Patent ID: 8016545
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
1. A centrifugal pump comprising: a casing having an impeller chamber, an inlet, an outlet and a bearing chamber; a shaft having an impeller end and a motor end; an impeller coupled to the impeller end of the shaft disposed within the impeller chamber; a bearing disposed within the bearing chamber, said bearing having an inboard end having an inboard bearing surface and an outboard end having an outboard bearing surface; said bearing and said shaft having a bearing clearance therebetween; a disc coupled to the impeller end of the shaft spaced apart from the inboard bearing surface; and a seal ring disposed between the disc and the inboard bearing surface; said shaft, said seal ring, said disc and said inboard bearing surface defining a thrust chamber therebetween; said thrust chamber in fluid communication with the impeller chamber through the bearing clearance so that an axial thrust in an inboard direction is generated.