Direct drive reciprocating pump

Abstract

The invention includes an apparatus for pumping a fluid through a reciprocating pump. Several motors are responsible for operating the pump assembly. Each of the motors has a drive shaft. The motor drive shafts are connected to a series of drive gears. The drive gears are operably connected to a single driven gear for rotating the driven gear. The single driven gear connects with the pump assembly and drives the reciprocating pump in order to force fluid through the reciprocating pump.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for pumping a fluid, comprising: 
 a reciprocating pump;    a plurality of motors each having a motor shaft;    a plurality of drive gears, each of the drive gears being connected to one of the motor shafts; and    a driven gear connecting to the pump for driving the pump, each of the drive gears being operably connected to the driven gear for rotating the driven gear.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the driven gear has an angular velocity less than the angular velocity of the drive gears.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein U-joints are positioned at each end of the motor shafts.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump has a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein one of the motors is closer to the forward end and other of the motors are closer to the rearward end.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor shafts are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the pump.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motors are located on one side of a longitudinal centerline of the pump, and the gears are located on the opposite side of the longitudinal centerline.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump has a housing, and wherein the gears are located exterior to the housing.  
     
     
         8 . A reciprocating pump assembly, comprising: 
 a pump having a crankshaft, a connecting rod, and a piston;    a pair of electrical motors mounted side by side, each motor having a drive shaft extending perpendicular to the connecting rod;    a gear box having a pair of inputs, each input of the gearbox being connected to one of the drive shafts, the gear box having a single output operatively connected to the crankshaft.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein U-joints are positioned at each end of the drive shafts.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pump has a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein one motor is closer to the forward end and the other motor is closer to the rearward end.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the drive shafts are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the pump.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the motors are located on one side of a longitudinal centerline of the pump, and the gear box is located on the opposite side of the longitudinal centerline.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pump has a housing, and wherein the gear box is located exterior to the housing.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for pumping a fluid, comprising: 
 a reciprocating pump;    a plurality of motors each having a motor shaft, the motor shafts being parallel to each other and perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the pump.    a plurality of drive gears, each of the drive gears being connected to one of the motor shafts; and    a driven gear connecting to the pump for driving the pump, each of the drive gears being operably connected to the driven gear for rotating the driven gear, wherein the motors are located on one side of the longitudinal centerline of the pump, and the gears are located on the opposite side of the longitudinal centerline.