Non-drip fluid circulating pump

U.S. Patent Number: 5338153

Abstract: The design and construction of past fluid circulating pumps, having a weep hole, allowed small amounts of leaked fluid to escape through the weep hole and into the atmosphere resulting in environmental concern and lower customer perception of the product. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a fluid circulating pump utilizing a plug means sealingly disposed within a weep hole located in a secondary compartment of a cavity. The plug means is sealingly disposed within the weep hole and has a tube portion extending a predetermined length into the secondary compartment. The length of the tube portion is sufficient to contain the leaked fluid within the secondary compartment until it can be evaporated, substantially eliminating fluid leakage into the atmosphere. However, excessive fluid build-up may occur within the secondary compartment when the pump is damaged. The present invention allows the excessive fluid to leak out to the atmosphere through a bore in the plug means to signal that pump repair is needed.

Inventors: Swanson; Victor E. (Peoria, IL), Feucht; Joel D. (Morton, IL), Shoup; Stephen G. (Peoria, IL)

Assignee: Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL)

Application Number: 08/086,272

Issued: 1994-08-16

Expired: 2006-08-16

Classes: 415/168.2 ; 417/423.11

Field of search: 417/423.11,374 415/168.1,168.2,201,118

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