Pump Having Edge Mounted O-Ring Seal

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fluid pump having a pump housing and an inlet wall portion positioned adjacent the pump housing. The inlet wall portion has an extending portion which extends generally parallel to an inner surface of the pump housing. A motor is housed within the pump housing. An impeller is included which is responsive to the motor. An impeller retainer is disposed adjacent the impeller and includes a radiused corner portion. An O-ring is positioned at the radiused corner portion. The O-ring exerts a force non-perpendicular to the inner surface of the pump housing to form a seal against the inner surface of the pump housing and the extending portion of the inlet wall portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid pump comprising:
 a pump housing;   an inlet wall portion positioned adjacent the pump housing and including an extending portion extending generally parallel to an inner surface of the pump housing;   a motor housed within the pump housing;   an impeller responsive to the motor;   an impeller retainer disposed adjacent the impeller and including a radiused corner portion;   an O-ring positioned at the radiused corner portion; and   the O-ring exerting a force non-perpendicular to the inner surface of the pump housing to form a seal against the inner surface of the pump housing and the extending portion of the inlet wall portion.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , wherein the O-ring has a radius approximately the same as a radius of the radiused corner portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , further including an impeller housing positioned within the pump housing for housing the impeller, the impeller housing including a leg portion projecting therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid pump of  claim 3 , wherein the O-ring contacts a surface of the leg portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid pump of  claim 4 , wherein the O-ring exerts a force at about a 45 degree angle relative to the inner surface of the pump housing. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid pump of  claim 5 , wherein the wherein the O-ring simultaneously forms a three way seal including:
 a first seal between the extending portion of the inlet wall portion and the impeller retainer;   a second seal between an upper surface of the leg portion of the impeller housing and the inner wall surface of the pump housing; and   a third seal between the inner wall surface of the pump housing and the O-ring.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , wherein a minor portion of the O-ring sits in the radiused corner portion. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid pump comprising:
 a pump housing;   an inlet wall portion positioned adjacent the pump housing and including an extending portion extending generally parallel to an inner surface of the pump housing;   a motor housed within the pump housing;   an impeller responsive to the motor;   an impeller housing positioned within the pump housing for housing the impeller, the impeller housing including a leg portion projecting therefrom;   an impeller retainer disposed adjacent the impeller and including a radiused corner portion; and   an O-ring positioned at the radiused corner portion, the O-ring having a radius approximately the same as a radius of the radiused corner portion; and   the O-ring exerting a force non-perpendicular to the inner surface of the pump housing to form a seal against the inner surface of the pump housing.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid pump of  claim 8 , wherein the O-ring bulges out to exert a force at approximately a 45 degree angle relative to the inner surface of the pump housing. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid pump of  claim 8 , wherein the O-ring simultaneously forms a three way seal including:
 a first seal between the extending portion of the inlet wall portion and the impeller retainer;   a second seal between an upper surface of the leg portion of the impeller housing and the inner wall surface of the pump housing; and   a third seal between the inner wall surface of the pump housing and the O-ring.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid pump of  claim 8 , wherein only a minor portion of the O-ring is seated in the radiused corner portion of the impeller retainer. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid pump comprising:
 a pump housing;   an inlet wall portion positioned adjacent the pump housing and including an extending portion extending generally parallel to an inner surface of the pump housing;   a motor housed within the pump housing;   an impeller responsive to the motor;   an impeller housing positioned within the pump housing for housing the impeller, the impeller housing including a leg portion projecting therefrom parallel to and adjacent to the inner surface of the pump housing;   an impeller retainer disposed adjacent the impeller and including a radiused corner portion; and   an O-ring positioned at the radiused corner portion, the O-ring having a radius approximately the same as a radius of the radiused corner portion; and   the O-ring exerting a force at about a 45 degree angle relative to the inner surface of the pump housing to form a seal against the inner surface of the pump housing.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid pump of  claim 12 , wherein the O-ring simultaneously contacts:
 the radiused corner portion of the impeller retainer;   a surface of the extending portion of the inlet wall portion;   an upper surface of the leg portion of the impeller housing; and   the inner surface of the pump housing.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid pump of  claim 12 , wherein the radiused corner portion contacts a minor portion of the O-ring. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid pump of  claim 11 , wherein the O-ring simultaneously forms a three way seal including:
 a first seal between the extending portion of the inlet wall portion and the impeller retainer;   a second seal between an upper surface of the leg portion of the impeller housing and the inner wall surface of the pump housing; and   a third seal between the inner wall surface of the pump housing and the O-ring.