Patent ID: 9719508
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: F04C,F05C

Claim:
1. A flexible impeller pump, comprising: a shaft configured to rotate about an axis thereof; a rotor, coaxial with and attached to the shaft, configured to be rotated by the shaft, and including a plurality of vanes extending substantially radially there from, the rotor having a first end face and a second end face opposite to the first end face, the first and second end faces being perpendicular to the axis; a housing defining an opening with the rotor disposed therein, and defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the opening including a cam surface operationally disposed between the outlet and the inlet, the cam surface being configured to interfere with the vanes to bend the vanes toward the outlet, the housing including a first end wall and a second end wall that bound the opening in an axial direction thereof, wherein the shaft and the rotor are configured to rotate relative to the housing; and a first wear resistant insert made from food grade material disposed between the rotor first end face and the first end wall, the first wear resistant insert being received within a recess of the first end wall such that the shaft and the rotor are configured to rotate relative to the first wear resistant insert, the first wear resistant insert having greater wear resistance than the housing first end wall, wherein the shaft includes first and second cylindrical portions and an impeller interface portion disposed there between, the impeller interface portion including a plurality of protruding portions distributed around the shaft, the plurality of protruding portions have a stepped cross-sectional shape along the axis of the shaft, and wherein the rotor is configured to fit around the impeller interface portion such that the plurality of protruding portions having the stepped cross-sectional shape are provided between the first end face and the second end face of the rotor.