GB783468A - Improvements in or relating to pump assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

783,468. Centrifugal pumps. BORGWARNER CORPORATION. June 6, 1955 [Nov. 3, 1954], No. 16146/55. Class 110 (1). A pump comprises an impeller having one or more helicoidal vanes extending around a conical hub, the total length of the channel or channels defined by the vane or vanes being greater than any circumference of the impeller, and the cross-sectional area of the channel or channels decreasing continuously from the inlet towards the outlet. Fig. 1 shows a booster pump mounted by means of a flange 14 on the bottom wall of an aircraft fuel tank and driven by an electric motor 13. The impeller is of conical form, with spiral vanes 21, the relative inclination of the impeller hub 25 and the conical housing wall 23 being such that the cross-sectional area of the flow passages 22 between successive vanes 21 decreases from inlet to outlet. The resultant pressure increase condenses vapour contained in the fuel. Fuel enters the pump through a screen 15 and is discharged by way of a volute 18 to an outlet 20. Inlet guide vanes 16 are provided. Instead of being parallel to the plane of rotation of the impeller, the leading edges of the vanes 21 may be at an angle to it. The conical wall 23 may be replaced by a cylindrical wall. The impeller may be hollow so that vapour contained in the fuel can rise through the hollow impeller and escape back to the tank. In a modification, the pump is inverted and mounted below the bottom wall of the tank, with a screened inlet protruding into the tank.