Abstract: A pumping element includes a blade (20) having a first section proximate a hub and a second section proximate a tip, a cavity height distribution based on a selected incidence angle distribution and a selected blade thickness distribution based on a structural requirement. The resulting cavity height distribution matches the blade thickness at the first section and the second section and is greater than the blade thickness along the blade.

Abstract: A pumping element and method of turbomachinery design includes a blade having an incidence angle (?) and a blade angle (?), wherein a ratio of ?/? is less than approximately 0.3.

Abstract: An inducer rotor rotatably mountable in an inducer for pressurizing fluid traveling through the inducer. The inducer rotor includes a hub. The hub has a central axis and a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the hub. Each blade extends from a root portion that is next to the hub, to a tip portion that is opposite the root. The rotor further includes a shroud extending circumferentially between each pair of adjacent blades within the plurality of blades. The shroud has an inner surface facing the central axis and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface. Between the inner and outer surface of the shroud is defined a thickness. The shroud thickness varies circumferentially around the shroud.

Abstract: A liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen (LH.sub.2 -LOX) rocket engine system wherein a conventional oxidizer turbo pump is replaced with a jet pump--a jet oxidizer pump. Beneficial features of the jet oxidizer pump system, over a conventional oxidizer turbo pump system, include: 1) it does not require a complicated seal system, 2) it has no moving parts, and 3) it is lighter. All these features improve the operational reliability of the rocket engine while decreasing its manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A rotary pump with an inlet flow duct having a convergent section upstream the tips of the rotor blades. The convergent section decreases the cross-sectional flow area of the inlet flow duct prior to the flow being introduced into the rotor, thereby creating a substantially uniform velocity profile in the flow just upstream the rotor blades.

Abstract: A space-saving discharge collector 40 for the rotary pump 28 of a pool-type nuclear reactor 10. An annular collector 50 is located radially outboard for an impeller 44. The annular collector 50 as a closed outer periphery 52 for collecting the fluid from the impeller 44 and producing a uniform circumferential flow of the fluid. Turning means comprising a plurality of individual passageways 54 are located in an axial position relative to the annular collector 50 for receiving the fluid from the annular collector 50 and turning it into a substantially axial direction.

Abstract: An improvement in a pump including a shrouded inducer, the improvement comprising first and second sealing means 32,36 which cooperate with a first vortex cell 38 and a series of secondary vortex cells 40 to remove any tangential velocity components from the recirculation flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vortex-free shrouded inducer assembly comprising a forwardly extended shroud (24) and surfaces (36,38) defining a recess proximate to the forward lip (42) of the shroud for favorably diffusing and mixing the flow (54) tending to recirculate about the outer periphery (30) of the inducer prior to its being discharged through nozzle (40).

Abstract: An improvement in a pump including a shrouded inducer, the improvement comprising providing means for collecting recirculation flow about said inducer and directing it through a fluid permeable wall member to remove any tangential velocity components from the recirculation flow. The recirculation flow, free of tangential velocity components, is then reintroduced into the fluid to be pumped.