Fluid Pump

Abstract

An apparatus for pumping or compressing a fluid, the apparatus including a housing having a front wall, a rear wall and one or more side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls to define a fluid rotation chamber. At least one inlet is located substantially centrally in the front wall. An impeller is located at least partially within the at least one inlet such that at least a portion of the impeller extends outwardly beyond at least a portion of the front wall. The housing has at least one outlet. Rotation of the impeller causes fluid entering the apparatus through the at least one inlet to rotate within the fluid rotation chamber prior to exiting the apparatus through the at least one outlet.

1 . An apparatus for pumping or compressing a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical housing having a front wall, a rear wall and a side wall interconnecting the front and rear walls to define a fluid rotation chamber with a substantially cylindrical geometry;   an inlet located in the front wall;   an impeller located so that fluid entering the fluid rotation chamber is rotated by rotation of the impeller;   at least one outlet in fluid communication with the housing,
 wherein the housing and the impeller provide the fluid rotation chamber with a side cross sectional profile comprising profile lines that intersect substantially orthogonally to promote solid body rotation of a fluid within the rotation chamber, prior to the fluid exiting the apparatus through the at least one outlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the impeller forms part of a generally cylindrical structure that spans the fluid rotation chamber axially from the front wall to the rear wall, so that the structure rotates axially in the fluid rotation chamber also to generate the solid body rotation, the structure and the front and rear walls defining a side cross sectional profile comprising lines that intersect substantially orthogonally to promote the solid body rotation of the fluid, such that said solid body rotation is promoted by the cylindrical structure as a whole. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the impeller of the structure is located at least partially in the inlet, while a remaining portion of the structure extends axially across the fluid rotation chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the structure includes a hollow cylindrical element, the impeller and the cylindrical element having substantially the same diameter such that the side cross sectional profile is unchanged by the impeller. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the impeller of the structure is located intermediate the front and rear walls of the housing, with remaining portions of the structure extending axially across the fluid rotation chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the structure includes a hollow cylindrical element with the impeller located at least partially within the cylindrical element and extending from the element, generally orthogonally with respect to the element to maintain the profile comprising orthogonal lines. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which part of the generally cylindrical structure includes a motor casing so that a motor can be located within the structure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the front and rear walls define 90 degree corners subject to any minimum radius required to reduce mechanical stresses at the corners. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the corners have a radius of less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the impeller has a discharge portion from which fluid is discharged into the fluid rotation chamber and the discharge portion is located entirely within the fluid rotation chamber and is adapted to discharge fluid into the fluid rotation chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the structure includes a hollow cylindrical element with a cylindrical wall that is provided with one or more openings so that fluid can pass between the interior of the cylindrical element and the fluid rotation chamber at an angle that is approximately perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the inlet is located substantially centrally in the front wall and the impeller is positioned with respect to the inlet so that at least a portion of the impeller extends outwardly beyond at least a portion of the front wall. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for pumping or compressing a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical housing having a front wall, a rear wall and a side wall interconnecting the front and rear walls to define a fluid rotation chamber with a substantially cylindrical geometry;   an inlet located in the front wall;   a generally cylindrical, hollow structure provided with one or more openings and located so that fluid entering the fluid rotation chamber through the one or more openings is rotated by rotation of the cylindrical structure;   at least one outlet in fluid communication with the housing,
 wherein the housing and the cylindrical structure provide the fluid rotation chamber with a side cross sectional profile comprising profile lines that intersect substantially orthogonally to promote solid body rotation of a fluid within the rotation chamber, prior to the fluid exiting the apparatus through the at least one outlet. 
   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for pumping or compressing a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical housing having a front wall, a rear wall and a side wall interconnecting the front and rear walls to define a fluid rotation chamber with a substantially cylindrical geometry;   an inlet located in the front wall;   one or more of impellers, magnetic rotating members, and water jets directed tangentially within the housing, and any combination of the preceding, located so that rotation is imparted to fluid entering the apparatus through the inlet;   at least one outlet in fluid communication with the housing,
 wherein the housing and the one or more of impellers, magnetic rotating members, and water jets directed tangentially within the housing, and any combination of the preceding, provide the fluid rotation chamber with a side cross sectional profile comprising lines that intersect substantially orthogonally to promote solid body rotation of a fluid within the rotation chamber, prior to the fluid exiting the apparatus through the at least one outlet.