Abstract: Liquid ring pumps with rotating canisters are supported by at least one radial fluid bearing pad. The bearing fluid is either a gas or a liquid. The radial fluid bearing pads can be of either the hydrodynamic or hydrostatic type. Holes in each bearing pad are used to introduce bearing fluid to the clearance between the rotating canister and the housing of the pump. Each radial bearing pad can be mounted to the housing using a ball joint or a bladder. Access ports formed in the housing provide access to the radial bearing pads. Axial fluid bearings are mounted to the housing using shims or threaded bolts so that the axial position of the axial bearings can be adjusted.

Abstract: A support structure for the rotatable housing of a liquid ring pump includes a stationary structure disposed circumferentially around the housing, and a plurality of rollers rotatably and removably mounted on the stationary structure. The rollers support the housing for rotation, and they are distributed axially along and circumferentially about the housing so that any one roller can be removed (e.g., for repair or replacement) without disturbing operation of the pump.

Abstract: In liquid ring gas pumps of the type having a rotor rotatably mounted in a stationary housing for forming a quantity of pumping liquid into a recirculating ring inside the housing, fluid friction loss between the liquid and the housing is reduced by shaping the surface of the housing which is in contact with the liquid ring radially outside the rotor so as to minimize or at least substantially reduce the area of that surface.

Abstract: In liquid ring pumps having rotating lobe liners supported by a bearing fluid in an annular clearance between the liner and the surrounding housing, the housing has at least one substantially annular channel formed in the housing for distributing the bearing fluid to a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending through the housing from the channel to the clearance.