Abstract: An impeller suitable for use in a centrifugal pump, the pump including a pump chamber and a pump inlet. The impeller includes a main body portion which includes a plurality of primary pumping blades or vanes and one or more flow inducing blades or vanes which project from the main body portion of the impeller and when installed into the pump inlet.

Abstract: A pump impeller which is modified so as to achieve selected operating performance parameters. The impeller includes a front shroud and a rear shroud, the shrouds being spaced apart so as to form a plurality of passageways therebetween which are separated by a plurality of impeller blades, each having an outer edge extending between the front and rear shrouds, the impeller having an outer diameter D. The method modification includes the steps of trimming the outer edge of the blades so that the outer diameter D1 of the front shroud is less than the outer diameter D2 of the rear shroud.

Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal pump which includes a front shroud and a rear should, the shoulds being spaced apart so as to form a plurality of passageways therebetween which are separated by a plurality of impeller blades. The impeller has an outer diameter D.sub.2 and an inlet diameter D.sub.1. Each passageway has an inlet portion with a passage outlet B.sub.2, and an intermediates portion between the inlet and outlet portions. In the inlet portion the front shroud is curve away from the rear shroud so that the passageway outlet width B.sub.2 is less than the passageway inlet width B.sub.1. A method of increasing the Best Efficiency Point Flow rate comprises providing such an impeller and also providing a new front liner or throat bush which has an inner wall which is complementary to the wall of the inlet portion of the impeller while retaining the same main liner or casing section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to eutectic alloy systems, such as white irons, in which a primary phase grows out of the melt when the melt is cooled below the liquidus temperature and comprises pouring the molten metal alloy at a temperature at or above the liquidus in a stream into a casting mould to form a casting and introducing a particulate material into the stream of molten metal to extract heat from the molten metal alloy to undercool the molten metal alloy from the pour temperature into the primary phase solidification range between the liquidus and the solidus temperatures of the alloy and thereby initiate primary phase nucleation and restrict primary phase growth. The primary function of the particulate material is to act as a heat sink but the particulate material may at least partially dissolve in the melt and may act as a seeding agent for the primary phase. The invention is described with particular reference to high chromium hypereutectic white irons.

Abstract: A gland seal assembly for a slurry pump comprising a main body having a bore therethrough for receiving a rotatable shaft, a packing receiving zone within the bore, the packing including at least two packing rings and a packing sleeve surrounding the packing rings and arranged so that axial compression of the packing sleeve can be translated at least in part, to radial compression of the packing rings.

Abstract: A pump housing assembly having two parts, each part including an outer casing and an inner lining of elastomeric material. An insert component comprising a body, including a lining section, is sandwiched between the housing parts and cooperates with the inner lining of the two housing parts to form a pump chamber. The insert component further includes a drainage hole extending through the lining section of the component for permitting drainage of fluid from the pump chamber.

Abstract: A housing for a gland seal assembly, the housing comprising a main body having a bore therethrough for receiving a rotatable shaft. The main body includes first and second parts each having a packing receiving zone within the bore, each of said first and second parts including an abutment wall which forms and end wall of the packing receiving zone, and adjustment means which is operable to cause relative movement between the abutment walls in the axial direction of the bore.

Abstract: A centrifugal seal assembly for a pump, including a pump casing having a pump chamber, a pump impeller, an impeller passageway and a rotatable pump impeller shaft, the seal assembly comprising a rotatable main body disposed within a seal chamber and attached to the pump shaft, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart vanes on one side of the main body, each vane including a curved leading edge portion, the vanes being configured such that R.sub.v /D.sub.eo is in the range from 0.3 to 0.7, where R.sub.v equals the curvature of the leading edge of the vanes and D.sub.eo equals the outer diameter of the vanes.

Abstract: Material separating apparatus comprising a rotatable main body (13) and a rotatable rotor (14) disposed within the main body. The rotor 14 comprises first and second end walls (16, 17) spaced apart from one another with a rotor chamber therebetween, with a plurality of generally radially extending blades (18) extending between the first and second end walls thereby separating the rotor chamber into a plurality of sub-chambers. A feed inlet chamber is disposed between the main body and the first end wall. The end walls have a circumferential clearance for permitting the flow of material into and the discharge of the heavier component out of the rotor chamber. A generally centrally disposed discharge is in communication with the rotor chamber for discharging the lighter component from the rotor chamber.

Abstract: A rotary mechanical seal for a rotating shaft passing into a pressure vessel, the seal having stationary and rotating seal rings (12) with at least one of the rings (12) supported in an axially biased holder (9), characterized by an elastomeric annular seal (11) held in a groove, which groove is so designed as to obviate clogging or crystallizing in the gap between the seal face holder (9) and the housing (10). the groove has a protrusion located on its outer edge which has sloped inner and outer faces to cooperate with the annular elastomeric seal (11) so that the seal protrudes past or is flush with the edge.

Abstract: A sealing member for sealing between a rotating surface (12) and a stationary cylindrical surface (13). The sealing member (8) is sealing engaged to the rotating surface (12) and is so constructed that) at a rotational speed greater than a predetermined speed of rotation of the rotating surface, the seal lip (27), due to centrifugal force, disengages from the stationary cylindrical surface (13) and, at or below the predetermined speed of rotation, sealingly engages the stationary cylindrical surface (13).

Abstract: An elastomeric seal for joining together a casing part which mates within a recess in a second casing part and which locates both casing parts with respect to each other and forms a liquid tight seal therebetween. Preferably the seal is of a "J" or "L" shaped profile.

Abstract: A liner for a centrifugal pump of the type made from wear resistant metal is conventional made with a step (5) in the inner surface of the liner between the junction of the side liners (2 and 3) and the volute liner (1), because of the difficulty in machining the hydraulic surface of the liner. This step (5) causes localized accelerated wear. The liner of the present invention is made with a thickening (11) of the area adjacent the joint with the side liners (2 and b 3) which thickening protrudes inwardly beyond the inner surface of the side liners (2 and 3). Upon assembly the thickening (11) is reduced to align with the inner surface of the side liners (2 and 3), to reduce localized wear on the liner.

Abstract: An improved bearing assembly provided with means whereby grease is supplied via a passageway (10) to egress between 2 bearing rings (1), whereby grease will pass by the outer sealing ring (1A) to be expelled through the labyrinth passage (3) to flush contaminants out of the seal.