LIQUID PROPULSION DEVICE

• US 3,620,638 A
• Filed: 08/24/1970
• Issued: 11/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: J., Arthur Kaye, Morgan E. Lentz
• Original Assignee: J., Arthur Kaye, Morgan E. Lentz
• Inventors: J., Arthur Kaye, Morgan, E. Lentz
• Primary Examiner(s): C. J. Husar
• Application Number:
  US05/066,166
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 415/172,213,104-106,215
• US Class Current: 415/146
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 1/02 having non-centrifugal stages, e.g. centripetal
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/047 hydrostatic; hydrodynamic
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2238 Special flow patterns F04D11/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A propulsion mechanism, such as a pump, for propelling liquids first radially and then axially through the mechanism at high pressure, the mechanism having within a cylindrical housing a rotor balanced to minimize radial and axial forces on the rotor whereby bearings are not required for the rotor.

Claims

1. A propulsion mechanism for propelling liquid radially and then axially through the mechanism having a rotor balanced within the liquid to minimize radial forces on the rotor whereby mechanical bearings are not required comprising:

a cylindrical housing;

a rotor axially positioned within the housing and having an impeller-propeller for the liquid; and

surfaces on the impeller-propeller for impelling the liquid first centrifugally to form a hydrodynamic bearing between the impeller-propeller and the housing and then axially of the housing.

2. A mechanism as in claim 1 including:

a member in the housing and around the rotor and on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller having helical grooves on its periphery for receiving liquid from the impeller-propeller and imparTing a helical motion to the liquid between the housing and rotor downstream of the member.

3. A propulsion mechanism for propelling liquid radially and then axially through the mechanism having a rotor balanced within the liquid to minimize radial and axial forces on the rotor whereby mechanical bearings are not required comprising:

a cylindrical housing;

a rotor axially positioned within the housing and having an impeller-propeller for the liquid;

surfaces on the impeller-propeller for impelling the liquid first centrifugally to form a hydrodynamic bearing between the impeller and the housing and then axially of the housing; and

means for forming a liquid buffer action on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

4. A mechanism as in claim 3 in which the latter means comprises:

means on the impeller-propeller for whirling liquid on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

5. A mechanism as in claim 4 including:

means for supplying liquid from the exterior of the mechanism to the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

6. A mechanism as in claim 4 in which the latter means comprises:

liquid-retention means on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller for whirling liquid on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

7. A mechanism as in claim 6 including:

means for supplying liquid from the exterior of the mechanism to the liquid-retention means.

8. A mechanism as in claim 3 in which the latter means comprises:

means on the impeller-propeller for whirling liquid on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller to form a hydrodynamic bearing on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

9. A mechanism as in claim 3 in which the latter means comprises:

means for reducing liquid pressure on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

10. A propulsion mechanism for propelling liquid axially through the mechanism having a rotor balanced within the liquid to minimize radial and axial forces on the rotor whereby mechanical bearings are not required comprising:

a cylindrical housing;

a rotor axially positioned within the housing and having an impeller-propeller for the liquid;

a member in the housing and around the rotor and on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller having diametrically opposite helical grooves on its periphery for receiving liquid from the impeller-propeller and imparting a helical motion to the liquid between the housing and rotor downstream of the member;

surfaces on the impeller-propeller for impelling the liquid first centrifugally to form a hydrodynamic bearing between the impeller-propeller and the housing and then axially of the housing; and

means for forming a liquid buffer action on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

11. A mechanism as in claim 10 in which the latter means comprises:

means on the impeller-propeller for whirling liquid on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

12. A mechanism as in claim 11 including:

means for supplying liquid from the exterior of the mechanism to the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

13. A mechanism as in claim 11 in which the latter means comprises:

liquid-retention means on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller for whirling liquid on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

14. A mechanism as in claim 13 including:

means for supplying liquid from the exterior of the mechanism to the liquid-retention means.

15. A mechanism as in claim 10 in which the latter means comprises:

means on the impeller-propeller for whirling liquid on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller to form a hydrodynamic bearing on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller.

16. A mechanism as in claim 10 in which:

the rotor shaft is surrounded by a cylinder to separate the rotor shaft from the liquid; and

the latter means comprises means for reducing liquid pressure on the downstream side of the impeller-propeller to cOunteract reaction forces on the impeller-propeller and prevent flow of liquid downstream between the rotor and cylinder.