Vane Pump

A vane pump is a type of rotary positive displacement pump that moves liquid using a spinning rotor with multiple sliding vanes inside a contoured (cam‑shaped) housing. As the rotor turns, the vanes extend outward and maintain close contact with the housing wall, creating expanding spaces that draw fluid in at the inlet and contracting spaces that squeeze fluid out at the discharge — producing a continuous flow.

1. What is a vane pump?
A vane pump uses a slotted rotor with sliding vanes inside an eccentric cam‑shaped casing. As the rotor turns, these vanes sweep fluid through the pump by trapping and transporting it between the rotor and housing.

2. How does a vane pump work?
When the rotor spins inside the cam housing, centrifugal force, hydraulic pressure, and push rods cause the vanes to extend toward the casing wall. On the inlet side, the space between vanes expands, pulling liquid in. As rotation continues, the trapped liquid is carried around the interior of the housing. At the discharge side, the cavity size shrinks and forces the fluid out through the outlet.

3. What are vane pumps used for?
Vane pumps are commonly used to handle thin liquids such as solvents, alcohols, and other low‑viscosity fluids where close clearances provided by the vanes help maintain good pumping efficiency and smooth flow.