US 7,465,153 B2
Diverter for reducing wear in a slurry pump
Graeme R. Addie, 3547 Vellerive Cir., Martinez, Ga. 30907 (US); Thomas Mueller, 335 Cold Springs Ct., Grovetown, Ga. 30813 (US); Stephan Bross, Am Erlengraben 7, D-67167 Erpolzheim (Germany); and John Maffett, 1409 Hadden Blvd., Avera, Ga. 30803 (US)
Filed on Aug. 06, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/212,919.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/310883, filed on Aug. 08, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2003/0044272 A1, Mar. 06, 2003
Int. Cl. F04D 29/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 415—172.1  [415/196] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A diverter for reducing particulate wear in a slurry pump having a suction liner, an impeller with a front shroud, and a nose gap having a diameter between the suction liner and the front shroud of the impeller, the diverter comprising:
(a) a suction liner face having a protrusion formed upstream of the nose gap, wherein the protrusion has a diameter greater than the diameter of the nose gap, the protrusion extending inwardly toward the front shroud of the impeller and terminating in a substantially rounded tip;
(b) an impeller front shroud being operatively opposed to the suction liner face, a rounded relief formed within the front shroud; and
(c) the rounded tip of the protrusion extending into, but not contacting, the rounded relief of the front shroud, wherein particulate matter is deflected away from the suction liner face upstream of the nose gap.