Internal gear pump with improved communication between inlet and idler and between inlet and rotor

Abstract

This document discloses an internal gear pump with a symmetrical casing and a head design that enables high pumping speeds, reduced turbulence and reduced risk or occurrence of cavitation. The head includes a boss that extends into the pump chamber to form an idler support and a crescent support. The crescent support includes a liquid directing step that extends from the crescent arcuately towards the inlet. The liquid directing step divides liquid incoming from the inlet into a portion directed to an idler feed slot and another portion directed to a rotor feed slot. The idler feed slot provides communication between the inlet and the roots of the idler and the rotor feed slot provides communication between the inlet and spaces between the rotor teeth.

Claims

1. An internal gear pump comprising: a casing comprising an inlet, an outlet, an open outboard end and an inboard end through which a rotor shaft passes, the open outboard end enclosed by a head, the head and casing defining a pump chamber, the rotor shaft connected to a rotor disposed in the pump chamber, the head including an inner surface that faces the pump chamber, the inner surface connected to a boss that extends into the pump chamber, the boss comprising an idler support connected to a crescent support, the idler support rotatably connected to an idler, the crescent support partially covered by and connected to a crescent that extends away from the head and that is disposed below the idler, the crescent support further comprising a liquid directing step that extends from the crescent and towards the inlet, the boss comprising a lower wall disposed below the crescent support and that extends from the crescent support downward to the casing, the boss, inner surface of the head and casing defining a rotor feed slot between the liquid directing step and the casing and extending from the lower wall towards the inlet for providing communication between the inlet and the rotor.

2. The pump of claim 1 wherein the boss further comprises a middle wall that connects the crescent support to the idler support, the boss and head defining an idler feed slot between the liquid directing step and the idler support and extending from the middle wall towards the inlet for providing communication between the inlet and the idler.

3. The pump of claim 2 wherein the boss further comprises an upper wall disposed opposite the idler from the crescent and that extends from the idler support upward to the casing.

4. The pump of claim 3 wherein the upper wall, middle wall, lower wall, idler support and crescent support terminate at surfaces that are coplanar with respect to each other.

5. The pump of claim 1 wherein the crescent includes a tapered leading edge.

6. The pump of claim 1 wherein the boss further comprises an upper wall disposed opposite the idler from the crescent and that extends from the idler support upward to the casing.

7. The pump of claim 6 wherein the upper wall, lower wall, idler support and crescent support terminate at surfaces that are coplanar with each other.

8. The pump of claim 1 wherein the idler support and crescent support terminate at surfaces that are coplanar with respect to each other.

9. The pump of claim 1 wherein the pump chamber has a central axis and the idler rotates about an idler axis, the inlet connects to the pump chamber by an inlet passageway and outlet connects to the pump chamber by an outlet passageway, the inlet and inlet passageway being mirror images of the outlet and outlet passageway respectively with respect to a plane mirror that passes through the central axis and the idler axis.

10. An internal gear pump comprising: a casing comprising an inlet, an outlet, an open outboard end and an inboard end through which a rotor shaft passes, the open outboard end enclosed by a head, the head and casing defining a pump chamber, the pump chamber has a central axis, the rotor shaft connected to a rotor disposed in the pump chamber, the head including an inner surface that faces the pump chamber, the inner surface connected to a boss extending from the inner surface into the pump chamber, the boss comprising an idler support connected to a crescent support, the idler support rotatably connected to an idler, the idler rotates about an idler axis, the crescent support partially covered by and connected to a crescent that extends away from the head and that is disposed below the idler, the crescent support further comprising a liquid directing step that extends from the crescent and towards the inlet, the rotor comprising a plurality of circumferentially disposed rotor teeth extending radially inwards towards the central axis, the idler comprising a plurality of idler teeth extending radially outwards away from the idler axis, the boss comprising a lower wall disposed below the crescent support and that extends from the crescent support downward to the casing, the boss, casing and inner surface of the head defining a rotor feed slot between the liquid directing step and the casing and extending from the lower wall towards the inlet for providing communication between the inlet and the rotor teeth.

11. The pump of claim 10 wherein the boss further comprises a middle wall that connects the crescent support to the idler support, the boss and head defining an idler feed slot between the liquid directing step and the idler support and extending from the middle wall towards the inlet for providing communication between the inlet and the idler teeth.

12. The pump of claim 11 wherein the boss further comprises an upper wall disposed opposite the idler axis from the crescent and that extends from the idler support upward to the casing.

13. The pump of claim 12 wherein the upper wall, middle wall, lower wall idler support and crescent support terminate at surfaces that are coplanar with respect to each other.

14. The pump of claim 10 wherein the crescent includes a tapered leading edge.

15. The pump of claim 10 wherein the boss further comprises an upper wall disposed opposite the idler axis from the crescent and that extends from the idler support upward to the casing.

16. The pump of claim 15 wherein the upper wall, lower wall, idler support and crescent support terminate at surfaces that are coplanar with respect to each other.

17. The pump of claim 10 wherein the idler support and crescent support terminate at surfaces that are coplanar with each other.

18. The pump of claim 10 wherein the inlet connects to the pump chamber by an inlet passageway and outlet connects to the pump chamber by an outlet passageway, the inlet and inlet passageway being mirror images of the outlet and outlet passageway respectively with respect to a plane mirror that passes through the central axis and the idler axis.

19. A method for pumping liquid at a high speed, the method comprising: providing an internal gear pump comprising a casing comprising an inlet, an outlet, an open outboard end and an inboard end through which a rotor shaft passes, the open outboard end enclosed by a head, the head and casing defining a pump chamber, the pump chamber has a central axis, the rotor shaft connected to a rotor disposed in the pump chamber, the head including an inner surface that faces the pump chamber, the inner surface connected to a boss extending from the inner surface into the pump chamber, the boss comprising an idler support connected to a crescent support by a middle wall, the idler support rotatably connected to an idler that rotates about an idler axis, the boss and head defining an idler feed slot between the liquid directing step and the idler support and extending from the middle wall towards the inlet, the crescent support partially covered by and connected to a crescent that extends away from the head and that is disposed below the idler, the crescent support further comprising a liquid directing step that extends from the crescent and towards the inlet, the rotor comprising a plurality of circumferentially disposed rotor teeth extending radially inwards towards the central axis, the idler comprising a plurality of idler teeth extending radially outwards away from the idler axis and disposed radially within the rotor teeth, the boss comprising a lower wall disposed below the crescent support and that extends from the crescent support downward to the casing, the boss, casing and inner surface of the head defining a rotor feed slot between the liquid directing step and the casing and extending from the lower wall towards the inlet; rotating the rotor shaft and rotor; directing fluid from the inlet and through the idler feed slot to the idler teeth; and directing fluid from the inlet and through the rotor feed slot to the rotor teeth.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing an upper wall disposed opposite the idler axis from the crescent and that extends from the idler support upward to the casing; blocking flow from the inlet to the outlet and vice versa with the upper and lower walls without said flow first being fed to either the rotor or the idler.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a more complete understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses, reference should be made to the embodiment illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a disclosed gear pump.

(3) FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the internal gear pump showed in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the internal gear pump showed in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the internal gear pump showed in FIGS. 1-4.

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1

(8) FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the head shown in FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the head shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

(10) FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the head and idler shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and a sectional view of the rotor, particularly illustrating the engagement between the idler and rotor teeth.

(11) FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the head with the idler mounted there on.

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the head, idler and rotor.

(13) The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may illustrate the disclosed embodiments diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, this disclosure may omit details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or which render other details difficult to perceive. Further, this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiment illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(14) FIGS. 1-3 provide exterior views of a disclosed internal gear pump 20. The pump 20 includes the casing 21 including an inlet 22 and an outlet 23. The casing 21 further includes an inboard end 24 through which a rotor shaft 25 passes in an open outboard end 26 shown in FIG. 4. The casing 21 may couple to a relief valve assembly 27, also shown in FIG. 5. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotor shaft 25 may define a central axis 25a of the pump chamber 31. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the idler 33 rotates about an idler axis 33a offset from the central axis 25a of the pump chamber 31 and rotor shaft 25.

(15) FIGS. 4-5 further illustrate various components of the pump 20. The rotor shaft 25 is connected a rotor 28. The rotor 28 includes a plurality circumferentially spaced-apart rotor teeth 29. The rotor teeth 29 extend axially into a pump chamber 31 (FIG. 4) that is defined by the casing 21 and the head 32, and which encloses the outboard end 26 of the casing 21 as shown in FIG. 4. The rotor 28 and an idler 33 are disposed within the pump chamber 31. The idler 33 rotatably couples to the head 32 using an idler bushing 34 and idler pin 35 (FIG. 5). An O-ring 36 seals the connection between the head 32 and the open outboard end 26 of the casing 21. The head 32 includes an inner surface 37 (FIGS. 6-8) that includes or connects to a boss 38, the details of which are described below in connection with FIGS. 7-8. While the O-ring 36 and head 32 seal the open outboard end 26 of the casing 21, the rotor shaft 25 passes through the seal 39 to seal the inboard end 24 of the casing 21. In addition to passing through the seal 39, the rotor shaft 25 also passes through a bearing assembly 41 that may include a spacer 42, a bearing 43, a spacer 44, a bearing housing 45, a bearing 46, a spacer 47, a bearing endcap 48, a lock washer 49 and a lock nut 50 as shown in FIG. 5.

(16) FIG. 6 provides a front view of the pump chamber 31, the idler 33 and a sectional view of the rotor 28. As noted above, the casing 21 includes an inlet 22 and an outlet 23. The inlet 22 connects to the pump chamber 31 by an inlet passageway 22a and the outlet 23 connects to the pump chamber 31 by an outlet passageway 23a. The pump 20 is configured so that the rotor shaft 25, rotor 28, and idler 33 rotate in the clockwise direction. However, because of the symmetrical nature of the inlet 22 and outlet 23 and the symmetrical nature of the inlet passageway 22a and the outlet passageway 23a, the direction of the pump 20 may be easily reversed by changing the head 32 without changing the casing 21. Thus, the casing 21 can accommodate flow in either direction. To reverse the flow of the pump 20, a mirror image of the head 32 may be substituted for the head 32 as shown, without changing the casing 21, because the inlet 22 is disposed diametrically opposite the pump chamber 31 from the outlet 23 (and vice versa) and further because the inlet passageway 22a and outlet passageway 23a are also symmetrical. In other words, the inlet and outlet passageways 22a, 23a are mirror images of each other using a plane mirror passes through both the central axis 25a (FIG. 4) of the pump chamber 31 and the idler axis 33a (FIG. 6). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, such a plane mirror passes through the line 30 and extends perpendicularly out of the page. By locating the inlet 22 and outlet 23 at the three o'clock and nine o'clock positions respectively and by employing symmetrical inlet and outlet passages 22a, 23a, the disclosed pump 20 may be more easily reversed and all a manufacturer needs to do is manufacture one casing 21 and two heads 32 that are mirror images of one another.

(17) Applicant uses the terms top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, three o'clock position and nine o'clock position to assist the reader in understanding this description and the attached drawings. The disclosed pump 20 need not be used exclusively in the orientation shown in the drawings where a horizontal plane passes through axial centers of the inlet 22 and outlet 23 and a vertical plane passes through the central axis 25a and idler axis 33a (and the line 30 of FIG. 6). In other words, the inlet 22 and outlet 23 may be disposed in any common plane and said common plane need not be horizontal as the effects of gravity on liquids pumped at high speeds by the disclosed pump 20 are minimal. And, of course, the plane mirror for the inlet passageway 22a (and the inlet 22) and the outlet passageway 23a (and the outlet 23) need not be vertical as indicated by the line 30 in FIG. 6.

(18) Still referring to FIG. 6, the idler 33 includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending idler teeth 51 that are disposed between alternating idler roots 52. In contrast to the rotor teeth 29, the idler teeth 51 may taper as they extend radially outward away from the idler pin 35. The idler 33 may be fabricated from a high strength and/or hardened material to avoid damage from cavitation while operating the pump 20 at high speeds. Further, the circumferentially disposed rotor teeth 29 are separated by spaces 53, which receive the idler teeth 51 at the top of the pump 20 as shown in FIG. 6 (or equidistantly between the inlet 22 and outlet 23 along the path of rotation of the rotor teeth 29). At the top of the pump 20, the idler teeth 51 intermesh with the rotor teeth 29. As the idler teeth 51 and the rotor teeth 29 rotate in the clockwise direction from the top of the pump 20 towards the inlet 22, the idler teeth 51 become disengaged from the rotor teeth 29, which creates low-pressure areas near the inlet 22. These low-pressure areas draw liquid into the pump chamber 31 and towards the idler 33 and the rotor 28. As the idler teeth 51 and rotor teeth 29 rotate past the inlet 22, fluid disposed in the idler roots 52 is swept along an upper surface 54 of the crescent 55 and liquid disposed in the spaces 53 between the rotor teeth 29 is swept along a lower surface 56 of the crescent 55. At the bottom of the pump 20 as shown in FIG. 6, the idler teeth 51 sweep along the upper surface 54 of the crescent 55 and the rotor teeth 29 sweep along the lower surface 56 of the crescent 55.

(19) Thus, the crescent 55 serves as a seal between the rotor teeth 29 and the idler teeth 51 at the bottom of the pump 20 until the idler teeth 51 and the rotor teeth 29 reach the outlet 23 where the crescent 55 terminates at the tapered trailing end 55a and fluid flows out of the pump 20. The crescent 55 also features a tapered or pointed leading end 55b. which facilitates or increases the feeding of the liquid at high pump speeds. As shown in FIG. 6, the idler 33 or idler teeth 51 and the rotor 28 or rotor teeth 29 come into a simultaneous sealing engagement with the crescent 55 to provide a seal at the bottom of the pump 20 between the inlet 22 and outlet 23. Simultaneously, a seal at the top of the pump 20 is created by the engagement between one of the idler teeth 51 and the upper wall 57 of the casing 21 and the intermeshing of that idler tooth 51 between two rotor teeth 29 as shown at the top of FIG. 6. The upper wall 57 of the casing 21 illustrated in FIG. 6 also abuts the upper wall 58 of the boss 38 of the head 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-8. The simultaneous sealing engagement between the idler 33 and the upper surface 54 of the crescent 55, between the rotor 28 and the lower surface 56 of the crescent and between the idler 33 and the upper wall 57 of the casing 21 all combine to reduce slip while operating the pump 20 at high speeds.

(20) Continuing with FIGS. 7-8, the boss 38 also includes a lower wall 59. Additionally, the boss 38 includes an idler support 61, which supports the idler 33 in the pump chamber 31 and includes an opening 62 for receiving the idler pin 35 and the idler bushing 34 (FIG. 5). The boss 38 further includes a middle wall 63 that connects the idler support 61 to a crescent support 64. The crescent support 64 supports the crescent 55 in a proper orientation so that the idler teeth 51 sweep along the upper surface 54 of the crescent 55 and so that the rotor teeth 29 sweep along the lower surface 56 of the crescent 55 at the bottom of the pump 20. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the idler support 61 terminates at an idler support surface 61a, the crescent support 64 terminates at a crescent support surface 64a, the upper wall 58 terminates at an upper wall surface 58a, the middle wall 63 terminates at middle wall surface 63a, and the lower wall 59 terminates at a lower wall surface 59a. The idler support surface 61a, crescent support surface 64a, upper wall surface 58a, middle wall surface 63a and lower wall surface 59a may be coplanar.

(21) The crescent support 64 includes a liquid directing step 65. The liquid directing step 65, in combination with the middle wall 63, the idler support 61 and the inner surface 37 of the head 32 form an idler feed slot 66. The idler feed slot 66 facilitates the feeding of liquid from the inlet 22 to the idler roots 52 for more efficient pumping and reduces cavitation at high pumping speeds. Similarly, the liquid directing step 65 in combination with the lower wall 59, the casing 21 and the inner surface 37 of the head 32 form a rotor feed slot 67. The rotor feed slot 67 facilitates the channeling of liquid from the inlet 22 to the spaces 53 between the rotor teeth 29 at the bottom of the pump 20. Like the idler feed slot 66, the rotor feed slot 67 contributes to the ability of the pump 20 to operate at high speeds with reduced risk of cavitation. The crescent 55 extends outward away from the inner surface 37 of the head 32 into the pump chamber 31 before terminating at an outer crescent surface 55a. The reader will note that the outer crescent surface 55a is disposed farther into the pump chamber 31 than the crescent support surface 64a as best seen in FIG. 8.

(22) The idler feed slot 66 and rotor feed slot 67 are further illustrated in FIGS. 9-10. The idler feed slot 66 is separated from the rotor feed slot 67 by the liquid directing step 65, which is essentially an extension of the crescent support 64 or is a portion of the crescent support 64 that extends arcuately beyond the crescent 55 and towards the inlet 22. Segregating the incoming liquid into portions delivered to the idler feed slot 66 and the rotor feed slot 67 reduces turbulence and cavitation and enables the pump 20 to operate at higher speeds. Further, the liquid directing step 65, idler feed slot 66 and rotor feed slot 67 help eliminate non-ideal flow patterns, thereby allowing more liquid to enter the pump 20 before directing the liquid to either above the crescent 55 (or into the idler feed slot 66) or below the crescent 55 (or into the rotor feed slot 67).

(23) In the embodiment shown, the boss 38 creates the idler feed slot 66 and rotor feed slot 67 by supporting the idler 33 and the crescent 55 outward away from the inner surface 37 of the head 32. This gap or clearance between the inner surface 37 of the head 32 and both the idler 33 and rotor 28 creates the space necessary for the formation of the idler feed slot 66 and rotor feed slot 67. The additional space required for the formation of the idler feed slot 66 and rotor feed slot 67 accommodates a larger inlet 22 for increased pumping speeds.

(24) As shown in FIG. 11, the boss 38 includes an upper wall 58 that blocks fluid from flowing from the outlet 23 back to the inlet 22 and, instead, forces fluid to exit through the outlet 23. Further, the lower wall 59 forms part of the rotor feed slot 67 and forces liquid between the rotor teeth 29 before it exits through the outlet 23.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(25) An internal gear pump 20 enables faster operation with reduced risk of or simply reduced cavitation. The disclosed pump 20 can operate at higher speeds because of the combination of an idler feed slot 66 and a rotor feed slot 67 that is created by a head 32 and a boss 38. Depending on the size of the pump 20, the pump 20 can operate at up to 20-30% higher speeds than internal gear pumps with just idler feed slots, such as that disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,415, and the pump 20 can operate at up to twice the speed of internal gears pumps that predate U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,415. The boss 38 includes an idler support 61 that supports the idler 33 in the pump chamber 31 and spaced apart from the inner surface 37 of the head 32. Similarly, the crescent 55 is also supported away from the inner surface 37 by the boss 38 or, more specifically, by the crescent support 64 of the boss 38. The spacing between the idler 33, the crescent support 64, and the axial ends of the rotor teeth 29 provide the needed space to form the idler feed slot 66 and the rotor feed slot 67. Specifically, the idler support 61, the middle wall 63, the liquid directing step 65 and the inner surface 37 of the head 32 may define an idler feed slot 66. Further, the rotor feed slot 67 may be defined by the casing 21, the lower wall 59, the liquid directing step 65 and the inner surface 37 of the head 32. Thus, liquid entering through the inlet 22 is separated by the liquid directing step 65 into a portion that enters the idler feed slot 66 and another portion that enters the rotor feed slot 67. Dividing the incoming liquid in this way enables the pump 20 to operate at higher speeds, lower turbulence, and reduced risk of cavitation and/or reduced cavitation.

(26) While only certain embodiments have been set forth, alternative embodiments and various modifications will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are considered equivalents and within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.