Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in molten metal pumps for the transfer of principally molten aluminum and zinc from specialized molten and holding furnaces through fluidics control means downstream of the pump to control the direction of flow of molten metals at 1200.degree.-1600.degree. temperatures. The molten metal pump is characterized by both upper and lower dual volute pumps driven by the same shaft, each having separated intake filtering adjacent the top and bottom of the pump unit. Separated and extended molten metal intake permit molten metal flow from a submerged environment through restricted peripheral ingress slots both about the top and bottom and into both top and bottom independent voluted pump impellers. The invention permits direct use of the novel pump with aluminum metal, whose oxide impurities settle and/or zinc metal whose oxide particles float, in the molten state without pump modification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pumping liquid includes a pump casing with a vortex generating member which generates a swirling column of liquid which swirls about a central axis and which is directed through the pump inlet to discharge into the ambient body of liquid at which its energy is quickly dissipated. The surrounding ambient liquid is drawn through the pump inlet in a counterflow to the vortex column flow and flows into the pump casing and then out through a pump discharge. The preferred vortex generating member was channels of decreasing size converging toward the axis of the vortex column with the streams of liquid increasing their respective velocities as they flow toward the axis at which the streams join and concentrate their energies to form the vortex column. Preferably, the vortex member is driven by a power source.

Abstract: An inventory control device for a pitot pump used in a two-phase flow system, such as a closed-cycle Rankine system or a two-phase cooling loop for space vehicles. In these systems, there is a change of phase between liquid and vapor, dependent upon a change of power level or thermal transport rate. With these systems being used in devices that are subject to significant attitude change or acceleration forces or zero gravity conditions, the inventory control device is gravity insensitive and utilizes a second tube mounted in the pitot pump which is connected to an external accumulator. A pressure relation is established whereby the second tube will maintain a constant level of liquid within the rotating drum of the pitot pump.

Abstract: The improved pitot tube is useful in pitot type centrifugal pumps and is located within a rotor in the pump. The pitot tube projects radially from the axial center line of the pump and has an entry adjacent to the inside of the wall of the rotor. The entry is oriented circumferentially to receive fluid energized by the rotor. The pitot tube has a passageway therethrough which extends from the entry to an outlet located on the axial center line of the pump. Between the entry and outlet there is provided an entry transition portion that is curved to change the direction of flow from centrifugal to radial, a radial portion, and an outlet transition portion that is curved to change the direction of flow through the passageway from radial to axial. Located in the passageway are one or more ribs or vanes which are curved through the entry transition portion of the passageway and extend into the outlet thereof.

Abstract: In an axial blower, a plurality of blades are disposed around a hub and each blade is supported on a respective strut which is rotatable in a pair of radially separated bearings. An axially displaceable disk in the hub is connected with the blades for rotating them. The drive shaft for the rotor is hollow and delivers oil to the disk which in turn delivers it to the rotation levers of the struts. The oil moves successively to the bearings radially outward of the disk and accumulated oil is collected by a scoop at the radially outer bearing. The collected oil is delivered to a collection chamber and is recirculated by a pump back to the hollow shaft. An additional cooling circuit may be provided.

Abstract: A spraying device for spraying liquid from a liquid supply is disclosed herein and includes a two stage pump system having first and second stage pumps, a reservoir with a liquid level control, pump and spray impeller, and a spray control chamber.

Abstract: A heat management system especially adapted for spacecraft including a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a sink having a widely varying temperature and a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a variable heat load. An equilibrator is provided to maintain respective bodies of heat exchange fluid in the liquid state and in the gaseous state. A first flow path is provided for circulating a mixture of liquid phase fluid and gaseous phase fluid from the equilibrator to the first heat exchanger and return fluid from the first heat exchanger to the equilibrator. A second flow path circulates liquid phase fluid from the equilibrator to the second heat exchanger and returns fluid therefrom to the equilibrator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pumping liquid includes a pump casing with a vortex generating member which generates a swirling column of liquid which swirls about a central axis and which is directed through the pump inlet to discharge into the ambient body of liquid at which its energy is quickly dissipated. The surrounding ambient liquid is drawn through the pump inlet in a counterflow to the vortex column flow and flows into the pump casing and then out through a pump discharge. The preferred vortex generating member has channels of decreasing size converging toward the axis of the vortex column with the streams of liquid increasing their respective velocities as they flow toward the axis at which the streams join and concentrate their energies to form the vortex column. Preferably, the vortex member is driven by a power source.

Abstract: An asymmetric rotating rotor prevents or inhibits formation of waves in a liquid ring or rings.

Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal oil pump having improved head and flow output capabilities, which impeller can be machined into the end of a crankshaft. A plurality of radially extending tunnels are disposed horizontally in the crankshaft, with outlets in the perimeter of the crankshaft. An annular groove is provided in the crankshaft, with a groove opening in the bottom surface of the crankshaft and a subtending groove surface defining the depth of the groove. The subtending groove surface is normally narrower than the groove opening, and the groove intersects the tunnels, exposing a part of the tunnel walls to a flow of fluid from directly below. The exposed tunnels act as vanes to scoop oil from the groove and accelerate it to crankshaft speed. Entrained gases collect near the subtending groove surface, and a vent passage is provided to conduct the gases out of the impeller.

Abstract: A centrifugal oil pump for a compressor having improved head and flow performance in which a plurality of tunnels extend radially outward and angularly upward from the face of the impeller and convey oil to the perimeter of the drive shaft during operation. The oil is collected in a chamber of a housing around the bottom of the crankshaft, flows through a channel of an end plate and is transmitted upwardly in a bore of the crankshaft. Entrained gases are vented from each inlet hole to a common annular ring, and through a vent from the annular ring upwardly in the crankshaft.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump including a vertical axle, a flotation member rotatingly engaging the axle for lateral support, a plurality of equidistant radially extending conduits supported by the flotation member, each of the conduits including an intake port adjacent the vertical axis of the flotation member and submersed in the liquid to be pumped and upon which the flotation member of bouyed and a discharge port adjacent the outer terminal edge of the flotation member, and a drive system for rotating the flotation member.

Abstract: A lubricating device, especially for use with a hermetic motor compressor unit, having a vertical shaft extending downwardly into a lubricant sump. The lubricating device comprises a pick-up tube having a larger diameter upper cylindrical portion open at the upper end thereof and adapted for being fitted into a central bore in the shaft, a smaller diameter lower cylindrical portion adapted to be immersed in fluid in the sump, a tapering transition region connecting the upper and lower cylindrical portions, an inlet port extending axially into the lower end of the lower portion, and the pair of diametrally opposite ribs on the lower cylindrical portion comprising ridges on the inner surface and corresponding hollows on the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A lubricating system for machining apparatus having a transmission unit for driving a work-performing tool. The lubricating system includes a housing in which the transmission unit is located and which forms a reservoir for lubricating fluid so that those portions of the transmission unit submerged in the lubricating fluid are continuously lubricated. A passage is formed in the housing and a threaded member is positioned in the passage in close fitting relationship therewith. The passage has an inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir and an outlet in fluid communication with a conduit for conveying lubricating fluid from the passage to selected components of the transmission unit requiring lubrication. The threaded member is rotated by the transmission unit to force lubricating fluid from the reservoir through the passage and the conduit onto those selected components of the transmission unit as it operates.

Abstract: An improved scoop is usable in combination with a wheel providing a rotating peripheral surface with an annular body of liquid supported on that surface and rotating with the wheel. The improvement comprises:(a) The scoop projects partially into the rotating annular body of liquid;(b) The scoop is mounted for rotation about an axis and in a forward direction in response to force transmission to the scoop from liquid entering the scoop;(c) The scoop has an interior surface that is locally curved to turn the entering liquid for discharge from the scoop in a relatively rearward direction; and(d) Substantially the entirety of the scoop interior rearwardly of said interior surface is rearwardly open to the exterior.

Abstract: An improved design of a rotary pump is provided having a rotary pumping chamber with stationary axially disposed fluid inlet and outlet passages communicating therewith. To increase the rotational speed and the flow capacity, the axial inlet passage is enlarged in diameter to approach the diameter of the rotary pumping chamber. To impart the required rotational velocity to the fluid entering the chamber, vanes are provided in the rotating chamber immediately adjacent the axial annular inlet passage. The fluid pickup and discharge unit is defined by a hollow stationary member disposed in the rotary pumping chamber and having in one embodiment, a plurality of peripherally spaced inlet openings transversely positioned to receive the high rotating velocity fluid therein, and in another modification, a substantially continuous annular inlet opening in a radial plane.

Abstract: A pitot heat pump is described wherein a multi-stage pitot pump is employed as the compression means in a heat pump thermodynamic cycle. The heat pump is comprised of a multi-stage vapor pitot pump, liquid pitot pump, turbine, vaporizer, evaporator, condenser and expansion valve. The turbine is used to rotate a shaft to which the impellers of the pitot pump are attached. Refrigerant gas from the evaporator enters the first stage of the pitot pump and the impeller therein forces the refrigerant gas outwardly where it enters the narrow end of a pitot tube provided therein. The discharge end of the pitot tube is in communication with the next stage of the pitot pump. In passing through the pitot tube, the refrigerant gas expands and the centrifugal force and the kinetic energy of the gas provide the energy whereby the refrigerant gas is compressed. After the last stage, the compressed gas is transmitted to the condenser of the heat pump.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator and pitot pump has a rotatable hollow casing for separating contaminants such as suspended solids from an inlet fluid delivered to the interior of the casing. Inside the casing a stationary inner pitot tube has an outlet opening relatively nearer the rotational axis of the casing, and a separate rotatable outer pitot tube has an outlet opening relatively nearer the periphery of the casing. The outer pitot tube is rotated in the same direction of rotation as the casing, but at a slower speed, and the rotating casing forces separated solids outwardly toward the periphery of the casing where the solids are withdrawn in a fluid carrier through the outer pitot tube. Rotation of the outer pitot tube greatly reduces particle erosion of the tube caused by impingement of abrasive solid particulate material when compared with erosion produced on a fixed pitot tube. Clean fluid is withdrawn from an intermediate region of the casing through the stationary inner pitot tube.

Abstract: A small power hermetic motor-compressor suitable for use in an electric refrigerator having a compression mechanism section and a driving electric motor section combined together and confined in a closed container. The compression mechanism section and the driving electric motor section are connected to each other by means of a rotor shaft manufactured through a plastic working of a single steel pipe blank. The rotor shaft has a journal section adapted to be slidingly held by a cooperative bearing section provided on the stationary part of the compressor. A plurality of oil grooves of a relatively small length are press-formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft from the outside thereof. At least one of the oil grooves is provided with an oil passage bore formed through the thickness of the rotor shaft, so that the lubricating oil sucked up along the inner peripheral wall of the rotor shaft is allowed to come out of the rotor shaft and get into the oil groove.

Abstract: A lubricating device for use in hermetic compressors and the like wherein a rotating oil pick-up tube is partially immersed in the oil in the compressor sump, and pumps the oil upwardly by means of centrifugal action to the compressor parts which are to be lubricated. The compressor includes a vertical shaft to which the pick-up tube is connected, wherein the shaft has an open hollow lower end including a pair of locking openings in the inner surface of the hollow portion. A molded plastic oil pick-up tube, which is bifurcated at one end so as to form a pair of resilient locking arms, is inserted into the shaft until a pair of locking nibs snap into the corresponding locking openings. In order to properly orient the pick-up tube about its axis so that the locking nibs are aligned with the corresponding openings, a pair of protruding locking ears on the tube are axially aligned with a pair of corresponding slots in the lower edge of the shaft.

Abstract: A pump for low head duties includes an impeller portion and a diffuser portion which together define the entire liquid retaining and guidance means between the inlet and the outlet, the impeller serving to raise liquid from a lower reservoir and having a plurality of spiral passages therethrough in which, in operation, a free liquid surface vortex is enabled to form, the diffuser portion leading from the impeller outlet having a rotatable section and an upwardly increasing diameter. The impeller comprising vanes having leading edges extending downwardly and outwardly to provide a liquid inlet providing a substantially unobstructed entry to the vanes and automatic control of the quantity of liquid pumped according to the level of liquid in the lower reservoir. The diffuser portion is driven separately at a speed less than the impeller.

Abstract: A lubricating device, especially for use with a hermetic motor compressor unit, having a vertical shaft extending downwardly into a lubricant sump, and in the lower end of which shaft is a device having an inlet in the lower end and operable as the shaft rotates for propelling the lubricant upwardly along a hollow passage in the shaft and into a channel formed in the outside of the shaft and disposed within the axial limits of the bearing which supports the shaft.

Abstract: In a hermetically-sealed motor compressor having a vertically oriented crankshaft into which oil is centrifugally pumped from a sump, the oil pumping tube extending into the sump is cast as an integral part of the lower end ring of the rotor, providing a unitary rotor end ring and oil tube.

Abstract: A gear train is housed in a gear box having upper and lower plates in or on which gear-shaft bearings are mounted. One of the gears functions as a centrifugal gear pump for projecting lubricating oil from a sump in the tank angularly upwardly through openings in the upper bearing-mounting plate to a deflecter plate located thereabove. This oil is deflected angularly downwardly and collected in a recessed area on the upper surface of the upper bearing-mounting plate. Bearing caps are provided with radial ports through which oil collected in the recessed area flows to the bearings and working parts before returning to the sump.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for flowing cooling air from the compressor section to the turbine section of a gas turbine engine are disclosed. Cooling air from the compressor is flowed radially inward through the compressor drum cavity and thence axially rearward along the rotor shaft to the turbine. Vortex pressure losses in the drum cavity are diminished to enable effective utilization of a lower pressure, lower temperature cooling air source. The use of air from the lower pressure, lower temperature source improves the overall engine operating efficiency while maintaining turbine cooling rates which are consonant with durable operation of the engine.

Abstract: A self-priming centrifugal pump includes a housing having an inverted frusto-conically shaped lower portion. A centrifugal impeller is suspended from the shaft of a motor mounted in the top portion of the housing. The centrifugal impeller includes a solids collector member removably attached to its lower end. A cylindrical inlet tube, integral with the frusto-conically shaped lower housing portion, extends into the interior of the centrifugal impeller through an opening in the lower end of the solids collector member. An inverted dish shaped impeller member is located above the centrifugal impeller and directs and impels fluid pumped by the centrifugal impeller toward a plurality of efflux ports located in the pump housing. The centrifugal impeller includes an air hole in the conical wall thereof to allow air to escape as the pump is priming.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of rotating case and fixed arm configuration having a plurality of orifices on the stationary arm to accomodate multi-phase flow whereby the mixed phase charge is separated and discharged at high pressure due to centrifugal force created by the case rotation.