Integral liquid ring and regenerative pump

• US 5,096,386 A
• Filed: 11/17/1989
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Kassel, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savio, III, John A.
• Application Number:
  US07/437,677
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 417/68, 417/69, 415/55.5, 415/55.6, 415/55.7, 415/55.1-55.4
• US Class Current: 417/69
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 19/00 Rotary-piston pumps with fluid ring or the like, specially adapted for elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2210/1044 Fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 5/003 of multistage type
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 5/007 Details of the inlet or outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 9/02 Self-priming pumps

Abstract

The problem of space and weight limitations for liquid ring pumps and regenerative pumps in aerospace applications is solved by a pump having a housing defining a first chamber (22) and a second chamber (24) independent of the first chamber. An impeller (10) is rotatably mounted in the housing and includes impeller blades (16) successively movable through the first chamber for cooperation therewith to provide a liquid ring portion of the pump, and through the second chamber for cooperation therewith to provide a regenerative portion of the pump. An inlet (26) admits fluid to the first chamber. A first outlet (28) from the first chamber feeds the fluid to an inlet (32) of the second chamber for pressurization therein. An outlet (34) from the second chamber feeds the pressurized fluid for appropriate use, such as in a fuel pump system. A dual pump configuration also is contemplated with a pair of first chambers (22, 22a) and liquid ring portions of the pump, and a pair of second chambers (24, 24a) and regenerative portions of the pump. The fluid in the dual ring pump portions is fed to one of the liquid compressor portions and then to the other regenerative pump portion for doubling the effectiveness of the pump. All of this is accomplished by a unitary housing and a single impeller.

Claims

1. A pump, comprising:

housing means defining first chamber means and second chamber means independent of the first chamber means;

impeller means rotatably mounted in the housing means and including at least one impeller blade successively movable through the first chamber means for cooperation therewith to provide a liquid ring portion of the pump and the second chamber means for cooperation therewith to provide a boosting portion of the pump;

inlet means for admitting a fluid to the first chamber means;

first outlet means for passing fluid from the first chamber means and feeding the fluid to the second chamber means for pressurizing therein; and

second outlet means from the second chamber means from which pressurized fluid can be fed for appropriate use.

2. The pump of claim 1 wherein said impeller means include a central hub mounting the impeller blade, said inlet means being located through the housing near the hub.

3. The pump of claim 2 wherein said first outlet means is located through the housing angularly spaced from the inlet means.

4. The pump of claim 2, including gas outlet means from the first chamber means and located near the hub.

5. The pump of claim 4 wherein said gas outlet means is located spaced from the inlet means in the direction of rotation of the impeller means.

6. The pump of claim 1 wherein said first chamber means is located within a given portion of the housing means relative to rotation of the impeller means, and said second chamber means is located diametrically opposite the first chamber means.

7. The pump of claim 1 wherein said impeller blade defines a plane of rotation, and the second chamber means is located, at least in part, to one side of the impeller blade.

8. The pump of claim 7 wherein said second chamber means extends around said one side beyond the radial periphery of the impeller blade.

9. The pump of claim 1 wherein said first chamber means is located radially beyond the periphery of the impeller blade.

10. The pump of claim 1, including a pair of said first chamber means separated from each other on opposite sides of the impeller means, each having outlet means communicating with said second chamber means.

11. The pump of claim 10, including a pair of said second chamber means on opposite sides of the impeller means, with the outlet means of said pair of first chamber means communicating with one of the pair of second chamber means, and an outlet of said one of the pair of second chamber means communicating with an inlet to the other of the pair of second chamber means.

12. A pump, comprising:

impeller means;

a housing rotatably mounting the impeller means and defining a first chamber located radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the impeller blade and cooperating therewith to provide a liquid ring portion of the pump, and a second chamber located, at least in part, to one side of the impeller blade for cooperation therewith to provide a boosting portion of the pump;

inlet means for admitting a fluid to the first chamber means;

first outlet means for passing fluid from the first chamber means and feeding the fluid to the second chamber means for pressurizing therein; and

second outlet means from the second chamber means from which pressurized fluid can be fed for appropriate use.

13. The pump of claim 12 wherein said impeller means include a central hub mounting the impeller blade, said inlet means being located through the housing near the hub.

14. The pump of claim 13 wherein said first outlet means is located through the housing angularly spaced from the inlet means.

15. The pump of claim 13, including gas outlet means from the first chamber means and located near the hub.

16. The pump of claim 15 wherein said gas outlet means is located spaced from the inlet means in the direction of rotation of the impeller means.

17. The pump of claim 12 wherein said first chamber means is located within a given portion of the housing means relative to rotation of the impeller means, and said second chamber means is located diametrically opposite the first chamber means.

18. The pump of claim 12 wherein said second chamber means extends around said one side beyond the radial periphery of the impeller blade.

19. A pump, comprising:

impeller means including at least one impeller blade;

housing means defining a pair of first chamber means separated from each other on opposite sides of the impeller means and cooperating with the impeller blade to provide a pair of independent liquid ring portions of the pump, and a pair of second chamber means on opposite sides of the impeller means for cooperating with the impeller blade to provide a pair of independent boosting portions of the pump, the impeller blade being successively movable through the first chamber means and then through the second chamber means;

inlet means for admitting a fluid to the pair of first chamber means;

first outlet means for passing fluid from at least one of the pair of first chamber means and feeding the fluid to one of the pair of second chamber means;

second outlet means from said one of the pair of second chamber means communicating with an inlet to the other of the pair of second chamber means; and

third outlet means from said other of the pair of second chamber means from which pressurized fluid can be fed for appropriate use.

20. The pump of claim 19 wherein said pair of first chamber means is located within a given portion of the housing means relative to rotation of the impeller means, and said pair of second chamber means is located diametrically opposite the pair of first chamber means.

21. The pump of claim 19 wherein each of said impeller blade defines a plane of rotation, and the pair of second chamber means is located, at least in part, to one side of the impeller blade.

22. The pump of claim 21 wherein each of said pair of second chamber means extend around said one side beyond the radial periphery of the impeller blade.

23. The pump of claim 19 wherein each of said pair of first chamber means is located radially beyond the periphery of the impeller blade.