Motor/pump with spiral wound stator tube

Abstract

A pump/motor includes a stator ( 10 ) having an interior profile surface and a rotor having an exterior profile surface. The stator tube is formed from the sheet metal spiral round to generate an interior profile, with an adjacent edge of the spiral wound sheet being secured together. Substantially uniform thickness elastomeric layer ( 20 ) form down interior surface of the stator tube. A rotor ( 30 ) is rotatable within the stator tube and the elastomeric layer of an operation of pump/motor.

1 . A pump/motor including a stator having an interior profiled surface and a rotor having an exterior profiled surface, comprising:
 the stator tube including a substantially uniform thickness metal sheet formed and spiral wound to generate an interior profile, adjacent edges of the spiral wound sheet being secured together at a sheet seam with a seam profile substantially corresponding to the interior profile of the stator tube, such that an axial lead of the spiral wound stator tube is substantially an axial lead of the seam of the spiral wound sheet;   a substantially uniform thickness elastomeric layer formed on the interior profiled surface of the stator tube; and   a rotor rotatable within the stator tube and within the elastomeric layer, the rotor cooperating with the elastomeric layer during operation of the pump/motor.   
     
     
         2 . A pump/motor as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent edges of the spiral wound sheet are secured by a weld. 
     
     
         3 . A pump/motor as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thin metal strip covering the seam between the spiral wound sheet metal and secured to the sheet metal on each side of the seam.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A pump/motor including a stator having an interior profiled surface and a rotor having an exterior profiled surface, comprising:
 the stator tube including a metal sheet formed and spiral wound to generate an interior profile, adjacent edges of the spiral wound sheet being secured together at a sheet seam with a seam profile substantially corresponding to the interior profile of the stator tube, such that an axial lead of the spiral wound stator tube is substantially an axial lead of the seam of the spiral wound sheet;   a substantially uniform thickness elastomeric layer formed on the interior profiled surface of the stator tube; and   a rotor rotatable within the stator and within the elastomeric layer, the rotor cooperating with the elastomeric layer during operation of the pump/motor.   
     
     
         6 . A pump/motor as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the adjacent edges of the spiral wound sheet are secured by a weld. 
     
     
         7 . A pump/motor as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a thin metal strip covering the seam between the spiral wound sheet metal and secured to the sheet metal on each side of the seam.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A stator for a pump/motor, the stator having an interior profiled surface, comprising:
 the stator tube including a metal sheet formed and spiral wound to generate an interior profile, adjacent edges of the spiral wound sheets being secured together at a sheet seam with a seam profile substantially corresponding to the interior profile of the stator tube, such that an axial lead of the spiral wound stator tube is substantially an axial lead of the seam of the spiral wound sheet.   
     
     
         10 . A stator as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a substantially uniform thickness elastomeric layer formed on the interior profiled surface of the stator.   
     
     
         11 . A stator as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the adjacent edges of the spiral wound sheet are secured by a weld. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A stator as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the sheet metal has a substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         14 . A stator as defined in  claim 9 , wherein side edges of a first metal sheet are each adjacent a respective side edge of a second metal sheet.