Gear pump on shaft

Abstract

A pump assembly includes a housing having a first lobe. A shaft rotates at least partially inside the housing about an axis and has an outer surface. A base member is mounted on the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft. The base member is mounted on a location of the shaft such that at least a portion of the base member is located within the first lobe. A fin protrudes generally axially from the base member. The fin is configured to extend outward from the outer surface of the shaft.

1 . A pump assembly comprising:
 a housing with a first lobe;   a shaft which rotates at least partially inside the housing about an axis and has an outer surface;   a base member mounted on the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft, wherein the base member is mounted on a location of the shaft such that at least a portion of the base member is located within the first lobe; and   a fin protruding generally axially from the base member, wherein the fin is configured to extend outward from the outer surface of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is a gear. 
     
     
         3 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is a first plate. 
     
     
         4 . The pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first plate interfaces with a gear mounted on the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The pump assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a second plate mounted on the shaft at an opposite side of the fin from the first plate. 
     
     
         6 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin protrudes perpendicular to the base member. 
     
     
         7 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin protrudes at an angle relative to the base member ranging between 0° and 90° or 90° and 180°. 
     
     
         8 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin is generally reverse-“S” shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin extends generally linearly along the base member. 
     
     
         10 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fin is curved as it extends outward along the base member. 
     
     
         11 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of additional fins fixed to the base member and configured to extend outward from the outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . A gearbox comprising:
 a gearbox housing with a first lobe;   a gear shaft which at least partially extends into and rotates within the gearbox housing about an axis and has an outer surface which is generally solid;   a seal disposed circumferentially around the gear shaft within the housing;   a base member mounted on the gear shaft so as to rotate with the gear shaft inside the gearbox housing, wherein the base member is mounted on a location of the gear shaft such that at least a portion of the base member is located within the first lobe; and   a first fin protruding generally axially from the base member, wherein the first fin is configured to extend outward from the outer surface of the gear shaft.   
     
     
         13 . The gearbox of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second fin protruding generally axially from the base member, wherein the second fin is configured to extend outward from the outer surface of the gear shaft; and   a space between the first fin and the second fin, wherein a lubricant located at the first lobe is scooped within the space and removed from the first lobe by rotation of the base member.   
     
     
         14 . The gearbox of  claim 13 , wherein the base member is a gear. 
     
     
         15 . The gearbox of  claim 13 , wherein the base member is a first plate which interfaces with a gear mounted on the gear shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The gearbox of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a main oil pump located at or near a second lobe of the gearbox housing.   
     
     
         17 . A method of pumping a lubricant, the method comprising:
 directing the lubricant to a lobe region of a housing;   rotating a shaft during operation of an engine, wherein rotating the shaft rotates a base member mounted on the shaft having a first fin and a second fin both fixed to the base member and both extending generally radially out from the shaft, wherein a space is located between the first fin and the second fin;   scooping the lubricant from the lobe region into the space between the first fin and the second fin; and   directing the lubricant from the space to an area of the housing away from the lobe region.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein directing the lubricant to an area of the housing away from the lobe region comprises directing the lubricant to a gear. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein directing the lubricant to an area of the housing away from the lobe region comprises directing the lubricant to a second lobe region with a main oil pump. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein directing the lubricant to a lobe region of the housing comprises rotating the housing.