Vacuum pump

Abstract

A vacuum pump includes a rotor and a rotary bearing, which is to be supplied with an operating medium, for the rotatable support of the rotor, wherein the rotor has a conveying section, in particular a conical conveying section, for supplying the operating medium to the rotary agent. A conveying pump is provided for conveying the operating medium and/or an operating medium store is provided having an absorbent storage means for the operating medium. Further, at least one wick is provided which is in contact with the conveying section to transfer the operating medium provided from the conveying pump and/or from the absorbent storage means to the conveying section in a desired quantity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum pump having a rotor ( 10 ) and having a rotary bearing ( 12 ), which is to be supplied with an operating medium, for the rotatable support of the rotor ( 10 ), wherein the rotor ( 10 ) has a conveying section ( 14 ) for conveying the operating medium to the rotary bearing ( 12 );
 further having at least one of a conveying pump ( 16 ) for conveying the operating medium and an operating medium store ( 18 ) with an absorbent storage means for the operating medium;   and further comprising at least one wick ( 20 ), the wick being in contact with the conveying section ( 14 ) to transfer the operating medium provided from the at least one of the conveying pump ( 16 ) and the absorbent storage means to the conveying section ( 14 ).   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is a turbomolecular pump. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the conveying section is a conical conveying section. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet ( 22 ) for the operating medium, wherein the outlet can be supplied with the operating medium from the conveying pump ( 16 ), with the wick ( 20 ) being arranged such that the wick ( 20 ) closes the outlet ( 22 ). 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet ( 22 ) for the operating medium, wherein the outlet can be supplied with the operating medium from the conveying pump ( 20 ), with the wick ( 20 ) extending lengthways through the outlet ( 22 ). 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the outlet ( 22 ) is formed by an open end of a conveying passage ( 24 ) for the operating medium. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the outlet ( 22 ) is formed by an open end of a conveying passage ( 24 ) for the operating medium. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the conveying pump ( 16 ) has means for setting the conveying performance of the conveying pump ( 16 ). 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wick ( 20 ) is at least regionally in contact with the storage means of the operating medium store ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wick ( 20 ) is wound around the operating medium store ( 18 ). 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wick ( 20 ) is fastened to the operating medium store ( 18 ). 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the wick ( 20 ) is fastened to the operating medium store ( 18 ) by a fastening means ( 26 ) extending at least partly through the wick ( 20 ) and the storage means. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the storage means is at least regionally formed by a felt. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the storage means comprises a plurality of disks which are preferably stacked on one another. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wick ( 20 ) is in contact with the conveying section ( 14 ) over its longitudinal side. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wick ( 20 ) has an open end and is in contact with the conveying section ( 14 ) via the open end. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the conveying section ( 14 ) has an external diameter becoming larger toward the rotary bearing ( 12 ). 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is configured such that the operating medium can be conveyed in a circuit during the operation of the vacuum pump.