal means is remotely controlled.

Claim 4

A pump means according to claim 1, wherein the zone surrounds substantial portions of the driving shaft and the whole of the hydraulic motor.

Claim 5

A pump means according to claim 1, wherein the zone comprises drainage chamber and a pressure relief passage the one end of which communicates with the atmosphere and the opposite end of which communicates with said drainage chamber, the latter being located between first and second packing means arranged on the driving shaft between the rotor and the prime mover means, the first packing means forming a seal against the fluid pump medium and the second packing means forming a seal against the driving medium.

Claim 6

A pump assembly according to claim 4, wherein supply and discharge conduits forming part of the hydraulic prime mover means together with said means for controlling the removal of said leakage are received in the zone.

Claim 7

A pump assembly according to claim 5, wherein said means for controlling the removal of said leakage comprises a pressure driven ejector mechanism including an ejector pipe having feed and discharge branches at opposite ends thereof, the end connected to the feed branch being also connected to a suction pipe the intake of which is positioned at the level of the drainage chamber.

Claim 8

A pump assembly according to claim 5, wherein the motor supply conduit is received within the motor discharge conduit, the latter conduit communicating with a housing chamber for the hydraulic motor and forming an additional protection against thermal transmission and pressure around the supply conduit.

Claim 9

A pump assembly according to claim 7, wherein the driving shaft passes in a region between the motor and the second packing means, in which region the shaft bearings are mounted through oil received from the motor, said oil being forcibly fed through this region through a passage between the motor and the discharge conduit and thereby lubricating said bearings.

Claim 10

A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the zone between the driving medium and the pump medium communicates with a supply of a temperature-regulating medium of the group consisting of low thermal conducting gases, cooling air, heating air, steam and other appropriate medium to maintain a desired temperature level in said zone.

Claim 11

A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the leakage removal means is remotely controlled.

Claim 12

A pump assembly according to claim 1, mounted for vertical displacement towards and away from the fluid medium to be pumped.

Claim 13

A pump assembly for submersion in and transfer of fluid ship cargoes, comprising a hydraulic motor, a rotor means, a relatively short driving shaft connecting said motor to said rotor means and a conduit for transFerring up to the ship''s deck the fluid cargo to be pumped on actuation of said rotor means, the improvements which comprise constructing said pump assembly with a zone for ensuring separation of the driving medium for said motor from the fluid cargo, said zone comprising a drainage chamber located around the driving shaft between said rotor means and said motor and a pressure discharge passage, one end of which communicates with the atmosphere and the opposite end of which communicates with said drainage chamber, the latter being located between first and second packing means arranged on the driving shaft between the rotor and the motor, the first packing means forming a seal against the fluid pump medium and the second packing means forming a seal against the fluid cargo, said zone having a pressure lower than those of said driving medium and said fluid cargo and being able, as a result of said pressure differences, to receive substantially any leakage thereof which may occur, and means for controlling the removal of said leakage from said zone.

Claim 14

A pump assembly for submersion in and transfer of fluid ship cargoes, comprising a hydraulic motor, a rotor means, a relatively short driving shaft connecting said motor to said rotor means and a conduit for transFerring up to the ship''s deck the fluid cargo to be pumped on actuation of said rotor means, the improvements which comprise constructing said pump assembly with a zone for ensuring separation of the driving medium for said motor from the fluid cargo, said zone comprising a drainage chamber located around the driving shaft between said rotor means and said motor and a pressure discharge passage, one end of which communicates with the atmosphere and the opposite end of which communicates with said drainage chamber, the latter being located between first and second packing means arranged on the driving shaft between the rotor and the motor, the first packing means forming a seal against the fluid pump medium and the second packing means forming a seal against the fluid cargo, said zone having a pressure lower than those of said driving medium and said fluid cargo and being able, as a result of said pressure differences, to receive substantially any leakage thereof which may occur, and means for controlling the removal of said leakage from said zone.