Description
This is the general class for the pumping of fluids, and includesthe pumping of slurries, fluent material and the like if handledin a manner not inconsistent with the handling of fluids. Withthe exception of "gettering pumps" as discussedin Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, below, a pumpis defined as means to move a fluid by taking it from one placeor location and moving it to another place or location differentfrom whence it came, the pump, therefore having an inlet and anoutlet for the pumped fluid which are separate and distinct.
The pumping of the fluid is generally accomplished by actionthereon of a mechanical member (e.g., piston) or by contact or entrainmentwith another fluid (e.g. jet pumps). Also, the pumping may be accomplishedby the direct action on the pumped fluid of an electric or magneticforce (e.g., electromagnetic pumps). However, for the line withrespect to "ion pumps", see Lines With Ohter Classesand Within This Class and Subclass References to the Current Class,below.
VACUUM FORMATION BY GETTERING
This class is the residual home for the formation of a vacuumin an enclosed space by a gettering action; a getter being a materialwhich when placed in an enclosed space reduces the gas or vaporcontent of the space either by a chemical or physical action. Also, includedare those devices and processes in which the fluid is ionized topermit or enhance the gettering action. These devices are oftentermed "getter-ion pumps". See the notes andsearch notes in subclasses 48 and 49 for a statement of the lines.