US3289596A - Combination centrifugal and turbine pump - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1966 F, H. SPRINGER COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL AND TURBINE PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR.

" FREDERICK HOWARD SPRINGER HIS AGENT 1366- 1966 F. H. SPRINGER COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL AND TURBINE PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sh at INVENTOR.

HIS AGEN m FREDERICK HOWARD SPRINGEQ V1. N013 wm oww mm. mm

Dec. 6, 1966 F. H- SPRINGER 3,289,595

COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL AND TURBINE PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet FREDERICK HOWARD SPRINGER INVENTOR.

Hi5 AGENT Dec. 6, 1966 F. H. SPRINGER COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL AND TURBINE PUMP Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets$heet 4 FREDERICK HOWARD SPRINGER INVENTOR.

0 gf 0m HIS AGENT United States Patent 3,289,596 COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL AND TURBINE PUMP Frederick Howard Springer, Rte. 1 Hale Center, Tex. Filed Sept. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 394,929 6 Claims. Cl. 103-88) This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal pumps and more particularly to improvements in centrifugal pumps to utilize the advantages both of a turbine pump and of a centrifugal pump to direct the liquid from the centrifugal pump into a normal curvilinear path with provisions made to reduce the friction and turbulence to a minimum and without diverting the liquid through 180 degrees to a path parallel with the axis of the pump impeller as has been the custom with high volume turbine pumps.

This application is an improvement on my co-pending application for Combination Screw and Centrifugal Submergible Pump, Ser. No. 300,796, filed August 8, 1963, now Patent No. 3,217,654, dated November 16, 1965.

The present pump is so designed that, as liquid is discharged outward by centrifugal action, it will take a normal curvilinear path, and as liquid is discharged from various peripheral portions of the pump impeller into the involute pump housing, the liquid, discharged at various peripheral segments of the pump housing, will be maintained separate from liquid discharged from other segments of the pump housing for a portion of the travel within the involute pump housing, and with the portion of the pump housing, into which the liquid is beingdischarged being of the same or increasing volume so as not to impede the flow of liquid at any point of discharge into a final outlet passage, which passage is equal to or exceeds the composite totals of all peripheral discharge passages, thereby reducing the back pressure, friction, and turbulence caused by the pumping action to a minimum and increasing the efficiency of the pump over conventional centrifugal pumps and turbines to a marked degree.

An object of this invention is to provide a combination centrifugal and turbine pump of increased efiiciency which will enable liquid to be drawn thereinto in a swirling action so as to enable the inlet side of the pump housing to be maintained fully charged with liquid for efficient operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination centrifugal and turbine pump housing having a plurality of inlets thereinto which has a dividing wall therebetween, the pump housing being so shaped and constructed as to give a spinnnig motion to the liquids drawn thereinto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination centrifugal and turbine pump housing which is divided into a multiplicity of discharge segments of increasing volumetric capacity as the liquid flows outward therethrough, and these segments being so arranged as to prevent the liquid initially discharged from the impeller from being directed laterally into the curvilinear swirling liquid previously discharged, and with all of the discharged segmental outlets being directed into an enlarged outlet common to all segmental outlets and being of greater cross sectional area than the composite area of all the discharge segmental outlets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal pump which may be readily connected to a prime mover unit for movement over the terrain and for submerging into a body of liquid so that the inlet openings of the pump will always be flooded.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a pump with a screw type impeller, the inlet opening of the impeller being in shearing relation with transversely ar- "ice ranged bladed elements to direct the liquid from the inlet openings into the impeller with a swirling motion.

Still another object of the-invention is to provide a pump whereby modular sections of shafting and shaft housing may be coupled into any relation to enable the pump to be spaced from the prime ,mover any desired distance.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination centrifugal and turbine pump in which substantially all the power is utilized to perform the lifting action.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a combination centrifugal and turbinepump, the suction and pump being submerged in the water that is to be pumped.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a combination centrifugal and turbine pump which combines the characteristics of a centrifugal pump, a screw pump, and a turbine so as to eliminate a low pressurearea at the inlet end of the impeller blades by the utilization of a spiral screw impeller element which will maintain a charge of liquid in this area which is equal to or in excess of the capacity of the pump, and which haslow discharge back pressure. I

Yet another'object of the invention is to provide, in combination, a centrifugal and turbine pump having a stator element therein to introduce liquid into the pump in a swirling motion so as to lessen the amount of impact on the impeller blade, which will give a pump of greater capacity than a conventional pump of the: same size.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a combination centrifugal and turbine pump, a stator vane which is so arranged as to present a cutting edge in shearing relation with the vanes of the screw element, so that foreign matter such as weeds, stalks, animal matter, and the like, which are drawn into the pump will be chopped into bits, thereby preventing clogging of the impeller.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. ;1.is a sectional ,view through the terrain in which a body of liquid is located and showing the pump, pump shaft housing, and prime mover in elevation, with the pump being shown as submergedin the body of liquid;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken approximately on line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 isa sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in,the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view through the centrifugal pump, pump shaft housing, and showing the pump shaft in elevation, with parts of the pump shaft housing and pump shaft being broken away and shortened to bring out the details of construction, and with parts being shown in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4, lookinginthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 4,

looking in thedirectionindicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional ,view taken on line 8-1-8 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevational view of the screw impeller charging means within the inlet iopening of the screw impeller;

FIG. 10 is an .enlarged-elevational view of the pump impeller removed-from the housing, with parts broken away and shown in section to bring out the details of construction; and

- 3 FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the impeller removed from the pump and showing the screw charging means in the inlet end thereof.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a power unit which, in the present instance, is an internal combustion engine mounted on a trailer unit 2, which trailer unit may be attached to a trailer hitch 4 on a traction element, such as a truck, tractor, or the like.

The power unit 1 has a shaft 6 extending rearward therefrom, which shaft 6 has universal joints 8 therein so that the shaft 6 will connect with shaft 10, which shaft 10 extends rearward from the universal joints 8 into tubular members 12, which tubular members 12 have a pump 13 on the distal end thereof. Each tubular member 12 has at least one bearing 14 therein to maintain the shaft 10 is axially aligned relation with respect to the tubular members 12. It is preferable to have the tubular members 12 made up in uniform modular lengths and connected together, as by bolt flanges 16, which bolt flanges 16 are faced and piloted to enable the separation thereof to give access to a shaft coupling joint 18 which secures lengths of shaft 10 together, thereby enabling a length of shaft 10 and the modular lengths of tubular members 12 to be the same, so when the lengths of shaft 10 are recoupled by shaft coupling joints 18, the flanges 16 on each end of each modular length of tubular members 12 will fit together to give a housing of tubular members 12 and shafts 10 of any desired length.

A hinge joint is provided intermediate the power unit 1 and the adjacent end of one of the tubular members 12, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The power unit 1 has a pair of frame members 23 which extend rearwardly therefrom. Each of the frame members 23 has a hole therein to receive a pivot pin 22. A arcuate slot 26 is for-med in each frame member 23 to receive a bolt 24 therein. The tubular member 12 has a forwardly extending, apertured channel member 25 secured thereto on each side thereof, which channel members 25 are in overlapping, side-by-side relation, with the respective frame members 23. The pivot pin 22 passes through the hole in each of the frame members 23 and through an aperture in each channel member 25 to form a hinge joint.

The bolt 24 passes through the respective apertures in channel members 25 and through the respective arcuate slots 26 in frame members 23 to enable the channel members 25 to be secured to the frame members 23, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each frame member 23 has an out-turned lug 21 thereon to abut with the respective upper flanges of the channel members 25, when the channel members 25 are in aligned relation with the respective frame members 23, so as to hold the channel members 25 in supported relation with respect to frame members 23, for movement of the power unit 1 over the terrain, as shown in FIG. 3. The bolts 24 may be loosened to enable the pump 13 to be backed into a body of water, as indicated at 62, in FIG. 1, whereupon, the bolts 24 may be tightened to hold the power unit 1 in fixed relation with respect to the channel members 25 and tubular member 12.

A support member 28 is connected to the distal end of the outermost tubular member 12 by means of a saddle clamp 30, which saddle clamp30 pivotally mounts an inverted U-shaped member 32, which inverted U-shaped I member 32 connects to the axles 34 of the support member 28. A second inverted U-shaped member 36 is rigidly connected to the axles 34, so, upon back and forth movement of the inverted Uwshaped member 32, which is also connected to the axles 34, the axles 34 and wheels 38 will be moved back and forth, and by manipulation of a winch 40, mounted on a flange 16 on one of the tubular members 12, the pump 13 may be raised and lowered with respect to the terrain on which the wheels 38 are located. In order to tighten or loosen the winch line 42, which passes around pulley 44, which pulley 44 is fixedly secured to the tubular member 12 and thence anchored to inverted U-shaped member 36, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the winch 40 is utilized to wind the winch line 42 thereonto or to unwind the winch line 42 therefrom. This will cause a radius rod 46, which extends forward from axles 34 to move a yoke member 48 along tubular member 12, and at the extreme forward point of movement, bolts 50 in flanges 16 pass through apertures in the yoke 48, and a nut 54 is secured to each bolt 50 to hold the radius rod 46 in rigid relation with respect to the bolts 50.

A combination centrifugal and turbine pump, designated generally at 13, is secured to the distal end of the outermost tubular member 12, with the shaft 57 thereof coupled in axial alignment with shaft 10 which is mounted within tubular member 12. The pump 13 has inlet openings 58 therein and an outlet pipe 60 connected thereto, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter.

With the present arrangement, the device may be moved over the terrain, when arranged in the position as shown in FIG. 3, and when desired, it can be backed into a body of water indicated at 62, as shown in FIG. 1, until the pump 13 is wholly or partially submerged, thereby power loss due to suction of water from a lower level is eliminated. The inlet openings 58 have a screen 64 therearound. The outlet pipe 60 has a flange 66 thereon for connection of a discharge pipe 68 thereto, which discharge pipe 68 may lead to a higher elevation for discharge, as will best be seen in FIG. 1.

With more specific reference to the pump 13 mounted on the tubular member 12, which forms a shaft housing for shafts 10 and 57 to enable the pump 13 to be completely submerged within a body of water, indicated at 62, to enable water to be drawn into the pump 13 and through screen 64 and discharged out through discharge outlet pipes 60 and 68 to a source of use. The Way the pump 13 is completely submerged within water or at least the inlets thereof, the power required to lift the water will be much less than if the pump were positioned above the water and required a suction pipe to extend from the pump to the water. The present pump will exert a suction if an inlet pipe or pipes are connected thereto, as is well known in the art of pumps, therefore it is not deemed necessary to show such inlet pipe as this is fully disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 300,796, filed August 8, 1963, now Patent No. 3,217,654.

The present pump 13, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 11, is characterized by a housing 72 of volute construction in the form of a helix and has a shaft 57 extending thereinto from only one side thereof, which housing 72 is free of shaft packing glands. An impeller 70 is mounted on and secured to shaft 57, as will best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 8. The shaft 57 is journaled in bearings 76 and 78 to maintain the shafts 10 and 57 in axially aligned relation with respect to the volute axis of pump housing 72, with the bearings 78 being supported within bearing support member, designated generally at 80, which bearing support member 80 has dilfuser vanes 82 made integrally therewith, which diffuser vanes 82 are curved, as indicated at 83, adjacent the impeller 70 so as to form cutting edges 85, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter. The center of bearing support member 80 is a central tubular member 84, which central tubular member 84 is secured to or made integral with a flange 86 so as to hold the central tubular member 84 in axially aligned relation with the volute axis of pump housing 72. The flange 86 is bolted to an end flange 88 of inlet housing 90 by bolts 92, which bolts 92 pass through a flange 16 on tubular member 12, through flange 86, and through flange 88 with nuts 93 being fixedly secured to flange 88 to prevent turning to enable the bolts 92 to be inserted and removed from the exterior of inlet housing 90.

The central tubular member 84 has a seal 94 therein which surrounds shaft 57 to form a water tight seal between the central tubular member 84 and the shaft 57. A further seal 96 surrounds shaft and is mounted within a tubular housing 97, which enables a chamber to be formed intermediate the distal ends of tubular housing 97 and central tubular member 84 to enable lubricant to be directed thereinto, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter. The seals 94 and 96 will also exclude water from central tubular member 84 and tubular housing 97. A coupling 98 is secured to shaft 10 exterior of tubular housing 97 to enable the shaft 10' to be coupled to the universal joint assembly 8, as will best be seen in FIG. 2, to enable shaft 10 and impeller 70 to be rotated.

By having tubular member 12, shaft 10, shaft coupling joints 18, and tubular housing 97 of uniform length, the extension from the power unit 1 to the pump 13 may be any convenient length to enable pump 13 to be submerged in the body of liquid to be pumped. Furthermore, by having these units in modular lengths, one or more modular units may be removed from the unit, to enable the shortening of the trailer for transportation over the terrain.

The pump 13 has a volute housing 72 with the impeller 70 secured thereto by a friction taper member 100 which bindingly engages the impeller 70 to the shaft 57 within pump housing 72. The impeller 70 has an outwardly extending neck 102 thereon, which neck 1112 has a ring 104 press fitted thereon (FIG. 9) to form a machined and polished surface which fits in complementary sealing relation with a sealing element, such \as an O-ring 106. The O-ring 106 divides the low pressure area and the high pressure area of the pump 13 when the pump is submerged, and, if the pump 13 is used at a higher elevation than water level, it prevents air being drawn in between ring 104 and the inlet housing 90 and serves to increase the effectiveness of the pump 13.

The diffuser vanes 82 are preferably positioned directly opposite to each other so as to form an inlet opening 58 on each side of each diffuser vane 82. This will enable a full supply of water to pass into the inlet housing 90 and thorugh inlet opening 110 in the end of pump impeller 70 and, due to the curved lips 83 on the terminal ends of the respective diffuser vanes 82, the Water will be directed into the opening in the inlet opening 110 of the pump impeller 70 in the direction of the movement of the water in pump 13, so as to supercharge the pump 13 with the maximum amount of water or other liquid. Inlet opening 110 of the pump impeller 70 has spiral screw vanes 112 therein, each of which has a complementary sharp cutting edge 113 thereon, which cutting edges are closely spaced to the cutting edges 85 on the respective diffuser vanes 82. In this manner, any foreign matter, such as vegetation, animal matter, or the like, which is drawn into the pump will be readily chopped into small bits to prevent clogging of the impeller 70.

The spiral screw vanes 112 are preferably two in numher and are arranged to supplement and augment movement of the water or other liquid passing into the impeller blades 114, which impeller blades 114 are enclosed between a face plate 116 and a back plate 118, so as to define the passages for the water or other liquid being passed therethrough, and which liquid will be directed outward therefrom in a manner well known in the art of centrifugal pump impellers. The length of thespiral on the present impeller is shown to be approximately 120 degrees, however, this may be varied in accordance with the size of the impeller and with the rate of speed at which the impeller is to be driven, so long as the liquid will unload each partial revolution of the pump impeller 70. The volute housing 72 has a series of curvilinear partitions 120 arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals around the periphery of impeller 70, when the impeller is fitted withinhousing 72, as will best be seen in FIG. 8. The partitions 120 are preferably equally spaced and have the inner ends thereofin relatively close fitting relation with the periphery of impeller 70 with the ends 121 forming a knife-like edge to divert the liquid outward as it is slung outward by the spirally arranged centrifugal impeller blades 114. The spaces between the ends 121 are preferably equal to the circumferential spacing formed between the ends of between one to two of the spirally arranged centrifugal impeller blades 114. ner, each time the impeller 70 rotates through the predetermined spacing of the ends 121 of the blades 114, the liquid unloaded from the impeller blades 114 will pass outwardly into spiral passages, as indicated at 122, with the sum total of the passages 122 being less in cross-sectional area than the passage 124, as the partitions 120 are so arranged as to increase in cross-sectional area between the partitions 120 and the impeller 70, as the partitions 120 extend outwardly, with the first partition 120 being in overlapping relation with the second partition 120 in successive order.

In the manner set out above, the liquid which is directed outward from the first segment will not intermix or cause turbulence with the liquid coming from the impeller blades, but will be directed toward the outer periphery of the casing because of its centrifugal rotation, and with the subsequent discharges of liquid passing .into the inner portion of the swirling liquid, the volume is so increased along with each of the successive volumes so that the liquid being subsequently discharged will be discharged into volute housing 72, from which swirling liquid is being discharged, without the liquid being constrained to cause back pressure. In this manner, the turbine effect of the liquid flowing outward at all points of the pump impeller 70 is achieved without distorting the course of the liquid being discharged which flows through a full ninety degree bend to bring the liquid into movement parallel with the axis of the pump impeller 70, as has been the practice heretofore.

The volute pump housing 72, as seen in FIGURE 8, is constructed in the form of a helix so that the outlet pipe 60 increases in volume to permit the velocity of the fluid to decrease and accordingly reduce the fluid friction within the walls of the pipe, thereby enabling a greater flow of liquid to be handled with less horse power than if the fluid were maintained at the high velocity at which it leaves the impeller 70.

The inlet housing Sit is divided into two chambers. The liquid coming in from each of the respective inlet openings 58 will enable the fluid to enter the inlet opening of the impeller 70 in equally divided portions, and wit-h the diffuser vanes 82 curved toward the discharge end, the liquid entering the inlet. opening 110 will enable the inlet opening to be fully charged with liquid, thereby maintaining a hydrostatic pressure on the impeller 70 which will prevent voids or air pockets from being present in the inlet end of the impeller 70, thereby a greater amount of liquid can be handled by the impeller 70 than is normally possible with a centrifugal pump impeller, and with the volute pump housing 72 so shaped and constructed that each portion of the liquid being discharged will remain separated from subsequent liquid being discharged from the next partition or station until the liquid has passed a point radially outward from the impeller hub, thereby preventing radial turbulence with the liquid being directed into a divided curvilinear course until the final station or partition directs the liquid being discharged intopassage 124 leading to outlet pipe 60. This enables a high efficiency pump to develop a discharge of liquid in a curvilinear path to give greater efliciency than if the liquid is turned through 90 degrees to flow through a conduit that surrounds the shaft, as in the case of true turbine pumps.

A lubrication inlet tubing 126 is provided, whereby lubricant, such as oil or grease, may be introduced under pressure to a point'near the bearing 73, and a lubricant outlet tubing 128 is provided whereby the lubricant In this man-,

may be circulated or a differential of pressure provided between the two tubes, so as to maintain the bearings lubricated with oil or grease to prevent encroachment of water into tubular members 84 and 97. The tubular member 97 may be sectionalized and coupled together with couplings 97a at desired points along the length of the tubing to enable access to be gained to couplings 18 to enable lengths of shaft 10 to be inserted or to be removed.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A centrifugal pump comprising;

(a) a volute housing in the form of a helix,

(1) said volute housing having an inlet opening formed in one side thereof in volute axial relation thereto,

(b) circumferentially spiral partitions in said housing intermediate said opening therein and the periphery thereof,

(1) said spiral partition being substantially complementary in curvature,

(2) said housing having a passage intermediate the outer ends of said spiral partitions and the inner periphery of said housing,

(3) said spiral partitions each having the distal end thereof in overlapping relation with respect to the opposite end of the preceeding adjacent partition,

(c) a bearing support connected to the inlet end of said housing,

(d) a shaft journaled in said bearing support,

(e) a unitary vaned impeller including spiral screw vanes integrally associated with impeller blades mounted on said shaft and extending into said housing through said opening therein,

( 1) a hollow casing extending outwardly and axially of said shaft for a spaced distance and including means forming an opening in opposite sides thereof to provide fluid flow to said inlet opening, and

(f) said housing having a discharge opening formed in the periphery thereof tangential to the periphery of said housing.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein:

(a) a partition extends medially between said openings in said hollow casing, with one edge of said partition cooperating in close tolerance relationship with one edge of said screw vane; whereby,

(b) said screw vane and said partition cooperate in knife-like relationship to thereby chop-up foreign matter which is drawn into the pump.

3. The pump of claim 2, wherein:

(a) the inner end of said partition is curved laterally across the face thereof in the same direction with respect to the axis of said shaft.

4. In a centrifugal-turbine pump for pumping liquids;

(a) a volute housing of a width and diameter to receive pump type impeller therein,

( 1) an inlet opening formed in one side of said volute housing,

(2) an impeller rotatably mounted in said housing and having the inlet opening thereof in complementary register with the inlet opening in said housing,

(3) the inlet end of said impeller being provided with at least two vaned, screw-like members therein, so as to direct liquid into said impeller in a super-charged relation,

(4) said inlet opening of said pump including medial stationary vanes located transversely therein,

(5) the ends of said vane adjacent said inlet opening of said pump being curved to form a blade-like member with the edges thereof in 8 complementary cutting relation with the outer edge of said screw-like vanes of said impeller,

(6) the inlet opening Within said housing being of a size to admit the maximum amount of liquid to be pumped by said pump,

(b) a multiplicity of curvilinear vanes mounted within said volute housing,

(1) the ends of said vanes adjacent said impeller being arranged in tangential curvilinear relation to the periphery of said impeller,

(2) the volume space between each curvilinear vane and the inner diameter of said volute housing being equal to or in excess of the amount of fluid discharged by said segment duning the rotation of said impeller through an are between the ends of the curvilinear vanes adjacent said impeller, with each said vane within said volute housing extending at least the length of the segmental distance of each succeeding vane,

(3) the terminal discharge of all said curvilinear vanes discharging into an outlet of said housa (4) the outlet of said housing being at least as great in cross-sectional area as the combined areas of said respective vanes at the discharge end thereof, so said liquid from said impeller may be discharged radially from said impeller to any point around the periphery thereof, and

(c) means for rotating said impeller within said hous- 5. A centrifugal pump comprising:

(a) a volute housing,

(1) said volute housing having an inlet opening formed in one side thereof in volute axial relation thereto,

(b) circumferentially spiral partitions in said housing intermediate said opening therein and the periphery thereof,

(1) said spiral partitions being substantially complementary in curvature,

(2) said housing having a passage intermediate the outer ends of said spiral partitions and the inner periphery of said housing,

(3) said spiral partitions each having the distal end thereof in overlapping relation with respect to the opposite end of the preceeding adjacent partition,

(c) a bearing support connected to the inlet end of said housing,

(d) a shaft journaled in said bearing support,

(e) a vaned impeller mounted on said shaft and extending into said housing through said opening therein,

(1) said inlet opening in said housing surrounding said shaft, and

(f) said housing having a discharge opening formed in the periphery thereof tangential to the periphery of said housing,

(g) a hollow casing extends outwardly axially of said shaft for a spaced distance,

(1) said hollow casing having an opening formed in opposite sides thereof,

(h) a partition extending medially between said openings in said hollow casing,

( 1) the inner end of said partition being curved laterally across the face thereof in the same direction with respect to the axis of said shaft.

6. In combination with a centrifugal pump having a volute housing including an inlet opening in one side thereof in volute axial relation thereto, a discharge opening formed in the periphery of the housing, a shaft journaled to the inlet end of said housing, the improvement comprising:

(a) a vaned impeller mounted on said shaft and ex- 6.1 tending into said housing through said opening therein,

(1) said varied impeller being of unitary construction and including spiral screw vanes associated with impeller blades so as to direct liquid into said impeller in a supercharged relation,

(b) a hollow casing extending outwardly from said housing and axially about said shaft with spaced References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Leffel 103111 Peterson 103-111 Victoria 103-411 Klosson 1031 11 Judd 10388 Howe 103-111 Vaughan 103--111 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Italy. Sweden.

20 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

HENRY F. RADUAZO, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP COMPRISING; (A) A VOLUTE HOUSING IN THE FORM OF A HELIX, (1) SAID VOLUTE HOUSING HAVING AN INLET OPENING FORMED IN ONE SIDE THEREOF IN VOLUTE AXIAL RELATION THERETO, (B) CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPIRAL PARTITIONS IN SAID HOUSING INTERMEDIATE SAID OPENING THEREIN AND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, (1) SAID SPIRAL PARTITIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY IN CURVATURE, (2) SAID HOUSING HAVING A PASSAGE INTERMEDIATE THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID SPIRAL PARTITIONS AND THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID HOUSING, (3) SAID SPIRAL PARTITIONS EACH HAVIG THE DISTAL END THEREOF IN OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE PRECEEDING ADJACENT PARTITION, (C) A BEARING SUPPORT CONNECTED TO THE INLET END OF SAID HOUSING, (D) A SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID BEARING SUPPORT, (E) A UNITARY VANED IMPELLER INCLUDING SPIRAL SCREW VANES INTEGRALLY ASSOCIATED WITH IMPELLER BLADES MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND EXTENDING INTO SAID HOUSING THROUGH SAID OPENING THEREIN, (1) A HOLLOW CASING EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND AXIALLY OF SAID SHAFT FOR A SPACED DISTANCE AND INCLUDING MEANS FORMING AN OPENING IN OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF TO PROVIDE FLUID FLOW TO SAID INLET OPENING, AND (F) SAID HOUSING HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING FORMED IN THE PERIPHERY THEREOF TANGENTIAL TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID HOUSING.

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