Two figure-eight lobe impellers mounted on parallel shafts rotate in opposite directions. As each impeller passes the blower inlet, it traps a finite volume of air and carries it around the case to the blower outlet, where the air is discharged.

With constant speed operation, the displaced volume is essentially the same regardless of pressure, temperature or barometric pressure. Timing gears control the relative position of the impellers to each other and maintain small but finite clearances. This allows operation without lubrication being required inside the lobe cavity.