US 11,885,326 B2
Flexible impeller pump
Stuart Drysdale, Tillicoultry (GB)
Assigned to MARINE FLOW LIMITED, Tillicoultry Central (GB)
Appl. No. 15/320,138
Filed by MARINE FLOW LIMITED, Tillicoultry Central Scotland (GB)
PCT Filed Jun. 22, 2015, PCT No. PCT/GB2015/051810
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 19, 2016,
PCT Pub. No. WO2015/193691, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 23, 2015.
Claims priority of application No. 1410986 (GB), filed on Jun. 20, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2017/0130715 A1, May 11, 2017
Int. Cl. F04C 15/00 (2006.01); F04C 5/00 (2006.01); F04C 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC F04C 15/0076 (2013.01) [F04C 5/00 (2013.01); F04C 15/0007 (2013.01); F04C 15/0073 (2013.01); F04C 29/0071 (2013.01); F04C 29/0078 (2013.01); F04C 2230/70 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mounting hub operable to connect a flexible impeller to, and support the impeller upon, a drive shaft;
wherein, in use, the mounting hub supports the impeller for rotational movement upon the drive shaft;
wherein the mounting hub is detachable from the impeller;
wherein further the mounting hub is adapted to permit the impeller to be completely decoupled for rotational movement from the drive shaft during installation, and then recoupled to the drive shaft for rotational movement once the flexible impeller is in position;
wherein the mounting hub comprises a drive shaft-engaging portion and an impeller body-engaging portion, the drive shaft-engaging portion having an aperture located axially in the mounting hub which, in use, engages with the drive shaft and rotationally locks the mounting hub relative to the drive shaft, and the impeller body-engaging portion comprising a non-circular profiled portion on an outside of the mounting hub which, in use, engages with the impeller and rotationally locks the mounting hub relative to the impeller;
wherein the mounting hub comprises a tubular member having a cross-section such that surfaces of the drive shaft-engaging portion and the impeller body-engaging portion are adapted to directly engage with the drive shaft and the impeller, respectively, and rotationally lock them together; and
wherein further the mounting hub is tapered along its length to facilitate insertion of the mounting hub, and to provide centering of the impeller relative to the drive shaft as the mounting hub is inserted.