Pump system and method using planetary gear assembly

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pump system includes a motor-to-pump transmission having a planetary gear assembly and a clutch. In another embodiment, a pump system includes a transmission having a housing with a motor mount and a pump mount, a central gear disposed in the housing, a plurality of planet gears disposed in the housing, wherein the plurality of planet gears is disposed about and engaged with the central gear. The transmission also includes an outer ring gear disposed in the housing, wherein the outer ring gear is disposed about and engaged with the plurality of planet gears.

1 . A pump system, comprising:
 a motor-to-pump transmission, comprising:
 a planetary gear assembly; and 
 a clutch. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein planetary gear assembly comprises a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears disposed about and engaged with the sun gear, and a ring gear disposed about and engaged with the plurality of planet gears. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the ring gear is rotatable. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the clutch is engageable to change the ring gear between rotatable and fixed conditions. 
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the clutch comprises first ring-shaped clutch plates having external teeth engaged with the ring gear and second ring-shaped clutch plates having internal teeth engaged with a gear coupled to a clutch support. 
     
     
         6 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the clutch comprises a wet clutch. 
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump system is configured to be at least partially submerged. 
     
     
         8 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump system is configured to pump fluid at least partially along a generally vertical path. 
     
     
         9 . The pump system of  claim 1 , comprising a motor, a pump, or a combination thereof coupled to the motor-to-pump transmission. 
     
     
         10 . A pump system, comprising:
 a transmission, comprising:
 a housing having a motor mount and a pump mount; 
 a central gear disposed in the housing; 
 a plurality of planet gears disposed in the housing, wherein the plurality of planet gears is disposed about and engaged with the central gear; and 
 an outer ring gear disposed in the housing, wherein the outer ring gear is disposed about and engaged with the plurality of planet gears. 
   
     
     
         11 . The pump system of  claim 10 , comprising a clutch coupled to the transmission. 
     
     
         12 . The pump system of  claim 11 , wherein the clutch is disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The pump system of  claim 12 , wherein the clutch is engageable directly or indirectly with the outer ring gear. 
     
     
         14 . The pump system of  claim 13 , wherein the clutch comprises a set of clutch plates and a piston configured to compress the set of clutch plates between opposite clutch supports. 
     
     
         15 . The pump system of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission is configured to substantially decrease speed and to substantially increase torque from a small high speed motor to a pump. 
     
     
         16 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the pump system is configured to be at least partially submerged, the pump system is configured to pump fluid at least partially along a generally vertical path, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The pump system of  claim 10 , comprising a motor coupled to the transmission. 
     
     
         18 . The pump system of  claim 10 , comprising a pump coupled to the transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The pump system of  claim 10 , comprising a motor and a pump coupled to the transmission in a generally vertical pumping arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 reducing speed and increasing torque from a motor to a pump via a planetary gear assembly.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising varying engagement between the motor and the pump via a clutch.