Drive system for fluid flow device

Abstract

A drive system for a fluid flow device including a transmission member (e.g., a drive belt or the like) coupled to a drive motor and a fluid flow device such that the transmission member can be readily loosened without the use of extra tooling such as lifting jacks, sliding plates, or other lifting devices. In some embodiments, a drive belt may be removed from the fluid flow system by shifting the position of the drive motor relative to the fluid flow device through application of manual force from a user's hand. The drive system includes a drive motor mounted on a mounting platform that is pivotably coupled about a longitudinal axis to a base. At least a portion of the drive motor is disposed above the longitudinal axis of the mounting platform.

1 . A drive system for a fluid flow device, comprising: 
 a drive motor pivotably coupled to a base about a first longitudinal axis, the drive motor having an output member that is rotatable about a second axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis, wherein at least a portion of the drive motor is disposed vertically above or below the first longitudinal axis;    a fluid flow device coupled to the base, the fluid flow device having an input member; and    a transmission member to engage with the output member and the input member to transmit rotational power from the drive motor to the fluid flow device.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the drive motor is in a first operative position relative to the base, the transmission member is under tension and engaged with output member and the input member.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein when the drive motor is in a second operative position relative to the base, tension in the transmission member is reduced such that the transmission member is disengagable from at least one of the output member or input member.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the drive motor is pivoted about the first longitudinal axis toward the fluid flow device when in the second operative position.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is pivotably coupled to the base about the first axis such that the drive motor is pivotably movable from a first operative position to a second operative position by application of manual force from a user.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is disengagable from at least one of the output member or input member by application of manual force from a user to pivot the drive motor about the first longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor weighs at least 85 lbs and is pivotably coupled about the first longitudinal axis such that the drive motor is movable relative to the fluid flow device by application of manual force from a user's hand without aid from a separate lifting device.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety mechanism to limit the drive motor's pivoting movement about the first axis, wherein the safety mechanism includes at least one stopper that prevents the drive motor from pivoting more than 20 degrees from vertical.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a self-tensioning apparatus to apply a bias force to a component of the system such that a moment is created about the first longitudinal axis to urge the drive motor to pivot away from the fluid flow device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first mounting platform pivotably coupled to the base about the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive motor is mounted to the first mounting platform.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second mounting platform pivotably coupled to the base about the longitudinal axis, the second mounting platform being adjustable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first mounting platform, wherein the drive motor is mounted on the first and second mounting platforms.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is an electric NEMA frame motor.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow device is selected from the group consisting of rotary blowers, vacuum pumps, and centrifugal flow control units.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is selected from a group consisting of belts, chains, and cables.  
     
     
         15 . A drive system for a fluid flow device comprising: 
 a drive motor disposed on a mounting platform,    said mounting platform pivotably coupled about a longitudinal axis to a base,    said drive motor having an output member that is rotatable about a second axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first longitudinal axis, 
 wherein at least a portion of the drive motor is disposed vertically above the first longitudinal axis of the mounting platform;  
   a fluid flow device coupled to the base, the fluid flow device having an input member; and    a transmission member to engage with the output member of the drive motor and the input member of the fluid flow device to transmit rotational power from the drive motor to the fluid flow device.    
     
     
         16 . The drive system of  claim 15 , wherein the drive motor is positioned on the mounting platform such that a center of mass of the drive motor is disposed a distance of less than half the width of the drive motor apart from a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the mounting platform.  
     
     
         17 . The drive system of  claim 15 , wherein a center of mass of the drive motor is positioned substantially above the longitudinal axis of the mounting platform.  
     
     
         18 . The drive system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second mounting platform pivotably coupled about the longitudinal axis to the base, the second mounting platform being adjustable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first mounting platform; wherein the drive motor is disposed on the first and second mounting platforms.  
     
     
         19 . A method for replacing a drive belt for a drive system of a fluid flow device, said method comprising: 
 reducing tension in a drive belt by pivoting a drive motor about a first longitudinal axis toward a fluid flow device, the first longitudinal axis and at least a portion of the drive motor being disposed vertically above or below the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive motor has an output member that is rotatable about a second axis that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis, and wherein the drive belt is engaged with the output portion of the drive motor and an input portion of the fluid flow device; and    removing the drive belt from at least one of the output portion of the drive motor and the input portion of the fluid flow device.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein reducing tension in the drive belt comprises applying manual force from a user's hand to pivot the drive motor about the first longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the drive motor weighs at least 85 lbs and is pivotably coupled about the first axis such that the drive motor is movable relative to the fluid flow device by application of manual force from the user's hand without aid from a lifting device.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising engaging a replacement drive belt with the output portion of the drive motor and the input portion of the fluid flow device.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising increasing tension in the replacement drive belt by pivoting the drive motor about a first longitudinal axis away from the fluid flow device.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising arranging a self-tensioning apparatus to apply a bias force such that a moment about the first longitudinal axis is created to urge the drive motor to pivot about the first longitudinal axis away from the fluid flow device.