Dry running flexible impeller pump and method of manufacture

Abstract

This invention relates to a Dry Running Flexible Impeller Pump and Method of Manufacture that is specifically designed to provide a flexible impeller pump that is capable of being run dry for extended periods of time without damaging the impeller. The pump's housing and end plates are coated with a low friction industrial coating to limit the heat of friction created by the flexible impeller while in use. Additionally the flexible impeller is cast from a pre-molding silicone substrate that contains no mold release and is cast in a mold that is treated with a low friction industrial coating and is cast without mold release. Once the flexible impeller is removed from the mold it is cleaned with alcohol, baked in a vacuum at a temperature of at least 100° C., and then coated with a Paralene N coating by vacuum deposition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the Dry Running Flexible Impeller Pump assembled for operation.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the Dry Running Flexible Impeller Pump.

Claims

1. A dry running flexible impeller pump comprised of: a pump power means;a pump shaft attached to the pump power means;a pump housing into which the pump shaft is inserted;a flexible impeller inside the pump housing and attached to the pump shaft wherein when the pump power means is activated the pump shaft thereby is caused to rotate and further cause the flexible impeller to rotate inside the pump housing;the pump housing having an intake port and a discharge port wherein when the flexible impeller rotates inside the pump housing a suction on the intake port is created wherein a fluid may thereby be drawn into the intake port then into the pump housing and exhausted therefrom by the flexible impeller through the discharge port;the pump housing and the flexible impeller being further comprised of a surface coating with a lower coefficient of friction than that of the pump housing or the flexible impeller respectively.

2. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 wherein the pump housing is further comprised of a power means side end plate and an end plate which are removably attached to the pump housing.

3. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 wherein about fifty percent of the thickness of the surface coating of the pump housing penetrates into the surface of the pump housing and the remaining surface coating forming an outer coated surface of the pump housing.

4. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 3 wherein the pump housing is comprised of a metal and the surface coating of the pump housing is anodized to the surface of the pump housing.

5. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 3 wherein the pump housing is comprised of a plastic and the surface coating of the pump housing is polymerized to the surface of the pump housing.

6. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 3 wherein the pump housing is comprised of a ceramic and the surface coating of the pump housing is polymerized to the surface of the pump housing.

7. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 wherein the flexible impeller is comprised of a silicon rubber that was cast in a mold such that the silicon rubber pre-molding silicone substrate used to cast the silicon rubber flexible impeller contains no mold release compositions of any kind.

8. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 7 wherein the mold that has a low friction surface coating anodized to the mold's surfaces that contact the flexible impeller as it is molded in the mold.

9. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 wherein the surface coating of the flexible impeller is a clear polymer film deposited on the flexible impeller under vacuum and heat.

10. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 wherein the surface coating of the pump housing is comprised of Magnaplate HCR that has been anodized on the pump housing to form the surface coating.

11. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 wherein the surface coating of the flexible impeller is comprised of a polymer of Poly Para Xylylene.

12. The dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 8 wherein the low friction surface coating anodized to the mold's surfaces is comprised of Magnaplate HCR.

13. A method of manufacturing the dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 1 comprised of the steps of: selecting an injection mold capable of casting silicon rubber from a pre-molding silicone substrate to form the flexible impeller in a desired shape and size;coating with a low friction compound the surfaces of the injection mold that have contact with the flexible impeller as it is being molded;constructing the pump housing of a shape and size such that when the flexible impeller rotates inside the pump housing a suction on the intake port is created wherein a fluid may thereby be drawn into the intake port then into the pump housing and exhausted therefrom by the flexible impeller through the discharge port;coating with a low friction compound the surfaces of the pump housing that have contact with the flexible impeller as it rotates inside the pump housing;casting the flexible impeller in the coated mold from a pre-molding silicone substrate that contains no mold release;removing the flexible impeller from the coated mold;cleaning the surfaces of the flexible impeller;heating the flexible impeller in a vacuum;coating with a low friction compound the heated flexible impeller while under vacuum by vacuum chamber bonding deposition;selecting a pump power means;constructing a pump shaft capable of inserting into the pump housing and capable of attaching to the flexible impeller and the pump power means;assembling the dry running flexible impeller pump by attaching the pump power means to the pump shaft which pump shaft is inserted into the pump housing and the pump shaft is then attached to the flexible impeller which is rotatably disposed inside the pump housing such that when pump power means is engaged the pump shaft turns inside the pump housing thereby causing the flexible impeller to rotate inside the pump housing causing a suction thereby on the intake port is created wherein a fluid may thereby be drawn into the intake port by the suction and the fluid then enters into the pump housing and is exhausted therefrom by the flexible impeller through the discharge port.

14. The method of manufacturing the dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 13 wherein: the coating with a low friction compound the surfaces of the injection mold that have contact with the flexible impeller as it is being molded is comprised of anodizing the surfaces with Magnaplate HCR.

15. The method of manufacturing the dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 13 wherein: the coating with a low friction compound the surfaces of the pump housing that have contact with the flexible impeller as it rotates inside the pump housing is comprised of anodizing the surfaces with Magnaplate HCR.

16. The method of manufacturing the dry running flexible impeller pump of claim 13 wherein: the coating with a low friction compound of the heated flexible impeller while under vacuum by vacuum chamber bonding deposition is comprised of a polymer of Poly Para Xylylene