Gear pump having grooved mounting adapter

Abstract

A mounting adapter is disclosed for use with a gear pump. The mounting adapter may have a generally plate-like base member, and inlet and outlet ports both formed in the base member. The mounting adapter may also have a first bearing bore formed in the base member between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to receive a first gear shaft, and a first bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port. The first bleed groove may be generally concentric with the first bearing bore. The mounting adapter may further have a second bearing bore formed in the base member between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to receive a second gear shaft, and a second bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port. The second bleed groove may be generally concentric with the second bearing bore.

1 . A mounting adapter for a gear pump, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical base member;   a substantially plate-like mounting flange connected to one end of the base member;   an inlet port formed in the base member;   an outlet port formed in the base member;   a first bearing bore formed in the base member between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to receive a first gear shaft;   a first bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port, the first bleed groove being substantially concentric with the first bearing bore;   a second bearing bore formed in the base member between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to receive a second gear shaft; and   a second bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port, the second bleed groove being substantially concentric with the second bearing bore.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bleed grooves each have a substantially constant cross-section along their lengths. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second bleed grooves have substantially square cross-sections and an arc length of about 70-75°. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting adapter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inlet port has a substantially round opening;   the outlet port has a substantially elliptical opening; and   the outlet port is located closer to the first and second bearing bores than the inlet port.   
     
     
         5 . The mounting adapter of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet port is located at least partially between the first and second bearing bores. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting adapter of  claim 1 , further including:
 a plurality of threaded blind holes located in the base member; and   at least one hollow alignment dowel disposed within at least one of the plurality of threaded blind holes.   
     
     
         7 . The mounting adapter of  claim 1 , further including first and second bearing drain passages extending from the first and second bearing bores to the inlet port. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting flange includes a plurality of ear tabs configured to connect the mounting adapter to a power source. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a stepped outer bore configured to receive an o-ring seal. 
     
     
         10 . A gear pump, comprising:
 a housing body forming a first gear chamber and a second gear chamber;   a first shaft disposed within the first gear chamber;   a first gear supported by the first shaft;   a second shaft disposed within the second gear chamber;   a second gear supported by the second shaft and configured to mesh with the first gear;   an mounting adapter removably connected to an end of the housing body to at least partially enclose the first shaft, the first gear, the second shaft, and the second gear, the mounting adapter including:
 a substantially cylindrical base member; 
 an inlet port formed in the base member at one side of the first and second gears; 
 an outlet port formed in the base member at an opposing side of the first and second gears; 
 a first bearing bore formed in the base member between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to receive the first shaft; 
 a first bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port, the first bleed groove being substantially concentric with the first bearing bore; 
 a second bearing bore formed in the base member between the inlet port and the outlet port and configured to receive the second shaft; and 
 a second bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port, the second bleed groove being substantially concentric with the second bearing bore; and 
 a seal disposed at an interface of the housing body and the mounting adapter. 
   
     
     
         11 . The gear pump of  claim 10 , further including:
 a third gear supported by the first shaft;   a fourth gear supported by the second shaft and configured to mesh with the third gear; and   a common inlet chamber in fluid communication with the first, second, third, and fourth gears.   
     
     
         12 . The gear pump of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second gears are configured to discharge fluid at a pressure that is about three times greater than a pressurized fluid being discharged by the third and fourth gears. 
     
     
         13 . The gear pump of  claim 10 , wherein an arc length of the first and second bleed grooves is about equal to a distance between three consecutive gear teeth at a pitch line of the first and second gears. 
     
     
         14 . The gear pump of  claim 13 , wherein the arc length is about equal to 70-75°. 
     
     
         15 . The gear pump of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second bleed grooves are in fluid communication with the outlet port at one end. 
     
     
         16 . The gear pump of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second bleed grooves are located at the pitch line of the first and second gears. 
     
     
         17 . The gear pump of  claim 10 , wherein a pressure-to-area ratio of the first and second bleed grooves is about 0.04 N/mm 4 . 
     
     
         18 . The gear pump of  claim 10 , wherein a length-to-tooth ratio of the first and second bleed grooves is about 9.1°/# teeth. 
     
     
         19 . The gear pump of  claim 10 , wherein a contamination-to-depth ratio of the first and second bleed grooves is about 1.45 μ/mm. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A mounting adapter for a gear pump, comprising:
 a base member;   a mounting flange integrally connected to one end of the base member;   an inlet port formed in the base member;   an outlet port formed in the base member;   a first bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port, the first bleed groove being substantially concentric with the first bearing bore; and   a second bleed groove formed in the base member adjacent the outlet port, the second bleed groove being substantially concentric with the second bearing bore; and   a plurality of holes formed within an axial end surface of the base member, each hole of the plurality of holes configured to receive a fastener.