Gear pumps and methods for using gear pumps

Abstract

Gear pumps and methods of using the gear pumps are provided. In general embodiments, the pumps comprise a gear housing defining a passage and having an inlet and an outlet and one or more gears contained within the gear housing. The gears can comprise corresponding bearings that are movably engaged with the gear. The bearings are separated from the passage of the gear housing by one or more seals. The bearings can be contained within a bearing housing attached to the gear housing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT / US2009 / 002071 filed Apr. 2, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 123,545 filed Apr. 9, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referenceBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to pumps and particularly to gear pumps and methods of using the gear pumps.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]When compared to conventional pumps (e.g. centrifugal, rotary lobe, piston, diagram and screw pumps), gear pumps can function at higher operating pressures (>600 psi) and have the advantage of improved flow stability over a wide pressure range. Gear pumps are typically used in applications that require high pressure pumping of viscous materials. Gear pumps are also used in processes that have a varying range of flowable material viscosity such as a recirculation...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]An advantage of the invention is to provide an improved gear pump. Another advantage of the invention is to provide a gear pump in which the bearings of the pump do not come into contact with the product stream. Yet another advantage of the invention is to provide a pump that has improved sanitary conditions when used. Still another advantage of the invention is to provide an improved pump that can withstand high pumping pressures. Yet another advantage of the invention is to provide an improved pump that can withstand high pumping temperatures. Another advantage of the invention is to provide an improved method for pumping a viscous material.

Problems solved by technology

Although this allows for lubrication, it does have two major disadvantages: (1) bearings can be susceptible to wear, particularly when the product being pumped contains hard or abrasive particles, and (2) the pumps are difficult to clean.

These disadvantages become more apparent if the materials being pumped contain solids that are abrasive and / or materials that require sanitary equipment design (e.g. food or pharmaceutical products).

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