Pump driven by motor with fluid filled rotor
AssigneeAdvanced Thermal Sciences Corp.
InventorKenneth W. Cowans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor/pump system which uses an enclosed rotor shell, and also interior hydrodynamic bearings which are lubricated by the liquid being pumped, is arranged to minimize localized heating at the bearings to vaporization levels under high load conditions. To this end output pressure from the pump, which varies with load, is communicated into the rotor interior, without bulk fluid transfer. The increased pressure raises the vaporization temperature, automatically adjusting it with increased load to maintain the hydrodynamic bearing effect.
Claims9
A pumping system of the type comprising a motor including a rotor within a fluid filled enclosure having hydrodynamic bearings supporting a drive shaft with an extended end engaging a regenerative turbine pump the pump driving a thermal transfer fluid which also fills the enclosure and provides the lubricating fluid for the hydrodynamic bearings, comprising:
- a pump housing disposed about the extending end of the drive shaft and sealingly engaged to the rotor enclosure, the pump housing including a first interior narrow, circumferential chamber transverse to the drive shaft for receiving the regenerative turbine, and inlet and outlet ports in communication with opposite sides of the circumferential chamber adjacent its periphery;
- a second interior chamber within the pump housing and about the drive shaft on the rotor side, and a first pressure communication conduit extending between the output port and the second chamber;
- and
- at least one second pressure communicating conduit intercoupling the second interior chamber to the interior of the rotor enclosure.
A system for preventing localized vaporization, due to high load operation, at hydrodynamic bearings within a fluid filled rotor enclosure of a motor having a shaft driving a pump driving the same fluid that is within the enclosure, the system comprising:
- a pump housing engaged to the rotor enclosure and including an interior fluid filled chamber in communication with the interior of the rotor enclosure, the pump housing encompassing an end portion of the motor shaft;
- a turbine pump mounted on the end portion of the motor shaft and having peripheral blades;
- separated fluid inlet and outlet passageways in the housing in communication with the peripheral blades of the turbine;
- a driver circuit coupled to the motor for driving the turbine in accordance with the desired load;
- and
- a fluid pressure communication system coupling the fluid outlet passageway to the rotor enclosure interior to increase the fluid pressure within the rotor enclosure automatically in accordance with load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.