Pump drive alignment apparatus and method

Abstract

A pump drive alignment apparatus and method includes a unitary adapter rigidly connecting a motor/gear box assembly to a pump assembly, providing alignment of the motor/gear box output shaft with the pump input shaft.

1 . An adapter for connecting a motor/gear box assembly to a pump assembly, the adapter comprising: 
 an adapter body comprising; 
 a first face having a counter bore that receives a nose projecting from the motor/drive assembly;  
 a second face having a registration feature that permits registration with the pump assembly; and  
 a bore extending from the front face to the second face through the adapter to permit a shaft to pass therethrough between the pump and the motor/gear box assembly.  
   
   
   
       2 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the registration feature comprises at least two mounting holes that each receive a shoulder screw threadable into the pump assembly.  
   
   
       3 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first face further comprises a flange having a plurality of bolt holes for accepting bolts that are threadable into the motor/gear box assembly.  
   
   
       4 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the second face further comprises additional bolt holes that receive bolts threadable into the pump assembly.  
   
   
       5 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base connected to the adapter body that supports the adapter body.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for pumping materials, comprising: 
 a motor/drive assembly having an output shaft;    a pump assembly having an input shaft matable with the motor/gear box assembly output shaft; and    an adapter rigidly coupled between the motor/drive assembly and the pump assembly and having a bore there through to permit at least one of the output shaft and the input shaft to pass therethrough.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to the previous  claim 6 , further comprising a base rigidly coupled to the adapter body that supports the adapter body.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the base is also rigidly coupled to the pump assembly.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the adapter is a unitary part.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter body further comprises: 
 a first face having a counter bore that receives a nose projecting from the motor/gear box assembly;    a second face having at least two mounting holes that each receive a shoulder screws threadable into the pump assembly; and    a bore extending from the front face to the second face through the adapter to permit a shaft to pass therethrough between the pump and the motor/gear box assembly.    
   
   
       11 . An adapter for connecting a motor/gear box assembly to a pump assembly, the adapter comprising: 
 a first face having means for receiving a nose projecting from the motor/gear box assembly;    a second face having means for providing registration with the pump assembly; and    means extending from the front face to the second face through the adapter for permitting a shaft to pass through from the pump to the motor/gear box assembly.    
   
   
       12 . An adapter according to  claim 11 , wherein the registration providing means comprises means for receiving shoulder screws threadable into the pump assembly.  
   
   
       13 . An adapter according to  claim 12 , further comprising supporting means connected to the adaptor body for supporting the adapter body.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for pumping materials, comprising: 
 driving means having an output shaft;    pumping means having an input shaft matable with the driving means output shaft; and    aligning means rigidly coupled between the driving means and the pumping means for aligning the driving means and the pumping means, and having a bore therethrough to permit at least one of the output shaft and the input shaft to pass therethrough.    
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising supporting means rigidly coupled to the aligning means for supporting the aligning means.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according  claim 14 , wherein the supporting means is also rigidly coupled to the pumping means.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the aligning means further comprises: 
 a first face having a counterbore that receives a nose projecting from the driving means;    a second face having at least two mounting holes that receive shoulder screws threadable into the pumping means; and    a bore extending from the front face to the second face through the aligning means to permit a shaft to pass through between the pumping means and the driving means.    
   
   
       18 . A method for connecting a motor/gear box assembly to a pump assembly comprising: 
 mounting an adapter body having a first face having a counterbore so that the counterbore receives a nose projecting from the motor/gear box assembly; and    mounting the adapter body a second face having at least two mounting holes so that the mounting holes receive shoulder screws threadable into the pump assembly.    
   
   
       19 . A method of  claim 18 , further comprising connecting a base to the adapter body that supports the adapter body.  
   
   
       20 . A method for pumping materials, comprising: 
 driving a pump assembly with a motor/gear box assembly; and    an adapter body coupling the motor/gear box assembly to the pump assembly using having a bore there through to permit at least one of the output shaft and the input shaft to pass therethrough.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the adapter body is a unitary part.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising supporting the adapter body with a base rigidly coupled to the adapter body.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the base is also rigidly coupled to the pump assembly.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the adapter body further comprises: 
 a first face having a counterbore that receives a nose projecting from the motor/gear box assembly;    a second face having at least two mounting holes that receive shoulder screws threadable into the pump assembly; and    a bore extending from the front face to the second face through the adapter to permit a shaft to pass therethrough between the pump and the motor/gear box assembly.