Vacuum pump

Abstract

A vacuum pump may include a 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 comprise a tubular piece of material. The stator may include two internal pump chambers separated by a divider plate. In some embodiments, the divider plate may have a fluid passageway extending therethrough. 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.

1 ) A vacuum pump comprising: 
 an intake plate having a shaped mating portion;    a back plate having a shaped mating portion;    a stator having a wall portion, an internal cavity and a longitudinal axis, the stator located between the intake plate and the back plate;    a rotatable shaft, at least a portion of the rotatable shaft oriented within the internal cavity of the stator;    a first rotor oriented within said stator, the first rotor coupled to and rotatable with said rotatable shaft; and    wherein the mating portion of the intake plate contacts the stator and properly locates the stator with respect to the intake plate.    
   
   
       2 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portion of the intake plate engages the stator and prevents the intake plate from moving orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stator.  
   
   
       3 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portion of the intake plate comprises a raised flange.  
   
   
       4 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 3 , wherein the raised flange of the intake plate is shaped similarly to a cross-sectional shape of the stator.  
   
   
       5 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 3 , wherein the intake plate further comprises a groove.  
   
   
       6 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , wherein the groove is oriented about the periphery of the raised flange of the intake plate.  
   
   
       7 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , further comprising a seal oriented within the groove, wherein the seal abuts an edge of the stator.  
   
   
       8 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 3 , wherein the raised flange comprises a circular shape.  
   
   
       9 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the stator comprises a tubular shape.  
   
   
       10 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 9 , wherein the stator comprises a cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       11 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portion of the back plate contacts the stator and properly locates the stator with respect to the back plate.  
   
   
       12 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 11 , wherein the mating portion of the back plate engages the stator and prevents the back plate from moving orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stator.  
   
   
       13 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 11 , wherein the mating portion comprises a raised flange.  
   
   
       14 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 13 , wherein the raised flange comprises a circular shape.  
   
   
       15 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 13 , wherein the back plate further comprises a groove.  
   
   
       16 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 15 , wherein the groove is oriented about the periphery of the raised flange of the back plate.  
   
   
       17 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 16 , further comprising a seal oriented within the groove, wherein the seal abuts an edge of the stator.  
   
   
       18 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second rotor oriented within said stator, the second rotor coupled to and rotatable with said rotatable shaft; and    a divider plate located between the first rotor and the second rotor.    
   
   
       19 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a third rotor oriented within said stator, the third rotor coupled to and rotatable with said rotatable shaft; and    a second divider plate located between the second rotor and the third rotor.    
   
   
       20 ) A vacuum pump comprising: 
 an intake plate having a raised flange;    a back plate having a raised flange;    a stator having an internal cavity and a longitudinal axis, the stator located between the intake plate and the back plate;    a rotatable shaft, at least a portion of the rotatable shaft oriented within the internal cavity of the stator;    a divider plate located within the internal cavity of the stator, the divider plate dividing at least a portion of the internal cavity of the stator into a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber;    a first rotor oriented within said first pump chamber, the first rotor coupled to and rotatable with said rotatable shaft; and    a second rotor oriented within said second pump chamber, the second rotor coupled to and rotatable with said rotatable shaft;    wherein the raised flange of the intake plate extends into the internal cavity of the stator.    
   
   
       21 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 20 , wherein the raised flange of the intake plate is shaped similarly to an outer periphery of the internal cavity of the stator.  
   
   
       22 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 20 , wherein the raised flange of the back plate extends into the internal cavity of the stator.  
   
   
       23 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 22 , wherein the raised flange of the back plate is shaped similarly to an outer periphery of the internal cavity of the stator.  
   
   
       24 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 20 , wherein the intake plate further comprises an intake aperture in fluid communication with the first pump chamber, the intake aperture passing through the raised flange of the intake plate.  
   
   
       25 ) The vacuum pump of  claim 20 , wherein the stator comprises a cylindrical tube.