Fluid pump

Abstract

A fluid pump includes an inlet for introducing fluid into the fluid pump and an outlet for discharging fluid from the fluid pump. The fluid pump also includes a motor having a shaft that rotates about an axis. An impeller includes an array of blades radially surrounding the axis. The impeller is rotatable by the shaft of the motor such that rotation of the impeller pumps fluid from the inlet to the outlet. A vibration isolation member applies a force on the shaft such that the force has a component that is perpendicular to the axis.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fluid pump comprising:
 an inlet for introducing fluid into said fluid pump;   an outlet for discharging fluid from said fluid pump;   a motor having a shaft that rotates about an axis;   an impeller having an array of blades radially surrounding said axis, said impeller being rotatable by said shaft of said motor wherein rotation of said impeller pumps fluid from said inlet to said outlet; and   a vibration isolation member applying a force on said shaft, said force having a component that is perpendicular to said axis.   
     
     
         2 . A fluid pump as in  claim 1  further comprising a plate disposed axially adjacent to said impeller such that said impeller rotates relative to said plate, wherein said vibration isolation member is disposed within a recess of said plate. 
     
     
         3 . A fluid pump as in  claim 2  wherein said plate is an outlet plate having an outlet passage in fluid communication with said outlet and an outlet plate flow channel aligned with said array of blades. 
     
     
         4 . A fluid pump as in  claim 2  wherein said recess is a bore extending radially into said plate. 
     
     
         5 . A fluid pump as in  claim 4  wherein said vibration isolation member includes a damping member that is resilient and compliant. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid pump as in  claim 5  wherein said damping member is a spring. 
     
     
         7 . A fluid pump as in  claim 5  wherein said vibration isolation member includes a damping member stop for grounding said vibration isolation member to said plate. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid pump as in  claim 7  wherein said damping member stop is fixed within said bore to compress said damping member between said shaft and said damping member stop. 
     
     
         9 . A fluid pump as in  claim 7  wherein said damping member includes a shaft follower member disposed between said shaft and said damping member. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid pump as in  claim 9  wherein said shaft follower member is a ball. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid pump as in  claim 9  wherein said shaft follower member is a follower pad contoured to match the outer surface of said shaft. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid pump as in  claim 4  wherein said plate includes an aperture and wherein said shaft extends into said aperture. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid pump as in  claim 12  wherein said bore extends radially outward from said aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A fluid pump as in  claim 12  wherein said aperture is non-circular. 
     
     
         15 . A fluid pump as in  claim 14  wherein said vibration isolation member biases said shaft into contact with said aperture. 
     
     
         16 . A fluid pump as in  claim 15  wherein said shaft forms two lines of contact with said aperture. 
     
     
         17 . A fluid pump as in  claim 16  wherein said aperture is a Reuleaux triangle. 
     
     
         18 . A fluid pump as in  claim 4  wherein said vibration isolation member is one of a plurality of vibration isolation members. 
     
     
         19 . A fluid pump as in  claim 18  wherein said plurality of vibration isolation members are spaced evenly around said axis. 
     
     
         20 . A fluid pump comprising:
 an inlet for introducing fluid into said fluid pump;   an outlet for discharging fluid from said fluid pump;   a motor having a shaft that rotates about an axis, wherein rotation of said impeller pumps fluid from said inlet to said outlet; and   a vibration isolation member applying a force on said shaft, said force having a component that is perpendicular to said axis.