Inlets for rotary vane vacuum pump

Abstract

This invention discloses an improved rotary vane vacuum pump. The vacuum pump includes an enlarged inlet port which is spread over the width and length of the stator in a zig-zagging fashion within which the vanes pass. In one embodiment, the inlet port describes an inverted W shape in the stator and includes appropriately placed ribs to ensure the stator does not deform around the inlet port.

Claims

1. A rotary vane vacuum pump comprising: a rotor eccentrically mounted within a stator to create a compression zone; at least two vanes slidably mounted in the rotor which compress and discharge a gas; where the gas is introduced into the compression zone through an inlet port opening in the stator; and the gas after compression by rotation of the rotor is discharged through an outlet port opening in the stator; wherein the inlet port opening comprises two or more diagonally positioned channel legs intersecting one another and extending along an inner circumferential surface of the stator.

2. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs intersect at an acute point, and a rib is placed at the acute point.

3. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 2 wherein the rib prevents a leading edge of the at least two vanes from interacting with the acute point.

4. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs define an inverted V.

5. The device rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs define an upright V.

6. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs define one of an upright W and an inverted W.

7. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs are disposed in a zig-zag fashion with respect to each other.

8. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs have a different width.

9. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the two or more channel legs have a different length.

10. The rotary vane vacuum pump of claim 1 wherein the at least two vanes engage the inner circumferential surface of the stator.

11. A rotary vane vacuum pump comprising: a rotor eccentrically mounted within a stator to create a compression zone; at least two vanes slidably mounted in the rotor which compress and discharge a gas; where the gas is introduced into the compression zone through an inlet port opening in the stator; and the gas after compression by rotation of the rotor is discharged through an outlet port opening in the stator; wherein the inlet port opening comprises two or more diagonally positioned channel legs where each of the channel legs is disposed in a zig-zag fashion with respect to each other; and wherein the channel legs define one of an inverted W and an upright W.

12. A rotary vane vacuum pump comprising: a rotor eccentrically mounted within a stator to create a compression zone; at least two vanes slidably mounted in the rotor which compress and discharge a gas; where the gas is introduced into the compression zone through an inlet port opening in the stator; and the gas after compression by rotation of the rotor is discharged through an outlet port opening in the stator; wherein the inlet port opening comprises two or more diagonally positioned channel legs where each of the channel legs is disposed in a zig-zag fashion with respect to each other; and wherein each of the channel legs has a different width and length chosen and disposed in a fashion chosen to maximize the area of the inlet port opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention are explained, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate only examples of embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, as the invention may have other equally effective embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-section of a rotary vane vacuum pump according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the opening in the stator with a preferred embodiment of the invention being an opening in the stator in an inverted W.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention being an opening in the stator with a single diagonal.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention being an opening in the stator in an inverted V.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention being an opening in the stator in an upright V.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and provides descriptions used in describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-section of a rotary vane vacuum pump 10 according to the invention. The invention has a rotor 15 eccentrically mounted within a stator 12 to create a compression zone 11. Sliding vanes 41 are positioned within the said rotor by suitably displaced spaces 42. An inlet port 20 is connected in the body of the stator to the overall inlet port channel 21. In similar fashion, the outlet port 30 is connected in the body of the said stator to the overall outlet port channel 22.

(9) FIG. 2 illustrates the opening 51 in the stator 50 with the opening being described as an inverted W. Also shown are ribs 52 which both ensure that the leading edge of the vanes 53 rotating within the said stator do not jam or interact with the acute points 55 in the said opening which could more readily interact with the said vanes and maintain the integrity of the said opening in the said stator.

(10) FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention being an opening 56 in the stator with a single diagonal channel. Also shown with phantom lines 58 is how the external intake port can be connected with the said, opening through the stator. It will be noted that in this embodiment, there are no acute points and, accordingly, no robs are required.

(11) FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention being an opening 60 in the stator 61 in an inverted V. A rib 63 prevents the leading edge of the vanes 64 rotating within the said stator from interacting with the acute point 62.

(12) FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention being an opening 70 in the stator 71 in an upright V. A rib 72 prevents any deformation of the said opening across the said rib. As can be noted, when the leading edge of the vanes 75 rotating with the said stator do not have to interact with an acute point in their direction of travel, the distance across the said rib than when there is such an acute point as in FIG. 4.

(13) FIG. 6 is the preferred embodiment of the invention as in FIG. 2. The invention comprises an opening 51 in the stator 50 the said opening in turn comprising four channel legs 85, 86, 87 and 88 each of the said channel legs having a width of 95, 96, 97 and 98 respectively. The transition between each of the said channel legs when joined with another channel leg also has a rib 91, 92 and 93. The height 80 and width 81 of the said opening can be described as well as the total area of the opening.