Lobe pumps use rotating “lobes” to generate flow and move fluid around the interior of the pump. Depending on the desired application, a variety of lobe options can be offered including single, bi-wing, tri-lobe, and multi-lobe. The lobes in a lobe pump are driven by external timing gears situated in the gearbox, meaning each lobe rotates independently to generate flow. The external timing gears also prevent the lobes from making contact with each other.
1. The lobes rotate around the circumference of the pump casing, creating an opening at the suction port (inlet) as the lobes un-mesh. This generates a partial vacuum causing the fluid to enter the pump between the lobes.
2. The fluid travels around the interior of the casing in the pockets between the tips of the lobes and the close-fitting casing wall. The fluid does not pass between the lobes. When the lobes re-mesh, pressure is generated at the discharge port/outlet, forcing the fluid out.
Pump output is directly proportional to speed, and the direction of the fluid flow is reversible.
