Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A submersible pump comprising: a hollow metallic casing including a continuous metallic sidewall, a metallic top wall and a metallic bottom wall cooperating to define an enclosed internal chamber; an electric motor received within said chamber and having a rotatable armature shaft projecting through said bottom wall; an impeller fixed to said armature shaft below said bottom wall of the casing for rotation with the shaft when electrical power is supplied to the motor; and a microcellular, expanded foam housing of initially flowable, cured synthetic resinous material around the exterior only of said casing in surrounding relationship therewith. said housing comprising an integral body of said material adhered tightly to said sidewall and said top wall in firm, rigid, face-to-face, contacting engagement therewith, said casing extending substantially around the periphery of said motor and being normally substantially free of openings for generally precluding contact of said material with said motor, said housing including a portion extending downwardly beyond said bottom wall and configured to present a volute cavity which receives said impeller, a fluid inlet leading into said cavity and a fluid discharge passage leading out of said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A submersible pump comprising: a hollow metallic casing including a continuous metallic sidewall, a metallic top wall and a metallic bottom wall cooperating to define an enclosed internal chamber; an electric motor received within said chamber and having a rotatable armature shaft projecting through said bottom wall; an impeller fixed to said armature shaft below said bottom wall of the casing for rotation with the shaft when electrical power is supplied to the motor; and a microcellular, expanded foam housing of initially flowable, cured synthetic resinous material around the exterior only of said casing in surrounding relationship therewith. said housing comprising an integral body of said material adhered tightly to said sidewall and said top wall in firm, rigid, face-to-face, contacting engagement therewith, said casing extending substantially around the periphery of said motor and being normally substantially free of openings for generally precluding contact of said material with said motor, said housing including a portion extending downwardly beyond said bottom wall and configured to present a volute cavity which receives said impeller, a fluid inlet leading into said cavity and a fluid discharge passage leading out of said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said casing includes an upper member having a peripheral edge portion and a lower member having a peripheral edge section coupled to said upper member edge portion at a joint, said synthetic resinous material covering said joint and being in flat, rigid, face-to-face engagement with both of said edge portion and said edge section along substantially the entire peripheral extent thereof on each side of said joint for generally preventing entry of liquids into said casing in the vicinity of said motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said synthetic resinous material consists essentially of polyurethane molded to an average density of less than approximately 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein said average molded density of said polyurethane is in the range of from approximately 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter to approximately 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 4, wherein said average molded density of said polyurethane is in the range of from approximately 0.4 grams per cubic centimeter to approximately 0.45 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
156 words
In combination: an electric motor; a casing enclosing said motor; and a housing comprising a quantity of initially flowable, cured synthetic resinous material surrounding said casing, said material in said solidified condition being a foam expanded to a configuration for securely contacting a substantial portion of said casing and supporting the same, said casing extending substantially around the periphery of said motor for generally precluding contact of said material with said motor, said housing having walls defining at least one opening extending through said material exposing the remaining portions of said casing for enabling cooling of said casing and thereby of said motor during operation of the latter, wherein said walls of said material defining said at least one opening are in close, rigid engagement with said casing around the entire periphery of said opening for establishing a leak resistant seal to substantially preclude the entry of liquid in areas between said casing and said material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
In combination: an electric motor; a casing enclosing said motor; and a housing comprising a quantity of initially flowable, cured synthetic resinous material surrounding said casing, said material in said solidified condition being a foam expanded to a configuration for securely contacting a substantial portion of said casing and supporting the same, said casing extending substantially around the periphery of said motor for generally precluding contact of said material with said motor, said housing having walls defining at least one opening extending through said material exposing the remaining portions of said casing for enabling cooling of said casing and thereby of said motor during operation of the latter, wherein said walls of said material defining said at least one opening are in close, rigid engagement with said casing around the entire periphery of said opening for establishing a leak resistant seal to substantially preclude the entry of liquid in areas between said casing and said material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
In combination: an electric motor; a casing enclosing said motor including a metallic sidewall, a top wall and a bottom wall; and a housing comprising a quantity of initially flowable, cured synthetic resinous material surrounding said casing, said material in said solidified condition being an integral body of expanded, microcellular foam in firm, rigid, face-to-face engagement with at least said sidewalls of said casing along substantially the entire vertical and horizontal extent thereof, said casing extending substantially around the periphery of said motor and being normally substantially free of openings for generally precluding a contact of said material with said motor, said housing further including a fluid inlet and a fluid discharge passage communicating with said inlet, said motor having means operably coupled therewith for drawing fluid into said inlet and out said discharge passage, said discharge passage having an integrally molded outlet fitting at one end thereof presenting a threaded portion, and wherein said density of said expanded, microcellular foam material is greater in regions adjacent said threaded portion than the density of said foam material in other regions of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
In combination: an electric motor; a casing enclosing said motor including a metallic sidewall, a top wall and a bottom wall; and a housing comprising a quantity of initially flowable, cured synthetic resinous material surrounding said casing, said material in said solidified condition being an integral body of expanded, microcellular foam in firm, rigid, face-to-face engagement with at least said sidewalls of said casing along substantially the entire vertical and horizontal extent thereof, said casing extending substantially around the periphery of said motor and being normally substantially free of openings for generally precluding a contact of said material with said motor, said housing further including a fluid inlet and a fluid discharge passage communicating with said inlet, said motor having means operably coupled therewith for drawing fluid into said inlet and out said discharge passage, said discharge passage having an integrally molded outlet fitting at one end thereof presenting a threaded portion, and wherein said density of said expanded, microcellular foam material is greater in regions adjacent said threaded portion than the density of said foam material in other regions of said housing.