Patent ID: 6183231
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: F04C

Abstract:
A gear pump comprising:a housing means for defining an internal cavity with a flow entrance and a flow exit communicating with the internal cavity;a first shaft, having a central portion and an outer surface;a first pump gear mounted on the central portion of the first shaft;a pair of first gear seals carried by the first pump gear and spaced from the outer surface of the first shaft with voids between the first gear seals and the outer surface of the first shaft;a second shaft, having a central portion and an outer surface;a second pump gear mounted on the central portion of the second shaft;a second pair of gear seals carried by the second pump gear and spaced from the outer surface of the second shaft with voids between the second gear seals and the outer surface of the second shaft;rolling element bearings carried by the housing means so as to be spaced from the first and the second gear seals and so as to mount the first and the second shafts to the housing in intermeshing rotation with one another;said first and second shafts each carrying a pair of springs, disposed on either side of said first and said second pump gears, respectively, to bias said pump gears in alignment with one another at a desired axial position with respect to said housing means;first and second housing seals carried by the housing means for mating engagement with the first and the second gear seals, respectively with the first and second housing seals located axially outwardly of the first and second gear seals, respectively; andthe first and the second housing seals spaced from the first and the second shafts, respectively.