Power steering pump having intake channels with enhanced flow characteristics and/or a pressure balancing fluid communication channel

A power steering pump, comprising:

• a first surface, a pair of intake flow channels being defined by said first surface;
• a pair of chambers into which fluid is received;
• a plate disposed between said first surface and said pair of chambers, said plate being provided with a pair of openings, each said opening extending through said plate, each of said pair of intake flow channels being in fluid communication with one of said chambers through one of said plate openings;
• and
• a pressure balancing fluid communication channel extending between said pair of intake flow channels, said pair of intake flow channels being in fluid communication with each other through said pressure balancing fluid communication channel at areas in which said intake flow channels are respectively in fluid communication with one of said pair of plate openings, the pressure of fluid in said intake flow channels at said areas being tended toward equalization through said pressure balancing fluid communication channel.

A vane-type power steering pump, comprising:

• a first surface;
• a pair of chambers into which fluid is received;
• a thrust plate disposed between said first surface and said pair of chambers, a pair of intake flow channels being defined by said first surface and said thrust plate, said thrust plate being provided with a pair of openings, each said opening extending through said thrust plate, said thrust plate openings each having opposed terminal ends, one said terminal end being downstream of the other relative to the flow of fluid through the respective said intake flow channel, each of said pair of intake flow channels being in fluid communication with one of said chambers through one of said thrust plate openings and configured to direct fluid flow through the respective said thrust plate opening into the respective said chamber at a location intermediate and spaced from said terminal ends of said thrust plate opening;
• and
• a pressure balancing fluid communication channel extending between said pair of intake flow channels, said pair of intake flow channels being in fluid communication with each other through said pressure balancing fluid communication channel at areas in which said intake flow channels are respectively in fluid communication with one of said pair of thrust plate openings, the pressure of fluid in said intake flow channels at said areas being tended toward equalization through said pressure balancing fluid communication channel.