3-dimensional pump rotor profile

Abstract

An example apparatus includes an outer rotor having a first axial face and a second axial face opposite the first axial face, wherein the first axial face comprises a circumferential contour defining a plurality of lobe faces, and wherein the second axial face comprises a transformed circumferential contour defining a corresponding plurality of lobe faces, where the transformed circumferential contour comprises at least one of a scale transformation of the circumferential contour or a rotational transformation of the circumferential contour; and an inner rotor configured to rotate eccentrically within the outer rotor, thereby forming a gerotor element for a fluid pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an outer rotor having a first axial face and a second axial face opposite the first axial face, wherein the first axial face comprises a circumferential contour defining a plurality of lobe faces, and wherein the second axial face comprises a transformed circumferential contour defining a corresponding plurality of lobe faces;   wherein the transformed circumferential contour comprises at least one of a scale transformation of the circumferential contour or a rotational transformation of the circumferential contour; and   an inner rotor configured to rotate eccentrically within the outer rotor, thereby forming a gerotor element for a fluid pump.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transformation circumferential contour comprises the scale transformation, wherein the scale comprises a value between 1.01 to 1.10, inclusive. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transformation circumferential contour comprises the scale transformation, wherein the scale comprises a value between 1.01 to 1.30, inclusive. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transformation circumferential contour comprises the scale transformation, wherein the scale comprises a value between 0.70 to 1.50, inclusive. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transformation circumferential contour comprises the rotational transformation, wherein the rotation comprises a value between 1° and 10°, inclusive. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transformation circumferential contour comprises the rotational transformation, wherein the rotation comprises a value between 1° and 30°, inclusive. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transformation circumferential contour comprises the rotational transformation, wherein the rotation comprises a value between 5° and 60°, inclusive. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 preparing an outer rotor having a first axial face and a second axial face opposite the first axial face, wherein the first axial face comprises a circumferential contour defining a plurality of lobe faces, and wherein the second axial face comprises a transformed circumferential contour defining a corresponding plurality of lobe faces;   preparing an inner rotor configured to rotate eccentrically within the outer rotor, thereby forming a gerotor element for a fluid pump.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the preparing the outer rotor comprises machining an outer rotor blank in response to the transformed circumferential contour. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the machining comprises applying a scale transformation of the circumferential contour. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the machining comprises applying a rotational transformation of the circumferential contour. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the machining comprises applying both a rotational transformation and a rotational transformation of the circumferential contour. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising preparing the outer rotor blank as one of a cast or forged blank. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein preparing the inner rotor comprises preparing the inner rotor with matching lobe contours to the outer rotor. 
     
     
         15 . A pump assembly, comprising:
 an inner element and an outer element, wherein the inner element and outer element are configured to rotationally engage thereby forming a plurality of dynamically changing pumping volumes;   wherein at least one of the inner element or the outer element comprises a rotor; and   wherein a major diameter of the rotational engagement between the inner element and the outer element comprises a Z-axis variability.   
     
     
         16 . The pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the Z-axis variability comprises a rotational variability. 
     
     
         17 . The pump assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the rotational variability comprises a rotation value between 1° and 60°, inclusive. 
     
     
         18 . The pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the Z-axis variability comprises a scaling variability. 
     
     
         19 . The pump assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the scaling variability comprises a scaling value between 1.01 and 1.50, inclusive. 
     
     
         20 . The pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the Z-axis variability comprises a rotational variability and a scaling variability.