Pumps

SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

This is the general class for the pumping of fluids, and includes the pumping of slurries, fluent material and the like if handled in a manner not inconsistent with the handling of fluids. With the exception of "gettering pumps" as discussed in Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, below, a pump is defined as means to move a fluid by taking it from one place or location and moving it to another place or location different from whence it came, the pump, therefore having an inlet and an outlet for the pumped fluid which are separate and distinct.

The pumping of the fluid is generally accomplished by action thereon of a mechanical member (e.g., piston) or by contact or entrainment with another fluid (e.g. jet pumps). Also, the pumping may be accomplished by the direct action on the pumped fluid of an electric or magnetic force (e.g., electromagnetic pumps). However, for the line with respect to "ion pumps", see Lines With Ohter Classes and Within This Class and Subclass References to the Current Class, below.