Gear pumps, also known as thickener pumps, are divided into two types: internal gear and external gear. The way the gears mesh in these two types of pumps is different.
Internal gear pump
In the internal gear type, a smaller gear meshes internally and eccentrically with a larger gear. The larger gear acts as the rotor or drive shaft, and the smaller gear is driven in a freewheeling manner by the rotation of the rotor. As the larger gear rotates, fluid enters the pump from the suction side and is placed in the space between the two gears. As the larger and smaller gears rotate, the fluid trapped in this space flows.
External gear pump
In the external gear type, the two gears are usually the same size and mesh with each other from the outside. In this type of pump, one of the gears is connected to the drive shaft and, as the drive, rotates the other gear, which is called the driven gear. As the rotor and the drive gear rotate, the driven gear also moves and the fluid enters the pump from the suction side and flows through the space between the gear and the inner wall of the chamber and finally exits the pump discharge side.
Gear pump components
The main components of a gear pump include:
- Body or shell
- Driven and driven gear set
- Bearing
- Cap
- Watertight
