Impeller with an abradable tip

Abstract

An impeller for moving liquid through a pump system having a body, at least one vane extending from the body and capable of moving liquid through the system during rotation thereof, and a tapered, abradable tip extending from the vane wherein, during rotation of said body, the tapered end of abradable tip wears away in response to contact with the pump housing to produce a reduced amount of abradable material circulating through the system while providing nominal operational clearance between the tip and the housing to improve pumping efficiency.

1 . An impeller for moving liquid through a system, said impeller comprising: 
 a body capable of rotation within a pump housing;    at least one vane extending from said body and capable of moving liquid through a system during rotation of said body; and    an abradable tip extending from said vane and having a tapered end;    wherein, during rotation of said body, said tapered end of said abradable tip wears away in response to contact with said pump housing to produce a reduced amount of abradable material circulating through said system while providing nominal operational clearance between said tip and said housing to improve pumping efficiency.    
   
   
       2 . The impeller of  claim 1  wherein said system is a circulatory system.  
   
   
       3 . The impeller of  claim 2  wherein said circulatory system is a closed circulatory system.  
   
   
       4 . The impeller of  claim 3  wherein said fluid is water.  
   
   
       5 . The impeller of  claim 4  wherein said closed circulatory system is the water pump system of an internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       6 . The impeller of  claim 5  wherein said impeller is manufactured from plastic.  
   
   
       7 . An impeller for moving liquid through a closed circulatory system, said impeller comprising: 
 a body capable of rotation within a pump housing;    at least one vane extending from said body and capable of moving liquid through a closed circulatory system during rotation of said body; and    an abradable tip extending from said vane and having a tapered end;    wherein, during rotation of said body, said tapered end of said abradable tip wears away in response to contact with said pump housing to produce a reduced amount of abradable material circulating through said closed circulatory system while providing nominal operational clearance between said tip and said housing to improve pumping efficiency.    
   
   
       8 . The impeller of  claim 7  wherein said liquid is water.  
   
   
       9 . The impeller of  claim 8  wherein said closed circulatory system is a water pump system of an internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       10 . The impeller of  claim 9  wherein said impeller is manufactured from plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The impeller of  claim 10  wherein said pump is a centrifugal pump.