Patent GB-1013341-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in volute pumps, turbines and the like
Inventor: TETLOW NORMAN
IPC: F04D29/44
Filed: 1961-02-02
Abstract: 1,013,341. Centrifugal pumps and compressors; turbines. TETMARK PATENTS Ltd. Jan. 30, 1962 [Feb. 2, 1961], Nos. 3960/61; 12352/61; 21577/61; 32438/61. Headings F1C and FIT. A rotary volute-type machine, such as a centrifugal pump or compressor or a hydraulic or elastic-fluid turbine of inward-flow or mixedflow type, comprises a rotor rotating within the circular bore of a casing, there being a circular internal wall surface spaced directly radially outwards of the rotor periphery, and an insert member located in the bore and having thereon a contoured surface wholly within the bore and bounding a volute passage formed in the bore to impart to the volute passage a circumferentially increasing cross-sectional area, the contoured surface being axially to one side of the rotor pheriphery in a direction towards an open end of the bore. In the pump shown in Fig. 1, the volute 15 is of constant radial depth but of increasing axial width in the direction of rotation, the variation of width being effected by shaping the face 18 of an insert 19 and an opposing face 17 of the pump casing as shown in Fig. 2. The insert 19 lies between the pump casing and a cover 23, the distance between the faces 17, 18 being adjustable by the use of thinner spacer rings 24, 25 or by placing one or both of the spacer rings between the insert 19 and the cover 23. In a modification, the insert includes a projection forming the cylindrical outer wall of the volute. Rotors of different diameter can be used in a given pump casing by using inserts providing different diameters of the cylindrical outer wall. In a further modification, both the side faces of the volute are provided by inserts, one insert being placed between the casing and a cover as in Fig. 1 and the other being placed between the pump casing and a support bracket. Fig. 7 shows a pump in which the rotor chamber is separated from the volute 78 by means of a flat or conical flange 77 formed on a boss 73 which closes a central opening in the cover 89. The circumferential increase in the axial width of the volute is provided by a contoured surface 80, 81, 82 formed on the cover 89 or on a ring bolted thereto. Instead, or in addition, a similar surface may be formed on the flange 77 or on a ring bolted thereto. The volume of the volute can be changed by inserting spacer rings between the cover 89 and the pump casing and boss 73 or by replacing the cover by a differently shaped one. Alternatively, where the contoured surface is formed on a ring secured to the cover, the ring may be adjustably spaced from the cover by means of adjusting screws. In a further alternative, the volume of the volute can be reduced by putting a ring around the boss 73, thereby increasing the inner diameter of the volute. In a modification, the volute is of constant axial width, and the circumferential increase of its cross-sectional area is provided by surrounding the boss 73 by a ring 191, Fig. 17, having a contoured surface 190. Fig. 18 shows a multi-stage pump in which the casing comprises discs 250 alternating with discs 251. Each volute 261 is of constant radial depth, and an annular projection 258 on the adjoining disc 251 has a contoured surface 259 to provide a circumferentially increasing axial width of the volute. A surface 260 on the adjoining disc 250 may be similarly contoured. A helical duct 276 leads from the volute 261 to the outer end 275, Fig. 21 of a passage 274 bounded by a sinuous wall 270 and leading to the rotor eye of the next stage. Fig. 4 shows a pump having an insert and end cover similar to those of Fig. 1 but with a casing similar in other respects to that of Fig. 7, and shows how the casing can be constructed by welding separately formed parts 31-36 together. Specification 1,013,342 is referred to.