Pump impeller and related components

• US 6,390,768 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Water Management Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Water Management Systems LLC
• Inventors: Parma, Gianfranco, Muhs, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NINH H
• Application Number:
  US09/532,356
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 415/71, 415/196, 415/204, 415/206, 415/213.1, 415/214.1, 415/173.1, 415/173.2, 415/131, 415/128, 416/176, 416/188, 416/223.B, 416/186.R
• US Class Current: 415/71
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2288 for comminuting, mixing or separating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/045 with means for comminuting, mixing stirring or otherwise treating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 9/041 the priming pump having evacuating action F04D9/043 and F04D9/06 take precedence

Abstract

A pump impeller and related components for pumping water, sewage or other pumped material from one location to another is disclosed. The pump impeller includes a core member having a back face, a front face, and a central bore extending therebetween. A first blade and a second blade are fixed to the front face of the core member. Each blade has a trailing portion terminating at a trailing edge and a leading portion terminating at a leading edge. The leading portion of the first blade preferably radially overlaps the trailing portion of the second blade. A first channel is defined by the leading portion of the first blade, the trailing portion of the second blade, and the front face of the core member. Likewise, a second channel is defined by the leading portion of the second blade, the trailing portion of the first blade, and the front face of the core member. The blades of the impeller preferably conform to a curved front wear plate for optimum efficiency.

Claims

1. A pump impeller comprising:

a core member having a back face, a front face and a central bore extending therethrough;

the front face of the core member defining a curved surface;

a first blade and a second blade fixed to the front face of the core member;

each blade having a trailing portion terminating at a trailing edge and a leading portion terminating at a leading edge;

the leading portion of the first blade radially overlapping the trailing portion of the second blade;

the leading portion of the second blade radially overlapping the trailing portion of the first blade;

a first channel defined by the leading portion of the first blade, the trailing portion of the second blade, and the front face of the core member;

a second channel defined by the leading portion of the second blade, the trailing portion of the first blade, and the front face of the core member; and

wherein the lateral cross-sectional area of the first channel proximate the trailing edge of the second blade is smaller than the lateral cross-sectional area of the first channel proximate the leading edge of the first blade.

2. A pump impeller of claim 1 wherein the front face defines a toroidal shaped surface.

3. The impeller of claim 1 wherein the lateral cross-sectional area of the second channel proximate the trailing edge of the first blade is smaller than the lateral cross-sectional area of the second channel proximate the leading edge of the second blade.

4. The impeller of claim 1, wherein the first blade is positioned so that the central bore is disposed between the leading portion of the first blade and the trailing portion of the first blade.

5. The impeller of claim 1, wherein the second blade is positioned so that the central bore is disposed between the leading portion of the second blade and the trailing portion of the second blade.

6. The impeller of claim 1, wherein the first blade and the second blade are positioned so that the central bore is disposed between the leading portion of the first blade and the leading portion of the second blade.

7. The impeller of claim 1, wherein each blade has a generally spiral shape.

8. The impeller of claim 1, wherein each blade is tilted away from the axis of the central bore with the amount of tilt decreasing toward the trailing portion of the blade.

9. The impeller of claim 1, wherein each blade extends from near the central bore to proximate an outer edge of the core member.

10. The impeller of claim 1, wherein each blade extends between about 180 degrees and about 360 degrees around the central bore of the core member.

11. The impeller of claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the first blade is curved and the leading edge of the second blade is curved.

12. A pump impeller comprising:

a core member having a back face, a front face and a central bore extending therethrough;

the front face of the core member defining a curved surface;

a first blade and a second blade fixed to the front face of the core member;

each blade having a trailing portion terminating at a trailing edge and a leading portion terminating at a leading edge;

the leading portion of the first blade radially overlapping the trailing portion of the second blade; and

the leading portion of the second blade radially overlapping the trailing portion of the first blade;

wherein;

the leading edge of the first blade is curved;

the leading edge of the second blade is curved; and

the curve of the leading edge of the first blade and the curve of the leading edge of the second blade are coplanar.

13. A pump impeller comprising:

a core member having a back face, a front face and a central bore extending therethrough;

the front face of the core member defining a curved surface;

a first blade and a second blade fixed to the front face of the core member;

each blade having a trailing portion terminating at a trailing edge and a leading portion terminating at a leading edge;

the leading portion of the first blade radially overlapping the trailing portion of the second blade;

the leading portion of the second blade radially overlapping the trailing portion of the first blade; and

wherein the first blade and the second blade each include a top edge, and the top edge of the first blade and the top edge of the second blade define a curved surface as they spiral around the core member.

14. The impeller of claim 13, wherein the curved surface is a toroidal surface.

15. A pump assembly comprising:

a volute having a front side and a rear side, and a discharge cavity;

a back plate attached to the rear side of the volute;

a front plate attached to the front side of the volute;

an impeller positioned between the front plate and the back plate in the volute;

the front plate having a curved surface and the impeller having a first blade and a second blade that are adapted to match the curved surface of the front plate;

a mounting flange for attaching the front plate to the front side of the volute;

the mounting flange being fixed to the front side of the volute; and

the front plate being attached to the mounting flange by a plurality of adjustment screws.

16. The pump assembly of claim 15, wherein the curved surface of the front plate is a toroidal surface.

17. The pump assembly of claim 15 further including:

a first toroidal surface defined by the front plate;

a second toroidal surface defined by a front face of the impeller;

a first channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller; and

a second channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller.

18. The pump assembly of claim 15, wherein each blade has a generally spiral shape.

19. The pump assembly of claim 15, wherein each blade is tilted away from the axis of a central bore of the impeller with the amount of tilt decreasing toward the trailing portion of the blades.

20. The pump assembly of claim 15, wherein each blade extends from near a central bore of the impeller to proximate an outer edge of the impeller.

21. The pump assembly of claim 15, wherein each blade extends between about 180 degrees and about 360 degrees around a central bore of the impeller.

22. A pump assembly comprising:

a volute having a front side and a rear side, and a discharge cavity;

a back plate attached to the rear side of the volute;

a front plate attached to the front side of the volute;

an impeller positioned between the front plate and the back plate in the volute;

the front plate having a curved surface and the impeller having a first blade and a second blade that are adapted to match the curved surface of the front plate;

a first toroidal surface defined by the front plate;

a second toroidal surface defined by a front face of the impeller;

a first channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller; and

a second channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller;

wherein the lateral cross-sectional area of the first channel proximate the trailing edge of the second blade is smaller than the lateral cross-sectional area of the first channel proximate the leading edge of the first blade.

23. A pump assembly comprising:

a volute having a front side and a rear side, and a discharge cavity;

a back plate attached to the rear side of the volute;

a front plate attached to the front side of the volute;

an impeller positioned between the front plate and the back plate in the volute;

the front plate having a curved surface and the impeller having a first blade and a second blade that are adapted to match the curved surface of the front plate;

a first toroidal surface defined by the front plate;

a second toroidal surface defined by a front face of the impeller;

a first channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller; and

a second channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller;

wherein the lateral cross sectional area of the flow channels decreases as the velocity of a fluid passing therethrough increases.

24. A pump assembly comprising:

a volute having a front side and a rear side, and a discharge cavity;

a back plate attached to the rear side of the volute;

a front plate attached to the front side of the volute;

an impeller positioned between the front plate and the back plate in the volute;

the front plate having a curved surface and the impeller having a first blade and a second blade that are adapted to match the curved surface of the front plate;

a first toroidal surface defined by the front plate;

a second toroidal surface defined by a front face of the impeller;

a first channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller; and

a second channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller;

wherein the flow channels are adapted to create a substantially constant volume rate of fluid flow therethrough.

25. A pump assembly comprising:

a volute having a front side and a rear side, and a discharge cavity;

a back plate attached to the rear side of the volute;

a front plate attached to the front side of the volute;

an impeller positioned between the front plate and the back plate in the volute;

the front plate having a curved surface and the impeller having a first blade and a second blade that are adapted to match the curved surface of the front plate;

a first toroidal surface defined by the front plate;

a second toroidal surface defined by a front face of the impeller;

a first channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller; and

a second channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a first blade of the impeller, and a second blade of the impeller;

wherein the flow channels are adapted to create a substantially constant fluid pressure therethrough.

26. A pump assembly comprising:

an impeller including a core member having a back face, a front face and a central bore extending therethrough;

the front face of the core member defining a first toroidal shaped surface;

a first blade and a second blade fixed to the front face of the core member;

a front plate having a second toroidal surface disposed proximate a top surface of the first blade and a top surface of the second blade;

the top surface of the first blade and the top surface of the second blade being adapted to match the toroidal surface of the front plate;

a first channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a leading portion of the first blade, and a trailing portion of the second blade; and

a second channel defined by the first toroidal surface, the second toroidal surface, a trailing portion of the first blade, and a trailing portion of the second blade; and

wherein the lateral cross sectional area of the flow channels decreases as the velocity of a fluid passing therethrough increases.

27. The pump assembly of claim 26, wherein the flow channels are adapted to create a substantially constant volume rate of fluid flow therethrough.

28. The pump assembly of claim 26, wherein the flow channels are adapted to create a substantially constant fluid pressure therethrough.

29. An impeller comprising:

a first blade having a trailing edge and a leading edge;

a second blade having a trailing edge and a leading edge;

a channel defined between the first blade and the second blade; and

wherein the lateral cross-sectional area of the channel proximate the trailing edge of the second blade is smaller than the lateral cross-sectional area of the channel proximate the leading edge of the first blade.