Moineau pump with rotating outer member

Abstract

A pump composed of a gear pair made up of an inner member having at least one external helical thread, and an outer member having internal helical threads, there being one more internal helical thread in the outer member than the number of threads on the inner member. The inner member is free to gyrate but prevented from rotation, and the outer member rotates on its true axis. The outer member is fixed in a tubular casing having at least one aperture for fluid being pumped, and this member extends beyond the gear pair and constitutes a drive shaft for the pump. The tubular casing is disposed in a housing and is arranged for rotation in the housing on suitable bearings and suitable seals. The housing has a port at each end of said gear pair, so that the direction of pumping may be reversed by reversing the direction of rotation of said drive shaft.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A pump constituted of a gear pair made up of an inner member having at least one external helical thread, and an outer member having internal helical threads, there being one more internal helical thread in the outer member than the number of external helical threads on the inner member, a radial arm non-rotatably secured at one of its ends to said inner member, and fixed means limiting the other end of said radial arm to reciprocatory and oscillatory motion, said outer member being free to rotate on its true axis, said outer member being fixed in a tubular casing extending beyond said inner and outer members and constituting a drive shaft, said casing having at least one aperture for the passage of fluid being pumped, and being disposed within a housing, said casing being supported for rotation within said housing in bearings, said housing having a port at each end of said gear pair, whereby the direction of pumping may be reversed by reversing the direction of rotation of said drive shaft. 
     
     
       2. A pump according to claim 1 wherein an additional radial arm is secured at one of its ends to said inner member substantially at right angles to said first mentioned radial arm for limited oscillatory movement with respect to said first arm, and fixed means for the other end of said additional radial arm limiting said other end to oscillatory and reciprocatory movement. 
     
     
       3. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the fluid being pumped does not have lubricity, and said bearings are marine type bearings provided with floating seals, and wherein there is a duct connecting the pressure side of said gear pair with the marine bearing on the suction side of said gear pair, said duct including an adjustable valve. 
     
     
       4. A uni-directional pump according to claim 1, wherein the fluid being pumped has lubricity, and wherein one of said bearings is on the pressure side of the gear pair and the other of said bearings is on the suction side of said gear pair, and wherein the bearing on said pressure side is a ball bearing including a mechanical seal, and the bearing on said suction side is a marine type bearing provided with a floating seal, and wherein there is a duct connecting the pressure side of said gear pair with the marine bearing on the suction side of said gear pair, said duct including an adjustable valve. .Iadd.5. An apparatus comprising a gear pair made up of an inner member having at least one external helical thread, and an outer member having internal helical threads, there being one more internal helical thread in the outer member than the number of external helical threads on the inner member, whereby rotation of one of said members with respect to the other involves gyration of one of said members; (a) a radial arm secured at one of its ends to said inner member and having a piston element at its other end,   (b) a radial cylinder fixed with respect to one of said members and cooperating with said piston, said radial arm, piston and cylinder limiting the relative motion of said inner member with respect to said outer member to gyratory motion. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. An apparatus comprising a gear pair made up of an inner member having at least one external helical thread, and an outer member having internal helical threads, there being one more internal helical thread in the outer member than the number of external helical threads on the inner member, a radial arm non-rotatably secured at one of its ends to said inner member, said radial arm having a piston element on its other end, means for limiting said inner member to reciprocatory and oscillatory motion relative to said outer member, said limiting means including a radially inwardly opening cylinder receiving said piston element for oscillation and reciprocation, and means for connecting said outer member and said limiting means for relative rotation. .Iaddend.