Quick connect pump to pump mount and drive arrangement

Abstract

An apparatus and method for pumping fluid. The apparatus includes a first pump defined by a first housing having a first primary shaft rotatably attached to a first gear set positioned internal to the first housing. The apparatus includes a second pump defined by a second housing having a second primary shaft rotatably attached to a second gear set positioned internal to the second housing. The first and second housings being connectible to one another. A shaft quick connect mechanism is provided to couple the first and second primary shafts to one another such that when the first and second pump housings are connected, the first primary shaft rotatingly drives the second primary shaft.

1 . An apparatus for pumping fluid comprising: 
 a first pump defined by a first housing having a first primary shaft rotatingly attached to a first gear set positioned internal to the first housing;    a second pump defined by a second housing having a second primary shaft rotatingly attached to a second gear set positioned internal to the first housing, the first and second housings connected to one another for preventing relative movement the first and second housings;    a shaft quick connect mechanism for coupling the first and second primary shafts to one another.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft quick connect mechanism includes a tang receiving slot formed in the first primary shaft and a tang formed in the second primary shaft, the tang being slidingly engageable with the tang receiving slot.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one threaded fastener for fixedly holding the first and second housings adjacent one another.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each gear set includes a primary gear and a secondary gear meshed with one another.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a secondary shaft connected to each secondary gear.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one bearing support positioned in each housing for rotatably supporting a corresponding primary shaft.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one seal disposed on each primary shaft for preventing fluid from flowing between the housing and the primary shaft.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least one snap ring for retaining each seal in a corresponding housing.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each housing further comprises: 
 a forward bracket;    a pump head connectable to the forward bracket; and    an o-ring seal positioned between the forward bracket and the pump head.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a woodruff key adapted to connect the first primary shaft to a power source.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the power source is an electric motor operable for driving both of the first and second pumps.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a bore and the second housing includes a protruding hub, the hub of second housing being mountable within the bore of the first housing.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a set screw positioned in the first housing operable for lockingly engaging the hub of the second housing.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each housing further comprises: 
 at least one fluid inlet port; and    at least one fluid outlet port.    
   
   
       15 . A pump apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of pump housings coupled to one another;    a plurality of primary shafts having first and second ends positioned internal to the housings;    a gear set disposed in each housing driven by the primary shaft in the corresponding housing; and    a shaft quick connect mechanism for coupling the primary shafts of each pump to one another.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the shaft quick connect mechanism includes a tang formed in the first end of each primary shaft and a tang receiving slot formed in the second end of each primary shaft, the tang in one primary shaft being slidingly engageable with the tang receiving slot of an adjacent primary shaft.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 at least one threaded fastener for fixedly holding the plurality of pump housings together.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each gear set includes a primary gear and a secondary gear meshed with one another.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a secondary shaft connected to each secondary gear.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 at least one bearing support positioned in each housing for rotatably supporting a corresponding shaft.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 at least one seal disposed on each primary shaft for preventing fluid from flowing between the housing and the primary shaft.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 at least one snap ring for retaining each seal in a corresponding housing.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each housing further comprises: 
 a forward bracket;    a pump head connectable to the forward bracket; and    an o-ring seal positioned between the forward bracket and the pump head.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a woodruff key adapted to connect one primary shaft to a power source.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the power source is an electric motor operable for driving the plurality of pumps.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a recessed bore area formed on one end of a first housing connected to the power source;    a recessed bore area formed on one end and a protruding hub formed on an opposing end of intermediate housings;    a protruding hub formed on the last housing of the plurality of housings, the hubs of the housings being mountable within the recessed bore areas of each adjoining housing such that the first housing, intermediate housings, and last housing are connectable to one another.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a threaded fastener for threadingly engaging through the bore area of one housing and adapted to lockingly engage the hub of an adjoining housing.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each housing further comprises: 
 at least one fluid inlet port; and    at least one fluid outlet port.    
   
   
       29 . A method of pumping a plurality of discreet fluids with a pumping apparatus comprising the steps of: 
 providing a primary shaft formed with a quick connect mechanism in a plurality of pump housings;    joining the plurality of pump housings together;    coupling the primary shafts of the pump housings to one another by sliding a tang formed in one end of each shaft into a tang receiving slot formed in an adjacent shaft;    connecting a power source to one drive shaft;    driving the plurality of pump units with the power source; and    pumping the discreet fluids from one location to another.