U.S. patent application number 14/819800 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-30 for impeller with axially curving vane extensions to prevent airlock.
The applicant listed for this patent is Flow Control LLC.. Invention is credited to Jeffrey D. LOPES.
Application Number | 20160186758 14/819800 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55264763 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160186758 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LOPES; Jeffrey D. |
June 30, 2016 |
IMPELLER WITH AXIALLY CURVING VANE EXTENSIONS TO PREVENT
AIRLOCK
Abstract
A pump has a housing that includes an inlet to receive a liquid
to be pumped, an outlet to provide the liquid being pumped, a
pumping chamber between the inlet/outlet; and a motor shaft to
rotate in the pumping chamber. The impeller is arranged on the
motor shaft, includes radially curved vanes to rotate inside the
pumping chamber to pump the liquid from the pumping chamber to the
outlet; and includes anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially
curving vane extensions that extend along the axis of the shaft,
rotate with one part inside the pumping chamber, protrude through
the inlet and rotate with another part outside the inlet for
submerging in liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, draw the
liquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide the
liquid to the radially curved vanes to generate pressure to force
entrapped air from the pumping chamber.
Inventors: |
LOPES; Jeffrey D.;
(Gloucester, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Flow Control LLC. |
Beverly |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55264763 |
Appl. No.: |
14/819800 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62033814 |
Aug 6, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
415/56.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 13/02 20130101;
F04D 29/245 20130101; F04D 9/005 20130101; F04D 1/14 20130101; F04D
29/2277 20130101; F04D 9/002 20130101; F04D 13/06 20130101; F04D
29/4293 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04D 9/00 20060101
F04D009/00; F04D 29/42 20060101 F04D029/42; F04D 29/24 20060101
F04D029/24; F04D 1/14 20060101 F04D001/14; F04D 13/02 20060101
F04D013/02 |
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising: an anti-airlock impeller configured to be
mounted on a motor shaft, the anti-airlock impeller having radially
curved vanes configured to rotate inside a pumping chamber of a
housing of the pump to pump liquid from the pumping chamber to an
outlet of the pump, the anti-airlock impeller also having
anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vane
extensions configured to extend along an axis of the motor shaft,
rotate with one part configured inside the pumping chamber,
protrude through the inlet and rotate with another part configured
outside the inlet for submerging in any liquid to be pumped
underneath the pump, draw the liquid through the inlet into the
pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to the radially curved
vanes in order to generate pressure to force any entrapped air out
of the pumping chamber of the housing.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set of axially
curving vane extensions are defined by parametric equations in a
Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system with t as a sweep parameter,
using a set of equations as follows: x=D*cos(at)*e.sup.-bt,
y=D*sin(at)*e.sup.-bt, and z=h-ct.sup.n, where: a, b, c, and n are
constants that depend on the particular impeller, D is the shaft
hub diameter, and h is the extension length.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radially curving
vanes are configured to provide pumping power for providing the
liquid to be pumped from the pumping chamber to the outlet, and the
set of axially curving vane extensions is configured to force the
liquid below the pump to move axially into the pumping chamber and
into the radially curving vanes to be pumped.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises
the housing having the inlet configured to receive the liquid to be
pumped, the outlet configured to provide the liquid being pumped,
the pumping chamber formed therein between the inlet and the
outlet; and the motor shaft configured to rotate in relation to the
pumping chamber.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises
a centrifugal pump.
6. A pump comprising: a housing having an inlet configured to
receive a liquid to be pumped, an outlet configured to provide the
liquid being pumped, a pumping chamber formed therein between the
inlet and the outlet; and a shaft configured to rotate in relation
to the pumping chamber; and an anti-airlock impeller configured on
the shaft, the anti-airlock impeller having radially curved vanes
configured to rotate inside the pumping chamber to pump the liquid
from the pumping chamber to the outlet, the anti-airlock impeller
also having anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving
vane extensions configured to extend along the axis of the shaft,
rotate with one part inside the pumping chamber, protrude through
the inlet and rotate with another part outside the inlet for
submerging in any liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, draw the
liquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide the
liquid to the radially curved vanes in order to generate pressure
to force any entrapped air out of the pumping chamber of the
housing.
7. A pump according to claim 6, wherein the set of axially curving
vane extensions are defined by parametric equations in a Cartesian
x, y, z, coordinate system with t as a sweep parameter, using a set
of equations as follows: x=D*cos(at)*e.sup.-bt,
y=D*sin(at)*e.sup.-bt, and z=h-ct.sup.n, where: a, b, c, and n are
constants that depend on the particular impeller, D is the shaft
hub diameter, and h is the extension length.
8. A pump according to claim 6, wherein the radially curving vanes
are configured to provide pumping power for providing the liquid to
be pumped from the pumping chamber to the outlet, and the set of
axially curving vane extensions is configured to force the liquid
below the pump to move axially into the pumping chamber and into
the radially curving vanes to be pumped.
9. A pump according to claim 6, wherein the pump is a centrifugal
pump.
10. A centrifugal pump comprising: a housing having an inlet
configured to receive a liquid to be pumped, an outlet configured
to provide the liquid being pumped, a pumping chamber formed
therein between the inlet and the outlet; and a shaft configured to
rotate in relation to the pumping chamber; and an anti-airlock
impeller configured on the shaft, the anti-airlock impeller having
radially curved vanes configured to rotate inside the pumping
chamber to pump the liquid from the pumping chamber to the outlet,
the anti-airlock impeller also having anti-airlock vanes formed as
a set of axially curving vane extensions configured to extend along
the axis of the shaft, rotate with one part inside the pumping
chamber, protrude through the inlet and rotate with another part
outside the inlet for submerging in any liquid to be pumped
underneath the centrifugal pump, draw the liquid through the inlet
into the pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to the radially
curved vanes in order to generate pressure to force any entrapped
air out of the pumping chamber of the housing; the radially curving
vanes are configured to provide pumping power for providing the
liquid to be pumped from the pumping chamber to the outlet, and the
set of axially curving vane extensions is configured to force the
liquid below the centrifugal pump to move axially into the pumping
chamber and into the radially curving vanes to be pumped; and the
set of axially curving vane extensions being defined by parametric
equations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system with t as a
sweep parameter, using a set of equations as follows:
x=D*cos(at)*e.sup.-bt, y=D*sin(at)*e.sup.-bt, and z=h-ct.sup.n,
where: a, b, c, and n are constants that depend on the particular
impeller, D is the shaft hub diameter, and h is the extension
length.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set of axially
curving vane extensions are configured with an axial vane curvature
that is generated through the use of parametric equations in a
Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the parametric
equations in the Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system include t as
a sweep parameter.
13. A pump according to claim 6, wherein the set of axially curving
vane extensions are configured with an axial vane curvature that is
generated through the use of parametric equations in a Cartesian x,
y, z, coordinate system.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the parametric
equations in the Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system include t as
a sweep parameter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit to provisional patent
application Ser. No. 62/033,814 (911-017.043-1//M-RLE-X0014), filed
6 Aug. 2014, which is incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a pump; and more
particularly to a centrifugal pump having an impeller with vanes
for pumping liquid.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Generally, in a centrifugal pump fluid is accelerated
through centrifugal forces exerted on it by an impeller. The
impeller is a rotating disk driven by a motor whose front side has
vanes protruding from it that transmit energy to the fluid being
pumped. The impeller's vanes typically extend close to the inner
casing of the pump body near the pump's inlet, e.g., as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0006] In particular, FIG. 1 shows an example of one known
centrifugal pump generally indicated as P1 having an impeller 2
with radially curved vanes 11. In the pump P1, the pumping process
will most likely fail when the pump's impeller 2 is not fully
submerged in liquid when it begins rotating. The situation in which
this is likely to occur is when air becomes trapped in the pump P1.
This situation is called or known as an airlock situation.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 2, airlock can occur when liquid from a
previous pumping cycle remains in a dip 8 (FIG. 2B) in the piping
of the discharge piping system S of the centrifugal pump P1, but is
no longer in the pump chamber 13 of the housing 7 of the
centrifugal pump P1 itself. For example, compare that shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B, where the pump P1 in FIG. 2A can push water
through the discharge system S that includes the piping having one
or more dips 8; and the pump P1 in FIG. 2B has water trapped in one
"dip" 8 between pumping cycles that causes the pump P1 to airlock,
since air is trapped upstream of the "dip" 8 that prevents water to
be pumped from entering through the inlet 1 and into the pump
chamber or cavity 13 (FIG. 1) of the pump P1. (In other words, the
water outside the pump P1 cannot displace through the discharge
system S the air trapped in the pump chamber 13.) Because of this,
the pump's impeller 2 in FIG. 2B is not touching, and cannot touch,
any liquid in the pump chamber 13, and therefore can't force the
trapped air out of the pump P1. The impeller 2 will remain spinning
in the air indefinitely, and the pump P1 will fail to perform its
intended purpose.
[0008] During normal operation, in the typical centrifugal pump
configuration shown in FIG. 1 liquid enters through the inlet 1 and
is accelerated by the impeller 2 to its periphery due to
centrifugal forces caused by the rotation of the impeller 2 from
the action of the motor shaft 6 which is driven by the motor 5. The
main flow of the liquid exits through the outlet 4 to the discharge
system shown in FIG. 2. However, in order for the pumping process
to occur, the radially curving vanes 11 must be physically
submerged in some liquid in the pumping chamber or cavity 13. In
situations such as that shown and described in relation to FIG. 2B,
liquid pumped out from the pump P1, e.g., during the previous
pumping cycles, can become trapped in the piping of the discharge
system S. As shown in FIG. 2B, the liquid from a previous pumping
cycle has become physically trapped in the "dip" 8 in the outlet
hose. This trapped liquid in the dip 8 prevents air from exiting
the outlet 4 of the pump P1 and traps air inside of the pump
chamber or cavity 13, which is effectively composed of the inside
of the pump housing or body 7 and that portion of the hose upstream
of the trapped liquid. This cavity of trapped air prevents the
typical centrifugal pump impeller 2 from contacting the liquid
below the pump P1 and beginning the pumping process, e.g.,
consistent with the situation shown in FIG. 5.
[0009] In view of the aforementioned, there is a need in the art
for a pump having a better impeller design that overcomes the
aforementioned "airlock" problems with the known impeller
designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The Impeller Equipped with Anti-airlock Axially Curved Vanes
[0010] According to some embodiments, the present invention may
take the form of apparatus featuring a new and unique anti-airlock
impeller configured to be mounted on a motor shaft of a pump, the
anti-airlock impeller having radially curved vanes configured to
rotate inside a pumping chamber of a housing of the pump to pump
liquid from the pumping chamber to an outlet of the pump, the
anti-airlock impeller also having anti-airlock vanes formed as a
set of axially curving vane extensions configured to [0011] extend
along an axis of the motor shaft, [0012] rotate with one part
configured inside the pumping chamber, [0013] protrude through the
inlet and rotate with another part configured outside the inlet for
submerging in any liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, [0014]
draw the liquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and
[0015] provide the liquid to the radially curved vanes in order to
generate pressure to force any entrapped air out of the pumping
chamber of the housing.
[0016] The present invention may also include one or more of the
following features:
[0017] The set of axially curving vane extensions may be configured
with an axial vane curvature that is generated through the use of
parametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system. By
way of example, the set of axially curving vane extensions may be
defined by parametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate
system with t as a sweep parameter, using a set of equations as
follows:
x=D*cos(at)*e.sup.-bt,
y=D*sin(at)*e.sup.-bt, and
z=h-ct.sup.n, [0018] where: [0019] a, b, c, and n are constants
that depend on the particular impeller, [0020] D is the shaft hub
diameter, and [0021] h is the extension length.
[0022] The radially curving vanes may be configured to provide
pumping power for providing the liquid to be pumped from the
pumping chamber to the outlet, and the set of axially curving vane
extensions may be configured to force the liquid below the pump to
move axially into the pumping chamber and into the radially curving
vanes to be pumped.
Combination of Pump and Anti-Airlock Impeller
[0023] According to some embodiments, the present invention may
take the form of an apparatus such as a pump featuring a housing in
combination with the new and unique anti-airlock impeller.
[0024] The housing may include an inlet configured to receive a
liquid to be pumped, an outlet configured to provide the liquid
being pumped, a pumping chamber formed therein between the inlet
and the outlet; and a shaft configured to rotate in relation to the
pumping chamber.
[0025] Consistent with that set forth above, the anti-airlock
impeller may be configured on the shaft, and may include radially
curved vanes configured to rotate inside the pumping chamber to
pump the liquid from the pumping chamber to the outlet. The
anti-airlock impeller may also include anti-airlock vanes formed as
a set of axially curving vane extensions configured to extend along
the axis of the shaft, rotate with one part inside the pumping
chamber, protrude through the inlet and rotate with another part
outside the inlet for submerging in any liquid to be pumped
underneath the pump, draw the liquid through the inlet into the
pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to the radially curved
vanes in order to generate pressure to force any entrapped air out
of the pumping chamber of the housing.
[0026] In operation, the set of axially curving vane extensions is
configured to extend out of the inlet of the housing and cannot be
subjected to a trapped air situation inside the pumping chamber or
cavity of the pump.
[0027] The pump may be a centrifugal pump.
[0028] According to some embodiments, the present invention may
take the form of an apparatus that includes some combination of the
aforementioned features.
[0029] One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
better impeller design for a pump that overcomes the aforementioned
airlock problems with the known impeller designs. For example, the
impeller design according to the present invention features the
anti-airlock vanes that protrudes out from the bottom of the pump
body or housing, which solves the airlock problem that some pumps
might otherwise experience using the known impeller designs.
Because of this, the impeller design according to the present
invention provides an important contribution to the state of the
art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0030] The drawing includes FIGS. 1-8, which are not necessarily
drawn to scale, as follows:
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a typical centrifugal pump configuration that
is known in the art.
[0032] FIG. 2 includes FIGS. 2A and 2B, where FIG. 2A shows a pump
positioning that is likely to cause airlock that is known in the
art; and where FIG. 2A shows the pump in FIG. 2A in an airlock
situation.
[0033] FIG. 3 includes FIGS. 3A and 3B each showing a typical
impeller having only radially curving vanes interior to a pump
housing that is known in the art, where FIG. 3A shows a top view of
the typical impeller; and where FIG. 3B shows a side view of the
typical impeller.
[0034] FIG. 4 includes FIGS. 4A and 4B each showing an impeller
equipped with anti-airlock vanes, according to some embodiments of
the present invention, where FIG. 4A shows a top view of the
impeller equipped with the anti-airlock vanes, according to some
embodiments of the present invention; and where FIG. 4B shows a
side view of the impeller equipped with the anti-airlock vanes,
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a bottom part
of a pump having a pump housing with the typical impeller like that
shown in FIG. 3 configured therein, which results in the radially
curving vanes interior to the pump housing "spinning in air" in an
airlock situation.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a bottom part
of a pump having a pump housing with the impeller equipped with the
anti-airlock vanes like that shown in FIG. 4 configured therein,
where the axially curving vanes extensions protrude from a bottom
opening in the pump housing, e.g., into water underneath the
pump.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a pump having a pump housing
with the typical impeller like that shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 that is
completely enclosed inside the pump body or housing.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a pump having a pump housing
with the impeller equipped with the anti-airlock vanes like that
shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 that protrude out from the bottom of the
pump body or housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 4, 6 and 8
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the present invention may
include, or take the form of, an anti-airlock impeller generally
indicated as 20 (FIG. 4) for configuring in a pump generally
indicated as P2 (FIGS. 6 and 8), having a housing 7 (FIGS. 6 and
8).
[0040] The housing 7 may include an inlet 1 configured to receive a
liquid to be pumped, an outlet 4 configured to provide the liquid
being pumped, a pumping chamber 13 formed therein between the inlet
1 and the outlet 4; and a motor shaft 6 configured to rotate in
relation to the pumping chamber 13, e.g., all as shown in FIG.
6.
[0041] The anti-airlock impeller 20 may be configured on the motor
shaft 6, and may include radially curved vanes generally indicated
as 22 configured to rotate inside the pumping chamber 13 to pump
the liquid from the pumping chamber 13 to the outlet 4 (FIG. 8). In
FIG. 4, the impeller 20 is shown with a base portion 21, and the
radially curved vanes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e.
[0042] The anti-airlock impeller 20 may also include anti-airlock
vanes generally indicated as 24 formed as a set of axially curving
vane extensions 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e configured to extend along
the axis A (FIG. 6) of the motor shaft 6, rotate with one part
generally indicated as 24' (aka 24 w/ a single prime) inside the
pumping chamber 13, protrude through the inlet 1 and rotate with
another part 24'' (aka 24 w/ a double prime) outside the inlet 1
for submerging in any liquid to be pumped that is underneath the
pump P2, draw the liquid through the inlet 1 into the pumping
chamber 13, and provide the liquid to the radially curved vanes
22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e in order to generate pressure to force any
entrapped air out of the pumping chamber 13 of the housing 7.
[0043] By way of example, the radially curved vanes 22a, 22b, 22c,
22d, 22e may be configured to curve radially from the periphery or
outer rim of the anti-airlock impeller 20, spiral inwardly towards
the center of the anti-airlock impeller 20 and the axis A of the
motor shaft 5, and meet the axially curving vane extensions 24a,
24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4A. In comparison, and
by way of example, the axially curving vane extensions 24a, 24b,
24c, 24d, 24e may be configured to curve axially and spiral about
or in relation to the axis A of the motor shaft 5, and extend
outwardly from the inlet 1 of the housing 7, e.g., as shown in FIG.
4A.
[0044] In FIG. 4, the anti-airlock impeller 20 is shown with five
(5) radially curved vanes and five (5) axially curving vane
extensions, although the scope of the invention is not intended to
be limited to the number of radially curved vanes and/or axially
curving vane extensions. For example, embodiments are envisioned in
which, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, the
anti-airlock impeller 20 having more or less than five radially
curved vanes and/or axially curving vane extensions, e.g.,
including either four radially curved vanes and/or four axially
curving vane extensions, or six radially curved vanes and/or six
axially curving vane extensions, etc. By way of further example,
embodiments are envisioned in which, and the scope of the invention
is intended to include, the anti-airlock impeller 20 may include a
different number of radially curved vanes than axially curving vane
extensions, e.g., including either four radially curved vanes
and/or five axially curving vane extensions, or five radially
curved vanes and/or four axially curving vane extensions, etc.
[0045] In operation, according to some embodiments of the present
invention the pump P2 may include the anti-airlock impeller 20
having the extension or part 24'' protruding out through the inlet
1 of the pump P2 so as to be in contact with liquid underneath the
pump P2 regardless of air that may be entrapped within the pump P2.
This extension or part 24'' may be configured with the axially
curving vanes 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e which draw or force the
liquid to move axially (e.g., in relation to the axis A) into the
pump chamber 13, e.g., as shown in FIG. 6. Once the liquid is
inside the pump chamber 13, the radially curving vanes 22a, 22b,
22c, 22d, 22e can generate enough pressure to force the trapped air
out of the pumping system and the pump P2 can operate normally.
[0046] The set of axially curving vane extensions 24a, 24b, 24c,
24d, 24e may be configured to protrude out from below the pump P2
out through the pump inlet 1, e.g., consistent with that shown in
FIGS. 6 and 8. The axially curving vane extensions 24a, 24b, 24c,
24d, 24e protrude out of the pump inlet 1 for submerging into any
water that may be below the pump P2, e.g., as shown in FIG. 6.
These axially curving vane extensions 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e force
the water below the pump P2 to move axially into the pumping
chamber 13 and into the radially curving vanes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d,
22e. This anti-airlock impeller 20 effectively submerges them and
allows them to generate enough pressure to force any entrapped air
out of the pumping system. FIGS. 7 and 8 show respectively an
exterior view of a pump P1 equipped with a typical impeller that is
completely enclosed inside the pump body and not shown and the
anti-airlock impeller 20 having the extension or part 24'' that
protrudes out from the bottom of the pump P2, according to some
embodiments of the present invention respectively.
The Length of Extending Part 24''
[0047] The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to
any particular length or amount that the extension or part 24'' of
the anti-airlock impeller 20 extends or protrudes out from the
bottom of the pump P2. For example, depending on the particular
application, the extension or part 24'' of the anti-airlock
impeller 20 may be configured to extend or protrude more or less
out from the bottom of the pump P2. In particular, in some
applications, embodiments are envisioned in which, and the scope of
the invention is intended to include, the extension or part 24'' of
the anti-airlock impeller 20 configured to extend or protrude about
one inch out from the bottom of the pump P2; in other applications,
embodiments are envisioned in which, and the scope of the invention
is intended to include, the extension or part 24'' of the
anti-airlock impeller 20 configured to extend or protrude more than
one inch (e.g., two inches) out from the bottom of the pump P2; and
in still other applications, embodiments are envisioned in which,
and the scope of the invention is intended to include, the part
24'' of the anti-airlock vane extension impeller 20 configured to
extend or protrude less than one inch out from the bottom of the
pump P2.
The Axial Vane Curvature
[0048] The set of axially curving vane extensions may be configured
with an axial vane curvature that is generated through the use of
parametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system. By
way of example, the axial vane curvature can be generated through
the use of the below parametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z,
coordinate system with t as the sweep parameter:
x=D*cos(at)*e.sup.-bt,
y=D*sin(at)*e.sup.-bt, and
z=h-ct.sup.n, [0049] Where: [0050] a, b, c, and n are constants
that depend on the particular impeller, [0051] D is the shaft hub
diameter, and [0052] h is the extension length.
[0053] However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be
limited to the aforementioned axial vane curvature, or any
particular axial vane curvature that is now known, or any
particular predetermined parametric equations in the Cartesian x,
y, z coordinate system. For example, embodiments are envisioned,
and the scope of the invention is intended to include, using other
axial vane curvatures that are now known or later developed in the
future, as well as other predetermined parametric equations in the
Cartesian x, y, z coordinate system, within the spirit of the
underlying invention.
Other Components of the Pump P2
[0054] As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the pump P2
includes other components showing in the drawing that do not form
per se part of the underlying invention, and thus are described in
detail. For example, the other components may include the shaft
seal 3, the motor 5, the motor shaft 6 and/or a fastener 6a for
coupling the anti-airlock impeller 20 to the motor shaft 6 of the
motor 5, e.g., as shown in FIG. 6. These other components are known
in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be
limited to any particular type or kind thereof that is either now
known or later developed in the future.
Possible Applications
[0055] Possible applications include: any centrifugal pump which
may be used in a situation in which it can airlock.
The Scope of the Invention
[0056] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention
without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it
is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiment(s) disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention.
* * * * *