Plastic rotor for pumps

Abstract

An improved roller pump having a rotor formed of a plastic material that provides improved performance and longevity as compared to roller pumps having metal rotors.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pump comprising: 
 a. a housing having an inlet and an outlet;    b. a drive shaft;    c. a rotor coupled to said drive shaft, said rotor having a rotor body made of a phenolic material, said rotor body having a front wall, a back wall, a side wall and a plurality of roller engaging recesses; and    d. a plurality of rollers.    
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein said rollers are made of nylon.  
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein said phenolic material is a glass fiber filled phenolic compound.  
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein said phenolic material is lubricious and abrasion-resistant.  
     
     
         5 . A pump comprising: 
 a. a housing having an inlet and an outlet;    b. a drive shaft;    c. a rotor coupled to said drive shaft, said rotor having a rotor insert coupled to said drive shaft and a rotor body, said rotor body made of a phenolic material and having a front wall, a back wall, a side wall and a plurality of roller-engaging recesses; and    d. a plurality of rollers.    
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5  wherein said rollers are made of nylon.  
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 5  wherein said rotor insert is made of stainless steel.  
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 5  wherein said phenolic material is a glass fiber filled phenolic compound.  
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 5  wherein said phenolic material is lubricious and abrasion resistant.  
     
     
         10 . A pump comprising: 
 a. a housing having an inlet and an outlet;    b. a drive shaft;    c. a rotor coupled to said drive shaft, said rotor having an integrally molded rotor body molded of a plastic material selected from a group consisting of thermoset, glass and mineral filed phenolic compounds, said rotor body having a front wall, a back wall, a side wall and a plurality of roller-engaging recesses wherein the surfaces of said roller-engaging surfaces are rib free; and    d. a plurality of rollers.