Patent ID: 7037066

Claim:
A turbine fuel pump impeller, comprising: a circular hub having an outer hub surface generally extending around its outer circumference; a ring-shaped hoop having an inner hoop surface generally extending around its inner circumference, and a ring-shaped vane array being arranged such that said hub, hoop and vane array are all generally concentric, with said vane array being located at a radial position between said hub and said hoop, said vane array having a plurality of vanes and a plurality of vane pockets that are generally formed in between said vanes, wherein each of said plurality of vanes includes: i) a linear root segment extending away from said outer hub surface in a first direction, and ii) a curved tip segment extending away from an outer terminus of said root segment in a generally continuously curved manner towards said inner hoop surface to form a fuel catching pocket such that a line tangent to a point on said curved tip segment extends in a second direction, where said first direction is retarded with respect to said second direction (angle θ) when considered in the rotational direction of said impeller.