Adjustable Pump Gear Mounting Assembly for Backlash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for connecting pumps to prime movers lack the ability to adjust the engagement between gears, leading to suboptimal operation and potential wear or poor power transmission.
Innovation Solution
An assembly featuring a shroud member, hollow elongated stub-shaft, and adjustable fasteners allows for the adjustable mounting of a pump gear to a driver equipment gear, enabling the gear wheel's position to be adjusted relative to the driver equipment's gear in a plane parallel to the sidewall, thereby optimizing engagement and backlash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed mounting system is used to connect the pump gear to the driver equipment gear, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the gear engagement and backlash cannot be adjusted leading to suboptimal operation and potential wear
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable system. The shroud member with multiple holes and adjustable fasteners allows the gear position to be modified, enabling optimization of engagement and backlash while maintaining structural integrity through the hub member and flange assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables adjustment of critical gear parameters including backlash and engagement depth. By providing multiple hole positions on the shroud member and adjustable fastener locations, the gear mounting parameters can be changed to achieve optimal operation and reduce wear.
2Ease of operation
If an adjustable mounting system is implemented to optimize gear engagement, then the operation smoothness and gear life are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into distinct functional segments: the shroud member with multiple holes for positioning, the hub member for structural support, the flange for connection, and adjustable fasteners. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes while providing collective adjustability for smooth gear operation.
3Reliability
If the gear position is fixed during mounting, then the manufacturing and assembly process is simple, but the backlash cannot be optimized leading to poor power transmission and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud member acts as an intermediary element between the hub member and the gear. It provides multiple hole positions that serve as adjustment points, allowing the gear position to be optimized for power transmission while the fasteners secure the final position. This intermediary structure enables backlash optimization without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for adjustably mounting a gear of a pump to a gear of a driver equipment includes a shroud member, and a hollow elongated stub-shaft. The stub-shaft includes a flange, and a hub member axially extending from the flange. The shroud member defines a first aperture whose diameter is greater than a diameter of the hub member. The hub member is received within the shroud member via the first aperture. The flange has a first set of holes to receive a first set of fasteners and releasably couple with the body of the pump. The flange also has a second set of holes that are configured to receive a second set of fasteners and releasably couple with the shroud member. A diameter of the second set of holes is greater than a diameter of the second set of fasteners.