Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
DIRECT DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR PUMP ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to pump assemblies and more
specifically
to a direct drive assembly for use with a pump assembly that is sealed and
adapted for coupling
the pump assembly to a driving motor or a rotational power source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fluid pumps are known for use in pumping liquids and fluids, such as
oils and
distillates produced from oil wells. The oils and distillates can also contain
contaminant
materials, such as sand, grit and the like. The pumping of such fluids results
in the gritty
materials that are found in the fluid to come into contact with the pump
internal elements such as
the pump bearings and the seals, which is disadvantageous as the pump elements
exposed
routinely to entrained gritty materials have a tendency to wear prematurely
and fail after a short
period of use.
[0003] Furthermore, existing pump assemblies employ couplers for coupling
the pump
assembly shaft components to the motor for driving the shaft but these
coupling components
typically leak the lubricant oil or grease (e.g. for supplying grease to the
internal components)
and other such oils retained within the components to the external
environment, causing an
increase in servicing and repair of the pump, coupling components and
hydraulic motors.
[0004] Accordingly there is a need to increase the serviceability of pumps
and to increase
the operating life of pumps involving pumping fluids containing grit
contaminants. More
particularly, there is a need for the mechanical components that are used to
couple the pump to a
motor to limit the contaminants entering into the internal pump components
(e.g. from outside
the pump housing). Additionally, there is a need for the coupling components
to limit the
contaminants entering into the motor housing. Therefore, it is an object of
the present invention
to obviate or mitigate at least some of the above presented disadvantages.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect, there is provided a direct drive assembly for
coupling a pump
assembly to a motor for driving said pump assembly. The direct drive assembly
comprises a
motor mount assembly for connecting said pump assembly to said motor. The
direct drive
assembly further comprises a shaft coupler located within the motor mount
assembly and
adapted for connecting a drive shaft of the pump assembly and a shaft of the
motor. The shaft
coupler comprises a tubular sleeve having at least one first seal at one end
thereof, said at least
one seal adapted to engage and sealingly fit between the drive shaft and the
sleeve. The direct
drive assembly further comprising a retaining seal member, the retaining seal
member for
slidably engaging and surrounding said shaft coupler and being fixedly
retained within the motor
mount assembly, the retaining seal member comprising at least one second seal
member for
surrounding an exterior of said shaft coupler and providing a sealing
engagement between the
shaft coupler and an interior of the motor mount assembly. In yet another
aspect, the at least one
first and second seal cooperating with the shaft coupler sleeve to radially
surround and seal the
interior of the motor mount assembly such as to prevent grit or contaminants
from passing to
either the motor or the pump.
[0006] In one aspect, there is provided a kit of components for coupling a
pump
assembly to a motor for driving the pump assembly, the kit comprising: a motor
mount assembly
having a first connecting means at a first end for being configured to connect
to the pump
assembly and a second connecting means at a second end for being configured to
connect to the
motor; a coupling assembly comprising: a shaft coupler configured for
connecting a drive shaft
of the pump assembly and a shaft of the motor; a first seal configured for
coupling to one end of
the shaft coupler proximal to the pump assembly, the first seal adapted for
being located between
an exterior surface of the drive shaft and an interior surface of the shaft
coupler; a retaining seal
member for being slidably received on the shaft coupler such as to surround
the shaft coupler,
the retaining seal member for being fittedly retained within an interior of
the motor mount
assembly, the retaining seal member comprising at least one second seal member
for encircling
the shaft coupler and configured to provide a sealing engagement between an
exterior of the
shaft coupler and an interior of the motor mount assembly; the retaining seal
member and the
first seal when assembled on the shaft coupler for cooperating to seal the
drive shaft with respect
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to the interior of the motor mount assembly and to provide a sealed barrier
between the coupling
assembly and the motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example only and not
limitation, with
reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals indicate
corresponding or
similar elements, and in which:
[0008] Figures 1(a), (b) and (c) are exploded side views illustrating
different stages of
assembly for a pump assembly and a direct drive assembly (illustrated in
Figure 1 (c)), the direct
drive assembly for coupling to an external driving power source such as a
motor (not shown) in
accordance with one embodiment;
[0009] Figure 2 is a further exploded side view of the direct drive
assembly of Figure 1;
[0010] Figure 3(a) illustrates a cross-sectional view of the shaft coupler
of Figures 1 and
2, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0011] Figure 3(b) illustrates a view of the shaft coupler of Figures 3(a)
along the line B-
B;
[0012] Figure 3(c) illustrates a view of the shaft coupler of Figures 3(c)
along the line A-
A;
[0013] Figure 4 illustrates an end view of the motor mount assembly of
Figures 1 and 2
having a plurality of seals and the shaft coupler disposed therein, in
accordance with one
embodiment;
[0014] Figure 5 illustrates a side schematic view of the direct drive
assembly coupled to
the pump and a hydraulic motor, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0015] Figure 6 illustrates a partial exploded side view of the direct
drive assembly of
Figures 1 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment;
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[0016] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the direct drive assembly
of Figures 1
and 2, in an assembled position, having coupling components and the shaft
coupler of Figure 1
and 2 contained therein, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0017] Figure 8 illustrates a partial exploded side view of the direct
drive assembly of
Figures 1 and 2, during assembly of the direct drive assembly to an endplate
of the pump
assembly of Figure 1;
[0018] Figure 9 illustrates a side view of the direct drive assembly of
Figure 2 connected
between a pump assembly and a hydraulic motor, in accordance with one
embodiment;
[0019] Figure 10 illustrates a side view of a double seal holder and a
shaft coupler of the
direct drive assembly of Figure 2 when installed on a pump shaft; and,
[0020] Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of the direct drive
assembly when
assembled on a pump endplate of Figure 8, Figure 11 is shown from an open end
of the direct
drive assembly configured for assembly to a motor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Accordingly, there is generally provided a direct drive assembly for
use with a
pump assembly that is sealed and adapted for coupling the pump assembly to a
driving motor or
rotational power source. The direct drive assembly that couples the pump to
the motor is
preferably sealed to the pump and sealed to the hydraulic motor as described
herein, thereby
preventing contaminants from entering into either the pump or the motor body
such as to
increase their respective durability.
[0022] In one aspect, there is provided a direct drive assembly for
coupling a pump
assembly to a motor for driving said pump assembly. The direct drive assembly
comprises a
motor mount assembly for connecting said pump assembly to said motor. The
direct drive
assembly further comprises a shaft coupler located within the motor mount
assembly and
adapted for connecting a drive shaft of the pump assembly and a shaft of the
motor. The shaft
coupler comprises a tubular sleeve having at least one first seal at one end
thereof, said at least
one seal adapted to engage and sealingly fit between the drive shaft and the
sleeve. The direct
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drive assembly further comprising a retaining seal member, the retaining seal
member for
slidably engaging and surrounding said shaft coupler and being fixedly
retained within the motor
mount assembly, the retaining seal member comprising at least one second seal
member for
surrounding an exterior of said shaft coupler and providing a sealing
engagement between the
shaft coupler and an interior of the motor mount assembly. In yet another
aspect, the at least one
first and second seal cooperating with the shaft coupler sleeve to radially
surround and seal the
interior of the motor mount assembly such as to prevent grit or contaminants
from passing to
either the motor or the pump.
[0023] Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) illustrate exploded views of a pump
assembly 10 and
internal components of a pump body 22. Figure 1(a) illustrates the pump
assembly 10, shafts
(12, 14) and internal gears (2, 4). Figure 1(b) illustrates a modular pump
assembly 10 having
removable endplates (16, 18) and wear plates (e.g. wearplates 5) for
attachment to a pump body
22 and comprising shafts (12, 14). Figure 1(c) illustrates a partial exploded
view of the pump
assembly 10 having a pump body 22 configured to receive and be coupled to a
direct drive
assembly 20 at one endplate 18. The direct drive assembly 20 is configured for
being received
on a drive shaft 12 of the pump that extends longitudinally through a channel
defined by the
cavity of the direct drive assembly 20 components when assembled together (the
cavity further
illustrated in Figure 2). Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) are also collectively
referred to as Figure 1
herein.
[0024] Referring to Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c), shown is the modular pump
assembly 10,
configured for pumping fluids such as fluids containing contaminants. The pump
10, includes a
pair of end plates 16, and 18 attached to the pump housing or body 22 such
that the end plates 16
and 18 are removable in order to access the inside of the pump 22 body cavity
and replace the
internal pump elements (e.g. pump gears 2, 4 or shafts 12, 14). In one
preferred aspect,
illustrated in Figure 1(c), the pump assembly 10, further comprises bearing
assemblies 6 that are
removably attached to a bearing mount on the outer side of each end plate 16,
and 18. In one
example, by removing the fasteners that attach a hold down ring surrounding
the bearing
assembly to the respective endplate 16, 18, access can be provided to the pump
bearings and
seals without disassembly.
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[0025] Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) illustrate side views of the pump
assembly 10 adapted
for coupling to the direct drive assembly 20 configured to further couple the
pump assembly 10
to a source of driving rotational power such as a motor (not shown), in
accordance with an
embodiment. Figure 1 illustrates exploded views of the pump assembly 10 and a
plurality of
bearings and seals for being located on the shafts of the pump assembly 10.
Figure 1(a), (b) and
(c) illustrate the configuration and assembly of the pump assembly 10 and its
exemplary internal
components at different stages of the assembled pump. The pump assembly 10
comprises a
drive shaft 12; and an idler shaft 14. Typically, the drive shaft 12 provides
rotating support for a
first pump gear 4 and the idler shaft 14 provides rotating support for a
second pump gear 2. The
shafts are generally defined as rotating members for the transmission of power
from a power
source (e.g. a motor) to the driven components. The pump 10 is further
enclosed by a pair of
endplates 16, and 18 that are secured (e.g. fastened onto) opposing sides of
the pump housing 22.
The gears (e.g. 2 and 4) being driven by the shafts 14 and 12, are preferably
disposed between
the endplates 16 and 18 (Figure 1(a) and 1(b)). During operation, fluids to be
pumped are
captured between the teeth of the gears (not shown) that are mounted on the
drive shaft 12 and
the idler shaft 14. Preferably, the end plates 16 and 18 are sealingly
positioned onto the pump
body 22 and then fastened thereon.
[0026] Referring again to Figure 1 (c), the direct drive assembly 20 is
adapted to be
disposed on and secured onto the end plate 18. Preferably, the direct drive
assembly 20 is
removably affixed to the end plate 18 by means of fasteners or bolts (not
shown) via a motor
mount assembly 30, further illustrated in Figure 2.
[0027] Accordingly, as illustrated in Figures 1(c), 6 and 8, the direct
drive assembly 20 is
configured to seal fluids (e.g. lubricants) from exiting an interior facing
side of the retaining seal
member 50 (e.g. located proximal to the endplate 18), thereby allowing a
channel defined inside
the motor mount body 500 (between the retaining seal member 50 and the motor
mount flange
502) proximal to the motor or power source (not shown) dry for checking the
speed of the motor
(e.g. via RPM port 606). In this manner, by keeping the interface between the
motor and the
retaining seal member 50 dry (e.g. between the motor mount flange 502 and the
retaining seal
member 50), this improves the life capacity of the power source, such as the
hydraulic motor (not
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shown). The assembly of the direct drive assembly 20 between the pump 22 and a
motor 504 is
further illustrated in Figures 5 and 9, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0028] Although numerous exemplary mechanical components of the pump
assembly 10
are shown in Figure 1, as will be understood, modifications can be envisaged
to allow additional
components or alternative components within the pump assembly 10, while
allowing a coupling
with the direct drive assembly 20 for receiving motor components (not shown).
[0029] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 and as described below, the direct
drive assembly 20
defines a cavity 52 for receiving a pump shaft (e.g. drive shaft 12) and
corresponding motor shaft
(not shown). Preferably, the pump assembly 10, further comprises a grit collar
3 located on an
interior side of the respective end plate 16 and 18 and within the pump body
22. The grit collar 3
is configured to be positioned to surround the pump shaft on the interior side
of each endplate 16
and 18. The grit collar 3 is located in a mounting recess provided on an
internal side (internal to
the pump body) of the end plates 16 and 18.
[0030] Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 7, shown is the motor mount assembly
30
comprising a plurality of fastener mounts such as bolt holes 400 configured
for receiving bolts
and for affixing the motor mount assembly 30 onto a side of the pump assembly
body 22. Once
the motor mount assembly 30 is fastened onto the endplate 18, via the bolt
holes 400, the
mechanical components located within the motor mount assembly 30 (e.g. pump
shaft, motor
shaft, and coupling components such as the shaft coupler) are aligned with
respect to one another
and relative to the pump body 22. In this way, the motor mount assembly 30 and
interior
components (e.g. pump shaft, motor shaft, and coupling components such as a
shaft coupler) are
releasably held in place against the endplate 18, when the motor mount
assembly 30 is fastened
onto the endplate 18. In a preferred embodiment, the motor mount assembly 30,
comprises a
grease or oil aperture 506 (illustrated in Figures 5, 7 and 8) for receiving
grease, oil and/or other
such lubricants for facilitating the operation of the shafts and increasing
the wear of the bearing
and mechanical components of the direct drive assembly 20 contained within the
motor mount
assembly 30 by providing said lubrication for the internal components during
operation thereof.
Referring to Figures 1-2, the motor mount assembly 30 is configured to provide
rotational
support of the shaft (e.g. drive shaft 12) which extends therethrough.
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[0031] The motor mount assembly 30 is preferably constructed from steel.
Other metals
such as brass, stainless steel or aluminum can be used.
[0032] Referring to Figure 2, the internal mechanical components of the
direct drive
assembly 20 adapted for coupling a pump to a motor (e.g. pump body 22 to a
motor 504 in
Figure 5) is illustrated in greater detail, in an exploded view. The direct
drive assembly 20
comprises the motor mount assembly 30 which is configured for being releasably
affixed to the
endplate 18 (shown in Figure 5) via fasteners and configured for providing
rotational support for
the drive shaft and the motor shaft (not shown) extending through the cavity
16 defined by the
bearings, seals, and coupler members in the direct drive assembly 20 and
retained within the
motor mount assembly 30. The motor mount assembly 30 comprises a flange 570
for configured
for affixing to the endplate 18 (Figures 1 and 5) of the pump assembly 10 and
a flange 502 that is
secured to the motor (e.g. via bolts). The motor mount assembly 30 further
comprises
protrusions 46 at a longitudinal end for being received within corresponding
grooves located in
the endplate 18 such as to fittedly seat within the corresponding groove and
aid in positioning the
motor mount 30 with respect to the endplate 18. The motor mount assembly 30
further
comprises internal grooves 48 located within an interior surface of the motor
mount assembly 30
defining a channel therethrough. The grooves 48 can be threaded or otherwise
indented for
receiving and locating a retaining sealing member 50 in place within the motor
mount assembly
30 interior surface such as to limit movement thereof along the shafts
extending there-through.
The retaining sealing member 50 comprises a snap ring 24, a spacer 26 and a
seal 28.
Accordingly, the seal 28 is positioned in abutment against the interior
surface of the motor mount
assembly 30 for sealingly engaging the interior surface thereof. The retaining
sealing member
50 further allows the coupling members and the remaining components of the
direct drive
assembly 30 retained within the motor mount 30 to maintain longitudinal
alignment when
disposed on and surrounding the drive shaft 12. The seal 28 is configured to
seal the exterior of
the shaft coupler 32 (e.g. comprising a tubular sleeve body shown in Figure 2)
with respect to the
interior of the motor mount assembly 30. The spacer 26 provides extra strength
to support the
seal 28 and the snap ring 24 is configured to sit inside the grooves 48 for
retaining the retaining
seal member 50 and prevent axial movement thereof (e.g. prevent moving out of
place towards
the dry cavity between the retaining seal member 50 and the motor, not shown).
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[0033] Referring to Figures 6 and 8, there is shown a partial exploded view
of the direct
drive assembly 20 comprising the motor mount assembly 30 and the coupling
assembly 602.
Referring to Figures 2, 6 and 8, the direct drive assembly 20, further
comprises a shaft or a direct
drive coupler 32. The shaft coupler 32 is configured to join the pump shaft
(e.g. drive shaft 12 of
Figure 1) with the motor shaft (not shown). Further, the shaft coupler 32 is
dimensioned to and
configured for sliding onto the drive shaft 12 and is affixed thereon such as
to limit lateral
movement of the drive shaft. The shaft coupler 32 is further received within
the motor mount
assembly 30 and further received and retained within the retaining seal member
50. The shaft
coupler 32 further comprises at least one aperture for receiving a shaft
fastener 600 (shown in
Figure 6) and being affixed to the drive shaft 12, shown in Figure 1.
[0034] Referring to Figure 2, the direct drive assembly 20 further
comprises a second
seal 34, for being received within the shaft coupler 32 for circumferentially
surrounding an
interior surface of the shaft coupler 32 and further for surrounding an
exterior of the drive shaft
12 and for sealingly engaging thereof Thus, the second seal 34 resides within
the interior of the
shaft coupler 32 and directly resides on the shaft 12 for sealing the
surrounding exterior surface
thereof with respect to the shaft coupler 32. Accordingly, the second seal 34
provides a seal
between an exterior surface of the drive shaft 12 and an interior surface of
the shaft coupler 32
proximal to the exterior surface of the drive shaft 12. Referring again to
Figure 2, the direct
drive assembly 20 further comprises a ball bearing 36, a double seal holder
38, at least two o-
rings 40, a third seal 42, and a fourth seal 44. Figure 6 illustrates a side
view of the direct drive
assembly components 20 comprising the coupling assembly 602 and the motor
mount assembly
30 when partially assembled. Figure 6 illustrates the coupling of the bearing
36, the seals 42, 44,
the shaft coupler 32, the double seal holder 38 for retaining the shaft 12
therethrough in a side
view of interior coupling components for the direct drive assembly 20 of
Figure 2.
[0035] Referring to Figures 2, 6 and 8, the double seal holder 38 is
configured to receive
the third seal 42 and fourth seal 44 sealingly positioned on an exterior
surface thereon. The
double seal holder 38 is located directly adjacent to an opening defined in
the endplate 18 for
receiving the shaft 12 therethrough. As illustrated in Figure 6, at least two
o-rings 40 are
configured to be located adjacent to seals 42, 44 and surrounding said double
seal holder 38. In
one aspect, the two o-rings 40 are respectively connected to the seals 42, and
44. Referring to
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Figures 6 and 8, there is further provided an RPM port 606 which is an
aperture located on the
motor mount body 500 for allowing an operator to check the operating speed for
the motor (not
shown) being coupled to the motor mount body 500 (e.g. in revolutions per
minute, also referred
to as RPM). Preferably, the double seal holder 38 seats against a gasket 8
(shown in Figure
1(c)), within an interface 801 defining an aperture on the endplate 18.
[0036] Referring to Figure 6, the direct drive assembly 20 comprises the
motor mount
assembly 30 and the coupling assembly 602. Preferably, the seals (e.g. first
seal 28, second seal
34, third seal 42 and fourth seal 44) located on the coupling assembly 602 of
the direct drive
assembly 20 are lip seals (also referred to as rotary lip seals) and are
constructed from a suitable
plastic or elastomer having flexibility. The seals are not spring loaded and
thus more resilient
during use. Additionally, the components of the direct drive assembly 20 (e.g.
motor mount
assembly 30 and coupling assembly 20) cooperate to sealingly engage and secure
the drive shaft
12 within the motor mount coupling assembly 20 such as to not allow any grit
or exterior
material (e.g. from interfacing with the motor or other external source of
power) to enter into the
pump body 22 and the channel within the pump body defined for receiving the
drive shaft 12
(e.g. interface 801).
[0037] Referring again to Figures 2, 6, and 8, as can be envisaged, the
circumferential
dimensions of the retaining seal member 50 and corresponding components (e.g.
seal 28, spacer
26, and snap ring 24) are dimensioned such as to sealingly engage and surround
the shaft coupler
32 while sealingly engaging and providing interfering fit with the interior of
the motor mount
body 500. Furthermore, the shaft coupler 32 and the second seal 34 are
dimensioned to surround
and seal the shaft 12. Additionally, the retaining seal member 50 which
surrounds the pump
shaft 12 and provides a seal 28 around an exterior of the shaft coupler 32
cooperates with the lip
seal 34 disposed between the shaft coupler 32 interior and the exterior of the
shaft 12 aids to
retain lubricant oil within the motor mount assembly and prevent grit or
contaminants from
entering into the motor mount assembly and subsequently the pump body. In this
way, the
cooperation of the seals on the retaining seal member which interferingly fits
within the motor
mount body 500 interior (and on the exterior of the shaft coupler) and the
seal 34 located on an
interior of the shaft coupler adjacent to the shaft 12, assists in containing
the lubricant oil (e.g.
received at aperture 506) within the channel defined by an interior of the
motor mount body 500
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and prevents grits or contaminants (e.g. from the motor coupling) from passing
from the exterior
of the motor mount assembly 30 past the retaining seal member 50 and into the
channel of the
body 500. Thus, the retaining seal member 50 and the seal 34 block any grit or
contaminants
prior to entry within the channel defined by connecting members 604 (e.g.
flange 570 and
protrusion 46) configured to connect with and seat into the endplate 18.
[0038] Referring to Figures 2, 6 and 8, the seal 34 is received at one end
of the shaft
coupler 32 and located at interior of the shaft coupler 32 between the shaft
coupler 32 interior
and the shaft 12.
[0039] Referring to Figures 3(a) to 3(c), there is illustrated exemplary
cross-sectional
views of the shaft coupler 32 of Figure 1 and 2, in accordance with one
embodiment. The shaft
coupler 32 further comprises a cavity or groove 301 for receiving a key 1
(shown in Figure 1).
[0040] Referring to Figure 7, shown is a perspective view of the motor
mount assembly
30 having the retaining seal member 50 and the shaft coupler 32 disposed
therein. Figure 4
further illustrates an end view of the motor mount assembly 30 of Figures 1
and 2, the retaining
seal member 50 and the shaft coupler 32 disposed therein, in accordance with
one embodiment.
Figure 4 illustrates the motor mount assembly 30 from the end that is
configured to be coupled to
a motor. It is noted, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in Figure
4 that the seal 34
(discussed with reference to Figure 2) is not visible from this view, as it is
recessed into one end
of the shaft coupler 32 and configured to surround the shaft 12 at the end of
the motor mount
assembly 30 for attachment to the motor.
[0041] Figure 9 illustrates a side view of the direct drive assembly of
Figure 2 connected
to a pump assembly (e.g. pump body 22) and a hydraulic motor 504, in
accordance with one
embodiment. Figure 9 illustrates the assembled view of the direct drive
assembly 20 comprising
the motor mount body 500 and the flange 570 for coupling to the endplate 18 of
the pump body
22. Figure 9 further illustrates the motor mount flange 502 for coupling to
the hydraulic motor
504. Additionally, there is illustrated the RPM port 606 for allowing
verification of the motor
speed.
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[0042] Figures 4, 7 and 11 further illustrate the motor mount assembly 30
and its interior
having disposed therein the retaining seal member 50 (disposed between an
exterior surface of
the shaft coupler 32 and an interior surface 702 of the body 500). Figures 2,
6, and 8 illustrate a
second lip seal 34 for being disposed on an interior surface of the shaft
coupler 32 between the
shaft coupler 32 and an exterior surface of the shaft 12 for sealing the shaft
12 exterior relative to
the shaft coupler 32. Therefore, the second seal 34 seals between the exterior
of the shaft 12 and
the interior of the shaft coupler 32. The seal 28 (illustrated in Figures 2,
6, and 8) and located on
the retaining seal member 50 is configured to seal between the exterior of the
shaft coupler 32
and the interior surface 702 of the motor mount body 500. Figure 7 further
illustrates the oil
aperture 506 for receiving the lubricant oil to be maintained within the body
500 on an interior of
the retaining seal member 50 near the connection components 604 for connecting
to the
corresponding endplate 18 (e.g. shown in Figure 5 and 8).
[0043] Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the double seal holder 38 and a
shaft coupler
32 of the direct drive assembly of Figure 2 when installed on a pump shaft 12.
[0044] Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of the direct drive
assembly 20 when
assembled on the endplate 18 of the pump of Figures 1 or 8. Figure 11 is shown
from an open
and unassembled end of the direct drive assembly 20 configured for assembly to
a motor (not
shown).
[0045] In one example, the direct drive assembly 20 and internal sealing
components
(e.g. retaining seal member 50, first seal 28, second seal 34, third seal 42,
fourth seal 44, double
seal holder 38), as shown in Figure 2, cooperate allow the use of a shaft 12
(e.g. as illustrated in
Figures 6, 8, and 10) that is shorter, and more compact than known pump shafts
(e.g. shorter by
up to 10" than existing shafts).
[0046] It will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that
the pump body
22 and the interior components described herein are exemplary and that changes
may be made to
one or more components (e.g. bearings or gears held within the pump body 22)
to accommodate
different configurations without affecting the scope of the disclosure herein.
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[0047] Although
various embodiments have been described in the disclosure herein, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that further variations may be
made without
departing from the scope of the appended claims.
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