An external gear pump, having a driving first pump gear and a second pump gear driven by the first pump gear, which intermesh to convey a fluid from a suction side to a pressure side of the external gear pump. The first pump gear and the second pump gear each have a plurality of teeth, each having a leading tooth flank leading in the rotation direction of the corresponding pump gear and a trailing tooth flank. The leading tooth flank of the first pump gear interacts with the trailing tooth flank of the second pump gear to drive the second pump gear via the first pump gear. The trailing tooth flanks of the first pump gear extend concavely to form a fluid pocket at at least one axial position in the radial direction at least in sections in each case.

An external gear pump, having a driving first pump gear and a second pump gear driven by the first pump gear, which intermesh to convey a fluid from a suction side to a pressure side of the external gear pump. The first pump gear and the second pump gear each have a plurality of teeth, each having a leading tooth flank leading in the rotation direction of the corresponding pump gear and a trailing tooth flank. The leading tooth flank of the first pump gear interacts with the trailing tooth flank of the second pump gear to drive the second pump gear via the first pump gear. The trailing tooth flanks of the first pump gear extend concavely to form a fluid pocket at at least one axial position in the radial direction at least in sections in each case.

One embodiment of a method for operating an internal combustion engine under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure includes the steps of positioning a vacuum pump such that said vacuum pump is in fluid communication with a crankcase of said internal combustion engine, connecting a discharge of said vacuum pump to a separator, wherein a portion of said discharge of said vacuum pump condenses in said separator, connecting a vapor discharge of said separator to a filter, wherein said filter removes a portion of volatile organic compounds from said vapor discharge, and venting said filter to an ambient atmosphere.

One embodiment of a method for operating an internal combustion engine under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure includes the steps of positioning a vacuum pump such that said vacuum pump is in fluid communication with a crankcase of said internal combustion engine, connecting a discharge of said vacuum pump to a separator, wherein a portion of said discharge of said vacuum pump condenses in said separator, connecting a vapor discharge of said separator to a filter, wherein said filter removes a portion of volatile organic compounds from said vapor discharge, and venting said filter to an ambient atmosphere.

A compressor is provided and may include a first scroll member having an end plate and a spiral wrap extending from the end plate. The end plate may include a first modulation port and a second modulation port each in fluid communication with a compression pocket formed by the spiral wrap. A first modulation valve ring may be movable relative to the end plate between a first position blocking the first modulation port and a second position spaced apart from the first modulation port. A second modulation valve ring may movable relative to the end plate between a first position blocking the second modulation port and a second position spaced apart from the second modulation port. The second modulation ring may be located radially inward from the first modulation valve ring.