The present invention is directed to a spa tub (and to a spa chair that includes a spa tub) that has a sprayer with a thermal meter so that an employee does not need to touch or feel the water and/or fluids to gauge the temperature of the water and/or fluids. The spa tub may also have a water pump and/or an air pump assembly that is designed and configured to be mounted to the wall of a basin for providing massage therapy to a user. In addition, the spa tub may additionally have a liner and/or an air dispenser. As a non-limiting embodiment, a spa chair includes a spa tub, a basin, a mounting housing member, and a sprayer with a thermal meter. The spa chair may also include a jet assembly, an air pump assembly a spa base, a gasket or seal, an air dispenser, and/or a liner.

In a mechanical seal, a stationary-side seal ring (20) is disposed on the high-pressure fluid side of a rotating-side seal ring (21), and fixed to a housing (1) and has sliding surfaces (20a), (20c), and (20d) supporting a rotating shaft (2) in both a radial direction and a thrust direction. The rotating-side seal ring (21) is axially movably fitted by a bellows (25) fitted on the rotating shaft (2). The rotating shaft (2) has an outer peripheral surface (2a) contacting and sliding on the radial sliding surface (20a) of the stationary-side seal ring (20) to be supported radially. Thrust rings (10a) and (10b) are provided between the stationary-side seal ring (20) and the rotating shaft (2), for supporting the rotating shaft (2) in thrust directions. The mechanical seal can eliminate the need for an additional bearing and provide stable performance as a bearing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A fluid pump for dispensing a fluid to a setting or work environment is disclosed. A fluid pump having a contactless, fluid sensor and for use with a liner is also disclosed. The pump includes a jet assembly, a motor assembly, and a contactless, fluid sensor. The pump may further include a mounting housing member, a gasket or seal, and a liner when a liner is not already present. The jet assembly is coupled to or secured about the motor assembly. The jet assembly includes a jet assembly housing, and preferably also includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a PCB cover, a shaft assembly, and an impeller. The jet assembly housing includes a base, a top cover, an impeller-receiving chamber, at least one inlet aperture, and at least one outlet aperture. A pump apparatus that includes a pump as described, a power source, and/or a control apparatus is further disclosed.

A fluid pump for dispensing a fluid to a setting or work environment is disclosed. A fluid pump having a contactless, fluid sensor and for use with a liner is also disclosed. The pump includes a jet assembly, a motor assembly, and a contactless, fluid sensor. The pump may further include a mounting housing member, a gasket or seal, and a liner when a liner is not already present. The jet assembly is coupled to or secured about the motor assembly. The jet assembly includes a jet assembly housing, and preferably also includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a PCB cover, a shaft assembly, and an impeller. The jet assembly housing includes a base, a top cover, an impeller-receiving chamber, at least one inlet aperture, and at least one outlet aperture. A pump apparatus that includes a pump as described, a power source, and/or a control apparatus is further disclosed.

A blood pump system includes a pump housing and an impeller for rotating in a pump chamber within the housing. The impeller has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The system includes a stator having drive coils for applying a torque to the impeller and at least one bearing mechanism for suspending the impeller within the pump chamber. The system includes a position control mechanism for moving the impeller in an axial direction within the pump chamber to adjust a size of a first gap and a size of a second gap, thereby controlling a washout rate at each of the first gap and the second gap. The first gap is defined by a distance between the first side and the housing and the second gap is defined by a distance between the second side and the pump housing.