Impeller with anti-vapor lock mechanism

Abstract

An impeller for preventing air-lock in a pump, the impeller in its basic embodiment includes a top plate, the top plate having a center axis and a peripheral edge, a plurality of vanes, each vane attached to the top plate, at least one small protrusion projecting from the periphery of the top plate, and at least one ventilation channel having an outlet located near the protrusion, and an inlet located near the center axis of the top plate. The present invention also contemplates a centrifuge pump and an aerator device having the impeller of the present invention.

1 . An impeller for preventing air-lock in a pump, the impeller comprising:
 a top plate having a center axis, a top side, a bottom side, and at least one orifice;   a plurality of vanes, each being attached to the top plate;   at least one small protrusion projecting from the periphery or the top side of the top plate; and   at least one ventilation channel having an outlet and an inlet.   
   
   
       2 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vanes are radially attached to the top plate. 
   
   
       3 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vanes are axially attached to the top plate. 
   
   
       4 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vanes are attached to the bottom side of the top plate; and   the at least one small protrusion projects from the top side of the top plate and the each small protrusion is located near each orifice of the top plate.   
   
   
       5 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one orifice is located near the center axis of the top plate.   
   
   
       6 . The impeller according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one orifice includes an angled wall. 
   
   
       7 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outlet of the at least one ventilation channel is located near the periphery of the top plate, and the inlet is located near the at least one orifice of the top plate.   
   
   
       8 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outlet of the at least one ventilation channel is located near the protrusion, and the inlet is located near the center axis of the top plate.   
   
   
       9 . The impeller according to  claim 1 , wherein each vane is axially hollow. 
   
   
       10 . A pump comprising:
 a pump casing defining a pump chamber, the casing having a top, a bottom, and a side;   an electric motor;   at least one water inlet located on the bottom of the housing;   at least one water outlet located on the side of the housing;   an impeller operatively disposed within said pump casing for moving liquid from the water inlet to the water outlet, the impeller comprising a top plate having a center axis, a top side, a bottom side, and at least one orifice; a plurality of vanes, each being attached to the top plate; at least one small protrusion projecting from the periphery or the top side of the top plate; and at least one ventilation channel having an outlet and an inlet;   pump drive means extending through the pump casing bottom and connected to the impeller; and   means for mounting the housing and the pump means in operative association.   
   
   
       11 . A method for preventing air lock in a pump, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a centrifuge pump having an impeller operatively disposed within said pump casing for moving liquid from the water inlet to the water outlet, the impeller comprising a top plate having a center axis, a top side, a bottom side, and at least one orifice; a plurality of vanes, each being attached to the top plate; at least one small protrusion projecting from the periphery or the top side of the top plate; and at least one ventilation channel having an outlet and an inlet;   rotating the impeller;   creating a negative pressure near the outlet of the ventilation channel; and   suctioning the air accumulated near the center axis of the impeller from the inlet to the outlet of the ventilation channel.