Fluid Force On Opposite Face Of Blade Or Blade Support Member Patents (Class 415/106)
  • Patent number: 7686572
    Abstract: A pump for the drawing-in of a fluid, including at least one centrifugal wheel having a fluid inlet edge and a fluid outlet edge, the pump further including an axial balancing system with a high-pressure flow space defined between the housing and an upstream face of the centrifugal wheel. The axial balancing system further includes a device for substantially increasing the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid circulating in the high-pressure flow space during operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Fabien Wahl, Francois Danguy, Stephane Laffite, Philippe Bourdin
  • Patent number: 7648332
    Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate pumping of fluids in a well environment. A submersible pumping system having a submersible pump incorporates features that manage thrust loads resulting from rotating impellers. The thrust reducing features cooperate with the action of the impellers in one or more pump stages to reduce forces otherwise acting on certain pump related components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Matthew R. Hackworth
  • Patent number: 7572097
    Abstract: An impeller pump including a body and a cover assembled onto the body to form a housing. The body has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and an opening for receiving a rotating drive shaft. An impeller is rotatably positioned in the housing with paddles at a periphery thereof. The impeller includes a sleeve with a central pocket formed therein for receiving a drive shaft, a circumferential support ring, and a plurality of radially extending paddles extending from the circumferential support ring. The body and cover define an annular space circumferentially extending around an interior of the housing for receiving the paddles of the impeller. The cover has a wall portion enlarging the annular space in the housing through a portion of the circumference of the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Laurel B. Jaeger
  • Patent number: 7566208
    Abstract: A non-electric drive mechanism connectable to a submersible pump for pumping a fluid from a wellbore to the surface, the drive mechanism including a shaft rotatably disposed within a housing, the shaft operationally connectable to the submersible pump, at least one fan connected to the shaft and a supply manifold positioned to pass a pressurized fluid across the at least one fan in a manner to rotate the fan and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Enrique C. Santos
  • Publication number: 20090074560
    Abstract: An improvement for a turbine generator or pump having main bearings separated by a span of shaft and a thrust equalizing mechanism adjacent one of said main bearings, the improvement comprising a stationary length compensator interposed between the thrust equalizing mechanism and its adjacent main bearing to reduce the span between said main bearings. Preferably the length compensator is composed of material that shrinks less than the shaft of the generator, and the height of the length compensator, i.e., the compensating dimension, is selected according to desired thrust equalizing mechanism operating parameters over a temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Joel V. Madison
  • Publication number: 20090074561
    Abstract: The invention concerns an axial thrust offloading device for the axial thrust balance of a machine shaft, including: a thrust balance ring with a supply channel for a pressurised medium therein designed, which opens out into an annular space on the face on the thrust balance ring, a first side disk and a second side disk, which in each case are arranged to be axially adjacent to, and on opposite sides of, the thrust balance ring such that a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber are created, wherein the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber on the exit flow side are in each case closed off by means of a labyrinth seal, and on the inlet flow side a connection in each case exists to the annular space for the inflow of pressurised a medium, via a first restrictor location for the first pressure chamber and a second restrictor location for the second pressure chamber; a disk-shaped restrictor element entering into the annular space; the thrust balance ring and the restrictor elem
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Schirle, Hartmut Graf, Michael Rosovits
  • Publication number: 20080193277
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a thrust load on a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine includes an impeller rear cavity defined between a rear face of an impeller of the rotor assembly and a stationary wall spaced axially apart from the rear surface of the impeller. A pressurized air flow with a tangential velocity is introduced into the impeller rear cavity at a tip of the impeller to pressurize the cavity. Means are provided in the cavity for directly interfering with the tangential velocity of the pressurized air flow to affect an average static pressure of the pressurized air flow within the cavity in order to adjust the thrust load on the rotor assembly caused by the average static pressure in the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Pierre-Yves LEGARE
  • Publication number: 20080095610
    Abstract: A turbomachine has a housing and a rotor mounted radially and axially in the housing. The rotor has a shaft and at least one impeller attached to the shaft. Two tilt-segment bearings having tilt segments, which bearings act in opposite directions, are provided for axial mounting of the rotor. The bearings interact with an assigned contact surface of the shaft. At least one of the tilt segments has a force measurement device for direct detection of the axial force acting on the assigned tilt segment. The force measurement devices are connected with an electronic control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Werner Bosen
  • Patent number: 7326029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal pump and an impeller thereof. The present invention especially relates to modifying an impeller of a centrifugal pump in such a way that the pump may be used without a risk of damaging a shaft seal or the like at capacities higher than that at the optimal operating point. A characterizing feature of a centrifugal pump, comprising a pump volute (2), a rear wall (4) of the pump, an impeller (20) having a shroud (22) and balancing holes extending through the shroud, the impeller being attached on the pump shaft (6) and rotating inside the volute (2), is that the balancing holes (26) are arranged through the shroud (22) in such a way that an opening (30) of the holes (26) in the front face of the impeller shroud (22) is both in the rotational direction and ahead of an opening (32) located in the rear face of the impeller shroud (22) and closer to the axis (8) of the pump than the opening (32) in the rear face of the impeller shroud (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventors: Jussi Ahlroth, Heikki Manninen
  • Patent number: 7244095
    Abstract: A turbine, including a rotor on a shaft, and having in combination stationary nozzles discharging steam at a first pressure or pressures thereby producing impulse forces on the rotor; internal passages in the rotor producing a pressure head increase in the discharged steam, while simultaneously accelerating the steam, the steam discharged to a second pressure lower than the first pressure, producing reaction forces on the rotor; seal means between the stationary nozzles and the rotor, maintaining the pressure difference between the first pressure and the second pressure while minimizing steam leakage past the internal passages, turbine operations producing shaft power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Energent Corporation
    Inventor: Lance G. Hays
  • Patent number: 7244094
    Abstract: An impeller pump for a fluid includes a rotary impeller (10; 20) and a pump casing (4). The pump casing defines a first pump channel (51) and a second pump channel (71). The impeller is disposed within the pump casing and opposes to the first pump channel and the second pump channel, respectively. The fluid discharged from the first pump channel and the fluid discharged from the second pump channel converge at a convergence channel (62). A pulsation canceling device serves to cancel pulsations of the fluid discharged from the first pump channel and the second pump channel, respectively. An impact reducing device (155, 175; 357; 455, 457; 555, 557) serves to reduce impacts produced by at least one of the flow of the fluid from the first pump channel and the flow of the fluid from the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miura, Masaki Ikeya
  • Patent number: 7182570
    Abstract: Centrifugal pump, in particular drain pump for washing machines, comprising a casing (10) that defines a chamber (11) within which an impeller formed by a hub (14) and a disk (15) provided with blades (16) is capable of rotating. The impeller is provided with at least a slit (20) adapted to generate a negative pressure on the rear surface of the disk (15) during the rotation of said impeller. The solution is very simple and rational; it enables a clogging of the impeller, as it may be caused by the presence of foreign matters and bodies in the washing liquor, to be avoided. It also enables axial thrusts, as they occur during the rotation of the impeller, to be compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Ugo Favret, Silvano Cimetta
  • Patent number: 7175384
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump, the impeller (2) of the pump having one or more holes through the impeller adjacent to its hub. The hole or holes (7) are positioned between the vanes (3) of the impeller and closer to the hub than the periphery of the impeller. The total area of the holes is more than 0.4% of the area of the impeller, preferably 0.5-0.6% of the area of the impeller or more than 2% of the inlet area of the pump, preferably 2.5-5% of the inlet area. Preferably there is a cavity or a pit (8) at the back of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: ABS Pump Production AB
    Inventor: Bengt Algers
  • Patent number: 7112033
    Abstract: A sanitary centrifugal pump with a hygienic mechanical seal flushing system. The pump has a housing with a pumping chamber defined therein. An impeller is at least partially contained in the housing and is connected to a shaft for rotation. The rotation of the impeller creates a first liquid flow path through the pumping chamber between the inlet port and the outlet port, and the first liquid flow path creates a high pressure area in the pumping chamber. The pump includes additional seal flushing passages by which liquid is delivered to the seal cavity from the pumping chamber and returned back to the pumping chamber, to cool and flush at least a portion of the mechanical seal in the seal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Wright Pumps, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Holdorf
  • Patent number: 7047914
    Abstract: A coolant pump for use with an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a camshaft driven by the crankshaft includes a pump housing fixedly mountable to the engine. The pump housing includes an inlet opening to receive coolant and an outlet opening to discharge coolant. An impeller shaft is operatively coupled to the camshaft so as to be rotatably driven thereby. A pump impeller is operatively mounted to the impeller shaft within the pump housing, the pump impeller rotatable to draw the coolant into the pump housing through the inlet opening and discharge the coolant at a higher pressure through the outlet opening. The pump impeller includes first and second shrouds separated by a plurality of vanes. The first and second shrouds and plurality of vanes are configured and positioned such that a resultant thrust load acting on the pump impeller and hence the impeller shaft is approximately zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Litens Automotive
    Inventor: Jacek S. Komorowski
  • Patent number: 6787934
    Abstract: A turbine has a first rotating portion configured to rotate about an axis and a second rotating portion configured to rotate about the same axis. The first rotating portion has a plurality of first fluid outlets, and, the second rotating portion has a plurality of second fluid outlets proximate to the first fluid outlets. The outlets are configured so that when a fluid flows out the first fluid outlets, the first rotating portion rotates in a first sense, and the fluid is forced out the second fluid outlets, thereby causing the second rotating portion to rotate in a sense opposite to the first sense. The first and second rotating portions may be connected to drive an electrical generator. The generator and the rotating portions may all be configured to rotate about a single axis, and may all be supported by bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Pentti Henrik Parviainen
  • Publication number: 20040115040
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for use in a gas turbine engine to rotatably mount a torque tube in an access hole extending through a fan duct. The torque tube connects a variable stator vane bell crank positioned inside the fan duct to an actuator positioned outside the fan duct. The bearing assembly includes a bearing having a spherical external engagement surface and a housing having a flange and an annular interior surface having an inner edge and an outer edge. The interior surface is sized and shaped for rotatably receiving the spherical external engagement surface of the bearing so the spherical engagement surface and the annular interior surface make contact along an annular contact area centered on a contact plane lying between the inner and outer edges. The contact plane is tilted with respect to the flange at an angle greater than five degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julius Bathori, Sang Yeng Park, Mitchell Jay Headley
  • Publication number: 20040062635
    Abstract: A water pump (10) and impeller (30) for use in applications such as internal combustion engines. A plurality of holes (40, 44) are formed near the hub and periphery of the impeller (30) of the water pump to provide coolant flow through a cavity (22) housing a seal. The seal (18) is thereby cooled to prevent premature failure of the seal (18) due to overheating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: John A. Serio
  • Patent number: 6655910
    Abstract: A gas bearing system for use in a turbocompressor or similar device that embodies a uniquely configured thrust washer or disk that exhibits superior strength characteristics when the disk is rotated at high speed. The thrust washer is a generally circular-shaped disk, has a predetermined diameter and comprises a body portion having spaced apart faces and a generally “V” shaped groove formed intermediate the spaced-apart faces to define a pair of radially outwardly extending segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: G. Fonda-Bonardi
  • Publication number: 20030170112
    Abstract: A gas-handling centrifugal pump has impellers for pumping gaseous materials containing up to 50% by volume free gas. The impellers have split vanes with high exit angles up to about 90 degrees and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The split vanes define flow passages that contain large diameter balance holes that typically range between 45% to 100% of the width between each split vane. The gas-handling centrifugal pump can be used as a charge pump for a centrifugal pump in a lower tandem configuration within a well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Lin Kao
  • Patent number: 6616423
    Abstract: A turbo-machine includes a housing (1); a rotor (3) of a centripetally flow-through expansion turbine stage (4) overhung on the one end of the rotor shaft; a rotor of a radially flow-through compressor stage (6) overhung on the other end of the rotor shaft; a measuring system (7) for directly detecting an axial thrust of the rotor shaft (2) supported in roller bearings (8); and at least two pressure control valves (10, 11), which are installed in control lines (12, 13) and controlled by a controller (9). Via the control lines (12, 13), a rotor piston surface (14), which is sealed against the housing (1) and located on the rear side of one of the rotors, for example the compressor rotor (5), can be acted upon by the pressure (p1) prevailing on the inlet into the compressor stage, and the pressure (p2) on the outlet of the compressor stage (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Werner Bosen
  • Patent number: 6607348
    Abstract: To avoid formation of condensate or freezing in the tandem gas seals (12, 13) of a gas compressor (1), such as for use in the compression of production of natural gas, when the compressor is temporarily stopped for maintenance or repair of the compressor or instrumentation, the settle out pressure (SOP) in the high pressure gas discharge line (7) from the compressor (1), arising from equalising the inlet and outlet gas pressures, is directed to cause gas to flow through a branch line (25) to the outboard gas seal (13), the gas being heated by an electrical heating coil (28) and its pressure being reduced in a controlled manner. In this way, the gas is prevented from entering its liquid-vapor phase, so that no condensate can form in the inboard and outboard gas seals (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Jean
  • Publication number: 20030133785
    Abstract: A gas bearing system for use in a turbocompressor or similar device that embodies a uniquely configured thrust washer or disk that exhibits superior strength characteristics when the disk is rotated at high speed. The thrust washer is a generally circular-shaped disk, has a predetermined diameter and comprises a body portion having spaced apart faces and a generally “V” shaped groove formed intermediate the spaced-apart faces to define a pair of radially outwardly extending segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: G. Fonda-Bonardi
  • Patent number: 6533537
    Abstract: An impeller for a circumferential current pump does not generate a weld phenomenon and can make a structure of an injection molding metal mold simple. An impeller (2) for a circumferential current pump (1) is provided with a plurality of vane grooves (12) on an outer periphery of a synthetic resin disc-like member (8) rotated by a motor (3a), and is rotatably received with a substantially disc-like space (6) formed between a pump casing (4) and a pump cover (5). An axial hole (15) engaging with a drive shaft (21) of the motor (3a) is formed in a center portion of the disc-like member (8), and a pressure adjusting groove (17) open to both side surfaces (10, 11) of the disc-like member (8) is formed in the axial hole (15). An annular recess portion (18) for arranging a ring gate (20) for injection molding is formed at a position a predetermined size apart from an outer peripheral side of the axial hole (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichi Nakada
  • Patent number: 6517311
    Abstract: A turbo-compressor having a housing and at least one rotor shaft pivotably supported in the housing, with a free shaft end and with a rotor connected with the other end of the rotor shaft. The free end of the rotor shaft facing away from the rotor projects into a pressure chamber connected with the housing, and is acted upon by a pressurized fluid whose force of pressure compensates for the force of the axial thrust acting on the rotor. Thus, the starting friction of the compressor is lower and drive motors of lower output target can be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Energas GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Funke
  • Patent number: 6367241
    Abstract: A thrust compensation apparatus for high-speed rotating machinery includes an electromagnetic thrust bearing having a thrust rotor and a thrust stator, a first chamber filled with a pressurized medium on one side of the bearing, and a second chamber on the other side of the bearing. The pressure differential across the bearing augments the electromagnetic force between the rotor and stator in order to counteract the axial thrust load of the high-speed rotating machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignees: Allison Advanced Development Company, Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Ress, Jr., Mark Stephen Henry
  • Patent number: 6264440
    Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a centrifugal pump includes a housing having a housing cavity, an inlet, and an outlet. A shaft is located in the housing cavity. A radial bearing coaxially surrounds the shaft. The shaft and the radial bearing are rotatable with respect to one another. The impeller includes an impeller hub within an opening and an impeller recess for receiving the radial bearing. A thrust balancing valve is associated with the impeller hub to define a variable orifice for fluidic communication with the inlet. A wall for containing the pumped fluid has an interior surface with different elevations for inhibiting rotational flow and reducing angular velocity of the fluid. The interior surface is disposed adjacent to a rear portion of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Innovative Mag-Drive, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Manfred P. Klein, Jeffrey S. Brown, Scott A. McAloon, Peter E. Phelps
  • Patent number: 6193462
    Abstract: A flow channel and pressure equalizing sections introduce a fluid having substantially no angular momentum into a thrust balance chamber of a thrust balance device. The introduction of this fluid reduces the angular momentum of the fluid in the thrust balance chamber, facilitating the discharge of fluid out of the thrust balance chamber through a variable orifice. The thrust balance chamber exerts a variable pressure onto a rear surface of an impeller of a centrifugal pump. This pressure prevents significant displacement of the impeller during pump operation. The result is a centrifugal pump having good thrust balance properties regardless of flow rate and impeller speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Kubota
  • Patent number: 6129507
    Abstract: A method and device for reducing or eliminating axial thrust in a rotary machine such as a centrifugal pump or compressor by altering the fluid pressure in a cavity formed between a rotor and a housing. The device contains a disk placed along the rotor for subdividing the fluid in the cavity in such a way that all annular gap leakage flow is channeled and pumped through the space between that disk and the rotor from the center of the pump towards the periphery. As a result, the pressure in the cavity is altered to reduce and control the axial thrust on the rotor which becomes independent of the wear state of the shaft seals. In another embodiment, the step of flow subdividing is achieved by providing a set of braking vanes along the periphery of the cavity for reducing the rotational speed of the fluid coming from the cavity as well as from the annular gap and a stationary disk placed along the interior wall of the housing for directing the radial flow of that fluid towards the center of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Technology Commercialization Corporation
    Inventor: Boris Ganelin
  • Patent number: 6036433
    Abstract: In a turbine construction which includes a rotor having at least one radial step formed therein, and at least one packing ring assembly mounted in a stationary turbine component and axially spanning the radial step, a thrust balancing arrangement for the rotor which includes an axial passage in the stationary component extending from a high pressure side of the stationary component and in fluid communication with an area adjacent the radial step on the rotor. A removable restrictor in the passage permits adjustment of the step thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: David Robert Skinner
  • Patent number: 6036435
    Abstract: A thrust bearing for a rotating member that is subject to axial forces causing movement in an axial direction of a rotating member. A sealing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the rotating member. A bearing is positioned adjacent the rotating member. A sealing face is positioned on the bearing. The sealing face is disposed to be in opposed relationship with the sealing surface on the rotating member. A bearing space is located between the sealing face and the sealing surface. A fluid reservoir is positioned in the bearing and is in communication with the bearing space. A passageway extends through the bearing to a volute adjacent the rotating member to supply a fluid to the fluid reservoir. A plurality of pockets are positioned on the sealing face of the bearing. The pockets are positioned to be in communication with the fluid reservoir. A plurality of wedge shaped depressions are positioned on the sealing face of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Pump Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Oklejas
  • Patent number: 6019570
    Abstract: An electric motor turbine-type fuel pump has an impeller driven to rotate by the motor and received between opposed faces of a first body and a second body defining a pumping channel about the periphery of the impeller, each face has a plurality of circumferentially spaced and separate cavities disposed radially inwardly of the pumping channel and constructed to contain pressurized fuel adjacent the impeller to balance the axial forces across the impeller and center the impeller between the first body and second body. If desired, to ensure communication between a cavity and the pumping channel, a shallow groove or flow passage can be provided extending between the cavity and the pumping channel. The cavities in both the first body and second body are complementarily sized and arranged to provide a surface area adjacent the impeller and a pressure therein sufficient to balance the forces acting on each side of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J. Talaski
  • Patent number: 6017184
    Abstract: An integrated bearing system with journal and thrust bearings is incorporated in a single unit centrally pinned to the bearing housing and having integral thrust surface and journal surface lubrication grooves in combination with turbine and compressor wheel thrust surfaces. The bearing employs a first aperture substantially equidistant from the ends to engage the locating pin to prevent rotation of the bearing within the bearing case bore, while allowing the bearing to be free to symmetrically wobble within the bearing case bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Allied Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Grover Aguilar, David George Elpern, Peter John Hebben, Lloyd Bill Jensen, Steven Walter Coleman, Sunhil Nandan Sahay, Douglas Alan Milliken, Raymond Leo Lopez, Werner Wick
  • Patent number: 5873697
    Abstract: The method includes replacing conventional wear rings between a centrifugal pump casing inlet and the rotatable impeller having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades. A substitute wear ring is formed of a thermoplastic polymer, POLY-ETHER-ETHER-KETONE (PEEK) which is thermally stable and self lubricating over a range of temperatures of from zero to 600.degree. F. Because the thermal coefficient of expansion of PEEK is substantially different from the pump casing metal and the impelled metal, the use of the PEEK allows the efficiency of the pump to be increased by correctly calculating the diameters for construction of the wear ring for operation over a selected range of temperatures of the pumped fluid. The process reduces the clearance between the surfaces of the three elements to substantially improve pump efficiency while at the same time vibration and wear are reduced substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Gully
  • Patent number: 5862666
    Abstract: A modified turbine engine design in which control of the forward load on a thrust bearing is improved, while reducing or eliminating the need for the use of a balance piston is disclosed. The turbine engine has a longitudinal axis and comprises, a compressor for pressurizing gases in the engine. The impeller has an impeller rear face and a tip. The engine further comprises a shaft mounted to a thrust bearing for rotation about the axis. The impeller is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. A cavity fixed within the engine casing is defined at least by the impeller rear face and is in communication with the pressurized gases at the impeller tip. The engine further comprises a bleed in communication with both the cavity and the pressurized gases, so that the cavity is pressurized by the pressurized gases from the impeller tip and the bleed, thereby loading the impeller rear face to load the thrust bearing through the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaoliu Liu
  • Patent number: 5827040
    Abstract: A system to hydrostatically augment the thrust load capacity of a bilateral compliant foil hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing for a turbomachine is disclosed. A plurality of channels and fixed orifices are provided in the bearing thrust plate to deliver and regulate compressor bleed air flow to the compressor side of the bilateral compliant foil hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing which includes additional channels and orifices to direct the bleed air against the bearing rotor thrust disk. After impinging on the rotor thrust disk, the bleed air flow exits the thrust bearing through a plurality of variable orifices comprised of the hydrodynamic thrust bearing elements which are controlled in their flow conductance by the axial position of the rotor thrust disk. The bleed air may then pass through the adjacent journal bearing which functions as a fixed orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Bosley, Ronald F. Miller
  • Patent number: 5795127
    Abstract: A self-priming, vertical-shaft centrifugal pump having an impeller design which creates an upward thrust and which is heavy enough to carry an engine having a standard weight flywheel through a compression stroke. The pump is comprised of a vertical-shaft engine mounted onto a pump housing. The pump housing includes an inlet chamber, a pumping chamber, and a separation chamber. The shaft of the engine protrudes into the pumping chamber and is mounted to an impeller which rotates within the pumping chamber. The pump draws liquid into the pumping chamber from an inlet communicating liquid entrained with gas to the pump. The impeller uses centrifugal force to pump the liquid and gas mixture out of the pumping chamber and into the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: David M. DeClerck
  • Patent number: 5605434
    Abstract: An impeller of a centrifugal pump for transporting dirty liquids has transport elements, for example back-vanes or grooves disposed on the pressure side of a cover disk. The transport elements are arranged asymmetrically and are limited to one arc sector of the cover disk to create a transverse stream that rotates with the impeller. Solids which have penetrated into the space to the side of the wheel are carried out by this stream in the direction of the transport elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Haag, Christoph Jaeger, Wolfgang Kochanowski, Thomas Pensler, Rolf Witzel
  • Patent number: 5577885
    Abstract: A condensing turbine includes a live-steam inlet, an exhaust-steam outlet and at least two seals for sealing off a turbine casing in the region of a turbine shaft carrying a turbine rotor. At least one of the seals is disposed on the live-steam side and one of the seals is disposed on the exhaust-steam side. The overall construction is substantially simplified by constructing at least one respective seal as a gas-lubricated mechanical surface seal on both the live-steam side and the exhaust-steam side. The outermost mechanical surface seals in each case on the live-steam side and the exhaust-steam side seal off separate seal spaces which are acted upon through a balancing line by an identical vacuum lying below the outer atmospheric pressure. These mechanical surface seals are constructed and fitted in such a way that a flow which is necessary for gas lubrication can occur through the mechanical surface seals from the outer atmosphere into the interior of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Urlichs
  • Patent number: 5542817
    Abstract: Notches in the impeller cooperate with balancing holes therein, and a liquid-receiving slot, to direct liquid across the leading edges of impeller vanes to flush away any accreted substances therefrom. In addition, a large diameter deflector coupled to the hub of the impeller also cooperates with the notches to deflect the flushing liquid in the direction of the main liquid flow through the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Flygt AB
    Inventor: Bengt-Ake Brandt
  • Patent number: 5540546
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a rotatable shaft. A bush has a circumference with the bush being disposed about the shaft. The bush has a plurality of openings disposed throughout the circumference. Each of the plurality of openings is spaced from the remaining openings. A slot, having a first end and a second end, is disposed between the shaft and the bush. The first end is exposed to fluid having a first pressure. The second end is exposed to fluid having a second pressure which is less than the first pressure. The plurality of openings is exposed to fluid having a third pressure which is less than the first pressure and greater than the second pressure such that fluid flowing from the plurality of openings into the slot exits exclusively from the second end of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jean C. Bouricet
  • Patent number: 5472321
    Abstract: An improvement in a fuel pump for an internal combustion engine in which the fuel pump comprises an electric motor over which fuel is pumped to cool the motor, and a pump mechanism, constituted as a side-channel pump driven by the electric motor, pumps the fuel. The pump mechanism has a pump impeller provided with two opposite radial surfaces each provided with an annular ring of blades respectively cooperating with side channels provided in a pump wall to constitute first and second pump stages. A connecting channel connects an inlet region of the side channel of the second pump stage with a discharge region of the side channel of the first pump stage in an arrangement to substantially eliminate torsional moments acting on the impeller during a fuel pumping operation. A first flat region is formed on the radial surface of the pump impeller in the first pump stage and a second flat region is formed on the radial surface of the pump impeller in the second pump stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Radermacher
  • Patent number: 5427498
    Abstract: The centrifugal pump with an open-faced impeller comprises at least one open-faced impeller having blades placed inside a casing defining both a delivery pipe and a suction pipe facing the base of the blades situated in the vicinity of a central shaft for driving the impeller. An active axial balancing system for the rotary assembly is integrated in the impeller and comprises a balancing chamber interposed between the rear face of the body of the impeller and an outer rear portion of the casing, the impeller itself acting as the balancing turntable. A shroud-forming intermediate part is prevented from rotating relative to the casing and is interposed between an outer front portion of the casing and the impeller, a cavity is formed between the outer front portion of the casing and the intermediate part to receive a back pressure of predetermined value serving, in operation, to maintain small clearance without contact between the intermediate part that is prevented from rotating and the blades of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventors: Jean-Robert Lehe, Andre Beaurain, Rene Bosson, Etienne Tiret
  • Patent number: 5385442
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump with an open-faced impeller for conveying a working liquid, the pump comprising at least one open-faced impeller provided with blades placed inside a casing defining a suction pipe facing the bottoms of the blades in the vicinity of a central shaft that drives the impeller and forming a part of a rotary assembly, and a delivery pipe fitted with a fixed diffuser disposed facing the peripheral ends of the blades. An active axial balancing system for the rotary assembly, which balancing system is integrated in the impeller and comprises a balancing chamber interposed between the rear face of the body of the impeller and an outer rear portion of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventors: Jean-Robert Lehe, Andre Beaurain, Rene Bosson, Etienne Tiret
  • Patent number: 5312226
    Abstract: A turbo compressor in which a rotor having impellers is supported by a magnetic bearing is constructed such that a control valve is provided in a thrust balancing line connecting a suction line of the compressor to a balancing chamber formed outside a balancing drum provided at one end side of a rotor. The control valve serves to regulate a rate at which a gas flows through the thrust balancing line, and is adapted to be controlled in relation to a load imposed upon the magnetic thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Miura, Kazuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 5312225
    Abstract: In a turbo machine with magnetic bearings on both sides and dry gas seals for the rotor, the axial thrust acting upon the rotor and generated by the pressure difference between the pressure side and the suction side is compensated for in that a dry gas seal provided on the suction side and the end of the shaft are acted upon by a certain pressure, which generates a compensating axial thrust, so that the resultant axial thrust becomes as slight as possible. Advantageously, this pressure is regulated via the bearing gap of an axial magnetic bearing of the rotor such that the bearing gas assumes a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Sulzer Escher Wyss AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Lorenzen
  • Patent number: 5253986
    Abstract: An impeller-type pump system includes a housing defining a pump chamber and a fluid inlet communicating with the chamber. An impeller is rotatably mounted in the pump chamber downstream of the inlet. The impeller includes a rear magnet hub mounting an axially facing driven magnetic coupling. Bearings are provided about the outside of the impeller for rotatably mounting the impeller in the pump chamber. Ceramic barrier discs are located behind the impeller to define a closure sealing the rear of the pump chamber. Ball bearings are mounted in a cup-shaped recess in the rear face of the magnet hub and bearing against the ceramic barrier discs at least during start-up of the pump. The sidewalls of the recess diverge away from the ceramic barrier discs, whereby the ball bearings move away from the ceramic barrier discs under centrifugal force in response to rotation of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Milton Roy Company
    Inventors: John C. Bond, Homer E. Gravelle, William J. Mabe
  • Patent number: 5205706
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal positioned between a turbine rotor and inner platforms of vanes of a turbine assembly controls the leakage flow of fluid from a chamber to the flowpath through the turbine assembly. The labyrinth seal is divided into two parts by a second chamber positioned between two adjacent fins of the labyrinth seal. The chamber is located at a predetermined position in the seal such that a predetermined pressure, sufficient to supply fluid to cool a stage of turbine rotor blades in the turbine assembly, is selected. The second chamber is interconnected to the turbine blades by passages, and a chamber. The pressure of fluid in the second chamber is less than that which would normally exist in the second chamber, because fluid is being supplied from the second chamber to the second stage of turbine rotor blades. The flow of fluid from the second chamber, through the second part of the labyrinth seal, to the flowpath through the turbine is therefore reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Bryan L. Belcher
  • Patent number: 5137418
    Abstract: A floating, self-centering impeller for a turbine pump assembly has a plurality of "D-shaped" recesses arranged in one or more circumferential rows on its end surfaces to induce pressurized film between its end surfaces and adjacent thrust surfaces of side plates to prevent galling or seizing of the pump as the impeller is rotated. A corresponding array of such "D-shaped" recesses may be provided on the opposing surfaces of the side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Roy E. Roth Company
    Inventor: Leonard J. Sieghartner
  • Patent number: 5106263
    Abstract: A small-sized centrifugal pump is improved in its efficiency and performance by having an impeller the height of which is higher than theoretically calculated value and decreases in the circumferential direction from the central portion, and which has a flow channel with a narrow and constant width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Masao Irie