Solid feed guide apparatus for a solid feed pump

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes a solid feed pump. The solid feed pump includes a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, a curved passage disposed between the rotor and the housing, an inlet port coupled to the curved passage, an outlet port coupled to the curved passage, a solid feed guide extending across the curved passage, and multiple discrete contacts distributed along an interface between the solid feed guide and the rotor.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a solid fuel pump, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a rotor disposed in the housing; 
 a curved passage disposed between the rotor and the housing; 
 an inlet port coupled to the curved passage; 
 an outlet port coupled to the curved passage; 
 a solid fuel guide extending across the curved passage; and 
 a first roller at an interface between the solid fuel guide and the rotor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel guide comprises a guide wall that substantially blocks the curved passage adjacent the inlet port or the outlet port. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid fuel guide comprises a guide wall extending radially outward from the rotor across the curved passage toward the outlet port. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first roller comprises a wheel coupled to an axle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first roller comprises a ball disposed in a concave recess. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first roller comprises a cylinder disposed in a concave recess. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first roller is coupled to the solid fuel guide. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a second roller offset from the first roller along the interface between the solid fuel guide and the rotor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising a third roller offset from the first and second rollers along the interface between the solid fuel guide and the rotor. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a solid feed pump, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a rotor disposed in the housing; 
 a curved passage disposed between the rotor and the housing; 
 an inlet port coupled to the curved passage; 
 an outlet port coupled to the curved passage; 
 a solid feed guide extending across the curved passage; and 
 a plurality of discrete contacts distributed along an interface between the solid feed guide and the rotor. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each one of the plurality of discrete contacts comprises a curved contact surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each one of the plurality of discrete contacts comprises a static contact. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each one of the plurality of discrete contacts comprises a movable contact. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each movable contact comprises a wheel coupled to an axle. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each movable contact comprises a ball disposed in a concave recess. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each movable contact comprises a cylinder disposed in a concave recess. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of discrete contacts is coupled to the solid feed guide, the solid feed guide comprises a guide wall that blocks the curved passage adjacent the outlet port, and the guide wall extends radially outward from the rotor across the curved passage toward the outlet port. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 a solid feed pump, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a rotor disposed in the housing; 
 a curved passage disposed between the rotor and the housing; 
 an inlet port coupled to the curved passage; 
 an outlet port coupled to the curved passage; 
 a solid feed guide extending across the curved passage; and 
 a discrete static contact at an interface between the solid feed guide and the rotor. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the discrete static contact comprises a curved contact surface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising a plurality of discrete static contacts coupled to the solid feed guide along the interface between the solid feed guide and the rotor, wherein the solid feed guide comprises a guide wall that blocks the curved passage adjacent the outlet port, and the guide wall extends radially outward from the rotor across the curved passage toward the outlet port.