Rotary vane pump

1. A rotary vane pump for pumping a fluid, the rotary vane pump composing:

(a) a pump housing;

(b) a rotor having a plurality of dividing members and a plurality of slots disposed between adjacent dividing members;

(c) a plurality of strengthening members, each strengthening member disposed in one of the plurality of slots and coupled to adjacent dividing members; and

(d) a plurality of vanes, each vane moveably disposed in one of the plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of vanes includes a pair of legs attached to a blade, the pair of legs spaced from one another and adapted to straddle one of the plurality of strengthening members during use.

2. A rotary vane pump for pumping a fluid, the rotary vane pump comprising:

(a) a pump housing;

(b) a rotor having a plurality of dividing members and a plurality of slots disposed between adjacent dividing members;

(c) a plurality of vanes, each vane moveably disposed in one of the plurality of slots, wherein each vane comprises:

(i) a blade;

(ii) a first leg coupled to the blade; and

(iii) a second leg coupled to the blade, wherein the first and second legs are spaced from one another a selected distance and extend radially inward from the blade; and

(d) a plurality of strengthening members, each strengthening member disposed in one of the plurality of slots and coupled to adjacent dividing members, wherein the first and second legs straddle the strengthening members.

3. The rotary vane pump of claim 2 , wherein the blade is of a predetermined thickness, and wherein a preselected thickness of the first leg exceeds the predetermined thickness of the blade by at least about 25%.

4. The rotary vane pump of claim 2 , wherein the blade includes an outer edge adapted to substantially sealingly engage a sealing surface of the housing, wherein the first leg terminates inward of the outer edge so that the first leg does not substantially sealingly engage the sealing surface of the housing.