Tapered rotary disc pump

Abstract

A tapered rotary disc pump is disclosed, including a disc assembly with a first disc and a second disc arranged in parallel to define a chamber. Each disc has an inner surface with multiple vanes extending toward the chamber. The vane outer ends align with the disc periphery, while vane inner ends extend toward the disc center. At least one vane tapers from the outer end toward the inner end, and optionally from the inner surface toward the chamber, to reduce turbulence and increase pumping efficiency. Standoffs couple the discs together and may extend into the vanes to further minimize turbulence. The vane leading face may include convex and concave portions to enhance fluid flow. Alignment of opposing vanes and equal vane counts between discs provide balanced operation and improved handling of fragile, abrasive, or high-solids fluids.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tapered rotary disc pump, comprising:
 a disc assembly comprising a first disc and a second disc, the first disc comprising a first inner surface and the second disc comprising a second inner surface, the first disc and second disc forming a chamber between the first disc and the second disc;   a plurality of standoffs coupling the first disc with the second disc; and   a plurality of vanes comprising a first plurality of vanes and a second plurality of vanes, wherein the first plurality of vanes is disposed on the first inner surface and the second plurality of vanes is disposed on the second inner surface, each of the plurality of vanes comprising:
 a vane inner end and a vane outer end opposite the vane inner end, the vane outer end terminating at a disc periphery of the first disc or the second disc, wherein the vane inner end extends inwardly toward a center of the first disc or the second disc, 
 a vane leading face and a vane trailing face, the vane trailing face comprising an orthogonal configuration with a respective inner surface; 
   wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes tapers from the vane outer end toward the vane inner end, and further wherein the at least one of the plurality of vanes tapers from the respective inner surface toward the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes tapers from the vane outer end toward the vane inner end, and further wherein each of the plurality of vanes tapers from the respective inner surface toward the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first disc is in parallel alignment with the second disc. 
     
     
         4 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first disc is concentrically aligned with the second disc. 
     
     
         5 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of vanes comprises a first quantity and the second plurality of vanes comprises a second quantity, wherein the first quantity equals the second quantity. 
     
     
         6 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of vanes is aligned with one of the second plurality of vanes such that two opposing vanes are at equal radial positions during rotation of the tapered rotary disc pump. 
     
     
         7 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein each vane outer end forms a surface alignment with the disc periphery of one of the first disc or the second disc. 
     
     
         8 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs extends into one of the first plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         9 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs extends into one of the second plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         10 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs is orthogonal to the first disc and the second disc. 
     
     
         11 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 1 , the vane leading face further comprising a convex portion and a concave portion, wherein the concave portion extends from the respective inner surface toward the convex portion, and the convex portion extends from the concave portion to the vane trailing face. 
     
     
         12 . A tapered rotary disc pump, comprising:
 a disc assembly comprising a first disc and a second disc, the first disc comprising a first inner surface and the second disc comprising a second inner surface, the first disc and second disc forming a chamber between the first disc and the second disc;   a plurality of standoffs coupling the first disc with the second disc; and   a plurality of vanes comprising a first plurality of vanes and a second plurality of vanes, wherein the first plurality of vanes is disposed on the first inner surface and the second plurality of vanes is disposed on the second inner surface, each of the plurality of vanes comprising:
 a vane inner end and a vane outer end opposite the vane inner end, the vane outer end terminating at a disc periphery of the first disc or the second disc, wherein the vane inner end extends inwardly toward a center of the first disc or the second disc, 
 a vane leading face and a vane trailing face, the vane trailing face comprising an orthogonal configuration with a respective inner surface; 
   wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes tapers from the vane outer end toward the vane inner end.   
     
     
         13 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes tapers from the vane outer end toward the vane inner end. 
     
     
         14 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of vanes comprises a first quantity and the second plurality of vanes comprises a second quantity, wherein the first quantity equals the second quantity. 
     
     
         15 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 12 , wherein each vane outer end forms a surface alignment with the disc periphery of one of the first disc or the second disc. 
     
     
         16 . A tapered rotary disc pump, comprising:
 a disc assembly comprising a first disc and a second disc, the first disc comprising a first inner surface and the second disc comprising a second inner surface, the first disc and second disc forming a chamber between the first disc and the second disc;   a plurality of standoffs coupling the first disc with the second disc; and   a plurality of vanes comprising a first plurality of vanes and a second plurality of vanes, wherein the first plurality of vanes is disposed on the first inner surface and the second plurality of vanes is disposed on the second inner surface, each of the plurality of vanes comprising:
 a vane inner end and a vane outer end opposite the vane inner end, the vane outer end terminating at a disc periphery of the first disc or the second disc, wherein the vane inner end extends inwardly toward a center of the first disc or the second disc, 
 a vane leading face and a vane trailing face, the vane trailing face comprising an orthogonal configuration with a respective inner surface; 
   wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes tapers from the respective inner surface toward the chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes tapers from the respective inner surface toward the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first plurality of vanes is aligned with one of the second plurality of vanes such that two opposing vanes are at equal radial positions during rotation of the tapered rotary disc pump. 
     
     
         19 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs extends into one of the first plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         20 . The tapered rotary disc pump of  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs extends into one of the second plurality of vanes.