Reduction of cavitation in fuel pumps
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsBlair A. Smith, Steven Poteet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid gear pump gear arranged to rotate about a first axis includes a concentrically disposed first hub portion and a plurality of first teeth radially projecting and circumferentially spaced about the first hub portion, the first hub portion and the first teeth being formed of a ceramic material. The gear also includes a first shaft on which the first hub portion is carried.
Claims9
A method of reducing cavitation during fluid gear pump operation, the method comprising:
- rotating a first gear around first axis, the first gear including a concentrically disposed first hub portion and a plurality of first teeth radially projecting and circumferentially spaced about the first hub portion, wherein the first teeth are formed of a ceramic material, wherein the first hub and the first teeth are formed of a silicon-aluminum-oxygen-nitrogen (SiAlON) ceramic or partially stabilized zirconia;
- rotating a second gear coupled to the first gear about a second axis, the second gear including a concentrically disposed second hub portion and a plurality of second teeth radially projecting and circumferentially spaced about the second hub portion, wherein the plurality of first teeth engage the plurality of second teeth;
- and
- transferring fluid from a low pressure side to a high pressure side when the first gear is rotating and the second gear is rotating.
A fluid gear pump gear arranged to rotate about a first axis, the first gear pump gear comprising:
- a concentrically disposed first hub portion and a plurality of first teeth radially projecting and circumferentially spaced about the first hub portion, the first hub portion and the first teeth being formed of a ceramic material, wherein the first hub and the first teeth are formed of a silicon-aluminum-oxygen-nitrogen (SiAlON) ceramic or partially stabilized zirconia;
- and
- a first shaft on which the first hub portion is carried.
A fluid gear pump comprising:
- a first gear constructed and arranged to rotate about a first axis, the first gear including a concentrically disposed first hub portion and a plurality of first teeth radially projecting and circumferentially spaced about the first hub portion, the first hub portion and the first teeth being formed of a ceramic material;
- a second gear operably coupled to the first gear for rotation about a second axis, the second gear including a concentrically disposed second hub portion and a plurality of second teeth radially projecting and circumferentially spaced about the second hub portion;
- a first bearing abutting and coaxial to the first hub portion;
- and
- a second bearing abutting and coaxial to the second hub portion
- wherein the first hub and the first teeth are formed of a silicon-aluminum-oxygen-nitrogen (SiAlON) ceramic or partially stabilized zirconia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.