Axial-flux induction motor pump

Abstract

A pump comprises a housing partially defining a cavity, an impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk, and a vane arranged on the first disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational axis, a first stator core arranged on the housing, windings arranged on the first stator core, and a first inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump comprising:
 a housing partially defining a cavity;   an impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk, and a vane arranged on the first disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational axis;   a first stator core arranged on the housing;   windings arranged on the first stator core; and   a first inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a conductive material arranged on a surface of the first disk such that the conductive material is disposed between the first disk and the first stator core such that the conductive material and the first stator core partially define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising a second stator core arranged on the housing, wherein the second stator core is arranged circumferentially about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first disk includes a ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and magnetic flux. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the impeller further includes a second disk arranged such that the vane is disposed between the second disk and the first disk, the second disk including a ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and magnetic flux. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , further comprising a conductive material arranged on a surface of the second disk such that the conductive material is disposed between the second disk and the second stator core such that the conductive material and the first second core partially define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the conductive material has a higher conductivity than the first disk. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a second inlet defined by the housing, wherein the second inlet partially defines the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an outlet communicative with the cavity, the outlet partially defining the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         10 . A pump comprising:
 a housing partially defining a cavity;   an impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk, a second disk, and a vane arranged between the first disk and the second disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational axis;   a first stator core arranged on the housing such that a portion of the first stator core partially defines the cavity;   windings arranged on the first stator core; and   a first inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.   
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 10 , further comprising a conductive material arranged on a surface of the first disk such that the conductive material is disposed between the first disk and the first stator core such that the conductive material and the first stator core partially define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 10 , wherein further comprising a second stator core arranged on the housing, wherein the second stator core is arranged circumferentially about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 10 , wherein the first disk includes a ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and magnetic flux. 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the second disk includes a ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and magnetic flux. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 12 , further comprising a conductive material arranged on a surface of the second disk such that the conductive material is disposed between the second disk and the second stator core such that the conductive material and the second stator core partially define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . A pump comprising:
 a housing partially defining a cavity;   an impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk, and a vane arranged on the first disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational axis;   a first stator core arranged on the housing such that a portion of the first stator core partially defines the cavity;   windings arranged on the first stator core; and   a first inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 16 , further comprising a conductive material arranged on a surface of the first disk such that the conductive material is disposed between the first disk and the first stator core such that the conductive material and the first stator core partially define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 16 , wherein further comprising a second stator core arranged on the housing, wherein the second stator core is arranged circumferentially about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 16 , wherein the first disk includes a ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and magnetic flux. 
     
     
         20 . The pump of  claim 18 , wherein the impeller further includes a second disk arranged such that the vane is disposed between the second disk and the first disk, the second disk including a ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and magnetic flux.