Abstract: A primary vane pump has a rotor with vanes, and an intermediate casing, which is also rotatable, both mounted in a fixed housing. The rotor vanes are enclosed in the casing and provide a primary pumping stage. The rotatable intermediate casing has outer vanes enclosed within the fixed housing, which provide a governor stage vane pump when the casing rotates. An inlet annulus supplies fuel to passages in the rotatable casing leading to the primary pumping stage and other passages in the rotatable casing conduct pumped fluid out to a discharge annulus. A closed fluid loop is established from discharge annulus to the governor stage vane pump, out through a valve and back to the discharge annulus. The reaction on the casing caused by the primary pump rotor tends to rotate the intermediate casing, while pressure drop through the valve in the closed fluid loop resists rotation. Adjustment of the valve adjusts rotational speed of the intermediate casing and varies the delivery rate of fuel by the primary vane pump.

Abstract: A side channel pump (10) has a pumping cavity (26) which includes an inlet port (78), a discharge port (80) and side channels (72,74). An impeller (54) is mounted for rotation in the pumping cavity. A reservoir (20) holds an ample supply of liquid for pump priming and pump cooling during periods of gas pumping. A bypass suction duct (24) carries liquid from the reservoir to the pumping cavity during priming, gas pumping and normal operating and a bypass return duct (22) returns some discharged liquid to the reservoir during gas pumping and normal operation. The reservoir acts as a heat sink to enable the liquid ring formed during gas pumping operation to absorb more heat and provide pump cooling.

Abstract: A high speed fuel pump for a gas turnbine engine has a positively-driven shroud (28) positioned between a main impeller (14) and the wall of a pumping cavity (12) to reduce impeller drag. The shroud is formed by a first disc (30) having a boost impeller (36) connected to its central hub portion 30a and a second disc (32) having a gear (32b) carried by its central hub portion (32a). The main drive shaft assembly (24), to which the main impeller is connected, carries a gear (64) which meshes with gear (62) mounted upon a shaft (58). The shaft (58) also carries a gear (56) which meshes with the gear 32b. The gears are sized so that the shroud is driven at one-half the speed of the main impeller in order to maximize impeller drag reduction and enhance pumping capability when severe inlet conditions are present at the pump inlet (10).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pumping fuel to jet engines and the like utilizing at least two stages, the first of which is a main stage including a centrifugal pump, together with a secondary stage including a positive displacement pump. The two pump stages are driven from a common drive means. In the new system, the positive displacement pump is used as a startup pump and the centrifugal pump is the sole pumping means employed during conditions of higher fuel demand. Speed responsive means are provided in conjunction with the positive displacement pump, which means are responsive to the speed of the centrifugal pump, the speed responsive means being used to terminate pumping action by the positive displacement upon the centrifugal pump reaching a predetermined speed.