BACKGROUND

Pumps are commonly known and used to pressurize fluids. For example, a pump may include an inducer that may have one or more blades that extend from a rotor to a radially offset tip. The rotor and blades rotate to pressurize fluid that enters the pump.

SUMMARY

A pump according to an example of the present disclosure includes an axial inducer that has a housing having an internal surface that defines an axial fluid passage. A rotor is disposed about a central axis in the fluid passage of the housing and has at least one blade that defines at least one blade tip. The internal surface of the housing defines a plurality of grooves adjacent the at least one blade tip. The grooves are elongated in a circumferential direction.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, each of the grooves is an endless groove.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves includes an ended groove.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves includes an endless groove and an ended groove aft of the endless groove.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves includes a plurality of endless grooves and a plurality of ended grooves that are aft of the plurality of endless grooves.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves includes a plurality of endless grooves, and the endless grooves are uniformly axially-spaced apart.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves are of common aspect ratio with respect to groove depth and groove width.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves have a constant cross-section.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the one or more blades begin at a first axial location. The one or more blades terminate at a second axial position. The plurality of grooves begin at a third axial location. The at least one groove terminates at a fourth axial position, and the fourth axial location is forward of the second axial location.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the internal surface of the housing includes a band aft of the plurality of grooves that excludes any of the one or more grooves.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of grooves define, with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to the central axis, a forward pitch angle, and the at least one blade defines, with respect to the reference plane, an aft pitch angle.

A pump according to an example of the present disclosure includes an axial inducer that has a housing having an internal surface that defines an axial fluid passage. A rotor is disposed about a central axis in the fluid passage of the housing and has at least one blade defining at least one blade tip. The internal surface of the housing defines a plurality of grooves adjacent the at least one blade tip. The plurality of grooves define, with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to the central axis, a forward pitch angle. The blade defines, with respect to the reference plane, an aft pitch angle.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the forward pitch angle and the aft pitch angle are congruent angles.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the congruent angles are in a range from 5° to 40°.

A pump according to an example of the present disclosure includes an axial inducer that has a housing having an internal surface that defines an axial fluid passage. A rotor is disposed about a central axis in the fluid passage of the housing and has at least one blade defining at least one blade tip. The internal surface of the housing defines a plurality of grooves adjacent the at least one blade tip. Each of the grooves defines, with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to the central axis, a pitch angle that varies along the groove.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the pitch angle is forward pitch angle.

