Fluid moving device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid moving device having a plurality of blades on a core and a substantially spherical housing surrounding the blades, the housing having an inlet section with a plurality of inlet vanes, the inlet vanes configured to direct fluid in a rotational direction within the inlet section, and an outlet section adjacent to the inlet section. The present invention further relates to a method of moving a fluid which includes providing a fluid moving device having a substantially spherical housing surrounding a plurality of blades on a core, the housing having an inlet section and an outlet section, the inlet section having a plurality of inlet vanes, causing the blades to draw the fluid into the inlet section, and causing the inlet vanes to add further rotational movement to the fluid as the fluid enters the housing.

1 . A fluid moving device comprising: 
 a plurality of blades on a core; and    a substantially spherical housing surrounding the blades, the housing comprising: 
 an inlet section having a plurality of inlet vanes, the inlet vanes configured to direct fluid in a rotational direction within the inlet section, and  
 an outlet section adjacent to the inlet section.  
   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a motor located within the core.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of each inlet vane is angled from about 15 to about 55 degrees relative to a radial direction.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the angle varies along a length of at least one inlet vane in a longitudinal direction, an axial direction, or both.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one inlet vane is curved along a length in a longitudinal direction, an axial direction, or both.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the inlet section further comprises a plurality of second inlet vanes.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blades have an upper portion and the upper portion is angled substantially parallel to at least a portion of the inlet vanes.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blades have an upper portion, the upper portion having an angle of about 50 to about 75 degrees relative to a rotational axis.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blades have an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having an angle relative to a rotational axis and the lower portion having a second angle relative to the rotational axis that is different than the angle of the upper portion.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each of the blades has a blade tip located away from the core, and the shape of at least one blade tip substantially conforms to the shape of an inner surface of the inlet section or the outlet section.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the outlet section further comprises outlet vanes, the outlet vanes configured to disperse the fluid away from the bottom of the outlet section in a transverse direction relative to a rotational axis.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the outlet section further comprises a band and the outlet vanes have a width near the band of the outlet section that is smaller than the width near the bottom of the outlet section.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the inlet section further comprises a band and the outlet section further comprises a band, the band of the inlet section adjacent to the band of the outlet section.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  further comprising a support, wherein the support attaches to the band of the outlet section, the band of the inlet section or both.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a support, wherein the support couples to the outlet section at a bottom area of the outlet section.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the core further comprises a motor pedestal.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the motor pedestal comprises a first section and a second section.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the motor pedestal houses at least one bearing for rotating a shaft of a motor.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a mount for mounting a filter.  
   
   
       20 . A method of moving a fluid, the method comprising: 
 providing a fluid moving device having a substantially spherical housing surrounding a plurality of blades on a core, the housing comprising an inlet section and an outlet section, the inlet section having a plurality of inlet vanes;    causing the blades to draw the fluid into the inlet section; and    causing the inlet vanes to add further rotational movement to the fluid as the fluid enters the housing.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the causing the inlet vanes to add further rotational movement comprises positioning at least a portion of the inlet vanes substantially parallel to an upper portion of the blades.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the fluid moving device further comprises a motor located within the core.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the outlet section further comprises outlet vanes, the method further comprising: 
 positioning the outlet vanes to disperse the fluid away from the bottom of the outlet section in a transverse direction relative to a rotational axis.    
   
   
       24 . A fluid moving device comprising: 
 a plurality of blades on a core; and    a substantially elliptical housing surrounding the blades, the housing comprising: 
 an inlet section having a plurality of inlet vanes, the inlet vanes configured to direct fluid in a rotational direction within the inlet section, and  
 an outlet section adjacent to the inlet section.  
   
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising a motor located within the core.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the blades have an upper portion and the upper portion is angled substantially parallel to at least a portion of the inlet vanes.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising a support, wherein the support couples to the outlet section, the inlet section or both.