Rotary vane pump with angular position sensing capability

Abstract

A rotary vane pump is provided that includes a rotor configured for being rotated about a center axis and a vane movably positioned in a radially extending slot formed in the rotor. The vane includes a ferrimagnetic material. The pump further includes an actuator positioned in the slot and configured for moving the vane in the slot. The actuator is configured for forcing the vane away from the center axis as the rotor is rotated about the center axis. The pump further includes a variable inductance coil fixed with the rotor and wrapped around the vane. The vane is movable with respect to the variable inductance coil and an inductance of the variable inductance coil is dependent upon an axial position of the ferrimagnetic material with respect to the variable inductance coil.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.