Patent ID: 8506238

Claim:
A method for improving performance of a seal mounted in a housing of a centrifugal water pump for an engine having an impeller disposed within the housing and mounted for rotation with a shaft extending through the seal, comprising: increasing static pressure within the housing at the seal during operation of the water pump by positioning a plurality of ribs within the seal cavity with a first rib positioned within about 30 degrees of a pump outlet as measured in the direction of rotation of the impeller, the ribs extending toward the seal to reduce fluid velocity around the seal while providing clearance between the plurality of ribs and the seal to allow fluid to flow between the ribs and the seal; and increasing static pressure within a seal cavity of the housing disposed between the impeller and the seal by positioning a plurality of generally radially extending slots about the circumference of the seal cavity, wherein at least one slot is positioned within about 30 degrees of the pump outlet.