Patent Application
20050254970
The present disclosure relates to multiple pump assembly and more particularly to a multiple pump assembly having a quick connect coupling and drive arrangement for connecting pumps together.
Pump units connected to one another and driven by one power source are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,843 issued to Holder et al. on Jan. 6, 2004, relates to a dual pump apparatus comprising dual drive shafts and an auxiliary pump. A dual pump apparatus is disclosed for use on a vehicle or industrial application having a housing in which a pair of hydraulic pumps is mounted. The apparatus includes at least one charge pump mounted on an end cap with trunnion arms for controlling the hydraulic pumps that extend out of opposite sides of the housing. A cooling fan may be mounted on the primary or secondary input shaft on the opposite side of a pulley that is used to engage the prime mover. An auxiliary pump may also be mounted on the primary input shaft and may be located either at the input end adjacent to the pulley or on the opposite side of the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,282 issued to Wanschura on Mar. 26, 2002, relates to a dual pump unit. The Wanschura patent discloses a dual pump unit having two hydraulic pumps with coaxially mounted drive shafts that are coupled to each other. The coupling member surrounds a connecting member, wherein high pressure lines and low pressure lines are formed. The connecting member extends between two control bodies that are respectively associated with one hydraulic pump and which are used to create a cyclic connection between the cylinders of the hydraulic pumps and the high pressure lines and low pressure lines. The connecting member requires two connector plates defining one of the hydraulic pumps respectively on the control bodies and an individually formed interchangeable intermediate element arranged between the connector plates. The connector plates each have a recess into which the intermediate element can be respectively inserted so that the connector plates can radially encompass the intermediate element and the intermediate element can be fixed between the connector plates.
The prior art of Holder et al. and Wanschura disclose pump connections that are complex. A more robust and less complex pump to pump coupling system is contemplated by the present invention.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for pumping fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a first pump defined by a first housing having a first rotating primary shaft attached to a first gear set positioned internal to the first housing. A second pump defined by a second housing includes a second rotating primary shaft attached to a second gear set. The first and second housings can be connected to one another. A shaft quick connect mechanism is provided to couple the first and second primary shafts to one another such that when the first primary shaft rotates, the second primary shaft is driven in a like manner.
In an illustrative embodiment, the shaft quick connect mechanism includes a tang receiving slot formed in the first primary shaft and a tang formed in the second primary shaft. The tang of the second primary shaft can be slidingly engaged with the tang receiving slot of the first primary shaft causing the shafts to lockingly engage one another.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a pumping apparatus including a plurality of pump housings coupled to one another is provided. A primary shaft having first and second ends is positioned internal to each housing. A gear set is positioned in each housing and is driven by a corresponding primary shaft. A shaft quick connect mechanism is provided for coupling the primary shafts of each pump to one another. The shaft quick connect mechanism includes a tang formed in the first end of each primary shaft and a tang receiving slot formed in the second end of each primary shaft. The tang in one primary shaft is slidingly engageable with a tang receiving slot in an adjacent primary shaft.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method for pumping a plurality of discreet fluids with a pumping apparatus having a plurality of pump units connected together is provided. The method includes positioning a primary shaft having a quick connect mechanism for coupling the primary shafts of each pump unit to one another. A power source is connected to one drive shaft for driving the plurality of pump units together and pumping the discreet fluids from one location to another.
Other applications of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Referring now to
At least one alignment sleeve 36 can extend between the forward bracket 28 and the pump head 30 to align the housings 12, 14 with one another to ensure proper dimensional alignment during the assembly process. The first primary shaft 16a in the first pump housing 12 is coupled to the second primary shaft 16b in the second housing 14 with a quick connect mechanism 40. The quick connect mechanism 40 can include a tang 42 extending from the second primary shaft 16b and a tang receiving slot 44 formed in the first primary shaft 16a. The tang 42 of the second primary shaft 16b is operable for slidingly engaging with the tang receiving slot 44 of the first primary shaft 16a. The quick connect mechanism 40 ensures a positively coupled connection such that when the primary shaft 16a is driven by a power source (not shown), the second primary shaft 16b is driven in like manner.
The first and second pump housings 12, 14 are coupled by sliding the protruding annular hub 20 of the second housing 14 into a bore 21 formed in the first housing 12. The primary shafts 16a, 16b are coupled to one another after the tang 42 and slot 44 are aligned and the housings 12, 14 are pressed together such that the annular hub 20 is inserted into the bore 21 of the first housing 12.
The first primary shaft 16a includes a first primary gear 46a positioned on the outer diameter of the shaft 16a. The second primary shaft 16b includes a second primary gear 46b positioned on the outer diameter of the shaft 16b. The primary gears 46a, 46b are coupled to secondary gears 48a and 48b, respectively. The secondary gears 48a and 48b are driven by the primary gears 46a and 46b, respectively. The secondary gears 48a and 48b are connected to secondary shaft 50a and 50b, respectively. The secondary gears 48a, 48b rotate with the secondary shafts 50a, 50b when the primary gears 46a and 46b are rotated.
A pair of journal bearings, 52a and 52b, are positioned in the forward bracket 28 and the pump head 30, respectively. It should be understood to those skilled in the art that other types of bearings could be used such as roller bearings or ball bearings and the like. The primary shafts 16a, 16b are rotatingly supported by journal bearings 52a, 52b. A pair of lip seals 54a and 54b are positioned in the first pump housing 12 to prevent fluid from escaping along the interface between the shaft 16a and the housing 12. A pair of retaining rings 56a and 56b prevents the lip seals 54a, 56a from inadvertently disengaging from the housing 12. The second pump housing 14 includes a lip seal 58 positioned around the second primary shaft 16b. A retaining ring 60 engages the second pump housing 14 to prevent the lip seal 58 from inadvertently disengaging from the pump housing 14. An O-ring 62 is positioned at the interface between the forward bracket 28 and the head 30 of each pump housing 12, 14. The O-ring 62 prevents fluids from escaping at the interface of the forward bracket 28 and the pump head 30.
Drive ball elements 63 (best seen in
Referring now to
In operation, the first pump housing 12 is connected to a first fluid source (not shown), and the second pump housing 14 is connected to a second fluid source (not shown). The gear sets 46a, 48a, and 46b, 48b draw fluid from fluid sources (not shown) through the inlet ports 18 of the first and second pump housings 12, 14 and pump the fluid out through the outlet ports (not shown). The inlet ports 18 and outlet ports can be connected to the fluid sources via conduits such as flexible tubing as desired. A power source such as an electric motor (not shown) is coupled with and drives the first primary shaft 16a of the first pump housing 12. The first primary gear 46a rotates with the first primary shaft 16a and drives the secondary gear 48a disposed on the secondary rotating shaft 50a. The rotation of the first gear set 46a, 48a causes fluid to be pumped from a first fluid source. The primary shaft 16a of the first pump housing 12 is coupled to the primary shaft 16b of the second pump housing 14. The primary shaft 16a and 16b are coupled to one another with a quick connect coupling mechanism 40 wherein the tang 42 of the second primary shaft 16b engages with a slot 44 formed in the first primary shaft 16a causing the second primary shaft 16b to be driven by the first primary shaft 16a. The second primary shaft 16b drives the second primary gear 46b which in turn meshes with and drives the secondary gear 48b. The rotation of the second gear set 46b, 48b causes fluid to be pumped from a second fluid source.
While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
