Patent ID: 7326028
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: F04D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A centrifugal pump having an impeller with an inducer for pumping fluid, including molten metal, comprising: a base having an impeller chamber, an exit opening and an internal annular passage fluidly connecting the impeller chamber to the exit opening for discharging a fluid therethrough; an impeller structure rotatably mounted in the impeller chamber; a shaft connected to the impeller structure for rotation about a vertical axis; the impeller structure having an axial inlet inducer opening for receiving fluid from a fluid pool in which the base is disposed, as the shaft is being rotated; the impeller structure having an internal passage for receiving fluid received through said axial inlet inducer opening and passing the fluid in a radial direction into the internal annular passage in the base; and the axial inlet inducer opening including a trailing wall inclined at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface of the impeller structure and in the direction of rotation of the shaft and a leading planar wall parallel to the trailing wall of the inlet inducer opening to form an acute scooping structure for urging fluid received in the axial inlet inducer opening toward the internal annular passage.