TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid pump, which is suitable for use in pumping
fuel in an internal combustion engine, and particularly a compression ignition internal
combustion engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A fuel circuit feeding a vehicle engine comprises a lift or low pressure fuel pump
that flows fuel from a low pressure tank to a high pressure fuel pump that pressurizes
fuel to a high level prior to its delivery to injectors of the engine.
[0003] A high pressure pump known in the art includes a rotating camshaft which cooperates
with a plunger, or a plurality of plungers, to pressurize fuel in a compression chamber.
Each plunger is slidable within a bore defined within a housing, with the compression
chamber defined at the end of the bore so that movement of the plunger within the
bore reduces and expands the volume of the compression chamber during a pumping cycle
as the camshaft rotates. The camshaft is guided in rotation between two bushings.
In operation, a back flow of low pressure fuel fills the volume surrounding the camshaft
and flows through the bushings, lubricating the surfaces, and returning to a low pressure
fuel return line as well as to a low pressure inlet and the cam box. Hydraulic waves
propagate in the back flow and generate pressure pulsations and noise within the pump
assembly. The pressure pulsations impact the other components of the low pressure
fuel return line, such as a filter, and are undesirable.
[0004] Solutions have been proposed to address the problem of pressure pulsations in the
back flow of fuel, including the use of low pressure regulators that feed the pulsations
back to the back flow. However the use of low pressure regulators has disadvantages,
in particular because of the impact on CO
2 emissions. Another approach is to arrange inlet orifices in the low pressure return
line but, as they restrict the flow cross section, the low pressure pump of the fuel
circuit is then required to provide additional flow to compensate the restriction.
[0005] In our previous co-pending patent application,
PCT/EP2014/076371 (unpublished), a solution is proposed to include an integral fluid damper in the
camshaft so as to damp pressure waves propagating in the fluid lubricating the camshaft.
GB 2 309 270 A discloses a high pressure fuel pump where a bellows device inside the camshaft chamber
of the pump separates the injection fluid from the fluid that lubricates the camshaft.
It is an object of the invention to propose an alternative solution to the aforementioned
problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned
problems by providing a fluid pump, such as a fuel pump, comprising a housing within
which is received, between rotational guiding means, a camshaft cooperating with a
pumping plunger. The camshaft is arranged to rotate and actuates the pumping plunger
to reciprocally move to pressurize fuel within a pump chamber. The camshaft is provided
with an integral fluid damper comprising a bellows so that hydraulic waves propagating
in a fluid lubricating the camshaft and flowing through the rotational guiding means
are damped by the bellows, the camshaft being partially hollow, wherein the bellows
is arranged inside the hollow part. The fluid pump is typically a fuel pump of the
type used in a compression ignition internal combustion engine, or a pump for another
type of fuel.
[0007] The fluid which lubricates the camshaft and the rotational guiding means may be the
same fluid that is pressurized by the pump (for example fuel), but need not be the
same. For example, a lubricant such as oil may lubricate the camshaft, whilst the
pump delivers pressurized fuel.
[0008] The fluid which lubricates the camshaft and the rotational guiding means is typically
derived from a flow of fuel in a low pressure circuit of the pump. Typically, the
low pressure circuit includes a low pressure return line, a low pressure inlet flow
to the pump, which derives from the low pressure return line, and the cam box which
houses the cam shaft.
[0009] The deformation of the bellows device (also referred to as 'bellows'), in use, by
the propagation of pressure waves within the low pressure circuit enables hydraulic
pressure pulses to be absorbed. The provision of the integral damper incorporating
a bellows device is a solution to the problem of hydraulic pressure pulses that provides
advantages as it can be manufactured with minimum effort and a low number of parts
and, hence, cost.
[0010] The hollow part of the camshaft may be open at one end to communicate with fluid
in the low pressure circuit downstream of the rotational guiding means.
[0011] In another embodiment, the hollow part of the camshaft may be closed at one end so
that there is no communication between the hollow part and fluid in the low pressure
circuit downstream of the rotational guiding means.
[0012] The bellows device may be fixed at or near one end to the camshaft, for example with
one or more weld points. The means of fixing (e.g. weld points) may be the means by
which the hollow part is closed to communication with the fluid in the low pressure
circuit downstream of the rotational guiding means.
[0013] In another embodiment, the hollow part of the camshaft may be open at one end to
communicate with fluid in the low pressure circuit downstream of the rotational guiding
means (e.g. by having a reduced number of weld points). In other words, the fixing
means may be configured to close communication between the hollow part and the fluid
in the low pressure circuit downstream of the rotational guiding means.
[0014] The bellows device may, in one embodiment, take the form of bellows which are filled
with a gas to enhance damping of the pressure pulsations in the fluid. The gas may
be pressurized or unpressurised. In other embodiments, the bellows device need not
be gas-filled.
[0015] Typically, the rotational bushings take the form of coaxial bushings (i.e. first
and second bushings) which are spaced apart along the camshaft with the camshaft extending
therethrough.
[0016] The camshaft is partially hollow to define a blind bore within which the bellows
device is arranged. The blind end of the bore may communicate with a channel extending
through the wall of the camshaft so as to establish a fluid communication between
the external surface of the camshaft and the bore in the camshaft. The channel may
communicate with the low pressure circuit e.g. in the region of the low pressure inlet
to the pump.
[0017] In contrast to the known low pressure regulator solution, if there is no flow between
the inlet to the damper and the low pressure circuit, there is an advantage because
there is no impact on CO
2 emissions due to wasted energy.
[0018] In one embodiment, the camshaft is a composite shaft comprising a cylindrical axle
shaft over which a cam form is press fitted, for example. The camshaft may conveniently
take the form of a relatively cheap component, such as a steel tube, onto which the
cam form is fixed and into which the bellows device may be fixed.
[0019] In another aspect the invention resides in a camshaft for a fluid pump of the aforementioned
type having a blind bore formed therein and comprising a bellows device located within
the blind bore to damp pressure waves propagating within the low pressure circuit.
The fluid pump is typically a fuel pump for use in an engine such as a compression
ignition internal combustion engine.
[0020] Within the scope of this application it is expressly envisaged that the various aspects,
embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the
claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual
features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments
and/or features of any embodiment or aspect can be combined in any way and/or combination,
unless such features are incompatible, as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a fuel circuit in a vehicle;
Figure 2 is a cross section of a fluid pump according to a first embodiment of the
invention; and
Figure 3 is a cross section of a fluid pump according to another embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In the following description, similar elements will be designated with the same reference
numbers. Also, to ease and clarify the description the orientation of the figures
will be referred to without any limiting intention. Therefore, words and expressions
such as "left or right, and front and back" may be utilized without intending to impart
any limitation.
[0023] Figure 1 is a representation of a vehicle 8 including an engine 10 having fuel equipment
12. This is not limited to any specific type of vehicle, or of fuel, and the teachings
of the invention are applicable to diesel as well as to gasoline or any other fuel,
and indeed to any type of fluid pump.
[0024] In the rear of the vehicle 8 are arranged a fuel tank 14 and a low pressure pump
16 and, in the front, on the vehicle engine 10, are arranged a high pressure pump
18, a manifold 20, also known as a common-rail, distributing high pressure fuel from
the high pressure pump 16 to a plurality of injectors 22. These components are arranged
in fluid communication with each other via a low pressure fuel supply line 24 extending
from the tank 14 to the high pressure pump 18, a high pressure circuit 26 confined
between the high pressure pump 18, the manifold 20 and the injectors 22 and, a low
pressure circuit including a fuel return line 28 extending from the front to the rear
of the vehicle 8 to flow some fuel back from the injectors 22 to the tank 14.
[0025] Numerous variants of fuel equipment 12 exist with vehicles 8 having the engine in
the front or in the rear and the fuel tank arranged at the other end. It is usual
for both the low pressure supply and return fuel lines 24, 28 are relatively long
and extend between the front and the rear of the vehicle 1. Together, these fuel lines
24, 28 form the low pressure circuit for the pump, which also includes the cam box
within which the cam shaft is housed. Within the low pressure circuit, low pressure
fuel flows and hydraulic waves or pressure waves propagate. For example, the hydraulic
waves are generated by the operation of the high pressure pump or by an injection
event.
[0026] A first embodiment of the invention is now described in reference to Figure 2 which
shows the drive part of the high pressure fuel pump 18. The pump 18 comprises a fixed
housing comprising a left (front) part 32 spaced apart from a right (rear) part 34.
The front and rear housing parts 32, 34 may be part of one and the same housing, spaced
by a bore 35 provided between them, or the parts 32, 34 may be separate housing parts
with a space 35 in between. A camshaft 36 extends through the parts 32, 34 and is
arranged for rotation within the housing 32, 34. The camshaft 36 extends along a first
longitudinal axis A1 and cooperates with a pumping plunger or piston (not shown) via
a cam 40 and a cam follower (also not shown). In the embodiment in Figure 2, the camshaft
36 has one cam form 40 arranged between the housing parts 32, 34.
[0027] To enable rotation of the camshaft 36 within the housing, each housing part 32, 34
is provided with a respective front or rear bushing 38a, 38b. The bushings 38a, 38b
are coaxially arranged with the longitudinal axis A1 of the camshaft 36.
[0028] As the camshaft 36 rotates, in use, the cam 40 drives the cam follower which cooperates
with the pumping plunger (or a tappet coupled thereto), to cause the plunger to reciprocate
within a plunger bore, aligned along a second axis, A2. Reciprocal motion of the plunger
within the plunger bore causes fuel within a high pressure pump chamber at the end
of the plunger bore to be pressurised. Multiple plungers may be driven by the same
camshaft 36 depending on the configuration of the fuel pump.
[0029] As indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, a flow of fuel F taken from the low pressure
return fuel line is delivered along an inlet path to provide an inlet flow to lubricate
the bushings 38a, 38b and the camshaft 36. The fuel flow F divides into a front back
flow FF and a rear back flow FR. Each of the back flows FF and FR passes through its
respective bushing 38a, 38b and lubricates the rotating surfaces of the bushing 38a,
38b and the camshaft 36. The front back flow FF collects in an annulus just forward
of the front bushing 38a, and exits to the tank 14 via a drilling 39 provided in the
front housing part 32. The rear back flow FR flows between the camshaft 36 and the
rear bushing 38b and flows through a rear chamber 41 located adjacent to the rear
of the rear housing part 34 before exiting to the tank 14. Hydraulic waves propagate
in the back flows FR, FF generating undesired pulsations in the low pressure circuit
(comprising the return flow lines FR, FF, the inlet flow to the pump and the cam box),
and it is an object of the invention to reduce the impact of such pulsations.
[0030] There are various reasons for pressure oscillations in the low pressure circuit.
The main reason is the movement of the camshaft 36 with the associated movement of
fluid. This fluid under motion leads to various reflections and wherever the free
flow is hindered by geometrical obstacles, pressure spikes appear and are immediately
transmitted throughout the low pressure circuit. To overcome these undesirable effects,
the camshaft 36 is provided with a fluid damper comprising a bellows device 42 in
the form of bellows mounted within a blind bore 44 provided in the camshaft 36. The
camshaft 36 is thus partially hollow to define the blind bore 44, with the bore 44
extending axially inside the camshaft 36 along the axis A1 from a point approximately
at the middle of the camshaft 36 to the right (rear) extremity of the camshaft 36
where it opens into the rear back flow FR. The blind end of the bore 44 is located
between the front and rear bushings 38a, 38b.
[0031] The blind bore 44 is in fluid communication with the interior of the pump 10 via
a channel 46 which extends from the blind bore 44, in the vicinity of the blind end,
to the outer surface of the camshaft 36 in the space 35 between the housing parts
32, 34. The bellows 42 are mounted within the bore 44 with a first end thereof located
at the rear of the bore 44, adjacent to the rear back flow FR. The first end of the
bellows 42 is fixed within the blind bore 44, to the rear end of the camshaft 36,
via a fixing means in the form of a plurality of welds 50 which close communication
between the bore 44 and the rear back flow FR. The bellows 42 take the form of an
expandable and contractible vessel with concertinaed sides which flatten out in the
absence of a pressure pulse to elongate the vessel, and collapse back to adopt a shorter,
wider state when a pressure pulse is applied. The bellows 42 are filled with a gas
to provide a means for damping pressure waves propagating in fluid within the bore
44 as the bellows 42 are compressed against the gas, in use. The bellows 42 may be
filled with pressurised gas, or unpressurised gas, depending on the extent of expected
pressure pulsations and, hence, the extent of damping required. In other embodiments
the bellows 42 need not be filled with a gas at all.
[0032] In operation, the inlet flow F from the low pressure fuel return line 28 fills the
inside of the bore 44 via the channel 46. The hydraulic waves propagating along the
inlet flow F therefore enter the channel 46, and compress the bellows 42 so that the
waves are damped before they propagate further through the bushings 38a, 38b to form
the back flows, FF and FR.
[0033] In another embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the bellows 42 are fixed at or near
the end of the blind bore 44 by a reduced number of weld points 50 (two in the illustration
shown) so that communication between the end of the bore 44 and the rear back flow
FR of the low pressure circuit is maintained.
[0034] Reference in this specification to bellows or a bellows device shall be taken to
mean any expansible and contractible vessel, the volume of which can be changed by
compression or expansion, by means of a force due to applied pressure, so as to absorb
pressure pulses. A bellows device typically has concertinaed sides, as shown in the
illustrations in Figures 2 and 3, to allow it to contract/collapse in length. However,
other embodiments are envisaged which would also provide a bellows-type function.
For example, in another embodiment the bellows device is provided by a plurality of
conical washers arranged in a stack and compressible to reduce the length of the stack
to absorb the pressure pulses. It is also envisaged that the bellows device may take
the form of a single compressible element, which expands and contracts to change its
volume by displacing a fluid or gas through an outlet so as to absorb the pressure
pulses.
[0035] The camshaft 36 in embodiments of the invention may be a mono-bloc construction,
made of one piece with the integral cam form 40, or can be composite, made of a cylindrical
axle cam shaft over which is fixedly arranged a cam form. An advantage of the latter
construction is that a lower grade steel may be used for the camshaft (e.g. a steel
tube) than that which is used for the cam.
[0036] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the invention could be
modified to take many alternative forms to that described herein, without departing
from the scope of the appended claims.
1. A fluid pump (18) comprising a housing (30) receiving a camshaft (36) which is rotatable
within rotational guiding means (38a, 38b), the camshaft cooperating with a pumping
plunger of the fluid pump to actuate the pumping plunger to reciprocally move in order
to pressurize fluid within a pump chamber, the camshaft (36) being exposed to a fluid
to lubricate the camshaft, in use, wherein the camshaft (36) is provided with an integral
fluid damper (42) comprising a bellows (42) configured to damp hydraulic waves propagating
in the fluid lubricating the camshaft (36) and flowing through the rotational guiding
means (38a, 38b) and characterized in that the camshaft (36) is partially hollow (44), and wherein the bellows (42) is arranged
inside the hollow part (44).
2. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camshaft (36) is further provided
with a channel (46) extending through the wall of the camshaft (36) establishing a
fluid communication between the external surface of the camshaft (36) and the hollow
part (44).
3. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the hollow part of the
camshaft (36) is a blind bore (44).
4. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hollow part (44)
receives fuel from a low pressure circuit of the pump.
5. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hollow part (44)
of the camshaft (36) is open at one end to communicate with fluid in the low pressure
circuit downstream of the rotational guiding means (38a, 38b).
6. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hollow part (44)
of the camshaft (36) is closed at one end so that there is no communication between
the hollow part (44) and fluid in the low pressure circuit downstream of the rotational
guiding means (38a, 38b).
7. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a fixing means
for fixing the bellows (42) to the camshaft (36) at or near one end of the camshaft
(36).
8. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing means (50) comprises one
or more welds (50).
9. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 when dependent on claim 7, wherein
the fixing means is configured to close communication between the hollow part (44)
and fluid in the low pressure circuit downstream of the rotational guiding means (38a,
38b).
10. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bellows (42) includes
bellows filled with a gas.
11. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gas is pressurized.
12. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gas is unpressurised.
13. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the camshaft (36)
is a composite shaft comprising a cylindrical axle shaft to which a cam is fitted.
14. The fluid pump (18) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cam (40) is press fitted onto
the composite shaft.
1. Fluidpumpe (18) mit einem Gehäuse (30), das eine Nockenwelle (36) aufnimmt, die innerhalb
Rotationsführungsmittel (38a, 38b) rotierbar ist, wobei die Nockenwelle mit einem
Pumpkolben der Fluidpumpe zusammenwirkt, um den Pumpkolben zum Hin- und Her-Bewegen
zu betätigen, um Fluid innerhalb einer Pumpenkammer unter Druck zu setzen,
wobei die Nockenwelle (36) in Betrieb einem Fluid zur Schmierung der Nockenwelle ausgesetzt
ist, wobei die Nockenwelle (36) mit einem integralen Fluid-Dämpfer (42) versehen ist,
der einen Faltenbalg (42) aufweist, der konfiguriert ist zum Dämpfen von Hydraulikwellen,
die sich in dem Fluid ausbreiten, das die Nockenwelle (36) schmiert, und durch die
Rotationsführungsmittel (38a, 38b) strömen,
und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Nockenwelle (36) teilweise hohl (44) ist, und wobei der Faltenbalg (42) innerhalb
des hohlen Teils (44) angeordnet ist.
2. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Nockenwelle (36) weiter mit einem
Kanal (46) versehen ist, der sich durch die Wand der Nockenwelle (36) erstreckt und
eine Fluidverbindung zwischen der externen Oberfläche der Nockenwelle (36) und dem
hohlen Teil (44) herstellt.
3. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei der hohle Teil der Nockenwelle
(36) eine Blindbohrung (44) ist.
4. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei der hohle Teil (44) Kraftstoff
von einem Niederdruckkreislauf der Pumpe empfängt.
5. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei der hohle Teil (44) der
Nockenwelle (36) an einem Ende offen ist, um mit Fluid in dem Niederdruckkreislauf
stromabwärts der Rotationsführungsmittel (38a, 38b) in Verbindung zu sein.
6. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei der hohle Teil (44) der
Nockenwelle (36) an einem Ende geschlossen ist, so dass keine Verbindung zwischen
dem hohlen Teil (44) und dem Fluid in dem Niederdruckkreislauf stromabwärts der Rotationsführungsmittel
(38a, 38b) besteht.
7. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, die ein Befestigungsmittel
zum Befestigen des Faltenbalgs (42) an der Nockenwelle (36) an oder nahe einem Ende
der Nockenwelle (36) aufweist.
8. Die Fluidpumpe gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei das Befestigungsmittel (50) eine oder mehrere
Schweißnähte (50) aufweist.
9. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß Anspruch 7 oder Anspruch 8, wenn abhängig von Anspruch 7,
wobei das Befestigungsmittel konfiguriert ist zum Schließen einer Verbindung zwischen
dem hohlen Teil (44) und dem Fluid in dem Niederdruckkreislauf stromabwärts der Rotationsführungsmittel
(38a, 38b).
10. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei der Faltenbalg (42) einen
Balg enthält, der mit einem Gas gefüllt ist.
11. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß Anspruch 10, wobei das Gas unter Druck steht.
12. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß Anspruch 10, wobei das Gas drucklos ist.
13. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12, wobei die Nockenwelle (36)
eine zusammengesetzte Welle ist, die eine zylindrische Achswelle aufweist, an der
ein Nocken angepasst ist.
14. Die Fluidpumpe (18) gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei der Nocken (40) auf die zusammengesetzte
Welle pressgepasst ist.
1. Pompe à fluide (18) comprenant un boîtier (30) recevant un arbre à came (36) qui peut
tourner dans des moyens de guidage (38a, 38b) rotatifs, l'arbre à came coopérant avec
un piston de pompage de la pompe à fluide pour actionner le piston à effectuer un
mouvement de va-et-vient afin de mettre le fluide sous pression dans une chambre de
pompage, l'arbre à came (36) étant exposé à un fluide pour lubrifier l'arbre à came
à l'utilisation,
dans laquelle l'arbre à came (36) est doté d'un amortisseur à fluide (42) intégral
comprenant un soufflet (42) configuré pour amortir des ondes hydrauliques se propageant
dans le fluide lubrifiant l'arbre à came (36) et s'écoulant à travers les moyens de
guidage (38a, 38b) rotatifs et
caractérisée en ce que
l'arbre à came (36) est en partie creux (44) et le soufflet (42) est agencé à l'intérieur
de la partie creuse (44).
2. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'arbre à came (36) est
en outre doté d'un canal (46) s'étendant à travers la paroi de l'arbre à came (36),
établissant une communication fluidique entre la surface extérieure de l'arbre à came
(36) et la partie creuse (44).
3. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle la partie creuse
de l'arbre à came (36) est un trou borgne (44).
4. Pompe à fluide (18) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle
la partie creuse (44) reçoit du carburant depuis un circuit à basse pression de la
pompe.
5. Pompe à fluide (18) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle
la partie creuse (44) de l'arbre à came (36) est ouverte à une extrémité pour communiquer
avec du fluide dans le circuit de basse pression en aval des moyens de guidage (38a,
38b) rotatifs.
6. Pompe à fluide (18) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle
la partie creuse (44) de l'arbre à came (36) est fermée à une extrémité de telle sorte
qu'il n'y a pas de communication entre la partie creuse (44) et du fluide dans le
circuit de basse pression en aval des moyens de guidage (38a, 38b) rotatifs.
7. Pompe à fluide (18) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, comprenant des
moyens de fixation pour fixer le soufflet (42) à l'arbre à came (36) sur ou près d'une
extrémité de l'arbre à came (36).
8. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle les moyens de fixation
(50) comprennent une ou plusieurs soudures (50).
9. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 7 ou la revendication 8, prise en dépendance
de la revendication 7, dans laquelle les moyens de fixation sont configurés pour fermer
la communication entre la partie creuse (44) et du fluide dans le circuit de basse
pression en aval des moyens de guidage (38a, 38b) rotatifs.
10. Pompe à fluide (18) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans laquelle
le soufflet (42) inclut un soufflet rempli avec un gaz.
11. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle le gaz est sous pression.
12. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle le gaz n'est pas sous
pression.
13. Pompe à fluide (18) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12, dans laquelle
l'arbre à came (36) est un arbre composite comprenant un axe cylindrique sur lequel
est ajustée une came.
14. Pompe à fluide (18) selon la revendication 13, dans laquelle la came (40) est montée
à la presse sur l'arbre composite.