Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A fluidizing pump for medium to high consistency fiber suspension, comprising: a housing having an axis, an axially-extending inlet channel through which fiber suspension is received and an outlet through which fiber suspension is discharged; an impeller operatively rotatable in said housing and comprising a working vane and a fluidizing blade extending substantially axially along and in said inlet channel; and a feeder vane extending in and along said inlet channel and oriented at an angle of between approximately 1 and 89 degrees to said housing axis, said feeder vane being disposed radially outward of said fluidizing blade and extending along at least a portion of said substantially axial extension of the fluidizing blade.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A fluidizing pump for medium to high consistency fiber suspension, comprising: a housing having an axis, an axially-extending inlet channel through which fiber suspension is received and an outlet through which fiber suspension is discharged; an impeller operatively rotatable in said housing and comprising a working vane and a fluidizing blade extending substantially axially along and in said inlet channel; and a feeder vane extending in and along said inlet channel and oriented at an angle of between approximately 1 and 89 degrees to said housing axis, said feeder vane being disposed radially outward of said fluidizing blade and extending along at least a portion of said substantially axial extension of the fluidizing blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein said feeder vane comprises a screw thread arranged for subjecting fiber suspension in said inlet channel to an axially-directed force toward said working vane for facilitating substantially axial flow of the fiber suspension along said inlet channel with operative rotation of said impeller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein said impeller comprises a plurality of fluidizing blades and an axially-extending opening defined substantially centrally between respective ones of said blades.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein said feeder vane is mounted on and radially outwardly from said fluidizing blade for operative rotation of said feeder vane with said impeller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein said inlet channel has an interior periphery and said feeder vane is mounted on said periphery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 5, wherein said feeder vane is stationarily mounted on said inlet channel periphery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein said inlet channel has an interior periphery and said feeder vane comprises a primary feeder vane disposed for operative rotation with said impeller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 7, wherein said pump further comprises a secondary feeder vane mounted on said inlet channel periphery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 8, wherein said secondary feeder vane is stationarily mounted on said inlet channel periphery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluidizing pump in accordance with claim 9, wherein said primary feeder vane is mounted on said fluidizing blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An impeller for a fluidizing pump for medium to high consistency fiber suspension, said impeller having an axis about which said impeller is operatively rotatable, comprising: a working vane; a fluidizing blade extending substantially axially-outwardly from said working vane; and a feeder vane mounted on and radially outwardly of said fluidizing blade and extending along at least a portion of the axial extension of said blade, said feeder blade being oriented at an angle of between approximately 1 and 89 degrees to said impeller axis for facilitating substantially axially-directed flow of fiber suspension in the pump toward said working vane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
An impeller for a fluidizing pump for medium to high consistency fiber suspension, said impeller having an axis about which said impeller is operatively rotatable, comprising: a working vane; a fluidizing blade extending substantially axially-outwardly from said working vane; and a feeder vane mounted on and radially outwardly of said fluidizing blade and extending along at least a portion of the axial extension of said blade, said feeder blade being oriented at an angle of between approximately 1 and 89 degrees to said impeller axis for facilitating substantially axially-directed flow of fiber suspension in the pump toward said working vane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 11, wherein said feeder vane comprises a screw thread.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fluidizing blades and an axially-extending opening defined between respective ones of said blades.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fluidizing blades and an axially-extending opening defined substantially between respective ones of said blades.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a plurality of feeder vanes mounted on and radially outwardly of said fluidizing blade.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fluidizing blades and a plurality of feeder vanes mounted on and radially outwardly of said plural fluidizing blades.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 16, further comprising an axially-extending opening defined between respective ones of said blades.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An impeller in accordance with claim 16, further comprising an axially-extending opening defined substantially centrally between respective ones of said blades.