Bearing for Pump

Abstract

A bearing assembly with a first bearing component movable towards gears to provide sealing and a second bearing component transferring radial load to the housing and preventing radial load from being applied through first bearing component. The first bearing component and the second bearing component defining portions of the second set of through-openings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump comprising:
 a housing defining a gear chamber, the housing defining an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the gear chamber;   a gear arrangement disposed within the gear chamber configured to drive fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the gear arrangement including at least two gears rotatable about corresponding axes of rotation, each of the two gears defining first and second axial gear faces that face in opposite axial directions;   journals coupled to the two gears and aligned along the axes of the two gears;   a first bearing structure including an inboard end that opposes the first axial gear face of the two gears, the first bearing structure defining a first set of through-openings for radially supporting the journals relative to the housing such that the journals are rotatable about the axes of rotation relative to the housing;   a second bearing structure including an inboard end that opposes the second axial gear face of the two gears, the second bearing structure defining a second set of through-openings for radially supporting the journals relative to the housing such that the journals are rotatable about the axes of rotation relative to the housing, the second bearing structure also defining an outboard end; and   the second bearing structure comprising a first bearing component defining the inboard end and a second bearing component defining the outboard end, the first bearing component being axially movable relative to the second bearing component and being configured for directing a first axial force toward the second axial gear face of the two gears, the second bearing component being configured to transfer radial load from the two gears to the housing and for preventing radially load from being applied through the first bearing component, the first bearing component and the second bearing component each defining portions of the second set of through-openings.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein fluid pressure from the outlet is used to force the first bearing component in an inboard direction away from the second bearing component and towards the two gears. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein springs are used to bias the first bearing component in an inboard direction away from the second bearing component and towards the two gears. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein fluid pressure from the outlet and springs are used to force the first bearing component in the inboard direction away from the second bearing component and towards the two gears. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the second bearing component defines a flange with a plurality of openings, the flange abutting the first bearing component, the plurality of openings allowing springs and/or fluid pressures to direct the first bearing component in an inboard direction towards the two gears. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the second bearing component may have an outer groove defined partially by the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein the outer groove is in fluid communication with the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 1 , a second axial bearing face of the first bearing component includes an inlet region in fluid communication with the inlet and an outlet region in fluid communication with the outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , the second axial bearing face further includes a circumferential groove around the second axial bearing face and joining with the outlet region. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet region and the outlet region may be separated by a divider. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first bearing component may define a first half and a second half, wherein each half includes one through-opening of the second set of through-openings. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first bearing component may be a two-piece configuration wherein each of the first and second half may be separate pieces joined together. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein axial movement of the first bearing structure is fixed. 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein axial movement of the second bearing component is fixed. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein axial movement of the second bearing component is fixed, and axial movement of the first bearing structure is fixed. 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the first bearing component includes an intermediate portion between the first half and second half, which nests between the portions of the second set of through-openings defined by the second bearing component. 
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate portion includes a first inner circumferential surface, a second inner circumferential surface, and a third inner circumferential surface. 
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 17 , wherein the first, second and third inner circumferential surfaces nests between the first and second halves at corresponding surfaces of the second bearing component. 
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first bearing component is configured to apply an axial sealing force toward the second axial gear faces for causing the first and second axial gear faces to be pressed axially between the first and second axial bearing faces of the first and second bearing structures. 
     
     
         20 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein when an axial sealing force is applied, a layer of pressurized fluid exists between second axial gear faces and the second axial bearing face and the axial sealing force pressurizes the fluid and maintains a minimal gap between the second axial gear face, and the second axial bearing face.