US Patent:
20060228242, Oct 12, 2006
Inventors:
William West - Eden Prairie MN, US
Duane Boehler - Minneapolis MN, US
Assignee:
Ritchie Engineering Company, Inc. - Bloomington MN
International Classification:
F04C 23/00
Abstract:
A vacuum pump may include a tubular stator located between an intake plate and a back plate. Mating portions on the intake plate and back plate may be used to properly locate the stator. The stator may include two internal pump chambers separated by a divider plate. The divider plate may be located within an internal cavity of the stator. A rotor in each chamber may include vanes and may be offset from the center of the chamber. Each rotor may be fixed to a rotatable shaft for operation of the vacuum pump. In some embodiments, the divider plate may have a fluid passageway extending therethrough. The fluid passageway may be located within the area swept by the rotors. In some embodiments, an exhaust outlet may include a flutter valve having a shaped surface that prevents the flutter valve from fully closing.