Timed element, high pressure, industrial rotary lobe pump

• US 6,095,781 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viking Pump, Inc. (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Viking Pump, Inc. (RELX PLC)
• Inventors: Crawford, Michael Robert, Iehl, Victor Christian, Petersen, John Edwin, Mayer, James Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Vrablik, John J.
• Application Number:
  US08/927,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 418/206.7, 418/107, 418/206.4, 418/206.1, 418/206.6, 29/888.023
• US Class Current: 418/107
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 21/02 Arrangements of bearings bearing constructions F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 15/0042 Systems for the equilibration of forces acting on the machines or pump interstice adjustment other than by fluid pressure F01C21/102
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/086 Carter
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/123 with radially or approximately radially from the rotor body extending tooth-like elements, co-operating with recesses in the other rotor, e.g. one tooth
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49242 Screw or gear type, e.g., Moineau type

Abstract

A dual shaft, timed element high pressure industrial rotary lobe pump is provided. Lubricated sleeve bearings are located adjacent to the pumping elements. If the sleeve bearings are disposed on both opposing sides of the pumping elements, the lobe pump of the present invention can be operated at pressures as high as 400 psi. If sleeve bearings are disposed on one side of the pumping elements, the lobe pump can be operated at pressures up to 200 psi. Threaded thrust bearing cartridges enable fast and efficient positioning of the pumping elements during assembly without the use of shims. Recessed areas disposed in the head plate and in the casing bore provide improved loading and unloading of the pumping elements for high speed operation with reduced pressure pulsations and reduced noise. Access to the mechanical seals is simplified due to the easy removal of the timing gear box. The pump is also designed to accept standard mechanical seals as opposed to custom designed mechanical seals.

Claims

1. A high pressure rotary lobe pump comprising:

a driver shaft that passes through and is connected to a first timing gear, the driver shaft further passing through and being connected to a first lobe gear, the first lobe gear being disposed inside a casing,

a driven shaft that passes through and is connected to a second timing gear, the driven shaft further passing through and being connected to a second lobe gear, the second lobe gear being disposed inside the casing,

the casing further comprising an open distal end that is connected to a head plate and a proximal end that is connected to an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port being disposed diametrically opposite the casing from the outlet port, the driver shaft and driven shaft each comprising a distal end that engages the head plate, the head plate comprising two receiving apertures for receiving the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the head plate further being disposed adjacent to the first and second lobe gears, the lobe gears being disposed between the head plate and the inlet and outlet ports, the head plate comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the recesses providing clearance between distal ends of the lobe gears and the head plate at the recesses, the recesses for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears.

2. The pump of claim 1 wherein the casing further comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the lobe gears from the head plate, the recesses in the casing being in alignment with the recesses in the head plate, the recesses in the casing for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears.

3. The pump of claim 1 wherein the driver shaft also passes through and is connected to a first thrust bearing assembly, the first thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the first lobe gear and the first timing gear, the first thrust bearing assembly comprising a first bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driver shaft and the first bearing cartridge, the first thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to a bearing housing that is connected to the casing whereby rotation of the first thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driver shaft and the first lobe gear within the casing, and

the driven shaft also passing through and being connected to a second thrust bearing assembly, the second thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the second lobe gear and the second timing gear, the second thrust bearing assembly comprising a second bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driven shaft and the second bearing cartridge, the second thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to the bearing housing whereby rotation of the second thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driven shaft and the second lobe gear within the casing.

4. The pump of claim 3 further comprising first and second seal assemblies disposed around the driver and driven shafts respectively and between the casing and the bearing housing, and

wherein the driver and driven shafts each comprise proximal ends and wherein the bearing housing is connected to a gear case cover that encloses the first and second timing gears and the proximal end of the driven shaft, the proximal end of the driver shaft passing through the gear case cover,

the gear case cover being removable from the bearing housing without any disconnection of the first and second timing gears from the driver and driven shafts respectively, the first and second timing gears being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the gear case cover, the first and second thrust bearing assemblies being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the first and second timing gears, the bearing housing being removable from the casing after removal of the first and second thrust bearing assemblies,

whereby the first and second seal assemblies may be removed after removal of the bearing housing.

5. The pump of claim 1 wherein the casing further comprising a first aperture for receiving a portion of the driver shaft disposed between the first lobe gear and the first thrust bearing assembly, the casing further comprising a second aperture for receiving a portion of the driven shaft disposed between the second lobe gear and the second thrust bearing assembly, the first and second apertures of the casing accommodating sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

6. The pump of claim 5 wherein each receiving aperture of the head plate accommodates sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

7. A high pressure rotary lobe pump comprising:

a driver shaft that passes through and is connected to a first timing gear, the driver shaft further passing through and being connected to a first lobe gear, the first lobe gear being disposed inside a casing,

a driven shaft that passes through and is connected to a second timing gear, the driven shaft further passing through and being connected to a second lobe gear, the second lobe gear being disposed inside the casing,

the casing further comprising an open distal end that is connected to a head plate, the driver shaft and driven shaft each comprising a distal end that engages the head plate, wherein the head plate further comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the recesses for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears,

the casing further comprising a first aperture for receiving a portion of the driver shaft disposed between the first lobe gear and the first timing gear, the casing further comprising a second aperture for receiving a portion of the driven shaft disposed between the second lobe gear and the second timing gear, the first and second apertures of the casing accommodating sleeve bearings disposed immediately adjacent to the lobes and that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears,

the driver shaft also passing through and is connected to a first thrust bearing assembly, the first thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the first lobe gear and the first timing gear, the first thrust bearing assembly comprising a first bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driver shaft and the first bearing cartridge, the first thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to a bearing housing that is connected to the casing whereby rotation of the first thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driver shaft and the first lobe gear within the casing, and

the driven shaft also passing through and being connected to a second thrust bearing assembly, the second thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the second lobe gear and the second timing gear, the second thrust bearing assembly comprising a second bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driven shaft and the second bearing cartridge, the second thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to the bearing housing whereby rotation of the second thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driven shaft and the second lobe gear within the casing.

8. The pump of claim 7 wherein the head plate further comprises two receiving apertures for receiving the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, each receiving aperture of the head plate accommodates sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

9. The pump of claim 7 wherein the casing further comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the lobe gears from the recesses in the head plate and in general alignment with the recesses in the head plate, the recesses in the casing for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears.

10. The pump of claim 7 further comprising first and second seal assemblies disposed around the driver and driven shafts respectively and between the casing and the bearing housing, and

wherein the driver and driven shafts each comprise proximal ends and wherein the bearing housing is connected to a gear case cover that encloses the first and second timing gears and the proximal end of the driven shaft, the proximal end of the driver shaft passing through the gear case cover,

the gear case cover being removable from the bearing housing without any disconnection of the first and second timing gears from the driver and driven shafts respectively, the first and second timing gears being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the gear case cover, the first and second thrust bearing assemblies being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the first and second timing gears, the bearing housing being removable from the casing after removal of the first and second thrust bearing assemblies,

whereby the first and second seal assemblies may be removed after removal of the bearing housing.

11. A high pressure rotary lobe pump comprising:

a driver shaft that passes through and is connected to a first timing gear, the driver shaft further passing through and being connected to a first lobe gear, the first lobe gear being disposed inside a casing, the driver shaft also passing through and being connected to a first thrust bearing assembly, the first thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the first lobe gear and the first timing gear, the first thrust bearing assembly comprising a first bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driver shaft and the first bearing cartridge, the first thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to a bearing housing that is connected to the casing, whereby rotation of the first thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driver shaft and the first lobe gear within the casing, and

a driven shaft that passes through and is connected to a second timing gear, the driven shaft further passing through and being connected to a second lobe gear, the second lobe gear being disposed inside the casing, the driven shaft also passing through and being connected to a second thrust bearing assembly, the second thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the second lobe gear and the second timing gear, the second thrust bearing assembly comprising a second bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driven shaft and the second bearing cartridge, the second thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to the bearing housing whereby rotation of the second thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driven shaft and the second lobe gear within the casing, and

wherein the casing further comprising an open distal end that is connected to a head plate, the driver shaft and driven shaft each comprising a distal end that engages the head plate, the head plate comprising two receiving apertures for receiving the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the head plate further being disposed adjacent to the first and second lobe gears, the head plate comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the recesses providing clearance between distal ends of the lobe gears and the head plate at the recesses, the recesses for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears.

12. The pump of claim 11 wherein the casing further comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the driver and driven shafts between the lobe gears and the bearing housing, the recesses in the casing for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears.

13. The pump of claim 11 further comprising first and second seal assemblies disposed around the driver and driven shafts respectively and between the casing and the bearing housing, and

wherein the driver and driven shafts each comprise proximal ends and wherein the bearing housing is connected to a gear case cover that encloses the first and second timing gears and the proximal end of the driven shaft, the proximal end of the driver shaft passing through the gear case cover,

the gear case cover being removable from the bearing housing without any disconnection of the first and second timing gears from the driver and driven shafts respectively, the first and second timing gears being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the gear case cover, the first and second thrust bearing assemblies being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the first and second timing gears, the bearing housing being removable from the casing after removal of the first and second thrust bearing assemblies,

whereby the first and second seal assemblies may be removed after removal of the bearing housing.

14. The pump of claim 11 wherein the casing further comprising an open distal end that is connected to a head plate, the casing further comprising a first aperture for receiving a portion of the driver shaft disposed between the first lobe gear and the first thrust bearing assembly, the casing further comprising a second aperture for receiving a portion of the driven shaft disposed between the second lobe gear and the second thrust bearing assembly, the first and second apertures of the casing accommodating sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

15. The pump of claim 14, wherein the driver shaft and driven shaft each comprising a distal end that engages the head plate, the head plate further comprising two receiving apertures for receiving the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, each receiving aperture of the head plate accommodating sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

16. A high pressure rotary lobe pump comprising:

a driver shaft that passes through and is connected to a first timing gear, the driver shaft further passing through and being connected to a first lobe gear, the first lobe gear being disposed inside a casing, the driver shaft also passing through and being connected to a first thrust bearing assembly, the first thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the first lobe gear and the first timing gear, the first thrust bearing assembly comprising a first bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driver shaft and the first bearing cartridge, the first thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to a bearing housing that is connected to the casing,

a driven shaft that passes through and is connected to a second timing gear, the driven shaft further passing through and being connected to a second lobe gear, the second lobe gear being disposed inside the casing, the driven shaft also passing through and being connected to a second thrust bearing assembly, the second thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the second lobe gear and the second timing gear, the second thrust bearing assembly comprising a second bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driven shaft and the second bearing cartridge, the second thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to the bearing housing,

the pump further comprising first and second seal assemblies disposed around the driver and driven shafts respectively and between the casing and the bearing housing, and

wherein the driver and driven shafts each comprise proximal ends and wherein the bearing housing is connected to a gear case cover that encloses the first and second timing gears and the proximal end of the driven shaft, the proximal end of the driver shaft passing through the gear case cover,

the gear case cover being removable from the bearing housing without any disconnection of the first and second timing gears from the driver and driven shafts respectively, the first and second timing gears being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the gear case cover, the first and second thrust bearing assemblies being removable from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removal of the first and second timing gears, the bearing housing being removable from the casing after removal of the first and second thrust bearing assemblies,

whereby the first and second seal assemblies may be removed after removal of the bearing housing,

wherein the casing further comprising an open distal end that is connected to a head plate, the driver shaft and driven shaft each comprising a distal end that engages the head plate, the head plate comprising two receiving apertures for receiving the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the head plate further being disposed adjacent to the first and second lobe gears, the head plate comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, the recesses providing clearance between distal ends of the lobe gears and the head plate at the recesses, the recesses for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears, and

wherein the casing further comprising a pair of opposing recesses disposed on opposing sides of the driver and driven shafts between the lobe gears and the bearing housing, the recesses in the casing for improving loading and unloading of the first and second lobe gears.

17. The pump of claim 16 whereby rotation of the first thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driver shaft and the first lobe gear within the casing, and

whereby rotation of the second thrust bearing cartridge with respect to the bearing housing results in axial movement of the driven shaft and the second lobe gear within the casing.

18. The pump of claim 16 wherein the casing further comprising an open distal end that is connected to a head plate, the casing further comprising a first aperture for receiving a portion of the driver shaft disposed between the first lobe gear and the first thrust bearing assembly, the casing further comprising a second aperture for receiving a portion of the driven shaft disposed between the second lobe gear and the second thrust bearing assembly, the first and second apertures of the casing accommodating sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

19. The pump of claim 18, wherein the driver shaft and driven shaft each comprising a distal end that engages the head plate, the head plate further comprising two receiving apertures for receiving the distal ends of the driver and driven shafts, each receiving aperture of the head plate accommodating sleeve bearings that are in communication with fluid being pumped by the first and second lobe gears.

20. A method of changing the seal assemblies in a dual shaft lobe pump having a construction characterized by

a driver shaft that passes through and that is connected to a first timing gear, the driver shaft further passing through and being connected to a first lobe gear, the first lobe gear being disposed inside a casing, the driver shaft also passing through and being connected to a first thrust bearing assembly, the first thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the first lobe gear and the first timing gear, the first thrust bearing assembly including a first bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driver shaft and the first bearing cartridge, the first thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to a bearing housing that is connected to the casing,

a driven shaft that passes through and is connected to a second timing gear, the driven shaft further passing through and being connected to a second lobe gear, the second lobe gear being disposed inside the casing, the driven shaft also passing through and being connected to a second thrust bearing assembly, the second thrust bearing assembly being disposed between the second lobe gear and the second timing gear, the second thrust bearing assembly including a second bearing cartridge that accommodates at least one bearing between the driven shaft and the second bearing cartridge, the second thrust bearing cartridge further being threadably connected to the bearing housing,

the pump further including first and second seal assemblies disposed around the driver and driven shafts respectively and between the casing and the bearing housing,

the driver and driven shafts each further including proximal ends and wherein the bearing housing is connected to a gear case cover that encloses the first and second timing gears and the proximal end of the driven shaft, the proximal end of the driver shaft passing through the gear case cover,

the method comprising the following steps:

removing the gear case cover from the bearing housing without any disconnection of the first and second timing gears from the driver and driven shafts respectively,

removing the first and second timing gears from the driver and driven shafts respectively after removing of the gear case cover,

removing the first and second thrust bearing assemblies after removing of the first and second timing gears,

removing the bearing housing from the casing after removing of the first and second thrust bearing assemblies,

removing the first and second seal assemblies after removing of the bearing housing.