Fluid pump with rotating pumping element wear reduction

A fluid pump comprising:

• a housing;
• an inlet plate disposed within said housing, said inlet plate having an inlet which introduces fluid to said housing;
• an outlet plate disposed within said housing, said outlet plate having an outlet plate outlet passage;
• an outlet which discharges fluid from said housing;
• an electric motor having a shaft which rotates about an axis;
• a pumping element rotationally coupled to said shaft such that rotation of said pumping element by said shaft causes fluid to be pumped from said inlet to said outlet plate outlet passage and through said outlet, said pumping element being located axially between said inlet plate and said outlet plate such that said inlet plate interfaces with said pumping element in an inlet sealing surface interface and such that said outlet plate interfaces with said pumping element in an outlet sealing surface interface;
• a purge passage downstream of said outlet plate outlet passage, when said pumping element is rotated to cause fluid to be pumped from said inlet to said outlet plate outlet passage, which receives fluid from said outlet plate outlet passage, said purge passage being in fluid communication with said inlet sealing surface interface and with said outlet sealing surface interface;
• and
• a filter downstream of said outlet plate outlet passage, when said pumping element is rotated to cause fluid to be pumped from said inlet to said outlet plate outlet passage, which filters fluid that passes through said purge passage prior to reaching said inlet sealing surface interface and said outlet sealing surface interface.