Vacuum pump for use in the automotive sector

Abstract

A vacuum pump for use in the automotive sector includes a rotor element fixed on a rotor shaft and arranged in a rotor housing, an electric drive arranged in a motor housing, a housing wall comprising at least one passage opening, and a bearing device. The rotor housing comprises at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The electric drive directly or indirectly drives the rotor shaft. The housing wall interconnects the rotor housing and the motor housing so as to form a housing assembly. The at least one passage opening fluidically connects the rotor housing and the motor housing. The bearing device supports the rotor shaft in the housing wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A vacuum pump for use in the automotive sector, the vacuum pump comprising:
 a rotor element fixed on a rotor shaft and arranged in a rotor housing, the rotor housing being configured to comprise at least one inlet and at least one outlet;   an electric drive arranged in a motor housing, the electric drive being configured to directly or indirectly drive the rotor shaft;   a housing wall comprising at least one passage opening, the housing wall being configured to interconnect the rotor housing and the motor housing so as to form a housing assembly, the at least one passage opening being configured to fluidically connect the rotor housing and the motor housing; and   a bearing device configured to support the rotor shaft in the housing wall.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum pump as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one passage opening is provided in an area of the bearing device. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum pump as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the housing assembly is sealed so as to be air-tight. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum pump as recited in  claims 6 , wherein the bearing device is a rolling bearing. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum pump as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a second cylinder wall portion, wherein the rotor element further comprises a thrust washer arranged between the housing wall and the second cylinder wall portion.