Impeller pump with reciprocating vane and non-circular rotor

Abstract

An impeller-type pump includes a housing with an internal chamber, a rotor within the chamber and a vane mounted to the housing for reciprocating action such that an end of the vane contacts the rotor and effectively divides the chamber between induction and exhaustion rotor chambers. The rotor has a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, such that its outside surface forms a camming surface that drives the vane in a reciprocating fashion upon rototation of the rotor. The rotor may be oval in cross section or have a complex cross-sectional configuration with a substantially flat trailing face forming a stop to prevent reverse direction rotation, and a curved leading face which forms a cam surface to elevate the vane upon rotation of the rotor.

1 . A rotary vane pump comprising: 
 a static pump housing having in sequential fluid communication a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a pump chamber having a bore at least a portion of which is circular in section;    a rotor mounted for rotation within the circular portion of said bore, said rotor having a central axis of rotation and an exterior camming surface which in section is non-cylindrical;    at least one vane mounted within said housing for reciprocating motion relative to said housing between an extended and a retracted position, said vane having a contact surface for sealing contact with said camming surface of said rotor, wherein rotation of said rotor drives said vane in said reciprocating motion; and    said vane and rotor maintaining fluid separation between said inlet and said outlet.    
   
   
       2 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising drive means for rotating said rotor.  
   
   
       3 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising biasing means acting between said vane and said housing, to urge said vane against said rotor.  
   
   
       4 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vane is slidably housed within a channel recessed within said housing and opening into said pump chamber.  
   
   
       5 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , comprising a single vane.  
   
   
       6 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vane is displaced from the axis of rotation of said rotor towards the downstream side of said pump.  
   
   
       7 . A pump as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said rotor is substantially oval-shaped in cross-section.  
   
   
       8 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said rotor comprises substantially opposed portions having equal radii of maximum length for each contacting the inside surface of said bore with a sliding sealed contact.  
   
   
       9 . A pump as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said rotor portions each comprise a curved leading face forming a cam surface for elevation of said vane upon rotation of said rotor and a substantially flat trailing face, said vane having a corresponding flat face for contact with said trailing face and said vane being displaced relative to the axis of rotation of said rotor such that each said trailing face of said rotor may fully contact the corresponding flat face of said vane when said vane is in said extended position to prevent reverse rotation of said rotor.  
   
   
       10 . A pump as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said rotor portions each comprise a curved leading face forming a cam surface and a trailing face having a flatter surface than said leading face.  
   
   
       11 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vane includes a low-friction contact member for maintaining a sealing contact with said rotor.  
   
   
       12 . A pump as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said low friction contact member comprises a roller bearing, partly recessed into a channel within said vane.  
   
   
       13 . A pump as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said vane includes a thickened region extending laterally relative to the contact surface at a region of said vane adjacent to said contact member.  
   
   
       14 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a drain in communication with said channel, for discharge of fluid from said channel.  
   
   
       15 . A pump as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said drain opens to said fluid outlet for harnessing the relatively higher fluid pressure therein to urge said vane towards said rotor.  
   
   
       16 . A pump as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes lateral side walls, at least one of which includes a slot for receiving and guiding said vane.  
   
   
       17 . A rotary vane pump comprising: 
 a static pump housing having in sequential fluid communication a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a pump chamber having a bore at least a portion of which is circular in section;    a rotor mounted for rotation within the circular portion of said bore, said rotor having a central axis of rotation and an exterior camming surface which in section is non-cylindrical;    at least one vane mounted within said housing for reciprocating motion relative to said housing between an extended and a retracted position, said vane having a contact surface for sealing contact with said camming surface of said rotor, wherein rotation of said rotor drives said vane in said reciprocating motion; and    said vane being positioned to maintain fluid separation between said inlet and said outlet;    wherein said rotor comprises substantially opposed portions having equal radii of maximum length each for contacting the inside surface of said bore with a sliding sealed contact.    
   
   
       18 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising drive means for rotating said rotor.  
   
   
       19 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising biasing means acting between said vane and said housing, to urge said vane against said rotor.  
   
   
       20 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said vane is slidably housed within a channel recessed within said housing and opening into said pump chamber.  
   
   
       21 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , comprising essentially a single vane.  
   
   
       22 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said vane comprises a generally panel-shaped member having a central axis, said axis being displaced from the axis of rotation of said rotor towards the downstream side of said pump.  
   
   
       23 . A pump as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said rotor is substantially oval-shaped in cross-section.  
   
   
       24 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said rotor comprises opposed portions having equal radii of maximum length for each contacting the inside surface of said bore with a sliding sealed contact.  
   
   
       25 . A pump as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said rotor portions each comprise a curved leading face forming a cam surface for elevation of said rotor upon rotation of said rotor and a substantially flat trailing face, said vane having a corresponding flat face for contact with said trailing face and said vane being displaced relative to the axis of rotation of said rotor such that each said trailing face of said rotor may fully contact the corresponding flat face of said vane when said vane is in said extended position to prevent reverse rotation of said rotor.  
   
   
       26 . A pump as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said rotor portions each comprise a curved leading face forming a cam surface and a trailing face having a flatter surface than said leading face.  
   
   
       27 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said vane includes a low-friction contact member for maintaining a sealing contact with said rotor.  
   
   
       28 . A pump as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said low friction contact member comprises a roller bearing, partly recessed into a channel within said vane.  
   
   
       29 . A pump as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said vane includes at least one bulbous lateral extension at a region of said vane adjacent to said contact member.  
   
   
       30 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising a drain in communication with said channel, for discharge of fluid from said channel.  
   
   
       31 . A pump as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said drain opens to said fluid outlet for harnessing the relatively higher fluid pressure therein to urge said vane towards said rotor.  
   
   
       32 . A pump as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said housing includes lateral side walls, at least one of which includes a slot for receiving and guiding said vane.  
   
   
       33 . A rotary vane pump comprising: 
 a static pump housing having in sequential fluid communication a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a pump chamber having a bore at least a portion of which is circular in section;    a rotor mounted for rotation within the circular portion of said bore, said rotor having a central axis of rotation and an exterior camming surface which in section is non-cylindrical;    at least one vane mounted to said housing for reciprocating motion relative to said housing between an extended and a retracted position, said vane having a contact surface for sealing contact with said camming surface of said rotor, wherein rotation of said rotor drives said vane in said reciprocating motion; and    said vane being positioned to maintain fluid separation between said inlet and said outlet;    wherein said rotor comprises substantially opposed portions having equal radii of maximum length for each contacting the inside surface of said bore with a sliding sealed contact and said portions each comprise a curved leading face forming a cam surface for elevating said vane upon rotation of said rotor and a substantially flat trailing face, said vane having a corresponding substantially flat face for contact with said trailing face and said vane being displaced relative to the axis of rotation of said rotor such that each said trailing face of said rotor may fully contact the corresponding flat face of said vane when in said extended position to prevent reverse rotation of said rotor.    
   
   
       34 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising drive means for rotating said rotor.  
   
   
       35 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising biasing means acting between said vane and said housing, to urge said vane against said-rotor.  
   
   
       36 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said vane is slidably housed within a channel recessed within said housing and opening into said pump chamber.  
   
   
       37 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , comprising essentially a single vane.  
   
   
       38 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said vane comprises a generally panel-shaped member having a central axis, said axis being aligned with the axis of rotation of said rotor.  
   
   
       39 . A pump as defined in  claim 38 , wherein said rotor is substantially oval-shaped in cross-section.  
   
   
       40 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said rotor comprises substantially opposed portions having equal radii of maximum length for each contacting the inside surface of said bore with a sliding sealed contact.  
   
   
       41 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said vane includes a low-friction contact member for maintaining a sealing contact with said rotor.  
   
   
       42 . A pump as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said low friction contact member comprises a roller bearing, partly recessed into a channel within said vane.  
   
   
       43 . A pump as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said vane includes at least one bulbous lateral extension at a region of said vane adjacent to said contact member.  
   
   
       44 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , further comprising a drain in communication with said channel, for discharge of fluid from said channel.  
   
   
       45 . A pump as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said drain opens to said fluid outlet for harnessing the relatively higher fluid pressure therein to urge said vane towards said rotor.  
   
   
       46 . A pump as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said housing includes lateral side walls, at least one of which includes a slot for receiving and guiding said vane.