Pump mount using sanitary flange clamp

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/348,079; filed Jan. 10, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to fluid metering assemblies, and more particularly to fluid pumps and motors for operating such pumps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In certain fluid transfer applications, a motor is removably mounted to a pump to operate the pump. The motor and/or pump are removably mounted to permit the pump and/or motor to be inspected and/or repaired. In many of these applications the pump is a self-contained unit and includes a housing, inlet and outlet ports, and a pump mechanism enclosed within the housing. One well-known pump mechanism is a gear pump with adjacent gears which accurately meter the fluid from the inlet to the outlet; The gears are mounted on a pair of journaled shafts, one of which is the drive shaft and extends outwardly from one end of the pump housing.

[0004] The motor can be any type of motor appropriate for the particular application, and in many applications also comprises a self-contained unit including a housing and a drive mechanism. A drive shaft is coupled to the drive mechanism and projects outwardly from one end of the motor housing. A coupling assembly couples the drive mechanism in the motor to the pump mechanism in the pump. One such coupling assembly includes a mechanical coupling between the drive shaft of the motor and the drive shaft of the pump. Another such coupling assembly comprises magnetic coupling components, which couple the drive mechanism of the motor to the pump mechanism of the pump without direct mechanical linkage. In any event, when the drive mechanism of the motor is rotated, the pump mechanism is operated to transfer fluid received in the inlet to the outlet.

[0005] Many techniques have been used to removably mount the pump to the motor, particularly to allow easy and simple inspection and removal. One common technique is to bolt the housing of the pump to the housing of the motor, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,183,219; 4,311,440; and 5,269,664. The bolts properly axially and concentrically align the pump with respect to the motor and provide a robust and firm attachment. While this is satisfactory in some applications, this technique usually requires a tool (such as a wrench) and significant time and labor to remove the bolts to uncouple/couple the motor. In other words, this technique can be labor intensive, which can increase the maintenance costs associated with operating the fluid system.

[0006] As such, it is believed there is a demand for an improved metering assembly having a pump removably coupled to a motor, where the pump can be simply and easily connected to and disconnected from the motor, and which minimizes the time and labor associated with changing out a pump.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a novel and unique metering assembly which includes a pump removably mounted on a motor. The pump can be simply and easily mounted to and removed from the motor, which reduces the time and labor associated with repairing the pump. The mounting can advantageously be accomplished by hand—without the need for special repair tools.

[0008] According to the present invention, an annular connection flange is provided at one end of the housing (the end having the motor drive shaft); and a cooperating annular connection flange is provided at one end of the pump (the end having the pump drive shaft). The connection flanges have opposed, mating end surfaces which can be located in flush, sealing relation with each other; and preferably have beveled (or tapered) peripheral edges. When so mounted, a coupling assembly couples the drive mechanism of the motor to the pump mechanism of the pump.

[0009] To retain the pump to the motor, a flange clamp is used, preferably of the type commonly referred to as a “sanitary flange clamp”. The flange clamp surrounds and encompasses the annular connection flanges of the pump and the motor. The flange clamp includes an internal geometry cooperating with the beveled edges on the annular connection flanges to securely retain the connection flanges in fixed relation to one another to create a mechanical face seal between the opposing end surfaces of the pump and motor. The flange clamp preferably includes a pair of arcuate clamping arms which are pivotally supported at one end, such as being connected directly together, or connected through an intermediate arcuate arm; and a locking member connecting the other, distal free ends of the arms together. The locking member can be manually tightened and untightened, so that the flange clamp can be easily located around and tightened down around the annular connection flanges of the pump and motor.

[0010] Preferably the pump includes a locating geometry, such as an annular raised ridge or surface portion on the forward surface of the connecting flange, which is received within a cooperating circular recess in the mating surface of the motor connecting flange. The locating geometry properly concentrically and axially aligns the motor with respect to the pump. This also allows the pump to be mounted at any rotational orientation with respect to the motor, to facilitate the adaptability of the pump and motor for various applications. Of course, a rotational orientation feature, such as a pin and hole, could be provided if it is important or useful to have the pump mounted at a specific rotational orientation with respect to the motor.

[0011] As such, the present invention provides a fluid metering assembly with a flange clamp which provides a simple and easy connection and disconnection of a pump from a motor, and which thereby minimizes the time and labor associated with changing out a pump. The flange clamp of the present invention allows rapid and tool-free connection and disconnection of the pump from the motor.

[0012] Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following specification and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a metering assembly constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a front end view of the metering assembly of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 side view of the metering assembly of FIG. 1, with a portion shown in cross-section along the plane described substantially by the lines <b>3</b>-<b>3</b> in FIG. 2;

[0016]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the metering assembly; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional portion of the pump of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. <b>1</b>-<b>4</b>, a metering assembly, indicated generally at <b>10</b>, is shown which is constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The metering assembly <b>10</b> includes a motor, indicated generally at <b>12</b>; and a pump, indicated generally at <b>14</b>. The motor can be any type of motor appropriate for the particular application, and includes an elongated housing <b>16</b> typically supported on a base. The housing <b>16</b> encloses an internal drive mechanism (e.g., a rotor and stator), indicated generally at <b>20</b>, which is controlled and powered, for example, by an electrical connection, indicated generally at <b>22</b>. A drive shaft <b>26</b> is rotatably supported in the housing and coupled to the drive mechanism for rotation therewith. The drive shaft projects outwardly from one end of the motor housing. A sensor (such as a Hall effect sensor—not shown) can be received in an opening <b>28</b> to sense the rotation of the drive shaft <b>26</b>.

[0019] A particularly useful motor for the present invention is commercially-available from the Zenith Pumps Division of Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Sanford, N.C., under the mark/designation “ZeDrive”, and is a ½ hp DC wet motor; although it should be appreciated that a variety of motors could be used with the present invention, and the above is only an example of one such motor.

[0020] The pump <b>14</b> is likewise any pump appropriate for the particular application. The illustrated pump comprises a gear pump having a housing <b>36</b> enclosing a pair of gears rotatably supported on respective shafts <b>42</b>, <b>43</b>. An inlet port <b>44</b> and outlet port <b>45</b> are provided in the housing. Shaft <b>42</b> projects outwardly from the housing as a drive shaft, and can be rotated to operate the gears and transfer fluid from the inlet port <b>44</b> to the outlet port <b>45</b>. The housing <b>36</b> typically comprises a series of housing plates <b>47</b>-<b>49</b>, which are secured together in adjacent relation by bolts <b>50</b>, although it should be appreciated that the housing could be formed of any number of plates.

[0021] A particularly useful pump for the present invention is available from the Zenith Pump Division under the mark/designation C-9000, and has a capacity of 2.4 cc/rev; although again, it should be appreciated that a variety of pumps could likewise be used with the present invention, and the above is only an example of one such pump.

[0022] The pump <b>14</b> can be coupled to the motor <b>12</b> in any appropriate manner, such that the drive shaft <b>42</b> of the pump is rotated when the drive shaft <b>26</b> of the motor rotates. Such a coupling can be a direct mechanical coupling, or in a preferred embodiment, it can be a magnetic coupling. In this embodiment, an outer magnet assembly <b>54</b> is attached to the motor shaft <b>26</b>; an inner magnet assembly <b>55</b> is attached to the pump shaft <b>42</b>; and a cup-shaped barrier <b>56</b> separates the inner magnet assembly from the outer magnet assembly. Such a magnetic coupling assembly is conventional, and should be well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art such that the drive shafts are coupled together without any actual direct mechanical linkage. A flange extension, indicated generally at <b>57</b>, of the motor housing encloses the magnetic coupling assembly, but this may be absent if a direct mechanical coupling is used.

[0023] Both the motor housing and the pump housing include an annular connection flange. As shown in FIG. 2, the motor housing, and more specifically, the flange extension <b>57</b> of the motor housing, has a radially outwardly projecting annular connection flange <b>60</b>, which, as shown in FIG. 5, has a tapered or beveled peripheral edge <b>62</b> circumferentially surrounding the flange extension, and a substantially flat end surface <b>63</b> extending transverse to the axis of the motor. Likewise, the pump housing, and more particularly the front plate <b>47</b> of the pump housing, has a radially outwardly projecting annular connection flange <b>64</b>, which has a tapered or beveled peripheral edge <b>66</b> circumferentially surrounding the pump housing, and a substantially flat end surface <b>68</b> extending transverse to the axis of the motor (see also, FIG. 4). The annular connection flanges <b>60</b>, <b>64</b> of the motor and pump are preferably substantially identical, and when the pump is mounted to the motor as described below, the flat forward surfaces <b>63</b>, <b>68</b> mate with each other and provide a flush, mechanically-sealed interface between the motor and the pump.

[0024] While not believed necessary in most applications (and not illustrated), sealing rings can be provided between the opposing end surfaces of the connection flanges if desirable to maintain a fluid-tight seal between the pump and motor.

[0025] To retain the pump to the motor, a flange clamp, indicated generally at <b>72</b> in FIGS. <b>2</b>-<b>5</b>, is provided. The flange clamp <b>72</b> is preferably of the type commonly referred to as a “sanitary flange clamp”, and surrounds and encompasses the annular connection flanges <b>60</b>, <b>64</b> of the pump and the motor. The flange clamp includes an internal, wedge or V-shaped geometry <b>74</b> (FIG. 5) which receives and preferably substantially matches the beveled edges on the annular connection flanges. When the clamp is tightened, the internal geometry squeezes the edges of the annular connection flanges together to create a secure, mechanical face seal across the end surfaces of the pump and motor.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the flange clamp <b>72</b> preferably includes a pair of arcuate clamping arms <b>78</b>, <b>79</b> which are pivotally supported at one end <b>80</b>, <b>81</b>, such as being connected directly together, or connected through an intermediate arcuate arm <b>82</b>; and a locking member (wing nut) <b>84</b> connecting the other, distal free ends <b>85</b>, <b>86</b>, respectively, of the arms together. The locking member <b>84</b> has an enlarged end <b>88</b>, which can be easily grasped to rotate the member, and an opposite end which is pivotally connected as at <b>89</b> to the free end <b>85</b> of clamping arm <b>78</b>. A slot (shown at <b>90</b> in FIG. 3) on the free end <b>85</b> of the other clamping arm <b>79</b> can receive the locking member, and the locking member can be manually tightened and untightened in a manner which should be well-known, so that the flange clamp can be enlarged, and easily and rapidly located around the annular connection flanges, and then tightened down around the annular connection flanges to fix the pump to the motor.

[0027] A particularly useful flange clamp for the present invention is available from Tri-Clover, Inc. of Kenosha Wash., under the mark/designation 13MHHS &amp; A13MHHS; although again, it should be appreciated that a variety of flange clamps could likewise be used with the present invention, and the above is only an example of one such clamp.

[0028] Preferably the pump <b>14</b> includes a locating geometry, such as an annular raised ridge or surface portion <b>94</b> on the forward surface of the connecting flange <b>64</b> (see FIG. 4), which is received within a cooperating circular recess (not shown) in the mating surface of the motor connecting flange <b>60</b>, to properly concentrically and axially align the motor with respect to the pump. This also allows the pump to be mounted at any rotational orientation with respect to the motor, to facilitate the adaptability of the pump and motor for various applications. Of course, a rotational orientation feature, such as a pin and hole (also not shown), could be provided if it is important or useful to have the pump mounted at a specific rotational orientation with respect to the motor.

[0029] Thus, as described above, the present invention provides a fluid metering assembly having a flange clamp that provides a simple and easy connection and disconnection of a pump from a motor, and which minimizes the time and labor associated with changing out a pump. The flange clamp of the present invention allows rapid and tool-free connection and disconnection of the pump to the motor.

[0030] The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein should not, however, be construed as limited to the particular form described as it is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.