Bearing arrangement for centrifugal pump

Abstract

The invention is an improvement in a centrifugal pump of the type having two or more pumping stages. Each stage includes a stationary diffuser and a companion rotatable impeller with a wear ring set arranged between the diffuser and impeller of each stage. The improvement includes a bearing ring formed of a hard material, preferably harder than sand. A second bearing ring is formed of a resilient material in thrust-absorbing, sealing contact with the first ring whereby grit or sand may be lodged between the rings without substantially impairing such contact of the rings with one another. In the first embodiment, the bearing rings perform a sealing function as well as absorb axial thrust. In the second embodiment, a primary sealing function is provided by a separate annular disc with which the impeller is in contact.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.