US4886430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Canned pump having a high inertia flywheel
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1988-07-18
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Granted: 1989-12-12
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Expires: 2008-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A canned pump is described which includes a motor, impeller, shaft, and high inertia flywheel mounted within a hermetically sealed casing. The flywheel comprises a heavy metal disk made preferably of a uranium alloy with a stainless steel shell sealably enclosing the heavy metal. The outside surfaces of the stainless steel comprise thrust runners and a journal for mating with, respectively, thrust bearing shoes and radial bearing segments. The bearings prevent vibration of the pump and, simultaneously, minimize power losses normally associated with the flywheel resulting from frictionally pumping surrounding fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Luciano Veronesi
- 👤 Albert A. Raimondi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:32
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D17/00; F04D29/00; F04D29/04; F04D29/046; F04D29/047; F04D13/00; F04D13/02; F04D13/06; F04D13/0606; F04D13/0633; F04D29/041; F04D29/0413; F04D29/043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2121; Y10T74/2122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A pump comprising: a. a shaft; b. an impeller mounted on said shaft for pumping a fluid; c. drive means engaged with said shaft for turning said impeller; d. a flywheel mounted on said shaft, said flywheel having a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer circumferential surface; and e. radial bearing means substantially mating with said circumferential surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A pump comprising: a. a shaft; b. an impeller mounted on said shaft for pumping a fluid; c. drive means engaged with said shaft for turning said impeller; d. a flywheel mounted on said shaft, said flywheel having a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer circumferential surface; and e. radial bearing means substantially mating with said circumferential surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pump according to claim 1, wherein said drive means is an electric motor including a stator and a rotor, said rotor being mounted on said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pump according to claim 2 wherein said pump is a canned pump having said shaft, impeller, motor, and flywheel enclosed in a hermetically sealed casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pump according to claim 3, further comprising thrust bearing means substantially mating with one said end of said flywheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The pump according to claim 4, wherein said thrust bearing means includes a plurality of thrust bearing shoes mounted to said casing by thrust links for providing self-leveling and load equalization of said thrust shoes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The pump according to claim 3, wherein said radial bearing means includes a plurality of bearing segments extending around the periphery of said cylinder and mating therewith, said segments being supported within said casing by radial pivot pins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pump according to claim 1, wherein, said bearing means includes carbon graphite inserts for minimizing friction losses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pump according to claim 1, wherein said flywheel includes stellite pads on the surfaces thereof for mating with said bearing means and minimizing friction losses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pump according to claim 1, wherein said flywheel has a substantially right rectangular cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pump according to claim 1, wherein said flywheel is made out of a heavy metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pump according to claim 10, wherein said heavy metal has a yield strength greater than about 60 ksi.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pump according to claim 10, wherein said heavy metal is one chosen from the group consisting of gold, uranium, titanium, and platinum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pump according to claim 10, wherein said heavy metal is an alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pump according to claim 13, wherein said alloy is uranium alloyed with molybdenum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pump according to claim 10, wherein said flywheel further includes a stainless steel jacket therearound to prevent corrosion of said heavy metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A canned reactor coolant pump having a hermetically sealed casing, an electric motor for driving a shaft, an impeller operatively connected to said shaft for pumping a fluid, and a flywheel mounted on said shaft, said flywheel comprising: a. a heavy metal disk defining a first end, a second end, and an outer circumferential surface; b. a shell enclosing said disk for preventing corrosion thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A canned reactor coolant pump having a hermetically sealed casing, an electric motor for driving a shaft, an impeller operatively connected to said shaft for pumping a fluid, and a flywheel mounted on said shaft, said flywheel comprising: a. a heavy metal disk defining a first end, a second end, and an outer circumferential surface; b. a shell enclosing said disk for preventing corrosion thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pump according to claim 16, wherein said shell further defines thrust runners on said ends and a journal around said circumferential surface, said pump further including radial bearing means mating with said journal and thrust bearing means mating with one said thrust runner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pump according to claim 17, wherein said radial bearing means includes a plurality of radial bearing members mounted to said casing by radial pivot pins, and said thrust bearing means includes a plurality of thrust bearing shoes, each shoe being mounted to said casing by primary and secondary thrust links.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pump according to claim 17, wherein said shell is made of stainless steel and includes stellite pads on said thrust runners and journal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pump according to claim 16, wherein said disk is uranium alloy containing about 2 percent by weight molybdenum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-06-12 | 1993-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-11 | 1997-06-12 | 1997-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-11 | 2001-06-12 | 2001-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |