Sprocket gerotor pump

Abstract

A sprocket gerotor pump includes an outer gerotor gear configured to rotate about a first axis. The outer gerotor gear includes an outer gear body including a plurality of internal gear teeth extending from the outer gear body toward the first axis. The sprocket gerotor pump includes an inner gerotor gear configured to rotate about a second axis. The inner gerotor gear includes an inner gear body and a plurality of external gear teeth extending from the inner gerotor gear away from the second axis. The external gear teeth mesh with the internal gear teeth. Rotating the outer gerotor gear causes rotation of the inner gerotor gear. The sprocket gerotor pump further includes a sprocket integrally coupled with the outer gerotor gear such that the sprocket and the outer gerotor gear collectively form a one-piece structure. The sprocket is driven by a chain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sprocket gerotor pump, comprising:
 an outer gerotor gear configured to rotate about a first axis, wherein the outer gerotor gear includes an outer gear body including a plurality of internal gear teeth extending from the outer gear body toward the first axis;   an inner gerotor gear configured to rotate about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced apart from the first axis, the inner gerotor gear includes an inner gear body and a plurality of external gear teeth extending from the inner gear body away from the second axis, and the plurality of external gear teeth meshes with the plurality of the internal gear teeth such that rotation of the outer gerotor gear causes rotation of the inner gerotor gear; and   a sprocket integrally coupled with the outer gerotor gear such that the sprocket and the outer gerotor gear collectively form a one-piece structure.   
     
     
         2 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 1 , wherein the sprocket includes a ring and a plurality of external sprocket teeth extending from the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 2 , wherein the ring is directly coupled to the outer gear body, the first axis is parallel to the second axis, and each of the plurality of external sprocket teeth is directly coupled to the ring. 
     
     
         4 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of internal gear teeth defines an inner cavity, the inner cavity is sized to receive the inner gerotor gear, and the inner gerotor gear is entirely disposed inside the inner cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 4 , further comprising a housing partially encasing the outer gerotor gear. 
     
     
         6 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 5 , further comprising a cover partially encasing the outer gerotor gear. 
     
     
         7 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 6 , wherein the housing and the cover collectively define an annular gap therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 7 , wherein the annular gap is sized to receive the plurality of external sprocket teeth. 
     
     
         9 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 8 , further comprising a chain meshed with the plurality of external sprocket teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The sprocket gerotor pump of  claim 9 , wherein the annular gap receives the plurality of external sprocket teeth and a portion of the chain. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle system, comprising:
 an engine block;   a sprocket gerotor pump supported by the engine block, wherein the sprocket gerotor pump includes:
 an outer gerotor gear configured to rotate about a first axis, wherein the outer gerotor gear includes an outer gear body including a plurality of internal gear teeth extending from the outer gear body toward the first axis; 
 an inner gerotor gear configured to rotate about a second axis, wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis, the second axis is spaced apart from the first axis, the inner gerotor gear includes an inner gear body and a plurality of external gear teeth extending from the inner gear body away from the second axis, and the plurality of external gear teeth meshes with the plurality of the internal gear teeth such that rotation of the outer gerotor gear causes rotation of the inner gerotor gear, the plurality of internal gear teeth defines an inner cavity, the inner cavity is sized to receive the inner gerotor gear, and the inner gerotor gear is entirely disposed inside the inner cavity; and 
 a sprocket integrally coupled with the outer gerotor gear such that the sprocket and the outer gerotor gear collectively form a one-piece structure. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle system of  claim 11 , wherein the sprocket includes a ring and a plurality of external sprocket teeth extending from the ring. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle system of  claim 12 , wherein the ring is directly coupled to the outer gear body, the first axis is parallel to the second axis, and each of the plurality of external sprocket teeth is directly coupled to the ring. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of internal gear teeth defines an inner cavity, the inner cavity is sized to receive the inner gerotor gear, and the inner gerotor gear is entirely disposed inside the inner cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle system of  claim 14 , further comprising a housing partially encasing the outer gerotor gear. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle system of  claim 15 , further comprising a cover partially encasing the outer gerotor gear. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle system of  claim 16 , wherein the housing and the cover collectively define an annular gap therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle system of  claim 17 , wherein the annular gap is sized to receive the plurality of external sprocket teeth. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle system of  claim 18 , further comprising a chain meshed with the plurality of external sprocket teeth, the annular gap receives the plurality of external sprocket teeth and a portion of the chain. 
     
     
         20 . A vehicle system, comprising:
 an internal combustion engine including an engine block; and   a sprocket gerotor pump supported by the engine block, wherein the engine block is in direct contact with the sprocket gerotor pump and includes:
 an outer gerotor gear configured to rotate about a first axis, wherein the outer gerotor gear includes an outer gear body including a plurality of internal gear teeth extending from the outer gear body toward the first axis; 
 an inner gerotor gear configured to rotate about a second axis, wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis, the second axis is spaced apart from the first axis, the inner gerotor gear includes an inner gear body and a plurality of external gear teeth extending from the inner gear body away from the second axis, and the plurality of external gear teeth meshes with the plurality of the internal gear teeth such that rotation of the outer gerotor gear causes rotation of the inner gerotor gear; 
 a sprocket integrally coupled with the outer gerotor gear such that the sprocket and the outer gerotor gear collectively form a one-piece structure, wherein the sprocket includes a ring and a plurality of external sprocket teeth extending from the ring, the ring is directly coupled to the outer gear body, and each of the plurality of external sprocket teeth is directly coupled to the ring, each of the plurality of external sprocket teeth extend away from the first axis;
 a housing partially encasing the outer gerotor gear; 
 a cover partially encasing the outer gerotor gear, wherein the housing and the cover collectively define an annular gap therebetween; and 
 a chain meshed with the plurality of external sprocket teeth, wherein the annular gap solely receives the plurality of external sprocket teeth and a portion of the chain.