The present invention relates to a redundant vacuum pumping system (300) and a pumping method using this system, comprising a primary roots pump (302), a first pumping sub-system (310) and a second pumping sub-system (320), wherein the first pumping sub-system (310) and the second pumping sub-system (320) are arranged to pump in parallel the gas evacuated by the primary roots pump (302), the first pumping sub-system (310) comprising a first secondary roots pump (311) and a first positive displacement pump (312) and a first valve (313) positioned between the gas discharge outlet (302b) of the primary roots pump (302) and the gas suction inlet (311a) of the first secondary roots pump (311), and the second pumping sub-system (320) comprising a second secondary roots pump (311) and a second positive displacement pump (312) and a second valve (323) positioned between the gas discharge outlet (302b) of the primary roots pump (302) and the gas suction inlet (321a) of the second secondary roots pump (321). According to the invention, the first pumping sub-system (310) and the second pumping sub-system (320) are configured to pump at a same flow rate, and the primary roots pump (302) is configured to be able to pump at a flow rate F equal to the pumping flow rate of the primary pumping sub-system (310) plus the pumping flow rate of the secondary pumping sub-system (320).

An air compressor apparatus is disclosed that includes an air tank. A first compressor assembly can be fluidly coupled to the air tank, the first compressor assembly including a first head unloader valve. A second compressor assembly can be fluidly coupled to the air tank, the second compressor assembly including a second head unloader valve. A control unit can be electrically coupled to the first and second compressor assemblies, the control unit operable to control the operation of the first and second compressor assemblies. During startup, the first and second air compressor assemblies can be configured to draw less than 20 amps of current combined from a single 120 volt power source. The first and second compressor assemblies can each be dual piston compressor assemblies.

A vacuum pump system comprising a main vacuum pump that is connected to a chamber that is to be evacuated. An auxiliary pump is connected to an outlet of the main vacuum pump. Furthermore, a sealing gas supply device is connected to the main vacuum pump. The sealing gas supply device is switched on and off with the aid of a control device as a function of a predetermined control variable. Additionally, a method for controlling the vacuum pump system.

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 supercharger includes a main housing, a front cover coupled to the main housing and having an inner portion received within the main housing, a drive coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft, and a coupling sleeve disposed about the drive coupling.

A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger includes a first hub, a second hub, a first side coupling assembly, a second side coupling assembly, a central hub and a plurality of coupler pins. The first hub is mounted for concurrent rotation with the input shaft. The second hub is mounted for concurrent rotation with the rotor shaft. The first side coupling assembly has a first side coupling body and a first side elastomeric insert. The first side coupling body includes an inboard body portion having a first series of pockets and an outboard body portion having a second series of pockets. The first side elastomeric insert has a first and second plurality of lobes. The pockets of the first and second series of pockets are tangentially offset relative to each other and each receive respective first and second plurality of lobes therein.

A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger includes a first hub, a second hub, a central hub, and a plurality of coupler pins. The first hub can be mounted with the input shaft. The second hub can be mounted with the rotor shaft. The central hub can be disposed in between the first and second hubs. The central hub can have an elastomeric body that defines a series of passages therein. The passages can taper inwardly throughout and provide incremental dampening against the first and second plurality of pins. The plurality of coupler pins can be received in the central hub bores. The first and second plurality of pins can be received by the passages in the elastomeric body.

A gas treatment device treats, at atmospheric pressure, the gases pumped by at least one rough pumping device. The gas treatment device includes a treatment chamber and at least one discharge pipe to connect a discharge of the at least one rough pumping device to an inlet of the treatment chamber. The gas treatment device further includes at least one auxiliary pumping device to lower the pressure in the at least one discharge pipe, situated less than 1 meter from the inlet of the treatment chamber, such as less than 50 cm.

A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger includes a first hub, a second hub, a first side coupling assembly, a second side coupling assembly, a central hub and a plurality of coupler pins. The first hub is mounted for concurrent rotation with the input shaft. The second hub is mounted for concurrent rotation with the rotor shaft. The first side coupling assembly has a first side coupling body and a first side elastomeric insert. The first side coupling body includes an inboard body portion having a first series of pockets and an outboard body portion having a second series of pockets. The first side elastomeric insert has a first and second plurality of lobes. The pockets of the first and second series of pockets are tangentially offset relative to each other and each receive respective first and second plurality of lobes therein.

A vacuum line and method for controlling a vacuum line in which an auxiliary pumping device and a diluent gas injection device are controlled according to a first operating mode in which the pressure prevailing in the discharge pipe is maintained at less than or equal to 20,000 Pa or according to a second operating mode in which the pressure prevailing in the discharge pipe is greater than 20,000 Pa, and the injection of a diluent gas into the stream of the pumped gases is controlled, downstream of an intake of the rough pumping device, such as into the discharge pipe and/or into the rough pumping device and/or into the auxiliary pumping device by the diluent gas injection device in the second operating mode.