US-20260126058-A1 - BOOSTER PUMP DRIVE ATTACHMENT

US20260126058A1US 20260126058 A1US20260126058 A1US 20260126058A1US-20260126058-A1

Abstract

A system for mounting a drive box to a water pressure booster pump having a cylindrical pump shell is provided, comprising: a housing including a rear wall; a plurality of adhesive pads including a first adhesive pad and a second adhesive pad each extending from the rear wall of the housing and including a rearward surface having a radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to a curvature of an outer surface of the cylindrical pump shell; and adhesive applied to the rearward surfaces of the first and second adhesive pads and configured to connect the housing to the cylindrical pump shell and facilitate heat transfer from the drive box to the cylindrical pump shell.

Inventors

Bryan D. Drummond
David Lee Miller
Jose Gabriel Davila Rangel
John E. Zimmer
Chris M. Stevens

Assignees

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251107

Claims (20)

1 . A system for mounting a drive box to a water pressure booster pump having a cylindrical pump shell, comprising: a housing including a rear wall; at least one adhesive pad extending from the rear wall of the housing and including a rearward surface having a radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to a curvature of an outer surface of the cylindrical pump shell; and adhesive applied to the rearward surface of the at least one adhesive pad and configured to connect the housing to the cylindrical pump shell and facilitate heat transfer from the drive box to the cylindrical pump shell.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one adhesive pad includes at least one spacer that extends beyond the rearward surface of the at least one adhesive pad, the at least one spacer being configured to engage the cylindrical pump shell to control a thickness of the adhesive between the at least one adhesive pad and the cylindrical pump shell.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of flexible clips including a first flexible clip and a second flexible clip, the first and second flexible clips each including an attachment segment; wherein the housing further includes a plurality of tabs including a first tab and a second tab each extending from the rear wall of the housing; wherein the attachment segment of the first flexible clip is coupled to the first tab to connect the first flexible clip to the first tab, and the attachment segment of the second flexible clip is coupled to the second tab to connect the second flexible clip to the second tab.
4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising: a plurality of clip fasteners including a first clip fastener and a second clip fastener; wherein the attachment segments of the first and second flexible clips each include a first opening; wherein the first and second tabs each include a second opening; and wherein the first clip fastener is configured to extend through the first opening of the attachment segment of the first flexible clip and into the second opening of the first tab to connect the first flexible clip to the first tab, and the second clip fastener is configured to extend through the first opening of the attachment segment of the second flexible clip and into the second opening of the second tab to connect the second flexible clip to the second tab.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the second openings of the first and second tabs is threaded to receive a threaded shaft of one of the plurality of clip fasteners.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second clip fasteners includes a head and a threaded shaft extending from the head, and wherein the first and second flexible clips transition from an unflexed state to a flexed state when the first and second clip fasteners are threaded into the first and second tabs, respectively, as a result of the heads of the first and second clip fasteners drawing the attachment segments of the first and second flexible clips into engagement with the first and second tabs, respectively.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second flexible clips each include a hook segment coupled to the attachment segment and positioned, when the first and second flexible clips are coupled to the first and second tabs, to capture a respective rod extending between a base and a discharge cover of the pump and apply a holding force to draw the housing of the drive box into engagement with the cylindrical pump shell.
8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second flexible clips transition from an unflexed state to a flexed state when the first and second flexible clips are coupled to the first and second tabs, respectively.
9 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the housing further includes: a plurality of upper tabs including a first upper tab and a second upper tab, each of the first and second upper tabs being coupled to a discharge cover of the pump, thereby securing the drive box to the discharge cover of the pump.
10 . A water pressure booster pump, comprising: a base having an inlet configured to receive incoming water, an outlet configured to deliver outgoing water, and a shell collar configured to receive a lower end of a cylindrical pump shell; a pump/motor assembly (“PMA”) positioned within the cylindrical pump shell and including a motor that drives at least one impeller to pressurize the incoming water, wherein the incoming water flows around a portion of the PMA in a gap between the PMA and the cylindrical pump shell; a discharge cover configured to receive an upper end of the cylindrical pump shell and route the pressurized incoming water from the PMA to a sensor pipe in flow communication with the outlet of the base; a plurality of rods extending between the base and the discharge cover to clamp the base and the discharge cover to the cylindrical pump shell; a drive box for controlling operation of the PMA, the drive box including an outer cover attached to a housing, the housing including a rear wall and a lower lug extending downwardly from the housing; at least one adhesive pad extending from the rear wall of the housing and including a rearward surface having a radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to a curvature of an outer surface of the cylindrical pump shell; and a strap configured to surround the lower lug and the shell collar to compress the housing against the cylindrical pump shell.
11 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 10 , further comprising an adhesive applied to the rearward surface of the at least one adhesive pad and configured to affix the at least one adhesive pad to the housing.
12 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 10 , wherein the strap includes a body having a free end and a coupling, the coupling being configured to receive and retain the free end of the body to secure the strap around the lower lug and the shell collar.
13 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 10 , further comprising: a first flexible clip and a second flexible clip, each of the first and second flexible clips having an attachment segment; wherein the housing further includes a first tab and a second tab, each of the first and second tabs extending from the rear wall of the housing; wherein the attachment segment of the first flexible clip is coupled to the first tab to connect the first flexible clip to the first tab, and the attachment segment of the second flexible clip is coupled to the second tab to connect the second flexible clip to the second tab.
14 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 13 , wherein the first and second flexible clips each include a hook segment coupled to the attachment segment and positioned, when the first and second flexible clips are coupled to the first and second tabs, to capture a respective one of the plurality of rods extending between the base and the discharge cover and apply a holding force to draw the housing of the drive box into engagement with the cylindrical pump shell.
15 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 13 , further comprising: a plurality of clip fasteners including a first clip fastener and a second clip fastener; wherein the attachment segments of the first and second flexible clips each include a first opening; wherein the first and second tabs each include a second opening; and wherein the first clip fastener is configured to extend through the first opening of the attachment segment of the first flexible clip and into the second opening of the first tab to connect the first flexible clip to the first tab, and the second clip fastener is configured to extend through the first opening of the attachment segment of the second flexible clip and into the second opening of the second tab to connect the second flexible clip to the second tab.
16 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 15 , wherein each of the second openings of the first and second tabs is threaded to receive a threaded shaft of one of the first and second clip fasteners.
17 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second clip fasteners includes a head and a threaded shaft extending from the head, and wherein the first and second flexible clips transition from an unflexed state to a flexed state when the first and second clip fasteners are threaded into the first and second tabs, respectively, as a result of the heads of the first and second clip fasteners drawing the attachment segments of the first and second flexible clips into engagement with the first and second tabs, respectively.
18 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 13 , wherein the first and second flexible clips transition from an unflexed state to a flexed state when the first and second flexible clips are coupled to the first and second tabs, respectively.
19 . The water pressure booster pump of claim 13 , wherein the housing further includes: a plurality of upper tabs including a first upper tab and a second upper tab, each of the first and second upper tabs being coupled to the discharge cover of the pump, thereby securing the drive box to the discharge cover of the pump.
20 . A water pressure booster pump, comprising: a base having an inlet configured to receive incoming water, an outlet configured to deliver outgoing water, and a shell collar configured to receive a lower end of a cylindrical pump shell; a pump/motor assembly (“PMA”) positioned within the cylindrical pump shell and including at least one impeller to pressurize the incoming water, wherein the incoming water flows around a portion of the PMA in a gap between the PMA and the cylindrical pump shell; a discharge cover configured to receive an upper end of the cylindrical pump shell and route the pressurized incoming water from the PMA to a sensor pipe in flow communication with the outlet of the base; a plurality of rods extending between the base and the discharge cover to clamp the base and the discharge cover to the cylindrical pump shell; a drive box for controlling operation of the PMA, the drive box including an outer cover attached to a housing; and at least one clamp configured to substantially surround an outer surface of the cylindrical pump shell and the drive box, thereby securing the drive box to the cylindrical pump shell; wherein the at least one clamp includes a cable-tie having a flexible strap and a self-locking head.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/717,394, filed on Nov. 7, 2024, entitled “BOOSTER PUMP DRIVE ATTACHMENT,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/728,826, filed on Dec. 6, 2024, entitled “BOOSTER PUMP DRIVE ATTACHMENT,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/871,917, filed on Aug. 28, 2025, entitled “BOOSTER PUMP DRIVE ATTACHMENT,” the entire contents of which being expressly incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure pertains to booster pumps, and more specifically to a configuration for mounting a drive box to a booster pump. BACKGROUND Residential water pressure may vary from place to place and time to time for a variety of reasons. Low water pressure, for example pressure below approximately 40 psi, may be frustrating for users of water delivery mechanisms such as shower heads, faucets, etc. Some low water pressure instances are a result of blockages or leaks in the plumbing of the residential structure. Other instances occur because the residential water source provides low water pressure. In these instances, one solution for the problem of low water pressure is a residential water pressure booster. Generally speaking, water pressure boosters are installed in the home or garage and plumbed to the incoming main water source. The boosters include a pump that increases the pressure of the incoming water and one or more outlets that route the higher-pressure water to one or more water delivery mechanisms. Many such boosters can control the higher-pressure water to a substantially constant pressure, regardless of variations in the pressure of the main water source or variations in demand by the water delivery mechanisms. The operation of water pressure boosters is generally controlled by control electronics in a drive box of the booster, which may receive input from a user through an interface of the booster. The drive box electronics generally provide power to, control the functions of, and receive signals from the interface, the pump and other electronic components of the booster. This generates heat within the drive box which, if not sufficiently dissipated, may damage the drive box and/or degrade its performance. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an approach for attaching a drive box to a water pressure booster that provides for heat transfer away from the drive box. SUMMARY According to one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system for mounting a drive box to a water pressure booster pump having a cylindrical pump shell, comprising: a housing including a rear wall; at least one adhesive pad extending from the rear wall of the housing and including a rearward surface having a radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to a curvature of an outer surface of the cylindrical pump shell; and adhesive applied to the rearward surface of the at least one adhesive pad and configured to connect the housing to the cylindrical pump shell and facilitate heat transfer from the drive box to the cylindrical pump shell. In one aspect of this embodiment, the at least one adhesive pad includes a first adhesive pad and a second adhesive pad each extending from the rear wall of the housing and including a rearward surface having a radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to the curvature of the outer surface of the cylindrical pump shell. In a variant of this aspect, the first and second adhesive pads are substantially aligned along a central portion of the rear wall of the housing. In another aspect, the at least one adhesive pad includes at least one spacer that extends beyond the rearward surface of the at least one adhesive pad, the at least one spacer being configured to engage the cylindrical pump shell to control a thickness of the adhesive between the at least one adhesive pad and the cylindrical pump shell. In another variant, the at least one adhesive pad includes a third adhesive pad extending from the rear wall of the housing between the first and second adhesive pads. In another aspect, the housing further includes a plurality of projections extending from the rear wall beyond the rearward surface of the at least one adhesive pad and terminating in a first plane that is substantially parallel to a second plane including the rear wall of the housing. In another aspect, the system further comprises: a plurality of flexible clips including a first flexible clip and a second flexible clip, the first and second flexible clips each including an attachment segment; wherein the housing further includes a plurality of tabs including a first tab and a second tab each extending from the rear wall of the housing; wherein the attachment segment of the first flexible clip is coupled to the first tab to connect the first flexible clip to the first tab, and the attachment segment of the second flexible clip is coupled to the second tab to connect the second flexible cl