Viscous drag impeller components incorporated into pumps, turbines and transmissions

• US 6,375,412 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DIAL Discoveries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daniel Christopher Dial
• Inventors: Dial, Daniel Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NINH H
• Application Number:
  US09/471,705
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 415/56.2, 415/80, 415/90, 415/121.2, 415/149.1, 415/151, 415/159, 415/160, 415/206, 415/229, 415/202, 415/902, 415/155, 416/4, 416/185, 416/198.A, 416/198.R, 416/223.B
• US Class Current: 415/90
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 1/36 using fluid friction
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/161 Shear force pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2238 Special flow patterns F04D11/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 5/001 Shear force pumps

Abstract

The present invention is for the efficient transfer of mechanical power through a fluid medium. The various embodiments of the present invention exploit the natural physical properties of fluids to create a more efficient means of driving fluids as well as transferring power from propelled fluids. The present invention employs an impeller assembly in a variety of applications including hydroelectric turbines, fluid turbines, turbine transmissions and pumps of various types. The multi-disk impeller assembly having a central cavity, a specialized central hub design and reinforcing backing plates contribute to greater efficiency and less turbulence, friction and noise.

Claims

1. An impeller assembly, comprising:

(a) a central hub;

(b) a first reinforcing backing plate fixedly connected to the central hub;

(c) a stacked array of parallel disks arranged on the central hub and fixedly connected to the first reinforcing backing plate, wherein each of the disks possesses a central aperture, the central apertures are aligned in the stacked array producing a central cavity, and wherein the disks are inter-spaced along a parallel axis and connected to one another at locations that protrude into the central aperture in proximity to an interior perimeter of each disk;

(d) a second reinforcing backing plate fixedly attached to the stacked array of parallel disks, wherein the second reinforcing backing plate possesses a central aperture, whereby, upon radial movement of the central hub, a fluid flows through the central apertures of the second reinforcing backing plate and the stacked array of disks and the spaces between the disks.

2. The impeller assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a series of connecting rods to fixedly connect the central hub, the first and second reinforcing backing plates and the stacked array of disks.

3. The impeller assembly of claim 1, further comprising a series of spacers having a central aperture, wherein the spacers are fixedly connected to the disks, creating spaces between the disks.

4. A pump, comprising:

(a) the impeller assembly of claim 1, wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section;

(b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained, creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, and wherein a gap is established between the impeller assembly and the housing, defining a zone of high pressure, wherein the housing has an inlet port and an outlet port; and

(c) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven to draw fluid from the inlet port into the central apertures of the backing plate and along the disks and propelled under pressure to the outlet port.

6. A method for displacing fluids, which comprises:

(a) priming the pump of claim 4;

(b) radially driving the impeller assembly;

(c) drawing fluid from the inlet port into the housing through the central apertures of the backing plate and disks and along the disks;

(d) propelling the fluid through the impeller assembly to the high pressure zone at the gap between the complementary surface of the housing and the impeller assembly; and

(e) driving the fluid through the exhaust port of the housing, whereby the fluid is continuously drawn into the inlet port and exhausted through the outlet port.

7. A marine jet pump, comprising:

(a) the impeller assembly of claim 1, wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section;

(b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained, creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, and wherein a gap is established between the impeller assembly and the housing, defining a zone of high pressure, wherein the housing has an outlet port;

(c) a cover fixedly attached to the housing, having a cowl section, wherein the cowl section has an inlet port; and

(d) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven to draw fluid from the inlet port into the central apertures of the backing plate and along the disks and propelled under pressure to the outlet port.

8. A hydroelectric turbine, comprising:

(a) the impeller assembly of claim 1, wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section, and wherein the first reinforcing backing plate is integral with the central hub;

(b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, wherein the housing has a penstock and an outlet port;

(c) a plurality of wicket gates pivotably connected to the housing such that the flow of the fluid to the impeller assembly is regulated;

(d) a controlling mechanism connected to the plurality of wicket gates such that the position of the wicket gates is adjustable; and

(e) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven by the fluid flowing from the penstock through the wicket gates across the disks of the impeller assembly and eventually discharged from the outlet port.

10. A method for transferring mechanical power from a propelled fluid, comprising:

(a) channeling a propelled fluid to the turbine according to claim 8 or 9;

(b) directing the flow of fluid to the impeller assembly such that the fluid imparts radial movement to the impeller assembly; and

(c) exhausting the fluid through the exhaust port, whereby the kinetic energy of the fluid is transferred to radial movement of the impeller assembly.

14. An impeller system according to claim 1 or 13, wherein the interdisk space is maintained by spacers mounted between disks.

15. An impeller system according to claim 1 or 13, wherein the interdisk space between each of the disks forming the stacked array is equal.

16. An impeller system according to claim 1 or 13, wherein the interdisk space between each of the disks forming the stacked array is from {fraction (1/16)} to 1 inch.

17. An impeller system according to claim 1 or 13, wherein the interdisk space between each of the disks forming the stacked array is from ⅛

to ½

inch.

18. An impeller system according to claim 1 or 13, comprising from 4 to 40 disks.

19. A pump comprising an impeller assembly of claim 1 or 11, mounted in a housing having a fluid intake conduit and an exhaust port provided in proximity to a directional nozzle to direct an exhaust fluid stream.

20. A hydroelectric turbine comprising an impeller assembly of claim 1 or 11.

21. A fluid turbine comprising an impeller assembly of claim 1 or 11.

22. A turbine transmission comprising an impeller assembly of claim 1 or 11.

24. A method for displacing fluids, comprising:

introducing a fluid to a fluid inlet port of a housing containing an impeller assembly of claim 1 or 11, rotating the impeller assembly, and releasing fluid through an outlet port.

5. A Turbine Transmission, comprising:

(a) a pump comprising an impeller assembly having a central hub;

a first reinforcing backing plate fixedly connected to the central hub;

a stacked array of parallel disks arranged on the central hub and fixedly connected to the first reinforcing backing plate, wherein each of the disks possesses a central aperture, the central apertures are aligned in the stacked array producing a central cavity, and wherein the disks are inter-spaced along a parallel axis and connected to one another in proximity to an interior perimeter of each disk; and

a second reinforcing backing plate fixedly attached to the stacked array of parallel disks, wherein the second reinforcing backing plate possesses a central aperture, whereby, upon radial movement of the central hub, a fluid flows through the central apertures of the second reinforcing backing plate and the stacked array of disks and the spaces between the disks, wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section, a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained, creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, and wherein a gap is established between the impeller assembly and the housing, defining a zone of high pressure, wherein the housing has an inlet port and an outlet port, and a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven to draw fluid from the inlet port into the central apertures of the backing plate and along the disks and propelled under pressure to the outlet port;

(b) a fluid turbine comprising an impeller assembly having a central hub;

a first reinforcing backing plate fixedly connected to the central hub;

a stacked array of parallel disks arranged on the central hub and fixedly connected to the first reinforcing backing plate, wherein each of the disks possesses a central aperture, the central apertures are aligned in the stacked array producing a central cavity; and

wherein the disks are inter-spaced along a parallel axis and connected to one another in proximity to an interior perimeter of each disk; and

a second reinforcing backing plate fixedly attached to the stacked array of parallel disks, wherein the second reinforcing backing plate possesses a central aperture, whereby, upon radial movement of the central hub, a fluid flows through the central apertures of the second reinforcing backing plate and the stacked array of disks and the spaces between the disks, wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section, a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained, creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, wherein the housing has a plurality of reversing nozzle housing providing a plurality of inlets, and wherein the housing has an outlet port, a plurality of reversing nozzles contained within the reversing nozzle housings, a controlling mechanism connected to the plurality of reversing nozzles such that the position of the reversing nozzles is adjustable, a fluid inlet conduit connected to the reversing nozzles, and a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven by the fluid flowing from the reversing nozzles and through the inlets across the disks of the impeller assembly and eventually discharged from the outlet port;

reinforcing backing plate, wherein each of the disks possesses a central aperture, the

(c) a sump section having a sump inlet conduit connected to the inlet port of the pump, and wherein the sump section has an sump outlet conduit connected to the exhaust port of the fluid turbine; and

(d) a high pressure line connecting the exhaust port of the pump and the fluid inlet conduit of the fluid turbine, such that a closed system is created, and whereby fluid is drawn from the sump section through the sump inlet conduit and inlet port of the pump and driven by the impeller assembly out the exhaust port of the pump through the high pressure line to the fluid inlet conduit to the reversing nozzles whereby the impeller assembly of the turbine is radially driven and the fluid is eventually exhausted through the exhaust port of the turbine through the sump outlet conduit such that the fluid is continuously recycled.

9. A fluid turbine, comprising:

(a) an impeller assembly comprising a central hub;

a first reinforcing backing plate fixedly connected to the central hub;

a stacked array of parallel disks arranged on the central hub and fixedly connected to the first reinforcing backing plate, wherein each of the disks possesses a central aperture, the central apertures are aligned in the stacked array producing a central cavity, and wherein the disks are inter-spaced along a parallel axis and connected to one another in proximity to an interior perimeter of each disk; and

a second reinforcing backing plate fixedly attached to the stacked array of parallel disks, wherein the second reinforcing backing plate possesses a central aperture, whereby, upon radial movement of the central hub, a fluid flows through the central apertures of the second reinforcing backing plate and the stacked array of disks and the spaces between the disks, wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section;

(b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, wherein the housing has a plurality of reversing nozzle housings providing a plurality of inlets, and wherein the housing has an outlet port;

(c) a plurality of reversing nozzles contained within the reversing nozzle housings;

(d) a controlling mechanism connected to the plurality of reversing nozzles such that the position of the reversing nozzles is adjustable;

(e) a fluid inlet conduit connected to the reversing nozzles; and

(f) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven by the fluid flowing from the reversing nozzles and through the inlets across the disks of the impeller assembly and eventually discharged from the outlet port.

11. An impeller assembly comprising a stacked array of disks, the disks arranged parallel to one or more neighboring disks and separated from one or more neighboring disks by an interdisk space;

the disks having a central aperture, with the central apertures of the stacked array of disks aligned to form a central cavity;

the disks connected to one or more neighboring discs at a location that protrudes into the central aperture.

12. An impeller assembly according to claim 11, additionally comprising a central hub mounted to the stacked array of disks and a drive means for rotating the central hub.

13. An impeller assembly according to claim 11, additionally comprising a housing forming an interior chamber of sufficient volume to accommodate the stacked array of disks and sized to maintain a gap between an outer periphery of the stacked array of disks and an inner periphery of the housing.

23. In a device comprising a stacked array of parallel disks having central apertures for transferring mechanical power through a fluid medium, the improvement comprising:

providing a central cavity by aligning the central apertures of the array of disks and interconnecting the parallel disks to one another at a location in proximity to the central cavity.