Single-channel rotor with a hollowed-out body

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotor (14) for a pumping unit, comprising a body (28) delimited by a peripheral wall (30) which extends around an axis of rotation (X) of the rotor (14), the rotor (14) comprising a plate (32) which closes a lower end (34) of the rotor (14) and extends in a plane that is radial with respect to the axis of rotation (X), the peripheral wall (30) and the plate (32) delimiting a cavity (36) which is open at an upper end (38) of the rotor (14) and in which a flow channel (44) for a fluid at least partially extends, the flow channel (44) comprising a fluidic inlet opening (46) and opening into the peripheral wall (30).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: SINGLE-CHANNEL HOLLOW-BODY ROTOR

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a pumping unit, for example for a fish pond, and relates in particular to a single-channel rotor of such a pumping unit.

[0005] Technical background

[0006] Pumping units used in the fish farming sector, for example in aquaculture, are used to sort, load or even discharge fish from one culture tank to another.

[0007] For this purpose, the pumping units comprise a pump body to which are connected a fluid inlet channel and a fluid outlet channel, the pump body housing a rotor. The rotor is then configured to be rotated in the pump body so as to move the fluid, including for example fish, from the inlet channel to the outlet channel.

[0008] The prior art includes pumps as disclosed in US2016 / 108927A1 and GB377370A.

[0009] Given the intended use of such a pumping unit, it must be sized to allow the movement of fish and the rotor must have a particular shape and adequate dimensions so as not to injure the fish in transit.

[0010] Therefore, the use of such a pumping unit represents a high construction cost.

[0011] In addition, pumping units are usually placed on mobile chassis in order to be moved around the aquaculture space. Thus, we understand the interest in limiting the weight and size of such an installation in order to facilitate maneuvers for an operator.

[0012] Also, the significant bulk and weight of the rotors currently used in pumping units have the effect of generating numerous vibrations during their rotation, thus causing balancing problems for said rotors. The invention therefore proposes an optimized rotor for a pumping unit, the weight and quantity of material of which has been reduced without detriment to the robustness of the latter. Thus, the rotor according to the invention allows for better mass distribution and thus better balancing.

[0013] Summary of the invention

[0014] The invention provides a rotor for a pumping unit comprising a body delimited by a peripheral wall which extends around an axis of rotation of the rotor, the rotor comprising a plate which closes a lower end of the rotor and which extends in a radial plane relative to the axis of rotation, the peripheral wall and the plate delimiting a cavity open on an upper end of the rotor in which a flow channel for a fluid extends at least in part, the flow channel comprising a fluid inlet opening and opening into the peripheral wall.

[0015] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0016] - the plate comprises at least one through hole which opens into the rotor cavity;

[0017] - the rotor comprises a support which extends in the cavity, axially between the flow channel and the plate, the support having a shape of a truncated cylinder in an axial plane so as to have a complementarity of shape with a curved shape of the flow channel, an axis of revolution of the support being distinct from the axis of rotation of the rotor; the support comprises a housing for receiving a drive shaft of the pumping unit which extends axially along the axis of rotation of the rotor; the fluid inlet opening of the flow channel is centered axially on the axis of rotation of the rotor; the flow channel extends from the inlet opening to the peripheral wall while having a helical shape;

[0018] - the rotor comprises a single flow channel; The invention also relates to a pumping unit comprising at least one pump body in which the rotor extends according to any one of the preceding characteristics, the pumping unit comprising a drive shaft integral in rotation with the rotor and which extends in the housing for receiving the rotor.

[0019] According to a feature of the pumping unit, the peripheral wall of the rotor has a concave shape, the peripheral wall of the rotor participating in delimiting a portion of the flow channel which extends outside the cavity of the rotor in cooperation with a curved wall of the pump body of the pumping unit.

[0020] Brief description of the figures

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig.1] is a general axial sectional view of a pump body of a pumping unit comprising a rotor;

[0023] [Fig.2] is a general perspective view of the pumping unit comprising an inlet channel and a fluid outlet channel;

[0024] [Fig.3] is a top view of the rotor of Figure 1;

[0025] [Fig.4] is a side view of the rotor of Figure 1;

[0026] [Fig.5] is an axial sectional view of the rotor of Figure 1.

[0027] Detailed description of the invention

[0028] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0029] Figure 1 illustrates a pump body 12 of a pumping unit 10, visible in Figure 2, the pump body 12 housing a rotor 14 driven in rotation via a drive shaft 16.

[0030] Visible in Figure 2, the pump body is fluidically connected to an inlet channel 18 and an outlet channel 20 of a fluid.

[0031] The pump body 12 has a shape capable of receiving the rotor 14, as visible in FIG. 1, and is delimited peripherally by a curved wall 22 which extends circularly around an axis of rotation X of the rotor 14.

[0032] Axially, the pump body 12 is delimited by a floor wall 24 and by a covering wall 26, said walls 24, 26 being integral with the curved wall 22.

[0033] Thus, the curved wall 22, the floor wall 24 and the covering wall 26 delimit a space for receiving the rotor 14.

[0034] According to a non-limiting example of the invention, the floor wall 24 comprises a passage for the drive shaft 16 for rotating the rotor 14.

[0035] According to another non-limiting example of the invention and not illustrated, the floor wall may comprise a zone for fixing a rotor drive member formed on its surface.

[0036] It is further understood that the rotor 14 is not force-fitted into the pump body 12 and that a clearance persists between the walls 22, 24, 26 of the pump body 12 and said rotor 14 so as to allow the latter to rotate in the receiving space of the rotor 14.

[0037] The cooperation between the pump body 12 and the rotor 14 will be described in more detail in the remainder of the description.

[0038] The pumping unit 10 according to the illustrated example of the invention can be used, for example, in an aquaculture operation to move fish between two tanks each fluidically connected to the inlet channel 18 or to the outlet channel 20. The rotor 14 then allows the fluid with the fish to be moved between the inlet channel 18 and the outlet channel 20 of the pumping unit 10.

[0039] To this end, the pumping unit 10 can be mounted on a chassis, for example mobile, comprising at least one drive device, for example a direct drive geared motor, ensuring the rotational drive of the rotor via the drive shaft to which it is connected.

[0040] Furthermore, given the field of use of such a pumping unit 10, it is understood that the rotor 14 may have a large dimension in order to allow large fish, such as salmonids, to pass through it. By way of non-limiting example, the diameter of the rotor 14 according to the invention, used within the pumping unit for fish, is between 700 mm and 1700 mm.

[0041] The rotor visible in figures 3 to 5, comprises a body 28 delimited by a peripheral wall 30 which extends around the axis of rotation X of the rotor 14.

[0042] It is then understood that the rotor 14 has a shape included in a cylinder.

[0043] Visible in Figure 4, the rotor 14 comprises a plate 32 which extends at one of the axial ends of the body 28, here a lower end 34, in a radial plane relative to the axis of rotation X of the rotor 14.

[0044] It is understood that the lower end 34 of the rotor is defined according to a position of the rotor within the pumping unit as visible in FIG. 1.

[0045] The plate 32 of the rotor 14 takes the form of a wall. According to the non-limiting example of the invention, the plate 32 takes the form of a flat wall.

[0046] It is then understood that the plate 32 extends to the lower end 34 of the body 28 so as to close a cavity 36 of the rotor 14 as visible in figure 5.

[0047] In Figure 5 another axial end of the body 28 is visible, called the upper end 38, axially opposite the lower end 34 along the axis of rotation X of the rotor.

[0048] The upper end 38 delimits an opening 40 of the cavity 36 of the rotor 14.

[0049] More particularly, the opening 40 of cavity 36 of the rotor 14 opens onto the cavity 36 of the rotor 14 delimited by the peripheral wall 30 and the plate 32.

[0050] According to the example of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the plate 32 comprises three through orifices 42 which extend through the plate 32, and which open into the cavity 36 of the rotor 14.

[0051] The interest of such orifices 42 will be mentioned later in the detailed description.

[0052] The rotor 14 comprises a fluid flow channel 44. More specifically, the rotor 14 according to the invention is a single-channel rotor, that is to say comprising a single fluid flow channel 44.

[0053] The flow channel 44 of the rotor 14 extends at least partly into the cavity 36 of the rotor 14 and opens onto the peripheral wall 30.

[0054] More precisely, a first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 is defined which extends between a fluid inlet opening 46 and the peripheral wall 30, and a second portion 44b of the flow channel 44 which extends outside the cavity of the rotor and visible in FIG. 1.

[0055] As seen in Figure 5 showing an axial sectional view of the rotor 14, the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 extends axially beyond the cavity 36 of the rotor 14.

[0056] According to another example of the invention not illustrated, the first portion of the flow channel may extend only into the rotor cavity.

[0057] More particularly, the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 extends axially such that the inlet opening 46 extends outside the cavity 36 and centered on the axis of rotation X of the rotor 14.

[0058] It is then understood that the inlet opening 46 is axially opposite the plate 32.

[0059] It is also understood that the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 passes through the opening 40 of the cavity 36 described previously.

[0060] Thus, from the inlet opening 46 of the flow channel 44, the first portion 44a extends to the peripheral wall 30, having a substantially helical shape visible in FIGS. 3 and 5.

[0061] As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the inlet opening 46 of the flow channel 44 fluidly cooperates with the inlet channel 18 of the pump body 12 of the pumping unit 10.

[0062] The covering wall 26 of the pump body 12 then has at least in part the shape of a truncated cone so as to receive the part of the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 which extends axially beyond the cavity 36 of the rotor 14.

[0063] The first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 opens onto the peripheral wall 30, forming an intermediate opening 48, visible in FIG. 4. As particularly visible in FIG. 5, the rotor 14 comprises a support 50 of the flow channel 44. More precisely, the support 50 extends in the cavity 36 of the rotor 14, axially between the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 and the plate 32.

[0064] The support 50 is then configured to accompany the helical shape of the first portion 44a so as to ensure the robustness of the rotor 14.

[0065] The support 50 then appears substantially as a cylinder comprising a base 52 which extends from the plate 32, and a truncated end 54 secured to the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44. It is understood that the truncated end 54 of the support 50 has a complementary shape with the curved shape of the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44.

[0066] According to a characteristic of the invention, the support 50 of substantially cylindrical shape comprises an axis of revolution R parallel to the axis of rotation X of the rotor, but offset from the axis of rotation X.

[0067] In other words, the axis of rotation X and the axis of revolution R are offset from each other.

[0068] According to a non-limiting example of the invention, the support 50 comprises a receiving housing 56 for the drive shaft of the pumping unit which extends axially along the axis of rotation X.

[0069] The receiving housing 56 of the drive shaft is coaxial with the axis of rotation X of the rotor 14.

[0070] As seen in Figure 5, the peripheral wall 30 of the rotor 14 has at least a partial concave shape, in axial section.

[0071] In other words, the peripheral wall 30 has a substantially parabolic profile, one apex of which is directed towards the axis of rotation X of the rotor 14.

[0072] For example, the peripheral wall 30 has a concave shape over at least 70% of its periphery in a circular direction around the axis of rotation X.

[0073] More precisely, the peripheral wall 30 has a concave shape from the intermediate opening 48 of the flow channel 44 so as to form the second portion 44b of the flow channel 44 which extends outside the rotor 14, in cooperation with a curved wall 22 of the housing, as visible in FIG. 1.

[0074] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the concave shape of the peripheral wall 30 has an axial dimensioning along the axis of rotation X, decreasing from the intermediate opening 48 to an end end of the concave shape of the peripheral wall 30.

[0075] In other words, the peripheral wall 30 of concave shape is in the form of a groove whose depth decreases from the intermediate opening 48 to an end end.

[0076] It is then understood that the second portion 44b of the flow channel 44 cooperates fluidly with the outlet channel 20 of the pump body 12 of the pumping unit 10, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0077] It is also understood that the fluid path of the pumping unit 10 begins in the inlet channel 18, then in the first portion 44a of the flow channel 44 and in the second portion 44b of the flow channel 44 to the outlet channel 20.

[0078] The rotational drive of the rotor 14 in the pump body 12 then allows the fluid to move within the pumping unit 10 by creating a circular fluid current.

[0079] More particularly, the rotation of the rotor 14 within the pump body 12 makes it possible to convey a fish from the first portion 44a of the flow channel to the outlet channel 20 by generating a circular fluid current within the second portion 44b.

[0080] Furthermore, the pump body 12 is intended to be filled with fluid during use of the pumping unit, and the through-orifices 42 formed in the plate 32 of the rotor 14 make it possible to limit the friction between the rotor 14 and the floor wall 24 by allowing the formation of a liquid layer between them.

[0081] The particular structure of the rotor according to the invention allows it to be manufactured, for example, by molding and assembly or by plastic injection. The rotor can, for example, be made of injection-fibered polyester or other composite material, thus limiting its weight while increasing its strength. In addition, manufacturing by molding and assembly or by plastic injection advantageously makes it possible to obtain a part of constant thickness.

[0082] As mentioned above, the rotors installed within fish pumping units have a significant dimension given their field of use. Thus, the rotor as just described, with an internal cavity, benefits from its reduced weight. The reduced weight of the rotor thus limits the vibrations generated during its rotation. Also, the rotor according to the invention allows for better mass distribution. This improves the stability and balance of the rotor within the fish pumping unit.

[0083] Furthermore, the particular structure of the rotor according to the invention makes it possible to improve the balance of the rotor without compromising its robustness and durability.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Rotor (14) for a pumping unit (10) comprising a body (28) delimited by a peripheral wall (30) which extends around an axis of rotation (X) of the rotor (14), the rotor (14) comprising a plate (32) which closes a lower end (34) of the rotor (14) and which extends in a radial plane relative to the axis of rotation (X), the peripheral wall (30) and the plate (32) delimiting a cavity (36) open on an upper end (38) of the rotor (14) in which extends at least partly a flow channel (44) for a fluid, the flow channel (44) comprising a fluid inlet opening (46) and opening into the peripheral wall (30), the rotor (14) comprising a support (50) which extends in the cavity (36), axially between the flow channel (44) and the plate (32), the support (50) having a shape of a truncated cylinder in an axial plane so as to have a complementarity of shape with a curved shape of the flow channel (44),an axis of revolution (R) of the support (50) being distinct from the axis of rotation (X) of the rotor (14)., 2. Rotor (14) according to the preceding claim, in which the plate (32) comprises at least one through orifice (42) which opens into the cavity (36) of the rotor (14).

3. Rotor (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support (50) comprises a receiving housing (56) of a drive shaft (16) of the pumping unit (10) which extends axially along the axis of rotation (X) of the rotor (14).

4. Rotor (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid inlet opening (46) of the flow channel (44) is axially centered on the axis of rotation (X) of the rotor (14).

5. Rotor (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow channel (44) extends from the inlet opening (46) to the peripheral wall (30) in a helical shape.

6. Rotor (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a single flow channel (44).

7. Pumping unit (10) comprising at least one pump body (12) in which the rotor (14) according to any one of the preceding claims extends, the pumping unit (10) comprising a drive shaft (16) integral in rotation with the rotor (14) and which extends in the receiving housing (56) of the rotor (14).

8. Pumping unit (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the peripheral wall (30) of the rotor (14) has a concave shape, the peripheral wall (30) of the rotor (14) participating in delimiting a portion (44b) of the flow channel (44) which extends outside the cavity (36) of the rotor (14) in cooperation with a curved wall (22) of the pump body (12) of the pumping unit (10).

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