Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A positive displacement pump is provided having a housing, a plurality of pistons and an eccentric drive element rotatably mounted about an axis on the housing. A rigid compression member connected to each of the pistons is reciprocatably moveable with the pistons relative to the housing. At least one tension member is provided, connected between each of the pistons and the eccentric drive element at a point displaced from the axis. The tension member is permanently maintained in tension so as to continuously exert force radially inwardly on each of the pistons and to cause each of the pistons to continuously exert radially inward force on the compression member to permanently maintain the compression member in compression. The plurality of pistons preferably includes one or more pairs of pistons with each piston of the pair linked together by the compression element and reciprocates each in synchronism and 180.degree. out of phase with the other. The tension member preferably includes a transversely flexible elongated element connected at an inner end to the eccentric drive element at the point displaced from the axis and linked at an outer end to at least one of the pistons. The tension member preferably also includes a plurality of transversely flexible elongated elements, each connected at an inner end to the eccentric drive element at the point displaced from the axis and each linked at an outer end to one of the pistons.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim