Compact dual-section gear pump

1. A gear pump comprising: a first pump section, a second pump section, and a divider that separates the first pump section from the second pump section;

the first pump section having:

a first pump cavity having a first intake side and a first discharge side,

an inlet fluidly connected to the first intake side of the first pump cavity for ingress of fluid into the first pump cavity,

a first gear set disposed in the first pump cavity and separating the first intake side from the first discharge side, the first gear set including a first drive gear and a first idler gear that are rotatable about respective axes, wherein the first drive gear and the first idler gear are configured to be in meshing engagement with each other such that fluid is transferred around the outside of the first gear set from the first intake side to the first discharge side when in use; and

a first outlet in fluid communication with the first discharge side of the first pump cavity for enabling discharge of the fluid from the first pump cavity;

the second pump section having:

a second pump cavity having a second intake side and a second discharge side,

a second gear set disposed in the second pump cavity and separating the second intake side from the second discharge side, the second gear set including a second drive gear and a second idler gear that are rotatable about respective axes, wherein the second drive gear and the second idler gear are configured to be in meshing engagement with each other such that fluid is transferred around the outside of the second gear set from the second intake side to the second discharge side when in use; and

a second outlet in fluid communication with the second discharge side of the second pump cavity for enabling discharge of the fluid from the second pump cavity;

wherein the divider includes a fluid flow passage that fluidly connects the first pump cavity with the second pump cavity for supplying fluid to the second intake side of the second pump cavity,

wherein the first drive gear and the second drive gear are coaxially disposed on a drive shaft,

wherein the first idler gear and the second idler gear are coaxially disposed on an idler shaft,

wherein the first pump section and the second pump section together define at least a portion of a pump housing that contains the first and second gear sets,

wherein a portion of the drive shaft extends outwardly of the housing for being drivingly coupled to a motor,

wherein the pump housing is a segmented housing having a first end cover that defines the first pump cavity, and a second end cover that defines the second pump cavity,

wherein the gear pump further includes a first thrust plate disposed between the first gear set and the first end cover, the first thrust plate having one or more seals that sealingly engage against the first end cover, and

wherein the gear pump further includes a second thrust plate disposed between the first gear set and the divider, the second thrust plate having one or more seals that sealingly engage against the divider.

2. The gear pump according to claim 1 , wherein the gear pump further includes a third thrust plate disposed between the second gear set and the second end cover, the third thrust plate having one or more seals that sealingly engage against the second end cover; and

wherein the gear pump further includes a fourth thrust plate disposed between the second gear set and the divider, the fourth thrust plate having one or more seals that sealingly engage against the divider.

3. A gear pump comprising: a first pump section, a second pump section, and a divider that separates the first pump section from the second pump section;

the first pump section having:

a first pump cavity having a first intake side and a first discharge side,

an inlet fluidly connected to the first intake side of the first pump cavity for ingress of fluid into the first pump cavity,

a first gear set disposed in the first pump cavity and separating the first intake side from the first discharge side, the first gear set including a first drive gear and a first idler gear that are rotatable about respective axes, wherein the first drive gear and the first idler gear are configured to be in meshing engagement with each other such that fluid is transferred around the outside of the first gear set from the first intake side to the first discharge side when in use; and

a first outlet in fluid communication with the first discharge side of the first pump cavity for enabling discharge of the fluid from the first pump cavity;

the second pump section having:

a second pump cavity having a second intake side and a second discharge side,

a second gear set disposed in the second pump cavity and separating the second intake side from the second discharge side, the second gear set including a second drive gear and a second idler gear that are rotatable about respective axes, wherein the second drive gear and the second idler gear are configured to be in meshing engagement with each other such that fluid is transferred around the outside of the second gear set from the second intake side to the second discharge side when in use; and

a second outlet in fluid communication with the second discharge side of the second pump cavity for enabling discharge of the fluid from the second pump cavity;

wherein the divider includes a fluid flow passage that fluidly connects the first pump cavity with the second pump cavity for supplying fluid to the second intake side of the second pump cavity, and

wherein the gear pump further includes a first thrust plate disposed between the first gear set and a first side of the divider, and a second thrust plate disposed between the second gear set and a second side of the divider.

4. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein:

the first pump section forms a first pump housing segment, the second pump section forms a second pump housing segment that is discrete from the first pump housing segment, and the divider is discrete from both the first and second pump housing segments, the divider being sandwiched between respective first and second interface surfaces of the first and second pump housing segments such that the divider separates the first pump section from the second pump section;

the first pump cavity is recessed relative to the first interface surface of the first pump housing segment; and

the second pump cavity is recessed relative to the second interface surface of the second pump housing segment.

5. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid flow passage of the divider fluidly connects the first intake side of the first pump cavity with the second intake side of the second pump cavity.

6. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid flow passage is sized to minimize pressure drop across the fluid flow passage as fluid is supplied from the first pump cavity to the second pump cavity.

7. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein the first pump cavity and the second pump cavity are configured to provide the same displacement of fluid.

8. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein the first drive gear is coaxial with the second drive gear.

9. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein the first idler gear is coaxial with the second idler gear.

10. The gear pump according to claim 3 , wherein the first drive gear and the second drive gear are coaxially disposed on a drive shaft, and

wherein the first idler gear and the second idler gear are coaxially disposed on an idler shaft.

11. The gear pump according to claim 10 , wherein the first gear set and the second gear set are configured to provide the same discharge velocity of fluid.

12. The gear pump according to claim 10 , wherein the drive shaft extends through the divider, the drive shaft having a first side journaled in a first bushing disposed in the first pump housing segment, and the drive shaft having an opposite second side journaled in a second bushing disposed in the second pump housing segment.

13. The gear pump according to claim 12 , wherein the idler shaft extends through the divider, the idler shaft having a first side journaled in a third bushing disposed in the first pump housing segment, and the idler shaft having an opposite second side journaled in a fourth bushing disposed in the second pump housing segment.

14. The gear pump according to claim 13 , wherein the pump is devoid bushings between the first gear set and the divider, and is devoid of bushings between the second gear set and the divider.

15. The gear pump according to claim 10 , wherein the first drive gear is permanently fixed to and/or integral with the drive shaft, and wherein the second drive gear is removably coupled to the drive shaft.

16. The gear pump according to claim 15 , wherein the first idler gear is permanently fixed to and/or integral with the idler shaft, and wherein the second idler gear is removably coupled to the idler shaft.

17. The gear pump according to claim 10 , wherein the first pump housing segment and the second pump housing segment together define at least a portion of an overall pump housing that contains the first and second gear sets; and

wherein a portion of the drive shaft extends outwardly from a part of the overall pump housing for being drivingly coupled to a motor.

18. The gear pump according to claim 17 , wherein the portion of the drive shaft that extends outwardly from the part of the overall pump housing has a splined configuration.

19. The gear pump according to claim 17 , wherein the portion of the drive shaft extends outwardly from the first pump housing segment.

20. The gear pump according to claim 17 , wherein the first pump housing segment forms a first end cover that defines the first pump cavity as a first blind gear bore, and the second pump housing segment forms a second end cover that defines the second pump cavity as a second blind gear bore.