VANED SLINGER FOR PUMPS

A slinger for a submersible electric pump protects a motor shaft bearing as well as a shaft seal. The slinger is provided with four, inclined, curved projections or vanes which are operable to propel sand or other potentially abrasive, grit-like contaminants away from an area adjacent the shaft seal. A pair of outlet slots disposed horizontally adjacent a lowermost portion of the slinger cooperates with the vanes to enable passage of the contaminants to an area external of the pump, such that the contaminants do not accumulate within the pump itself and the likelihood that the contaminants will enter the first pump stage is significantly reduced. Each of the vanes has a face inclined slightly relative to the frustoconical outer surface of the slinger, and each face terminates in a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The vanes direct the contaminants toward the lowermost portion of the slinger where maximum outward thrust is developed.