Side channel self priming fuel pump having reservoir
AssigneeColt Industries Inc.
InventorPius J. Nasvytis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A side channel pump (10) has a pumping cavity (26) which includes an inlet port (78), a discharge port (80) and side channels (72,74). An impeller (54) is mounted for rotation in the pumping cavity. A reservoir (20) holds an ample supply of liquid for pump priming and pump cooling during periods of gas pumping. A bypass suction duct (24) carries liquid from the reservoir to the pumping cavity during priming, gas pumping and normal operating and a bypass return duct (22) returns some discharged liquid to the reservoir during gas pumping and normal operation. The reservoir acts as a heat sink to enable the liquid ring formed during gas pumping operation to absorb more heat and provide pump cooling.
Claims4
An improved side channel pump of the type comprising:
- a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet and a pumping cavity therein;
- the pumping cavity having a wall with an inlet port in the suction area of the wall and a discharge port in the discharge area of the wall and a circumferential side channel, the inlet being fluidly connected to the inlet port for supplying fluid thereto and the discharge port being fluidly connected to the outlet for supplying fluid thereto;
- and an impeller mounted in the housing for rotation in the pumping cavity, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a reservoir for containing a supply of liquid;
- a bypass suction duct for carrying liquid from the reservoir to the pumping cavity;
- a suction duct inlet port in the reservoir for conducting liquid in the reservoir to the bypass suction duct;
- a secondary inlet port in the pumping cavity wall in the suction area thereof for conducting liquid in the bypass suction duct to the pumping cavity;
- and
- means to conduct liquid in the discharge area of the pumping cavity wall to the reservoir.
A method of operating a side channel pump having a suction area and a discharge area comprising:
- priming the pump after it attains sufficient speed by directing liquid from a reservoir to the suction area;
- continuing to direct liquid from the reservoir to the suction area after the pump is primed and returning at least some discharge flow to the reservoir;
- directing liquid from a liquid ring, which has developed during prolonged gas pumping operation, to a reservoir;
- and
- directing liquid from the reservoir to the suction area of the pump during said gas pumping operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.