Granted Patent B2

US 12,736,061 · App. 18/780,231 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventor: Henry K. Obermeyer (Wellington, CO)

Assignee: Henry K. Obermeyer

F04D29/2205F04D1/06F04D13/10F04D29/445

Abstract

Claims (25)

1 . A machine comprising:

a centrifugal impeller stage configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the impeller stage having three, separate rows of impeller blades, a first row of impeller blades configured to accept a fluid flow in an axial direction, accelerate the fluid flow on a vector away from the axis of rotation, and discharge the fluid flow in an outward radial direction to a second row of impeller blades, the second row of impeller blades configured to accelerate the fluid flow in the outward radial direction, and a third row of impeller blades configured to accept the fluid flow in the outward radial direction from the second row of impeller blades, first accelerate the fluid flow on a vector toward the axis of rotation in an inward radial direction, and then accelerate the fluid flow in the axial direction; and

a diffuser stage about the axis of rotation, the diffuser stage having three rows of diffuser blades, a first row of diffuser blades configured to receive the fluid flow from the impeller stage in the axial direction, and then direct the fluid flow on a vector toward the axis of rotation, a second row of diffuser blades configured to direct the fluid flow in the inward radial direction, and a third row of diffuser blades configured to accept the fluid flow in the inward radial direction from the second row of diffuser blades, first direct the fluid flow on a vector away from the axis of rotation, then direct the fluid flow in the axial direction, and then discharge the fluid flow from the diffuser stage in the axial direction.

2 . The machine of claim 1 , in which each of the impeller stage and the diffuser stage has an outer diameter, in which the outer diameter of the impeller stage is not larger than the outer diameter of the diffuser stage.

3 . The machine of claim 2 , in which the outer diameter of the impeller stage is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser stage.

4 . The machine of claim 1 , in which the impeller stage is a first impeller stage, and in which the second row of diffuser blades is configured to discharge the fluid flow from the diffuser stage in the axial direction into a second impeller stage configured to rotate about the axis of rotation, in which the second impeller stage comprises:

a first row of impeller blades of the second impeller stage configured to accept the fluid flow in the axial direction, accelerate the fluid flow on a vector away from the axis of rotation, and discharge the fluid flow in an outward radial direction to a second row of impeller blades of the second impeller stage;

the second row of impeller blades of the second impeller stage configured to accelerate the fluid flow in the outward radial direction; and

a third row of impeller blades of the second impeller stage configured to accept the fluid flow in the outward radial direction from the second row of impeller blades of the second impeller stage, first accelerate the fluid flow on a vector toward the axis of rotation in the inward radial direction, and then accelerate the fluid flow in the axial direction.

5 . The machine of claim 4 , in which the diffuser stage is a first diffuser stage, the machine further comprising a second diffuser stage about the axis of rotation, the second diffuser stage comprising:

a first row of diffuser blades of the second diffuser stage configured to receive the fluid flow from the second impeller stage in the axial direction, and then direct the fluid flow on a vector toward the axis of rotation; and

a second row of diffuser blades of the second diffuser stage configured to direct the fluid flow in the inward radial direction, and

a third row of diffuser blades of the second diffuser stage configured to accept the fluid flow in the inward radial direction from the second row of diffuser blades of the second diffuser stage, first direct the fluid flow on a vector away from the axis of rotation, then direct the fluid flow in the axial direction, and then discharge the fluid flow from the diffuser stage in the axial direction.

6 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein said axial direction is a first axial direction and said second row of impeller blades is configured also to accelerate the fluid flow in a second axial direction, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction.

7 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein said axial direction is a first axial direction, and said second row of diffuser blades is configured also to direct the fluid flow in a second axial direction, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction.

8 . A centrifugal impeller for a machine, the impeller comprising:

a first row of impeller blades configured to accept a fluid flow in an axial direction, accelerate the fluid flow on a vector away from the axis of rotation of the impeller, and discharge the fluid flow in an outward radial direction to a second row of impeller blades;

the second row of impeller blades configured to accelerate the fluid flow in the outward radial direction; and

a third row of impeller blades configured to accept the fluid flow in the outward radial direction from the second row of impeller blades, first accelerate the fluid flow on a vector toward the axis of rotation in an inward radial direction, and then accelerate the fluid flow in the axial direction.

9 . The impeller of claim 8 , wherein said axial direction is a first axial direction, and said second row of impeller blades is configured also to direct the fluid flow in a second axial direction, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction.

10 . A diffuser for a machine, the diffuser comprising:

a first row of diffuser blades configured to receive the fluid flow from an impeller stage in an axial direction, and then direct the fluid flow on a vector toward an axis of rotation of the diffuser;

a second row of diffuser blades configured to direct the fluid flow in an inward radial direction; and

a third row of diffuser blades configured to accept the fluid flow in the inward radial direction from the second row of diffuser blades, first direct the fluid flow on a vector away from the axis of rotation, then direct the fluid flow in the first axial direction, and then discharge the fluid flow from the diffuser stage in the first axial direction.

11 . The diffuser of claim 10 , wherein said axial direction is a first axial direction, and said second row of diffuser blades is configured also to direct the fluid flow in a second axial direction, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (187)