A fluid system includes a variable-speed and/or a variable-torque pump to pump a fluid, at least one proportional control valve assembly, an actuator that is operated by the fluid to control a load, and a controller that establishes a speed and/or torque of the pump and a position of the at least one proportional control valve assembly. The pump includes at least one fluid driver that provides fluid to the actuator, which can be, e.g., a fluid-actuated cylinder, a fluid-driven motor or another type of fluid-driven actuator that controls a load. Each fluid driver includes a prime mover and a fluid displacement assembly. The fluid displacement assembly can be driven by the prime mover such that fluid is transferred from the inlet port to the outlet port of the pump.

The external gear pump may include a housing, a first gear, a second gear, and an end plate. The housing may define an inlet and a discharge port. The first gear may include a first tooth and a second tooth. The second gear may be disposed within the housing and include a third tooth that engages the first tooth and the second tooth to form a pressure pocket. The end plate may be disposed within the housing. The first gear and the second gear may each be rotatably coupled to the end plate. The end plate may define a discharge channel and a bridge portion. The discharge channel may extend between the discharge port and the bridge portion. The bridge portion may define a relief portion and the relief portion may be configured such that fluid is communicated from the pressure pocket to the discharge port.

Overheating of a process liquid retained in a reservoir of a multiphase pump during extended gas slugs is avoided by circulating a cooling liquid in thermal contact with a process liquid through an external cooling apparatus, which can include a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, process liquid from the reservoir is circulated through the cooling loop, while in other embodiments a separate cooling liquid is circulated between a reservoir heat exchanger and the external cooling apparatus. The liquid in the cooling loop can be circulated by a separate cooling pump, or process liquid can be circulated through the cooling loop due to a pressure differential between an inlet and an outlet of the cooling loop within the multiphase pump. The multiphase pump can be a twin screw pump, and the reservoir can be formed between outer and inner casings of the multiphase pump.

A gear pump is provided with: a casing including a suction port configured to suck fluid, and a discharge port configured to expel the pressurized fluid; a gear including a wheel portion with gear teeth and an axially elongated shaft portion, the gear being so housed in the casing as to transport the fluid from the suction port to the discharge port; and a floating bearing rotatably supporting the shaft portion and being movable axially, the floating bearing including a sealing face in contact with the wheel portion, a receiver face axially opposed to the sealing face; and a communication path having an opening on the sealing face and communicating the opening with a third pressurization chamber defined by a third receiver face of the receiver face and the casing.

A rotary, self-priming, positive displacement pump is described. The pump may include a pump housing including an inlet and an outlet, a pump chamber including an upper wall, a lateral wall, and a floor, first and second rotary impellers in the pump chamber, and a pair of gears each secured to the first and second rotary impellers, and a pressure relief feature operable to relieve pressure developing in a relatively high pressure zone of the pump chamber. The gears mesh with each other to ensure that the vanes do not contact one another during rotation. The pressure relief feature may comprise one or more channels formed in the pump housing and/or the first and second rotary impellers. The channels connect the high pressure zone with another zone to redistribute pressure. The channels may include one continuous channel or alternatively, a plurality of unconnected channels.

An internal gear pump includes an outer rotor, an inner rotor, and a pump housing. The inner rotor is rotatably disposed inside the outer rotor having internal teeth, forms pump chambers between the outer rotor and the inner rotor, and has external teeth. The pump housing has an inhalation port, a discharge port, and a first notch formed within a first land surface that extends from an end of the inhalation port to an end of the discharge port. The first notch is formed along a projection trajectory obtained by projecting a trajectory of chip points on the first land surface, where each chip point is a middle point between a corresponding one of the internal teeth and a corresponding one of the external teeth at a location at which the internal and external teeth substantially face each other above the first land surface and are closest to each other.

In a general aspect, fluid flow in a gerotor system is enhanced. In some cases, a gerotor apparatus includes inner and outer gears. The outer gear includes inward-facing teeth and an inner surface that defines an inner profile of the outer gear. The inner gear includes outward-facing teeth and an outer surface that defines an outer profile of the inner gear. The inner gear and the outer gear reside in contact such that the inner profile of the outer gear seals against the outer profile of the inner gear at multiple distinct points. One or more cutouts are defined by the inner surface of the outer gear between a neighboring pair of the inward-facing teeth, by the outer surface of the inner gear between a neighboring pair of the outward-facing teeth, or both.

A fluid system includes a variable-speed and/or a variable-torque pump to pump a fluid, at least one proportional control valve assembly, an actuator that is operated by the fluid to control a load, and a controller that establishes a speed and/or torque of the pump and a position of the at least one proportional control valve assembly. The pump includes at least one fluid driver that provides fluid to the actuator, which can be, e.g., a fluid-actuated cylinder, a fluid-driven motor or another type of fluid-driven actuator that controls a load. Each fluid driver includes a prime mover and a fluid displacement assembly. The fluid displacement assembly can be driven by the prime mover such that fluid is transferred from the inlet port to the outlet port of the pump.

In a general aspect, fluid flow in a gerotor system is enhanced. In some cases, a gerotor apparatus includes inner and outer gears. The outer gear includes inward-facing teeth and an inner surface that defines an inner profile of the outer gear. The inner gear includes outward-facing teeth and an outer surface that defines an outer profile of the inner gear. The inner gear and the outer gear reside in contact such that the inner profile of the outer gear seals against the outer profile of the inner gear at multiple distinct points. One or more cutouts are defined by the inner surface of the outer gear between a neighboring pair of the inward-facing teeth, by the outer surface of the inner gear between a neighboring pair of the outward-facing teeth, or both.

The external gear pump may include a housing, a first gear, a second gear, and an end plate. The housing may define an inlet and a discharge port. The first gear may include a first tooth and a second tooth. The second gear may be disposed within the housing and include a third tooth that engages the first tooth and the second tooth to form a pressure pocket. The end plate may be disposed within the housing. The first gear and the second gear may each be rotatably coupled to the end plate. The end plate may define a discharge channel and a bridge portion. The discharge channel may extend between the discharge port and the bridge portion. The bridge portion may define a relief portion and the relief portion may be configured such that fluid is communicated from the pressure pocket to the discharge port.