Parabolic radial flow impeller with tilted or offset blades

Abstract

An impeller assembly, comprising a generally planar disc oriented in a first plane and having a circular outer edge; and a plurality of blades mounted to the disc and extending beyond the edge of the disc, with the blades in cross-section having a shape that is substantially symmetrical along a center line and having a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is at an angle relative to the first plane in which the disc lies. In another variation, the blades are mounted so the center line of each blade is offset from the plane in which the disc lies.

1 . An impeller assembly, comprising:
 a generally planar disc oriented in a first plane and having a circular outer edge; and   a plurality of blades having a parabolic cross-section mounted to the disc and extending beyond the edge of the disc, with the blades in cross-section having a shape that is substantially symmetrical along a center line and having a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is at an angle relative to the first plane in which the disc lies, wherein said blades are bisected by said planar disc and wherein said blades are a single, unitary blade segment.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the parabola has a central vertex at which the first and second segments meet with the vertex located on the center line of the parabola, and wherein each blade is mounted so that the vertex extends through the first plane in which the disc lies. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the blades are equally circumferentially spaced around the disc edge. 
   
   
       5 . An impeller assembly for use with a shaft, comprising:
 a generally planar central mounting means for mounting to the shaft; and   a plurality of blades having a parabolic cross-section mounted to the mounting means and extending radially outward beyond the mounting means with the blades in cross-section having a shape that is substantially symmetrical about a center line and having a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is at an angle relative to a plane in which the mounting means lies, wherein said blades are bisected by said planar central mounting means and wherein said blades are a single, unitary blade segment.   
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the parabola has a central vertex located on the center line of the parabola, and wherein the blade is mounted so that the vertex extends through the plane of the disc. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the blades are equally circumferentially spaced around the disc edge. 
   
   
       9 . A mounting method comprising:
 rotating a shaft to drive an impeller assembly that comprises:
 a generally planar disc; and 
 a plurality of blades having a parabolic cross-section mounted to the disc and extending beyond the disc, with the blades in cross-section having a shape that has a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is at an angle relative to a plane in which the disc lies, wherein said blades are bisected by said planar disc and wherein said blades are a single, unitary blade segment. 
   
   
   
       10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the parabola has a central vertex located on the center line of the parabola, and wherein the blade is mounted so that the vertex extends at the plane of the disc. 
   
   
       11 . An impeller assembly, comprising:
 a generally planar disc oriented in a first plane and having a circular outer edge; and   a plurality of blades having a parabolic cross-section mounted to the disc and extending beyond the edge of the disc, with the blades in cross-section having a shape that is substantially symmetrical along a center line and having a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is parallel to the first plane in which the disc lies, and the center line of each blade is offset from the first plane in which the disc lies, wherein said blades are bisected by said planar disc and wherein said blades are a single, unitary blade segment.   
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the parabola has a central vertex at which the first and second segments meet, with the vertex located on the center line of the parabola, and wherein the blade is mounted so that the vertex is offset from the first plane in which the disc lies. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the blades are equally circumferentially spaced around the disc edge. 
   
   
       15 . An impeller assembly for use with a shaft, comprising:
 a generally planar central mounting means for mounting to the shaft; and   a plurality of blades having a parabolic cross-section mounted to the mounting means and extending radially outward beyond the mounting means with the blades in cross-section having a shape that is substantially symmetrical about a center line and having a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is parallel to a plane in which the mounting means lies, and the center line is offset from the first plane in which the disc lies, wherein said blades are bisected by said planar disc and wherein said blades are a single, unitary blade segment.   
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the parabola has a central vertex at which the first and second segments meet, with the vertex located on the center line of the parabola, and wherein the blade is mounted so that the vertex is offset from the first plane in which the disc lies. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the blades are equally circumferentially spaced around the disc edge. 
   
   
       19 . A mounting method comprising:
 rotating a shaft to drive an impeller assembly that comprises:   a generally planar disc; and
 a plurality of blades having a parabolic cross-section mounted to the disc and extending beyond the disc, with the blades in cross-section having a shape that has a first segment and a second segment disposed on opposite sides of the center line, with one segment being symmetrical with at least a portion of the other segment, and with the blades mounted so that the respective center line of each blade is at an angle relative to a plane in which the disc lies, wherein said blades are bisected by said planar disc and wherein said blades are a single. unitary blade segment. 
   
   
   
       20 . The assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the parabola has a central vertex located on the center line of the parabola, and wherein the blade is mounted so that the vertex extends through the plane of the disc.