US 11,703,050 B2
Gear pump with self-lubricating bearings
Martin Augustine Clements, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
Filed by Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Sep. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/467,005.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/075,657, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0074409 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. F03C 2/00 (2006.01); F03C 4/00 (2006.01); F04C 18/00 (2006.01); F04C 2/18 (2006.01); F16C 17/02 (2006.01); F16C 33/10 (2006.01); F04C 15/00 (2006.01); F01C 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC F04C 2/18 (2013.01) [F01C 21/02 (2013.01); F04C 15/0026 (2013.01); F16C 17/026 (2013.01); F16C 33/1025 (2013.01); F04C 2240/50 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gear pump comprising:
a pump housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a drive gear supported on a first shaft, the drive gear being located between a first end portion of the first shaft and a second end portion of the first shaft;
a driven gear configured to mesh with the drive gear, the driven gear supported on a second shaft, the driven gear being located between a first end portion of the second shaft and a second end portion of the second shaft;
a first journal bearing secured in the pump housing configured to rotatably support the first end portion of the first shaft, the first journal bearing defining a first bearing shaft interface, the first journal bearing including a first high pressure portion, and a first journal fluid flow path that extends between the first high pressure portion and the first bearing shaft interface;
a second journal bearing secured in the pump housing configured to rotatably support the second end portion of the first shaft, the second journal bearing defining a second bearing shaft interface, the second journal bearing including a second high pressure portion, and a second journal fluid flow path that extends between the second high pressure portion and the second bearing shaft interface;
a third journal bearing secured in the pump housing configured to rotatably support the first end portion of the second shaft, the third journal bearing defines a third bearing shaft interface, the third journal bearing including a third high pressure portion, and a third journal fluid flow path that extends between the third high pressure portion and the third bearing shaft interface;
a fourth journal bearing secured in the pump housing configured to rotatably support the second end portion of the second shaft, the fourth journal bearing defines a fourth bearing shaft interface, the fourth journal bearing including a fourth high pressure portion, and a fourth journal fluid flow path that extends between the fourth high pressure portion and the fourth bearing shaft interface; and
a pressure relief valve in each of the first, second, third, and fourth journal fluid flow paths.