Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus which, in use, include a vessel containing a
body of liquid essential for the proper functioning of the apparatus. By way of
examples, the apparatus may be a pump including a bearing chamber which
contains a significant quantity of oil or it may be a support system for a
mechanical seal in which a vessel contains a reservoir of a liquid such as water
for providing barrier or cooling fluid to the seal.
Background to the Invention
Oil contained within the bearing chamber of a pump is subjected, typically, to
considerable deterioration factors. As a result debris may accumulate within the
liquid and this in turn will lead to degradation of performance of the system.
Furthermore the oil may become contaminated, for instance, with water which
again leads to degradation of performance.
Similar consideration supplied to a reservoir vessel for forming part of a support
system for a mechanical seal.
In both cases it would be of value to have some means of ensuring that the
integrity of the liquid is both monitored and maintained.
Statements of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus including a first
vessel for containing a main body of liquid and a second vessel, in fluid
communication with and located below said first vessel, said second vessel
having means for draining liquid therefrom and for allowing the liquid within the
vessel to be viewed.
The first vessel may be, for instance, a bearing chamber, of a pump or a reservoir
vessel for a liquid support system for a mechanical seal.

Preferably the second vessel includes a top plate, a bottom plate and, extending
therebetween, a cylindrical wall.
Preferably the cylindrical wall is at least partially transparent or translucent.
Preferably the ends of the cylindrical wall are each located in a groove provided in
a respective one of the top plate and the bottom plate.
Preferably a sealing washer, such as and O-ring, is provided between each of the
cylindrical wall and the respective one of the top plate and the bottom plate.
Preferably the top plate and the bottom plate are inter-connected by sa plurality of
elongate fastening means, such as bolts, arranged around the outside of the
cylindrical wall.
Preferably a helical coil, for instance a coil spring, extends around said bolts to
provide protection to the cylindrical wall.
Preferably a magnet is provided at the base of the cylindrical wall in order to
attract magnetically attractable particles of debris downwardly into and within the
second vessel.
Preferably, the apparatus includes means for isolating the second vessel from the
first vessel so that they are no longer in fluid communication.
Preferably said isolating means includes a ball valve.
The present invention also provides a device, for use with apparatus including a
first vessel for containing a main body of liquid, the device comprising a second
vessel having means for providing fluid communication with said first vessel and
for locating the second vessel below the first vessel, the second vessel having
means for draining liquid therefrom, and a vessel wall allowing the liquid within the
vessel to be viewed.

Brief description of the drawings the accompanying drawings are as
follows:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pump an according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a debris collection vessel of the pump of
Figure 1;
And
Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view of a mechanical seal support system.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings,
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a pump 10 includes a
bearing chamber 12 and, connected thereto and located therebeneath, a vessel
20 which is for use in collecting debris from the oil in the bearing chamber and
also for viewing the liquid within the vessel 20.
Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, the vessel 20 depicted
in Figure 1 includes a circular cylindrical glass wall 21 located between a bottom
plate 24 and a top plate 25, both made of stainless steel. The top and bottom
ends of cylindrical wall 21 locate in grooves 51 and 53 in top and bottom plates 25
and 24 respectively. Located between the ends of the cylindrical wall 21 and the
blind ends of grooves 51 and 53 are O rings 22 and 23 which provides sealing
between the components.
Bottom plate 24 is provided with a central frusto-conical hole 55 to which may be
attached a drain device (not shown) which may be moved between a position in
which hole 55 is closed and a further position in which fluid may drain from the
vessel.

Extending between plate 24 and top plate 25 is a series of bolts 26, there being 4
such bolts circumferentially spaced around the wall 21. Surrounding bolts 26 is a
helical spring 28 which provides additional protection to the glass wall 21.
Top plate 25 is provided with a central bore 57 through which liquid may enter
vessel 20. Extending upwardly from top plate 25 is a short cylindrical member 59
which has a central bore 61 aligned with bore 57 of plate 25. Member 59 is
provided with a ball valve 30 which may be operated to open and close bore 61.
At its top end member 59 is provided with means for connecting the member to
the bottom of bearing chamber 12 so that, subject to the position of ball valve 30
the interior of bearing chamber 12 is in fluid contact with the interior of vessel 20.
Situated at the bottom of vessel 20, within glass wall 21, is a ring shaped magnet
27. This magnet may be secured in position on plate 24 by means of, for
instance, a suitable adhesive. Alternatively it may be positioned as shown in
Figure 2 simply by means of magnetic attraction between the magnet 27 and the
bottom plate 24. The centre of magnetic ring 27 is aligned with bore 55 of bottom
plate 24. During operation of the apparatus which includes bearing chamber 12,
any debris formed within the bearing oil will tend to find its way by gravity, assisted
by magnetic attraction where appropriate, into vessel 20. Vessel 20 may be
periodically emptied to remove the debris. In addition any water collecting in the
bearing chamber will, being more dense than oil, also tend to collect within vessel
20 and can be periodically removed.
The ball valve 30 may be used to close off the bearing chamber from vessel 20.
The vessel may then be removed from the member 59 for emptying and/or
replacement by an empty vessel 20.
The glass wall 21 may be transparent or translucent but should allow the liquid in
the vessel to be seen sufficiently to enable monitoring of its condition.

Referring to the Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings support apparatus for a
mechanical seal 41 includes a container 40 holding a body of a liquid such as
water which is used a barrier fluid or cooling liquid for the mechanical seal 41.
Attached to the bottom of container 40 is a vessel 20 similar to that described
above with reference to Figure 2. The vessel 20 may be used for essentially the
same purposes, that is to say, monitoring the condition of liquid and collecting
debris from the vessel.

WE-CLAIM
1 . Apparatus including a first vessel for containing a main body of liquid and a
second vessel, in fluid communication with and located below said first
vessel, said second vessel having means for draining liquid therefrom and
a vessel wail allowing the liquid within the vessel to be viewed.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the first vessel is a bearing
chamber.
3. Apparatus according to Claim1 wherein the first vessel is a reservoir for a
liquid support system for a mechanical seal.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the second
vessel includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and, extending therebetween, a
cylindrical wall.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the cylindrical wall is at least
partially transparent or translucent.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the ends of the
cylindrical wall are each located in a groove provided in respect of one of
the top plate and the bottom plate.
7. Apparatus according Claim 6 wherein a sealing washer is provided
between each end of the cylindrical wall and the respective one of the top
plate and the bottom.
8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 7 wherein the top plate and
bottom plate are inter-connected by a plurality of elongate fastening means
arranged the outside of the cylindrical wall.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein a helical coil extends around said
bolts to provide protection to the cylindrical wall.
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a magnet is
provided at the base of the cylindrical wall.
11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein isolation
means are provided between the second vessel and the first vessel.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.
13. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 in
conjunction with Figure 2 or Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
14. A device for use with apparatus including a first vessel for containing a
main body of liquid, the device including a second vessel, in fluid
communication with and located below said first vessel, said second vessel
having means for draining liquid therefrom and a vessel wall allowing the
liquid within the vessel to be viewed.
15. A device according to Claim 14 and with any one or more of the features
provided in Claims 2 to 12.

Apparatus includes a first vessel (12) for containing a main body of liquid and a
second vessel (20) which is in fluid communication with and located below the first
vessel. The second vessel has means for draining liquid therefrom and vessel
wall allowing the liquid within the vessel to be viewed.
The apparatus may be, for instance, a support system for a mechanical seal in
which a vessel contains a reservoir of a liquid such as water for providing barrier
or cooling fluid to the seal.