The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 2002
Filed:
May. 21, 2001
Ken Lum, Fresno, CA (US);
Grundfos Pumps Manufacturing Corporation, Fresno, CA (US);
Abstract
A variable width pump impeller that allows for the selection of a fixed impeller width from two or more possible impeller widths. The impeller comprises a first impeller shroud having a plurality of impeller vanes and a second impeller shroud having an equal number of flat surfaces and one or more sets of grooves, each set comprising an equal number of recessed grooves for receiving the vanes of the first impeller shroud. The manufacturer selects between a flow channel formed by the outer edge of the vanes joining against the flat surfaces or one or more flow channel widths formed by vanes being received in the grooves. Once formed, the impeller has a fixed impeller width. Use of the impeller reduces the number of manufacturing molds required to make impellers of different widths and reduces the need to have an inventory of different impeller components.