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Piston Pumps and Compressors

Precision piston air compressors and vacuum pumps for exceptional pressure, flow, and reliability across industries

A piston pump is a positive displacement pump, which is designed to convert rotary motor energy into linear motion within the pump cylinder. This results in precise fluid control, exceptional reliability, and low maintenance, making it suitable for diverse applications such as medical devices, automotive systems, laboratory equipment, chemical processing, environmental technologies, as well as oil and gas.

Thomas offers an extensive range of WOB-L® Piston Pumps and Articulated Piston Pumps featuring:

  • Flow rates ranging from 3.0 L/min (0.1 CFM) to 250 L/min (9 CFM).
  • Pressures up to 12 bar (175 psi)
  • Vacuum levels up to -990 mbar (29.2 in.Hg)
  • Various motor options, including AC, DC, and brushless DC

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Why Thomas Piston Pumps and Compressors?

Thomas piston pumps and compressors are renowned for their innovation and reliability in oil-free piston technology. Both the WOB-L® and Articulated Piston variants have unique advantages, showcasing our commitment to excellence.

Thomas WOB-L® Piston Pumps:

  • Invented by Thomas in 1976, it is now one of the most common pump technologies in the world.
  • Low vibration and balanced flow for operational smoothness.
  • Low power consumption reduces energy costs and aligns with sustainable practices.
  • Higher capabilities in a compact design for versatile usage in limited spaces.
  • Generates the highest pressure among pump technologies.
  • Oil-free design with corrosion-resistant materials for a contamination-free environment.
  • Relies on continuous work cycles without frequent maintenance, highlighting reliability and durability.

Thomas Articulated Piston Pumps:

  • Designed for precision high-pressure, high-volume airflow with straight up/straight down piston motion.
  • Capable of stopping, restarting against back pressure, and running continuously at high pressures (175 psig/12 bar), ensuring uninterrupted performance.
  • Thrives in diverse conditions, showcasing exceptional adaptability—from dirty and dusty to hot and cold environments.

Choose Thomas Piston Pumps for a Wide Range of Gas Applications

Thomas piston pumps find their home in diverse industries, ranging from medical and automotive to defense and industrial:

  • Our WOB-L® technology excels in industries requiring long life and high performance, such as medical, food & beverage, automotive or environmental. High-pressure WOB-L piston pumps and compressors are often selected by the medical market for their high quality and reliability. Life-saving equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and other breathing support devices rely on our piston pumps for their critical functions.

  • Articulated piston compressors are most often used in medium and heavy duty air suspension systems that require high air flow and long run times. Additionally, they are selected when an application demands exceed typical piston pump technology limitations, as in many industrial applications such as air suspension, central tire inflation system, or dry sprinkler systems.

Customize Your Piston Pump to Your Needs

Thomas offers over thirty standard catalog series and a limitless range of possible pump configurations. The articulated and WOB-L® pumps are customizable with options for materials, pneumatic connections, mounting, electrical connections, cooling airflow directions, and multiple strokes and bore sizes to tailor the performance to specific requirements.

  • Free flow up to 250 L/min (9 CFM)

  • Maximum pressure up to 12.1 bar (175 psi)

  • Maximum vacuum up to -990 mbar (29.2 in Hg)

  • Optional restart against pressure or vacuum

  • Single or twin piston

  • Parallel flow or two-stage

  • AC, DC, or brushless DC

Application expertise enables our engineers to tailor pump performance even to the most complex and challenging application. Talk to one of our engineers for tailored solutions.

Choosing the Right Thomas Piston Pump

While both WOB-L® and Articulated Piston Pumps share the common goal of reliable performance, understanding their differences is crucial for selecting the right solution for your specific needs.

How WOB-L® Piston Pumps Work?

WOB-L technology is uniquely reliable due to the simplicity of the design, with fewer moving components than other pump technologies.

WOB-L® pumps are dry running reciprocating pumps. They convert the rotary motor’s energy into the piston's linear motion within the pump cylinder.

The piston rod is mounted to an eccentric bearing assembly attached to the motor shaft. As the piston moves down inside the cylinder, the air is drawn through a one-way intake valve. When the piston moves up, the air is exhausted through a one-way exhaust valve.

How WOB-L® Piston Pumps Work?

How Articulated Piston Pumps Work?

This type of piston pumps follows the same operating principle as a conventional car engine piston. The articulated piston transfers rotational energy from a motor into a reciprocating motion used to compress air in a closed cylinder. As the piston moves down inside the cylinder, the air is drawn through a one-way intake valve. When the piston moves up, the air is exhausted through a one-way exhaust valve.

The construction of these positive displacement pumps protects them from even the harshest environmental and heavy-duty application conditions.

How Articulated Piston Pumps Work?