Vaneless centrifugal pump

Abstract

A centrifugal pump utilizing laminar action induced by a vaneless impeller and having a minimal drag front plate which cooperates with the circular rotor. The smooth surface of the concave face of the circular rotor has no protrusions or vanes and approximates an Archimedian curve. Material entering the intake port of the front plate is diverted about the rotating circular rotor and redirected in an outwardly direction along the minimal drag interior surface of the front plate to the discharge port of the output housing. The narrowing of the interior surface of the front plate in a radially outward direction with respect to the concave face of the impeller helps the pump to maintain a constant volumetric flow rate. Inasmuch as the 'redirecting' of the incoming material stream follows an approximate Archimedian spiral, the pressures applied against the impeller and the forces acting centrifugally on the material stream join to produce the optimum imparting of kinetic energy to the material stream for the particular impeller speed. As a slurries pump, the vaneless design permits any particulate size that can clear the discharge port of the pump to safely transit through the pump without maceration or undue agitation. As cavitation is totally absent, the pump can easily handle the movement of fragile, volatile or gaseous materials and can be operated over a wide range of speeds, matching desired feed without undue loss of efficiency. Lacking vanes, the impeller offers very low starting torque under a loaded condition.