February 6, 2008, Seneca Falls, NY: The new 3196 i-FRAME™ from ITT Goulds continues a 150-year history of innovative pumping products for global industrial markets.
No example of that heritage is better than the groundbreaking Goulds 3196 ANSI Process Pump, which was innovative when it was first introduced in 1961 and has been continuously enhanced to become the industry standard.
The most popular process pump in the world today – which has now reached over one million installations worldwide – attests to the Goulds Model 3196’s unrivaled performance in chemical, oil and gas, petrochemical, pulp and paper, and other industrial processes.
How the Goulds Model 3196 got here is a remarkable story of industry leadership and innovation.
The search for standardization begins
The Model 3196 was first conceived in the late 1950s, when leading chemical companies approached Goulds and other manufacturers for help in controlling the proliferation of pump types and designs used for applications involving corrosive materials. The lack of uniformly sized connections had severe implications: when one manufacturer’s design was used inside a plant, the operation could be crippled if the pump supplier went out of business, suffered a natural disaster or for some other reason stopped supplying parts. While the chemical industry didn’t ask for parts interchangeability, it did seek pump-to-pump interchangeability. Model 3196, the first American Voluntary Standards (AVS) pump, was introduced by Goulds in 1961.
Continual improvement from the beginning
Compared to other mechanical equipment, the Model 3196 has had an extremely long product life mainly due to its design and manufacture to meet customer needs and the continual improvement of the product since its inception.
Until 1969, the 3196 AVS pump was sold in only one pump length – 23.5 inches, with three frames – Small, Medium, and Large. Goulds also offered the “XL” or Extra Large size as a proposed AVS size with a length of 34 inches. Smaller 17.5-inch pumps were furnished as Model 3197. Additional modifications were made to length, and the thrust bearing was then standardized.
Model 3196 takes shape in 1970s
In 1973, a unitized, self-priming model was added to the 3196 series, creating the Model 3796 pump. Two years later, an in-line version of the 3196 was introduced as the Model 3996. These models, plus the Model 3198 PTFE-lined pump, extensively share 3196 parts and help customers to operate distinctly different pumps with minimal parts inventories.
The next significant change occurred in 1974, when ANSI adopted its B73.1 specification to cover chemical pumps. At that time, the generic term for the 3196 and related models, as well as competitors, became “ANSI Pumps.”
ANSI PLUS™ introduced in 1980s
In the 1980s, Goulds introduced new variations on the 3196 design to address specific needs raised by customers. One set of improvements helped to increase Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) through improved seal chamber design, better shaft and bearing design, and enhanced lubrication methods. Some customers with especially demanding applications requested a tougher version of the 3196 – essentially, a hybrid that would marry the high temperature and pressure specifications of Goulds API pumps to the 3196 platform. Rather than design and introduce an entirely new product, Goulds made a good thing even better by expanding upon the requirements of the ANSI B73.1 specification. In 1986, Goulds introduced ANSI PLUS™, enabling the company to apply TaperBore™ and BigBore™ seal chambers, dynamic seals, sealed power ends, and other features to specific, challenging applications not covered by the ANSI Specification.
Customer-driven enhancements continue in 1990s
In 1990, Goulds worked to further differentiate the Model 3196 pump from competitors by enhancing its value through voice-of-the-customer research. Consultations with several of its largest customers included recommendations such as increasing the oil sump by 3x, making labyrinth seals standard, supplying ductile iron pressure retaining castings, using a sight glass to monitor oil level, putting a serrated sealing surface on the flanges, supplying a coupling guard in accordance with OSHA and ANSI requirements, and offering a full shaft guard.
Goulds incorporated these changes into the X-Series of 3196 pumps, introduced in 1991. Two years later, Goulds introduced the Low Flow version, the LF 3196, which added a concentric volute casing and multi-vaned impeller. This new concept further extended the application flexibility of the 3196, providing superior pumping reliability to users when operating the 3196 at low flows. In 1994, the CV 3196 was introduced specifically to handle certain bulky or fibrous solids, air or gas entrained liquids, or shear sensitive liquids that had often been pumped unsuccessfully by the traditional process pump.
In 2004, Goulds, in response to customer requirements, introduced the High Temperature, high pressure, Model HT 3196. This line offered service life enhancing and safety features for operation in extreme thermal services. These included reinforced flanges and casings, heat jacketing, oil cooling, and more.
Innovation continues today
Today, Goulds continues that spirit of design innovation and response to customer feedback with the release of the 3196 i-FRAME, the next generation ANSI process pump.
The i-FRAME pump provides early warning of trouble, enabling users to reduce downtime and avoid catastrophic failure. Its stainless-steel control monitor is nested securely to the power end to measure critical vibration and temperature readings. Variations in temperature or vibration that exceed preset parameters will activate the early warning system by displaying flashing red lights. Enhancements in bearing technology, oil sump design, and bearing isolators provide years of worry-free operation.
And it continues a history of standard-setting in process pumps that dates back nearly 150 years.
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About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation (www.itt.com) supplies advanced technology products and services in several growth markets. ITT is a global leader in water and fluid transport, treatment and control technology. The company plays a vital role in international security with communications and electronics products; space surveillance and intelligence systems; and advanced engineering and services. It also serves a number of growing markets—including marine, transportation and aerospace—with a wide range of motion and flow control technologies. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated $8.8 billion in 2007 sales.