Patent ID: 8430657

Claim:
A pump having a modular shaft, bearing and seal design that can be removed while the pump remains in a mounted operating position, the pump comprising: a pump housing including a case, first and second endplates, and first and second bearing housings, the first and second endplates being attached to the case on opposite ends thereof and forming an internal cavity for enclosing a gear, the first and second endplates each having a channel and a plurality of endplate bores adjacent the channel, the channel of the first endplate in axial alignment with the channel of the second endplate, the first and second bearing housings each having an open end defining a bearing bore and an aperture adjacent the bearing bore and in alignment with one of the endplate bores, the first bearing housing attached to the first endplate via a fastener extending through the first bearing housing aperture and coupling with the first endplate bore, the second bearing housing attached to the second endplate via a fastener extending through the second bearing housing aperture and coupling with the second endplate bore; a drive shaft extending through the channels of the first and second endplates and into the first and second bearing housings, the drive shaft having a clearance fit within the gear, the drive shaft including a key extending outwards into abutment with the gear to drive the gear; and first and second bushings located about the drive shaft, the first bushing located between the drive shaft and the channel of the first endplate, the second bushing located between the drive shaft and the channel of the second endplate, wherein detachment of one of the first and second bearing housings from the respective endplate while the endplate remains attached to the case enables removal of the bushing adjacent the detached bearing housing.