Dynamic control of gears in a gear pump having a drive-drive configuration

A pump system comprising:

• a pump assembly for pumping fluid that is one of a hydraulic oil or water that includes,
• a pump casing defining an interior volume,
• a first gear and a second gear disposed in the interior volume such that the first gear meshes with the second gear,
• a first motor to drive the first gear, and
• a second motor to drive the second gear;
• and
• a controller circuit that includes,
• a position adjustment circuit configured to receive a gap setpoint and a gap feedback signal corresponding to a gap width between a pair of meshing gear teeth of a first gear and a second gear, the position adjustment circuit further configured to output a gap adjustment signal corresponding to a difference between the gap setpoint and the gap feedback signal;
• and
• a motion control circuit configured to:
• provide a first speed demand signal to the first motor that drives the first gear and a second demand signal to the second motor that drives the second gear, and
• dynamically synchronize position between the pair of meshing gear teeth to control the gap width between the pair of meshing gear teeth to be within a predetermined range of the gap setpoint by adjusting at least one of the first speed demand signal or the second speed demand signal based on the gap adjustment signal for a predetermined momentary time period,
• wherein the gap width is in reference to a restriction in a backflow path and is greater than zero, and
• wherein the gap width is varied based on at least one of a temperature of the fluid, a startup sequence of the pump assembly, or a startup sequence of the pump system.

A method of controlling motors of a pump in a drive-drive configuration, the method comprising:

• providing a first speed demand signal to a first motor that drives a first gear;
• providing a second demand signal to a second motor that drives a second gear;
• receiving a gap setpoint;
• receiving a gap feedback signal corresponding to a gap width between a pair of meshing gear teeth of the first gear and the second gear;
• outputting a gap adjustment signal corresponding to a difference between the gap setpoint and the gap feedback signal;
• dynamically synchronizing position between the pair of meshing gear teeth to control the gap width between the pair of meshing gear teeth to be within a predetermined range of the gap setpoint by adjusting at least one of the first speed demand signal or the second speed demand signal based on the gap adjustment signal for a predetermined momentary time period;
• pumping a fluid that is one of a hydraulic oil or water,
• wherein the gap width is in reference to a restriction in a backflow path and is greater than zero, and
• wherein the gap width is varied based on at least one of a temperature of the fluid, a startup sequence of the pump assembly, or a startup sequence of the pump system.