Remanufacturing hydraulic pumps
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsUsama Awwad, Trent Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic pump can be remanufactured to save the investment in its components that are not seriously worn or failed. Some of the worn components, such as the pump barrel and yoke, can be salvaged by replacing or rebuilding the worn features. In particular, a worn internal spline on the pump barrel can be replaced by a spline insert that is threaded to the pump barrel and includes a new internal spline. A worn actuation tab on a yoke for contacting an actuating piston can be replaced by adding a new tab wear button.
Claims12
A hydraulic pump comprising:
- a barrel which rotates around a rotational axis;
- a plurality of cylinders formed in the barrel, each cylinder having a longitudinal axis formed generally parallel to the rotational axis;
- a piston positioned inside of each of the plurality of cylinders for movement relative thereto, the pistons moving back and forth in their respective cylinders to pump hydraulic fluid;
- a central opening formed in the barrel generally parallel to the rotational axis;
- a separate, annular insert received in the central bore;
- and
- splines formed on an internal surface of the insert adapted for engaging corresponding external splines formed on a drive shaft.
A method of salvaging an axial piston hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump comprising a barrel which rotates around a rotational axis, a central bore formed in the barrel generally parallel to the rotational axis, and worn splines formed on an internal surface of the central bore adapted for engaging corresponding external splines formed on a drive shaft, the method comprising:
- machining a new central bore in the barrel that substantially removes the worn splines;
- providing an insert, the insert having a second central bore having internal splines formed on an internal surface of the second central bore, the internal splines adapted for engaging external splines formed on a drive shaft;
- and
- inserting the insert into the new central bore.
A method of manufacturing and remanufacturing an axial piston hydraulic pump comprising:
- manufacturing an axial piston hydraulic pump comprising a barrel which rotates around a rotational axis, a central bore formed in the barrel generally parallel to the rotational axis, and splines formed on an internal surface of the central bore adapted for engaging external splines formed on a drive shaft;
- placing the pump in service with an end user;
- receiving the pump back from an end user after it has been in service;
- remanufacturing the pump, the remanufacturing comprising:
- removing the splines formed on the internal surface of the central bore of the barrel;
- preparing an insert having a second central bore with new splines formed on an internal surface of the second central bore, the new splines adapted for engaging the external splines formed on a drive shaft;
- and
- inserting the insert into the central bore of the barrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.