Roller vane pump with integrated motor

Abstract

A pump includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a stator that generates a rotating magnetic field. A pressure boundary assembly defines a pumping chamber. A rotor mounted for axial rotation within the pumping chamber has salient poles to interact with the field. The rotor mounts eccentrically such that a gap between the rotor body and stator varies circumferentially. The rotor defines hollows intermediate the salient poles with cylindrical rollers for free radial movement therein. Fluid-filled volumes are formed between the housing, the rotor and the rollers. On each side of a plane passing through the rotor axis and the housing axis, the pumping chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet or outlet, respectively. As the rotor spins, expanding volume draws fluid from the inlet and contracting volume expels fluid from the outlet.

1 . A vane pump assembly comprising:
 a) a pressure boundary assembly defining an enclosed interior with inlet and outlet ports for ingress and egress of fluid and having a cylindrical pumping wall defining a pumping chamber;   b) a rotor assembly eccentrically mounted within the pumping chamber for axial rotation, the rotor assembly having a rotor body defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially extending vane pockets intermediate projections, each projection being magnetic;   c) a cylindrical roller supported in each radially extending vane pocket;   d) a stator assembly surrounding the pressure boundary assembly and having windings for generating a magnetic field to act upon the projections; and   e) a housing surrounding the stator assembly.   
   
   
       2 . A vane pump assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure boundary assembly includes a pumping chamber sleeve with a closed end and an open end enclosed by an end cap. 
   
   
       3 . A vane pump assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the stator assembly fits over the pumping chamber sleeve to generate a rotating electric field strong enough to penetrate the pumping chamber sleeve and interact with the rotor assembly. 
   
   
       4 . A vane pump assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a flange surrounding the open end for sealing to the end cap. 
   
   
       5 . A roller vane pump assembly comprising:
 a) a housing defining an interior, at least one inlet for admitting fluid in and at least one outlet for allowing fluid out of the interior;   b) a stator assembly within the interior having a stator and windings for generating a rotating magnetic field;   c) a pressure boundary assembly defining an enclosed pumping chamber about a first axis within the interior;   c) a rotor assembly mounted for rotation about a second axis within the pumping chamber, the rotor assembly including a body having projections that act as salient poles to interact with the rotating magnetic field, the body also defining a plurality of hollows intermediate the projections, wherein the rotor assembly is mounted eccentrically with respect to the pumping chamber such that a plane substantially passing through the first and second axis defines first and second sides of the body; and   d) a cylindrical roller is disposed in each hollow for free radial movement within the hollow,   wherein as the body spins due to the rotating magnetic field, volumes between adjacent rollers, the rotor assembly and the pumping chamber expand on the first side of the rotor drawing fluid from the at least one inlet and contract on the second side expelling the fluid from the at least one outlet.   
   
   
       6 . A vane pump assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the stator assembly further comprises a filler material that defines the pumping chamber and secures the stator assembly in place. 
   
   
       7 . A vane pump assembly as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a permanent magnet coupled to each projection. 
   
   
       8 . A vane pump assembly comprising:
 a) a pressure boundary assembly including a cylindrical pumping wall having an inner circumferential surface defining a pumping chamber;   b) a rotor assembly eccentrically mounted for axial rotation and sealed within the cylindrical pumping wall, the rotor assembly having a rotor body defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially extending vane pockets intermediate projections, each projection being magnetic;   c) a cylindrical roller supported in each radially extending vane pocket;   d) a stator assembly surrounding the pressure boundary assembly and having windings for generating a magnetic field to act upon the projections; and   e) a housing surrounding the stator assembly and defining inlet and outlet ports for ingress and egress of fluid.