Weir Slurry Group, Inc.

Weir Minerals Europe Limited

Aleksander S Roudnev

Randy J Kosmicki

Ricardo Abarca Melo

Luis Moscoso Lavagna

Craig Ian Walker

Ronald J Bourgeois

Pavol Loderer

Ricardo Augusto Abarca Melo

A pump () comprising a pump casing () having front and rear sides () with a pumping chamber (), a chamber inlet () and a discharge outlet (). An impeller () within the chamber rotates about an axis. The chamber includes an inner region at or near the axis and an outer region remote from the axis within which is the discharge outlet. The impeller includes a shroud () having front and rear faces () with a plurality of pumping vanes (). A collection chamber () is provided at the rear side of the pump casing in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The impeller includes one or more passageways () through the shroud, one end opening into the collection chamber and the other opening into the pumping chamber through the impeller front face. A flow inducer () is within the collection chamber, which includes a venting outlet () and a transfer outlet zone in fluid communication with the outer region of the pumping chamber.

Froth pump and method

A floating ring seal arrangement for rotodynamic pumps comprises a flexible ring that is structured to fit within a circular channel formed by generally concentric grooves in the rotating and non-rotating elements of the pump, the ring further being sized to rest against the inner diameter of the groove of the rotating element when static, and capable of radially expansion under centrifugal forces to cause the flexible ring to float in the circular channel during operation of the pump, or deformation under centrifugal or pressure forces such that gaps between the flexible ring and groove in the non-rotating element are minimized or eliminated.

Flexible floating ring seal arrangement for rotodynamic pumps

In accordance with the present invention, an impeller for use in a centrifugal pump has at least one vane the radially outer terminal end of which is configured to produce a flow velocity profile that controls and reduces the wear caused by slurry fluid being expelled from the impeller on the inner surface of the pump casing. The impeller vanes of the present invention are generally configured with a radially outwardly extending portion, as compared with the conventional straight or concave edge of an impeller vane. The outwardly extending portion may vary in shape, but is selected to produce a flow velocity profile that reduces wear in the pump casing.

Velocity profile impeller vane

A selectively configured volute for incorporation into a centrifugal pump of the volute type is disclosed for use in processing heavy duty slurries that are characterized by containing particularly large and/or abrasive particulates that are known to degrade the pump casing or pump casing liner. The configured volute of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in connection with the use of an impeller having expelling vanes that aggressively pump out slurry from the seal face of the pump. The configured volute of the present invention provides resistance to wear when processing heavy duty slurries and provides stable flow performance and improved pump performance.

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DeForest, WI, United States of America

Aleksander S Roudnev