Fluid pump assembly
A fluid pump assembly is provided. The pump has a pair of units magnetically coupled to each other. The first unit contains a drive motor and a magnetic assembly. The second unit contains a magnetic assembly and a blade of a propeller/impeller for imparting movement to a fluid. As the first unit is activated by the drive motor, a magnetic flux is created which in turn rotates the magnetic assembly in the second unit, driving the blade.
1. A magnetically driven unit comprising:
a housing comprising a base and a nozzle;
a rotator at least partially contained in the housing, the rotator comprising a magnet constructed and arranged to be magnetically coupled to and rotationally driven by a magnet of a drive unit;
a shaft operatively connected to the rotator;
a blade operatively coupled with the shaft;
an axle concentrically surrounded by the shaft, wherein the axle has a first end supported on the base and a second end supported by the nozzle; and
a sleeve concentric with the axle and the shaft, and interposed between the axle and the shaft.
2. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet cover cooperating with the base and enclosing the rotator.
3. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , wherein the axle comprises a flanged base.
4. The magnetically driven unit of claim 3 , wherein the flanged base contacts a surface of the base.
5. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is concentric with and surrounded by a bearing.
6. The magnetically driven unit of claim 3 , wherein the axle comprises a metallic material.
7. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of ribs spaced apart from one another to create openings for allowing fluid to flow therethrough.
8. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , further comprising a casing surrounding the magnet of the rotator.
9. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , further comprising a lower bearing connected to the rotator.
10. A fluid pump assembly, comprising:
the magnetically driven unit of claim 1 ; and
the drive unit comprising the drive unit magnet for magnetically coupling to and rotationally driving the blade of the magnetically driven unit.
11. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a ceramic.
12. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , wherein the axle comprises a metallic material.
13. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , wherein the base and the nozzle are releasably connected.
14. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , further comprising a lower bearing concentric with and surrounding the sleeve, wherein the lower bearing is positioned between the magnet of the rotator and the base.
15. The magnetically driven unit of claim 1 , further comprising an upper bearing positioned between the shaft and the sleeve.
16. The magnetically driven unit of claim 14 , further comprising a thrust washer positioned between the lower bearing and the base.
17. The fluid pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve comprises a ceramic.