# US 10,119,551 B2 · Anti-icing impeller spinner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,551 B2 - Document ID: US10119551B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/821,389 - Filed: 2015-08-07 - Published: 2017-02-09 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-07 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Brandon T. Kovach; Joseph Wetch; Adrian L. Stoicescu; Michael F. Cass - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119551B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/2261: {with special measures} - F02M 59/44: Details, components parts, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M59/02 - F02M59/42; {Pumps having transducers, e.g. to measure displacement of pump rack or piston} - F04D 29/2277: {for increasing NPSH or dealing with liquids near boiling-point} - F04D 29/28: for centrifugal or helico-centrifugal pumps {for radial-flow or helico-centrifugal pumps} - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract An impeller spinner for a fuel pump can include a head and a shank. The head can have a base at one end and a tip at an opposite end. The shank can have a body portion nearest the head with a first diameter and a fastener portion adjacent to the body portion at an end opposite the head with a second diameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anti-icing apparatus for a fuel pump comprises: an impeller spinner comprising: a head having a base at one end and a tip at an opposite end; and a shank having: a body portion nearest the base of the head, wherein the body portion has a first diameter that is less than a diameter of the base of the head and has an end surface opposite the base of the head, wherein the end surface is in a radial plane; and a fastener portion adjacent to the body portion end surface, wherein the fastener portion has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter; a rotor shaft; an impeller having a first section having a first inner radial surface and a second section having a second inner radial surface, wherein a portion of the first inner radial surface is engaged with an outer radial surface of the rotor shaft; and a housing substantially surrounding the impeller and having an inlet; wherein the shank extends into both the impeller and a bore of the rotor shaft, such that the body portion is adjacent to the second inner radial surface, the fastener portion is engaged with an inner radial surface of the rotor shaft, and the head extends axially outward from an end of the second section of the impeller toward the inlet of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base of the head and the end of the second section of the impeller are separated axially by a gap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the head has a conical shape and the tip of the head is substantially pointed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip of the head extends substantially to an outer edge of the housing inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip of the head is rounded. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a hole extends through the head such that the hole traverses a cross-section of the head at a location between the base and the tip and is configured to accept a pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 6, wherein a distance between the base and hole is less than a distance between the hole and the tip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The anti-icing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end surface of the body portion axially abuts at least one surface in a radial plane selected from the group consisting of a surface of the impeller oriented in a radial plane and a surface of a washer positioned between the impeller and the end surface of the body portion, and wherein the fastener portion of the impeller spinner is threadedly engaged with the inner radial surface of the rotor shaft. ### Claim 9 The anti-icing apparatus of 1, wherein the impeller further comprises: a third section having a surface in a radial plane that abuts an end surface of the rotor shaft and has a third inner radial surface adjacent to the fastener portion of the impeller spinner. ### Claim 10 A method of reducing ice accretion on an impeller of a centrifugal fuel pump, the method comprising the steps of: rotating an impeller of the centrifugal fuel pump; rotating an impeller spinner, the impeller spinner comprising: a head having a base at one end and a tip at an opposite end; and a shank having a body portion nearest the head, wherein the body portion has a first diameter that is less than a diameter of the base of the head and has an end surface opposite the base of the head, wherein the end surface is in a radial plane; and a fastener portion adjacent to the body portion end surface, wherein the fastener portion has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter; axially abutting a first impeller surface in a radial plane with a surface of a rotor shaft; axially abutting a second impeller surface in a radial plane with the end surface of the body portion of the shank or a washer disposed between the second impeller surface and the body portion; and deflecting a flow of fuel upstream of the impeller, wherein the flow of fuel is deflected by the tip of the impeller spinner. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the tip of the head of the impeller spinner extends substantially to an outer edge of a housing of the centrifugal pump.