Variable displacement vane pump

A Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Technology Reinvestment Program (TRP) entitled "Electronically Controlled Variable Displacement Vane Pump" successfully demonstrated the pump's advantage of high efficiency and reliability in a lightweight, compact design. What has been developed under this program is a pumping system which can vary the amount of fuel delivered according to engine needs, thereby reducing the temperature rise of the fuel to very low levels. This permits the elimination of the air/oil coolers and conserves the vital airflow through the fan. The variable displacement vane pump (VDVP) also permits a substantial simplification of the control system with the elimination of complex metering valves, offering a significant reduction in fuel system cost. This program was initiated to develop a technology that embodied the ruggedness of the gear pump with the efficiency and metering versatility of the variable displacement vane pump. Thick metal vanes emulate the teeth on pumping gears while the simple, elegant swing cam feature provides the variable displacement capability without the unwieldy multiple cam segments found in other concepts. The result is a pumping architecture which is rugged, light in weight and extremely versatile, having demonstrated superb heat management and controllability in extensive bench and engine testing. This paper reports the results that the pumps have achieved to date both in terms of durability and efficiency.