A multi-stage pump stack is disclosed herein wherein the multi-stage pump stack comprises a shaft, a diffuser disposed about the shaft, an impeller disposed within the diffuser, a first thrust ring disposed adjacent to the impeller, and a second thrust ring disposed adjacent to the diffuser. The first and second thrust rings are comprised of a material with a low friction coefficient. Systems and methods for distributing forces in the multi-stage pump stack are also disclosed herein.

An apparatus and system for sealing an electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly are described. An ESP system includes a top portion of a seal section including a sand barrier portion defined by a sand barrier stop secured between the ESP intake and an adapter portion, the sand barrier portion including a sand barrier wedged between the sand barrier stop and the adapter portion, the adapter portion encasing a mechanical seal and secured between the sand barrier portion and a head portion, the head portion secured between the adapter portion and a seal section housing, the head portion including a thrust bearing and a thrust runner, wherein each of the thrust bearing and the thrust runner includes at least one pad having a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer on an outer surface.

Various contactless bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

A submersible multi-stage labyrinth-screw pump, having a rotor shaft; an end seal for the rotor shaft; an axial unloading unit integrated into the end seal of the rotor shaft; a lower radial bearing; a longitudinal channel, which connects a high-pressure zone at an exit for the rotor and the chamber of the axial unloading unit of the shaft, the axial unloading unit comprising a thrust block with a wear-resistant insert, a thrust collar, mated with a segment of the end seal, the end seal housing, a spring, a thrust ring, and a seat sleeve of the end seal, wherein the end seal of the rotor shaft's axial unloading unit operates as follows, when high pressure appears in the chamber of the rotor shaft's axial unloading unit, the fluid is kept from unproductive flows by hermetic contact of the ground insert of a segment and a seat of the end seal.

An automotive electric liquid pump includes a separation can having a radial inside which includes a static bearing ring, a pump rotor, and a motor rotor which rotates in the separation can. The motor rotor includes a radial outside having a cylindrical rotor bearing ring. The static bearing ring of the separation can corresponds to the cylindrical rotor bearing ring of the motor rotor. A first radial slide bearing is defined by the cylindrical rotor bearing ring and the static bearing ring.

An electrical submersible pump for use in an electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system includes one or more pump stages, a thrust chamber having a thrust bearing for countering a thrust force generated by the one or more pump stages, and a unitary housing which encloses the pump stages and the thrust chamber so that the thrust mechanism and the pump stages are housed together.

A motor vehicle system device having a drive assembly, to which a charging device is assigned, has a compressor having at least one compressor runner supported using at least one bearing, the bearing having a stationary first bearing part and a second bearing part that is operatively connected to the compressor runner. An overpressure source is connected to the bearing, using which an overpressure is able to be produced in a bearing gap that is present between the first bearing part and the second bearing part. The overpressure source is the compressor and/or a part of a tandem pump, which besides the overpressure also makes available low air pressure for a user of the motor vehicle system device. The invention also relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle system device.

A press-fit thrust bearing system and apparatus. A press-fit thrust bearing for an electric submersible pump includes a protruding band extending around a midsection of a bushing, the protruding band extending inward towards a drive shaft, outward towards a diffuser, or both. When extending outwardly, the band is press-fit into the diffuser to prevent dislodgment of the bushing. A non-rotating guide sleeve extends around the bushing above the protruding band, the guide sleeve interlocking with the protruding band to prevent rotation of the bushing. The guide sleeve includes a projection, the protruding band has a channel and the projection mates with the channel to form the interlock. A pair of flanged, rotatable bearing sleeves extend inwards of the single bushing and are keyed to the drive shaft. The top and bottom faces of the bushing serve as thrust handling surfaces.

A drain pump has a sealed cavity formed by a motor base and a pump casing. A partition plate divides the cavity into a motor cavity, and a pump impeller cavity. A side of the partition plate facing the motor cavity is provided with a bearing base. Another side facing the pump impeller cavity comprises a plane; a bearing mounted in the bearing base penetrates through the two cavities. The bearing in the pump impeller cavity slightly protrudes from the plane of the partition plate, and is tightly attached to a pump impeller in the pump impeller cavity, to form a second contact. The pump impeller and a pump impeller shaft are subjected to integral injection molding. The pump impeller shaft is tightly fixed in the bearing, penetrates through the partition plate, enters the motor cavity, and is connected with the pump shaft in the motor cavity.

A technique facilitates removal of gas from a gas-sensitive region in an electric submersible pumping system. A gas purging system is integrated into the electric submersible pumping system. During operation of the electric submersible pumping system, the gas purging system also is operated to move gas away from the gas-sensitive region, e.g. a thrust bearing region, and to a collection region or other suitable region. In some embodiments, the gas which accumulates in a collection region may be discharged to a region external of the electric submersible pumping system.