# US 9,039,356 B1 · Abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,356 B1 - Document ID: US9039356B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/550,333 - Filed: 2014-11-21 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-25 - Assignees: Summit ESP, LLC - Applicants: Summit ESP, LLC - Inventors: Wesley John Nowitzki; Gregory Austin Davis; Steven Andrew Lovell; John Vanderstaay Kenner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039356B1 ## CPC - F04D 29/548: {Specially adapted for liquid pumps (F04D29/56 takes precedence)} - F04D 1/06: Multi-stage pumps (F04D1/02, F04D13/10 take precedence) - F04D 1/063: {of the vertically split casing type} - F04D 7/04: the fluids being viscous or non-homogenous - F04D 13/08: for submerged use - F04D 13/10: adapted for use in mining bore holes - F04D 29/445: {especially adapted for liquid pumps} - F04D 29/54: Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers - F04D 29/628: {especially adapted for liquid pumps} - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract An abrasive handling submersible pump assembly diffuser is described. An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprises a rotatable impeller, and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising a diffuser bowl, the diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein the blunted pie-shaped wedges extend radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness of the blunted pie-shaped wedges in a circumferential direction increases towards the outer wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A submersible pump assembly diffuser comprising: an upthrust bowl separated from a downthrust bowl by a diffuser vane, wherein each of the upthrust bowl and the downthrust bowl comprise a floor, an inner wall extending axially from the floor around an inner diameter and an outer wall extending axially from the floor around an outer diameter; a first plurality of pie-shaped wedges arranged about the upthrust bowl floor, each of the first plurality of pie-shaped wedges protruding axially from the upthrust bowl floor and extending radially between the inner wall and the outer wall of the upthrust bowl, wherein a circumferential thickness of each of the first plurality of pie-shaped wedges increases from the inner wall to the outer wall of the upthrust bowl; and a second plurality of pie-shaped wedges arranged about the downthrust bowl floor, each of the second plurality of pie-shaped wedges protruding axially from the downthrust bowl floor and extending radially between the inner wall and the outer wall of the downthrust bowl, wherein a circumferential thickness of each of the second plurality of pie-shaped wedges increases from the inner wall to the outer wall of the downthrust bowl. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 1, wherein a side of each of the first plurality of pie-shaped wedges facing the inner wall of the upthrust bowl is blunted, and a side of each of the second plurality of pie-shaped wedge facing the inner wall of the downthrust bowl is blunted. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second plurality of pie-shaped wedges comprises a sector-shaped roof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 3, wherein the roof is an octant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 3, wherein the roof is inclined towards the outer wall of the downthrust bowl as judged from the inner wall of the downthrust bowl. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 5, wherein the roof comprises a notch in height. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 3, wherein at least one pie-shaped wedge of the second plurality of pie-shaped wedges comprises a chamfer on a leading edge of the roof, wherein the chamfer increases in surface area from the inner wall to the outer wall of the downthrust bowl. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 3, wherein the roof is flat between the inner wall and the outer wall of the downthrust bowl. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 3, wherein the roof comprises a funneled incision on a leading edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 9, wherein the roof comprises a chamfer on the leading edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 1, wherein there are four pie-shaped wedges in the first plurality of pie-shaped wedges evenly spaced about the upthrust bowl floor, and there are four pie-shaped wedges in the second plurality of pie-shaped wedges evenly spaced about the downthrust bowl floor. ### Claim 12 A submersible pump assembly diffuser comprising: a concave diffuser bowl comprising: a floor; an inner wall extending axially about an inner diameter of the floor; an outer wall extending axially about an outer diameter of the floor; and a plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges arranged about the floor of the concave bowl, each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges protruding axially from the floor and extending radially between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges measured in a circumferential direction increases from the inner wall to the outer wall, and wherein a blunted side of each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges faces the inner wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein a height of each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges protruding axially from the floor increases from the inner wall to the outer wall such that a slanted roof is formed on each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein the concave bowl is an upthrust bowl. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein the concave bowl is a downthrust bowl. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges has an octant shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of blunted pie shaped wedges comprises two radial sides separated by about a forty-five degree angle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein the diffuser bowl is in a stage of an electric submersible pump assembly gas separator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein the diffuser bowl is in a stage of an electric submersible pump assembly charge pump. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein the diffuser bowl is in a stage of a centrifugal pump of an electric submersible pump assembly. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The submersible pump assembly diffuser of claim 12, wherein the thickness of each of the plurality of blunted pie-shaped wedges measured in the circumferential direction increases linearly from the inner wall to the outer wall. ### Claim 22 An electric submersible pump assembly stage comprising: a rotatable impeller; and a co-axially mounted diffuser comprising: a diffuser bowl comprising a plurality of diffuser bowl wedges having a blunted pie-shape, each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protruding axially from a diffuser bowl floor into a cavity between the rotatable impeller and the co-axially mounted diffuser such that each of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges protrudes into a path of pumped solid-laden fluid, wherein each of the plurality of the blunted pie-shaped wedges extends radially between an inner wall and an outer wall of the diffuser bowl and a thickness in a circumferential direction of each of the plurality of the blunted pie-shaped wedges increases towards the outer wall. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The electric submersible pump assembly stage of claim 22, wherein a top side of at least one of the plurality of diffuser bowl wedges forms an inclined roof as judged from the inner wall. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The electric submersible pump assembly stage of claim 23, wherein the inclined roof comprises a chamfer on a leading edge. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The electric submersible pump assembly stage of claim 23, wherein the inclined roof comprises a funneled incision on a leading edge. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The electric submersible pump assembly stage of claim 23, wherein the inclined roof comprises a notch in axial height. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The electric submersible pump assembly stage of claim 22, wherein the cavity is on an inlet side of the co-axially mounted diffuser. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The electric submersible pump assembly stage of claim 22, wherein the cavity is on a discharge side of the co-axially mounted diffuser.