Viscous drag impeller components incorporated into pumps, turbines and transmissions

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for facilitating the movement of fluids, transferring mechanical power to fluid mediums, as well as deriving power from moving fluids. The present invention employs an impeller system in a variety of applications involving the displacement of fluids, including for example, any conventional pumps, fans, compressors, generators, circulators, blowers, generators, turbines, transmissions, various hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and the like.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An impeller assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a central hub;    (b) a first reinforcing backing plate fixedly connected to the central hub;    (c) a stacked array of parallel discs fixedly connected to the first reinforcing backing plate, wherein the discs possess a central aperture, and wherein the discs are inter-spaced along a parallel axis;    (d) a second reinforcing backing plate fixedly attached to the stacked array of parallel discs, wherein the second reinforcing backing plate possesses a central aperture, whereby, upon radial movement of the central hub, a fluid flows through the central apertures of the second reinforcing backing plate and the stacked array of discs and the spaces between the discs.    
     
     
         2 . The impeller assembly according to    claim 1   , further comprising a series of connecting rods to fixedly connect the central hub, the first and second reinforcing backing plates and the stacked array of discs.  
     
     
         3 . The impeller assembly of    claim 1   , further comprising a series of spacers having a central aperture, wherein the spacers are fixedly connected to the discs, creating spaces between the discs.  
     
     
         4 . A pump, comprising: 
 (a) the impeller assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section;    (b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained, creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, and wherein a gap is established between the impeller assembly and the housing, defining a zone of high pressure, wherein the housing has an inlet port and an outlet port; and    (c) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven to draw fluid from the inlet port into the central apertures of the backing plate and along the discs and propelled under pressure to the outlet port.    
     
     
         5 . A jet pump, comprising: 
 (a) the impeller assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section;    (d) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained, creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, and wherein a gap is established between the impeller assembly and the housing, defining a zone of high pressure, wherein the housing has an outlet port;    (b) a cover fixedly attached to the housing, having a cowel section, wherein the cowel section has an inlet port; and    (c) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven to draw fluid from the inlet port into the central apertures of the backing plate and along the discs and propelled under pressure to the outlet port.    
     
     
         6 . A hydroelectric turbine, comprising: 
 (a) the impeller assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section, and wherein the first reinforcing backing plate is integral with the central hub;    (b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, wherein the housing has a penstock and an outlet port;    (c) a plurality of wicket gates pivotably connected to the housing such that the flow of the fluid to the impeller assembly is regulated;    (d) a controlling mechanism connected to the plurality of wicket gates such that the position of the wicket gates is adjustable; and    (e) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven by the fluid flowing from the penstock through the wicket gates across the discs of the impeller assembly and eventually discharged from the outlet port.    
     
     
         7 . A fluid turbine, comprising: 
 (a) the impeller assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the central hub has a shaft section and a flange section;    (b) a housing in which the impeller assembly is contained within creating a complementary surface for the impeller assembly, wherein the housing has a plurality of reversing nozzle housings providing a plurality of inlets, and wherein the housing has an outlet port;    (c) a plurality of reversing nozzles contained within the reversing nozzle housings;    (d) a controlling mechanism connected to the plurality of reversing nozzles such that the position of the reversing nozzles is adjustable;    (e) a fluid inlet conduit connected to the reversing nozzles; and    (f) a bearing assembly retained in the housing and in tight association with the shaft section of the central hub for retaining and supporting the impeller assembly, wherein the impeller assembly is radially driven by the fluid flowing from the reversing nozzles and through the inlets across the discs of the impeller assembly and eventually discharged from the outlet port.    
     
     
         8 . A Turbine Transmission, comprising: 
 (a) the pump of    claim 4   ;    (b) the fluid turbine of    claim 7   ;    (c) a sump section having an sump inlet conduit connected to the inlet port of the pump, and wherein the sump section has an sump outlet conduit connected to the exhaust port of the fluid turbine;    (d) a high pressure line connecting the exhaust port of the pump and the fluid inlet conduit of the fluid turbine, such that a closed system is created, and whereby fluid is drawn from the sump section through the sump inlet conduit and inlet port of the pump and driven by the impeller assembly out the exhaust port of the pump through the high pressure line to the fluid inlet conduit to the reversing nozzles whereby the impeller assembly of the turbine is radially driven and the fluid is eventually exhausted through the exhaust port of the turbine through the sump outlet conduit such that the fluid is continuously recycled.    
     
     
         9 . A method for displacing fluids, which comprises: 
 (a) priming the pump of    claim 4   ;    (b) radially driving the impeller assembly;    (c) drawing fluid from the inlet port into the housing through the central apertures of the backing plate and discs and along the discs;    (d) propelling the fluid through the impeller assembly to the high pressure zone at the gap between the complementary surface of the housing and the impeller assembly; and    (e) driving the fluid through the exhaust port of the housing, whereby the fluid is continuously drawn into the inlet port and exhausted through the outlet port.    
     
     
         10 . A method for transferring mechanical power from a propelled fluid, comprising: 
 (a) channeling a propelled fluid to the turbine according to claims  6  or  7 ;    (b) directing the flow of fluid to the impeller assembly such that the fluid imparts radial movement to the impeller assembly; and    (c) exhausting the fluid through the exhaust port, whereby the kinetic energy of the fluid is transferred to radial movement of the impeller assembly.