Cartridge Style Binary Vane Pump

Abstract

A binary vane pump is provided. The binary vane pump includes a pressure plate having a first discharge port, a thrust plate having a second discharge port, a ring positioned axially between the pressure plate and thrust plate, the ring having an inner cam surface, and a rotor rotatably disposed within the ring, the rotor having a plurality of slots and a plurality of vanes, vanes of the plurality vanes corresponding to respective slots of the plurality of slots and radially movable with the respective slots. A first and second pump chamber are disposed within the ring, separated by the rotor, vanes, pressure plate and thrust plate, the first pump chamber configured to discharge fluid to the first discharge port and the second pump chamber configured to discharge fluid to the second discharge port. A shaft extends through the pressure plate, thrust plate, ring and rotor and drives the rotor.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
         1 . A binary vane pump comprising:
 a pressure plate including a first discharge port;   a thrust plate including a second discharge port;   a ring positioned axially between the pressure plate and thrust plate, the ring having an inner cam surface;   a rotor rotatably disposed within the ring, the rotor comprising a plurality of slots and a plurality of vanes, vanes of the plurality vanes corresponding to respective slots of the plurality of slots and radially movable with the respective slots;   a first pump chamber disposed within the ring;   a second pump chamber disposed within the ring, separated from the first pump chamber by the rotor, vanes, pressure plate and thrust plate, the first pump chamber configured to discharge fluid to the first discharge port and the second pump chamber configured to discharge fluid to the second discharge port; and   a shaft extending through the pressure plate, thrust plate, ring and rotor and configured to rotate the rotor so the vanes are rotatable in the first and second pumping chambers.   
     
     
         2 . The binary vane pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure plate further comprises a first undervane port configured to supply a first undervane pressure to the vanes in the first pumping chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The binary vane pump of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of vanes in the first pumping chamber are urged into contact with the inner cam surface by the first undervane pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The binary vane pump of  claim 2 , wherein the first undervane port is configured as an opening extending through the pressure plate. 
     
     
         5 . The binary vane pump of  claim 2 , wherein the first undervane port is configured as groove formed on an inner face of the pressure plate facing the ring and fluidly communicates with the first discharge port. 
     
     
         6 . The binary vane pump of  claim 5 , further comprising a first channel formed on the inner face of the pressure plate extending between the first undervane port and the first discharge port. 
     
     
         7 . The binary vane pump of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure plate further comprises a second undervane port configured to supply a second undervane pressure to vanes in the second pumping chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The binary vane pump of  claim 2 , wherein the thrust plate further comprises a second undervane port configured to supply a second undervane pressure to the vanes in the second pumping chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The binary vane pump of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of vanes in the second pumping chamber are urged into contact with the inner cam surface by the second undervane pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The binary vane pump of  claim 9 , wherein the first undervane pressure is greater than the second undervane pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The binary vane pump of  claim 8 , wherein the second undervane port is fluidly connected to the second discharge port. 
     
     
         12 . The binary vane pump of  claim 8 , wherein a second channel is formed on an inner surface of the thrust plate and extends between the second undervane port and the second discharge port to fluidly connect the second undervane port and second discharge port. 
     
     
         13 . The binary vane pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a bushing surrounding the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The binary vane pump of  claim 12 , wherein the bushing comprises a first bushing press fit to the pressure plate and a second bushing press fit to the thrust plate 
     
     
         15 . The binary vane pump of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure plate includes a first feed/bleed passage and the thrust plate comprises a second feed/bleed passage, the first and second feed/bleed passages configured feed lubricant to the first bushing and second bushing, respectively.