Patent ID: 7004131

Claim:
A rotary shaft pump adapted for increasing a portion of main oil pressure supplied to a shaft in an internal combustion engine for use in actuating a pressure responsive device, the shaft pump comprising: a housing adapted to carry a rotatable shaft for performing a function in an engine; a shaft rotatably carried in the housing and adapted to receive pressurized lubricating oil for lubricating at least the shaft; and at least one radially extending pumping element carried by the shaft and having an enlarged outer diameter rotatable in an enlarged bore of the housing; an oil distribution passage extending axially in the shaft, a pumping passage in the pumping element and extending radially from the oil distribution passage to the outer diameter of the pumping element; and a delivery passage in the housing and connecting with the outer diameter of the pumping element to receive pressurized oil from the pumping element for delivery to a hydraulically actuated device; whereby during rotation of the shaft in engine operation, centrifugal force in the pumping passage boosts oil pressure at the outer diameter of the pumping element, providing increased oil pressure in the oil delivery passage for use in actuating the pressure responsive device.