# US 10,480,524 B2 · Eddy pump impeller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,524 B2 - Document ID: US10480524B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/360,713 - Filed: 2016-11-23 - Published: 2018-05-24 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-23 - Assignees: Eddy Pump Corporation - Applicants: EDDY Pump Corporation - Inventors: Phillip Cyrus Rhyner; Dan Wahlgren; Mugdha Shrikant Dokhale - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480524B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/2244: {Free vortex} - F04D 7/04: the fluids being viscous or non-homogenous - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract An eddy pump impeller includes a hub having a planar rear surface, the hub tapering from the planar rear surface to a conical front end, and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. Each of the plurality of blades has an outer surface essentially parallel to a rotational axis of the hub, inversely tapers from the hub, and has a front surface tapering in height from the front conical end, such that the plurality of blades is configured to cause an eddy current and cause a fluid stream to be forced to the outside of the impeller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An eddy pump impeller comprising: a hub having a planar rear surface, the hub tapering from the planar rear surface to a conical front end; and a plurality of blades extending from the hub; each of the plurality of blades having an outer surface essentially parallel to the rotational axis of the hub, inversely tapering from the hub, such that each of the plurality of blades has a width adjacent the hub that is less than a width adjacent the outer surface, and having a front surface tapering in height, such that the plurality of blades is configured to cause an eddy current and cause a fluid stream to be forced to an outside of the impeller wherein each of the plurality of blades inversely tapers at an angle of between 5 and 20 degrees. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the front surface of each of the plurality of blades tapers in height between 2 and 10 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the impeller is metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 3 wherein the metal is selected from a group of metals consisting of alloyed metal, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, and bronze. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the impeller is configured to be arranged in an eddy pump housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the impeller is cast, molded, forged or machined. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 is plastic or rubber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the conical front end extends beyond the front surface of each of the plurality of blades. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein a tip of the conical front end is rounded. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the impeller has a hollow concentric cylindrical opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 10, wherein the hollow concentric cylindrical opening is keyed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of blades are disposed such as to have equal angular spacing between each blade. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein a rear of each of the plurality of blades and or the hub is hollow. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A pump apparatus comprising: the eddy pump impeller according to claim 1; and a housing having an inlet and an outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pump apparatus according to claim 14 further including a motor connected to a central shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The pump apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the inlet has an inlet conduit connected to the housing for receiving in the center thereof a rotational column of liquid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pump apparatus according to claim 16 wherein a rotational column discharges at an end of the outlet thereby inducing inward flow into the inlet conduit and in a direction opposite to the rotational column in the pump inlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the impeller is configured to rotate fluid at a velocity in excess of 1800 r.p.m. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 1 wherein the impeller is configured to pump material having a solids content of greater than 10% by weight of organic material therein. ### Claim 20 An eddy pump impeller comprising: a hub having a planar rear surface, the hub tapering from the planar rear surface to a conical front end; and a plurality of blades extending from the hub; each of the plurality of blades having an outer surface essentially parallel to the rotational axis of the hub, inversely tapering from the hub, such that each of the plurality of blades has a width adjacent the hub that is less than a width adjacent the outer surface, and having a front surface tapering in height, such that the plurality of blades is configured to cause an eddy current and cause a fluid stream to be forced to an outside of the impeller wherein the front surface of each of the plurality of blades tapers in height between 2 and 10 degrees. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of blades inversely tapers at an angle of between 5 and 20 degrees. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the impeller is metal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 22 wherein the metal is selected from a group of metals consisting of alloyed metal, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, and bronze. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the impeller is configured to be arranged in an eddy pump housing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the impeller is cast, molded, forged or machined. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 is plastic or rubber. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the conical front end extends beyond the front surface of each of the plurality of blades. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein a tip of the conical front end is rounded. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the impeller has a hollow concentric cylindrical opening. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 29, wherein the hollow concentric cylindrical opening is keyed. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of blades are disposed such as to have equal angular spacing between each blade. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein a rear of each of the plurality of blades and or the hub is hollow. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) A pump apparatus comprising: the eddy pump impeller according to claim 20; and a housing having an inlet and an outlet. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The pump apparatus according to claim 33 further including a motor connected to a central shaft. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The pump apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the inlet has an inlet conduit connected to the housing for receiving in the center thereof a rotational column of liquid. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The pump apparatus according to claim 35 wherein a rotational column discharges at an end of the outlet thereby inducing inward flow into the inlet conduit and in a direction opposite to the rotational column in the pump inlet. ### Claim 37 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the impeller is configured to rotate fluid at a velocity in excess of 1800 r.p.m. ### Claim 38 (depends on 20) The eddy pump impeller according to claim 20 wherein the impeller is configured to pump material having a solids content of greater than 10% by weight of organic material therein.