Bracket for pump and motor assembly

Abstract

A fluid pumping system that includes a motor and a pump, wherein an output shaft of the motor is directly coupled to an input shaft of the pump. This coupling between the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the pump may be the primary mechanism for coupling the motor to the pump. Such a configuration may be called a “floating pump mount”, because the pump is primarily coupled to the motor via the shaft connection. As a result of this connection, the output shaft of the motor may be naturally “aligned” with the input shaft of the pump. To help prevent the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor during operation, a rotational stop mechanism may be provided. The rotational stop mechanism may include a bracket that extends between the motor housing and the pump housing. The bracket may be adapted to absorb at least some of any relative movement between the pump and the motor caused by, for example, shaft or coupling irregularities.

1 . A pump assembly, comprising: 
 a motor having a rotating output shaft;    a pump having a rotating input shaft;    the input shaft of the pump being directly coupled to the output shaft of the motor, the coupling between the input shaft of the pump and the output shaft of the motor preventing the pump and the motor from moving away from each other during operation; and    a bracket adapted to be resiliently mounted between the motor and the pump, the bracket having a body extending between the motor and the pump and situated around at least a majority of the coupling between the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the pump, wherein the bracket prevents the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor and the resilient mount absorbs at least some of the relative movement between the pump and the motor.    
   
   
       2 . The pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein the bracket has a first face adjacent the motor, a second face adjacent the pump, and the body extending therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The pump assembly of  claim 2  wherein the body is a tubular body that is tapered from the first face toward the second face.  
   
   
       4 . The pump assembly of  claim 3  wherein the motor includes at least one rod, bolt or pin extending out in a parallel or substantially parallel relation to the output shaft of the motor, and the first face of the bracket including at least one hole to receive the at least one rod, bolt or pin.  
   
   
       5 . The pump assembly of  claim 4  wherein at least one rod, bolt or pin includes a transverse hole extending therethrough for receiving a locking pin.  
   
   
       6 . The pump assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pump includes at least one rod, bolt or pin extending out in a parallel or substantially parallel relation to the input shaft of the pump, the second face of the bracket including at least one hole to receive the at least one rod, bolt or pin.  
   
   
       7 . The pump assembly of  claim 3  wherein the tubular body has one or more openings to facilitate access to at least a portion of the motor output shaft and/or the pump input shaft.  
   
   
       8 . The pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the bracket comprising a rubber that absorbs at least some of the relative movement between the motor and the pump.  
   
   
       9 . The pump assembly of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is adapted to be resiliently mounted by including at least one resilient member situated between the bracket and the motor and/or the bracket and the pump.  
   
   
       10 . The pump assembly of  claim 9  wherein the at least one resilient member is situated between the motor and the first face of the bracket.  
   
   
       11 . The pump assembly of  claim 9  wherein the at least one resilient member is situated between the pump and the second face of the bracket.  
   
   
       12 . The pump assembly of  claim 9  wherein the at least one resilient member is a resilient grommet.  
   
   
       13 . A pump assembly comprising: 
 a motor having a rotating output shaft; 
 a pump having an input shaft that is directly coupled to the output shaft of the motor, the coupling between the input shaft of the pump and the output shaft of the motor being the primary mechanism for preventing the pump and the motor from moving away from each other during operation; and;  
 a bracket coupled between the pump and the motor for preventing the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor, the bracket having a body extending therebetween, the body being situated around at least a major portion of the coupling between the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the pump; and at least one resilient member situated between the bracket and the motor and/or the bracket and the pump.  
   
   
   
       14 . The pump assembly of  claim 13  wherein the tubular body is tapered from the motor to the pump.  
   
   
       15 . The pump assembly of  claim 13  wherein the at least one resilient member is situated between the bracket and the motor.  
   
   
       16 . The pump assembly of  claim 15  wherein the motor includes at least one protruding member and the bracket includes at least one hole or opening for receiving the at least one protruding member, and the at least one resilient member including a grommet positioned in the hole or opening of the bracket and around at least part of the at least one protruding member of the motor.  
   
   
       17 . The pump assembly of  claim 13  wherein the at least one resilient member is situated between the bracket and the pump.  
   
   
       18 . The pump assembly of  claim 17  wherein the pump includes at least one protruding member and the bracket includes at least one hole or opening for receiving the at least one protruding member, and the at least one resilient member including a grommet positioned in the hole or opening of the bracket and around at least part of the at least one protruding member of the pump.  
   
   
       19 . A bracket for coupling a motor and a pump, wherein an output shaft of the motor is directly and rigidly coupled to an input shaft of the pump, the bracket comprising a body extending between the motor and the pump situated around at least a portion of the output shaft of the motor and/or at least a portion of the input shaft of the pump, wherein the bracket is adapted to prevent the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor, and the bracket includes a resilient mount that absorbs at least some of the relative movement between the pump and the motor.  
   
   
       20 . The bracket of  claim 19  wherein, wherein the bracket is mounted to the motor and the pump, the bracket is adapted to cover substantially all of the exposed output shaft of the motor and the exposed input shaft of the pump.  
   
   
       21 . The bracket of  claim 20  wherein the bracket includes one or more holes for providing limited access to the exposed output shaft of the motor and/or the exposed input shaft of the pump.  
   
   
       22 . The bracket of  claim 19  wherein the body includes a cone shaped portion.