US 11,933,295 B2
Tapered shafts for fluid pumps
Bradley Alan Bauer, Evendale, OH (US); Paul T. Sudkamp, Evendale, OH (US); and Michael J. Halligan, West Chester, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Jun. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/833,591.
Prior Publication US 2023/0392595 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. F04C 15/00 (2006.01); F04C 2/16 (2006.01)
CPC F04C 15/0088 (2013.01) [F04C 2/16 (2013.01); F04C 2240/20 (2013.01); F04C 2240/50 (2013.01); F04C 2240/60 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus to pump fluid comprising:
at least one bearing including a uniform inner diameter;
a shaft including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion at least partially positioned within the uniform inner diameter of the at least one bearing, the second portion positioned between the first portion and the third portion, the first portion and the third portion including a first thickness, the second portion including a second thickness smaller than the first thickness; and
a rotating element extending radially outward from the second portion of the shaft,
wherein a separation between the second portion of the shaft and the at least one bearing is inversely proportional to a distance from the second portion of the shaft to the rotating element.