Composite impeller for a centrifugal slurry pump

Abstract

An impeller for use in a centrifugal slurry pump having vanes including a core structural member; an elastomer layer bonded onto the core structural member; at least one hard material nose segment; and at least one exposed hard material vane segment embedded in and backed by the elastomer layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impeller for use in a centrifugal slurry pump comprising a plurality of vanes, the vanes each comprising:
 a. a core structural member;   b. an elastomer layer bonded onto the core structural member; and   c. at least one hard material nose segment is attached to one or both of the core structural member or the elastomer layer.   
     
     
         2 . The impeller of  claim 1  further comprising at least one exposed hard material vane segment embedded in and backed by the elastomer layer. 
     
     
         3 . The impeller of  claim 2  comprising a plurality of hard material nose segments separated by elastomer filled gaps. 
     
     
         4 . The impeller of  claim 2  wherein each vane comprises a front side and a back side, further comprising a plurality of hard material vane segments, placed on either or both of the front side and back side of each vane. 
     
     
         5 . The impeller of one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein either or both the at least one hard material nose segment and each at least one hard material vane segment comprises tungsten carbide, or sintered tungsten carbide, a cermet, or a ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The impeller of  claim 5  wherein the at least one hard material vane segment comprises a tile, a block, a cylinder, or a sphere. 
     
     
         7 . The impeller of any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the elastomer layer comprises a rubber or a polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The impeller of  claim 1  wherein the core structural member comprises steel.