Abstract: One embodiment of a method for operating an internal combustion engine under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure includes the steps of positioning a vacuum pump such that said vacuum pump is in fluid communication with a crankcase of said internal combustion engine, connecting a discharge of said vacuum pump to a separator, wherein a portion of said discharge of said vacuum pump condenses in said separator, connecting a vapor discharge of said separator to a filter, wherein said filter removes a portion of volatile organic compounds from said vapor discharge, and venting said filter to an ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: One embodiment of a modular pump includes a cover and a housing that may be engaged with one another during operation. A gearset may be positioned within an internal portion of the housing. If the modular pump is configured as a rotary pump, the gear set may be comprised of an inner gear positioned within a portion of a ring gear. The modular pump may include a spacer positioned between the cover and the housing to allow the modular pump to be configured with gear sets of varying axial dimensions.

Abstract: One embodiment of a pump may include an idler gear having a plurality of idler gear teeth extending radially outward, wherein at least one of the idler gear teeth may be formed with an idler gear cavity therein. The pump may include a drive gear having a plurality of drive gear teeth extending radially outward that may be intermeshed with the idler gear teeth during use. The drive gear may be formed with a recess at on axial end thereof, and the axial position of the recess may correspond to the axial position of the idler gear cavity. In one embodiment of a pump, each idler gear tooth may be formed with an identical idler gear cavity at the same relative position on each idler gear tooth.

Abstract: A rotary pump may include a rotary cover and a rotary housing that may be engaged with one another during operation. A ring gear may be positioned within an internal portion of the rotary cover and rotary housing, and an inner gear may be positioned within a portion of the ring gear. The rotary pump may be configured with a pressure relief portion that may be in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump. The rotary pump may be configured such that pressurized fluid passing through the pressure relief portion is routed to an inlet of the rotary pump.

Abstract: A rotary pump may include a rotary cover and a rotary housing that may be engaged with one another during operation. A ring gear may be positioned within an internal portion of the rotary cover and rotary housing, and an inner gear may be positioned within a portion of the ring gear. The rotary pump may be configured with a pressure relief portion that may be in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump. The rotary pump may be configured such that pressurized fluid passing through the pressure relief portion is routed to an inlet of the rotary pump.

Abstract: One embodiment of the pump system includes a cover housing and a main body affixed to one another for operation. A drive and idler gear may be mounted within a gear chamber in the main body for rotation there about, and inlet fluid may be provided on both the axial and radial surfaces of the drive and idler gear. The cover housing may be outfitted with one pressure relief channel or with two pressure relief channels of different geometric sizes and with different actuation pressures. The drive and/or idler gear may have dimples fashioned on an axial surface thereof, and lubricant troughs may be fashioned at various locations in the main body and/or the cover housing to reduce wear within the pump.

Abstract: One embodiment of the pump system includes a cover housing and a main body affixed to one another for operation. A drive and idler gear may be mounted within a gear chamber in the main body for rotation there about, and inlet fluid may be provided on both the axial and radial surfaces of the drive and idler gear. The cover housing may be outfitted with one pressure relief channel or with two pressure relief channels of different geometric sizes and with different actuation pressures. The drive and/or idler gear may have dimples fashioned on an axial surface thereof, and lubricant troughs may be fashioned at various locations in the main body and/or the cover housing to reduce wear within the pump.

Abstract: One embodiment of the pump system includes a cover housing and a main body affixed to one another for operation. A drive and idler gear may be mounted within a gear chamber in the main body for rotation there about, and inlet fluid may be provided on both the axial and radial surfaces of the drive and idler gear. The cover housing may be outfitted with one pressure relief channel or with two pressure relief channels of different geometric sizes and with different actuation pressures. The drive and/or idler gear may have dimples fashioned on an axial surface thereof, and lubricant troughs may be fashioned at various locations in the main body and/or the cover housing to reduce wear within the pump.