| 摘要 |
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining vane wear in rotary vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes. A view port is formed in an end of the pump housing. The view port is dimensioned such that a width of the port represents a predetermined amount of vane length loss. The view port is positioned in relation to the slots such that an end of the vane not in engagement with the wall of the pump will appear in the port only after a predetermined amount of vane loss occurs, and relative to the slots and the vanes to allow a determination of vane length for each vane when the vane is in engagement with the wall. The present invention also contemplates a method where a technician can determine the amount of wear, rate of wear and approximate number of hours of use left for the pump by rotating the rotor so that the vane in the slot will come into contact with the wall, and determining a remaining useable life for the vane based on a position of the vane in the view port and a known number of hours that the pump has been in use.
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