FUEL PUMP IMPELLER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ring impeller to be used together with a fuel pump. SOLUTION: The ring impeller includes a center hub, vanes in a first row extend from a hub in the radial direction, vanes in a second row extend from the hub, and disposed in a staggered manner adjacent to the vanes in the first row. The vanes in each row form grouped vane pairs adjacent to each other, and a bulkhead is disposed between the vanes in each vane pair. Ribs are aligned with the bulkheads, extend in the radial direction from the hub, and disposed between each vane pair. The thickness of a bottom portion of the bulkheads is the same as the thickness of the ribs. The bulkheads include a material reduction area in forward and rear edge parts. The vanes in the first row are disposed at non-uniform intervals, and the vanes in the second row are disposed at equal intervals. The intervals of the vanes in the first row may be about 70% to about 140% of the equal interval. Some of the vanes may have a height that is less than the height of other vanes. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI