Combination Drives

Advantages

Installing Combination drives

A Combination Drive is known for complete reliability and for such operations that require complete reliability Combination Drives are the number one choice.

Combination gear drives give the users the leverage of operating pumping system with two alternate power sources. In case of a power failure or for example say a motor failure, the drive can be converted simply for an engine or turbine operation. Though the combination drives can come in with solid or hollow shafts, normally a hollow shaft (vertical) electric motor is mounted on top of combination gear drives. Between an electric motor and gear drive, a coupling is positioned on the pump head shaft. The function of the coupling is for disconnecting the gear drive from the system in case of electric motor operating the pump. It is on the design of the coupling that the change over system from electric to engine power is automatic or manual.

Advantages of Combination Drives

• Flexibility of Operation : In combination drives, as the engine is activated to power the pump, the coupling rotates the electric motor and pump treating it as one. The electric motor carries the thrust of the pump, as the pump adjusting nut is placed at the top of electric motor. This gives the Combination gear drives the flexibility to function with or even without thrust from the pump.
  
  
• Special Design : In combination gear drives the automatic or manual couplings have an unique design. This design allows maintaining the pump head shaft alignment centered under all types of operating conditions. Thus there is elimination of the problems of pump head shaft whip and vibration.
  
  

Installing of Combination drives

1. The gear drive is to be placed on the pump discharge head. It is then to be aligned with engine. It is vital to secure it properly with bolts of correct size.
   
   
2. The motor stand guard is to be removed from the motor stand (please refer image).
   
   
3. Screws holding the drive sleeve cover is to be removed to drive sleeve (please refer image).
   
   
4. The drive sleeve cover is to be lifted with sliding clutch, bearing bushing and also steady bearing, off the gear drive. If it is equipped with non-reverse pins, it will remain in the drive sleeve. However the non-reverse pins are to be removed from the drive sleeve if there is no need for non-reverse feature in the gear drive.
   
   
5. The drive sleeve cover needs to be fitted carefully with the bearing bushing, steady bearing and also the sliding clutch found on the headshaft. The sliding clutch as well as the bearing bushing should be made to slide freely on the headshaft.
   
   
6. Then the gib keys are to be fitted properly in the bearing bushing and the sliding clutch.
   
   
7. With the installation of the combination clutch components the head shaft should be slided through the gear drive. Attention is to be given so that the oil tube is not hit, that is placed on the bottom of the gear drive, at the end of shaft.
   
   
8. The top shaft and the pump shaft is to be coupled. While installing the electric motor, the motor manufacturer's instructions needs to be followed.
   
   
9. At this juncture two things are to be given attention(a) the combination clutch components should remain to slide freely on the headshaft (b)There should be plenty of keyway length in the headshaft for providing a full depth keyway under both the gib keys.
   
   
10. The drive sleeve cover is then to be aligned on the drive sleeve (please refer image) and the cap screws to be tightened alternately. This is done to make sure the drive sleeve cover is pulled in the downward direction squarely.
    
    
11. Then the sliding clutch is to be slided into a position as illustrated with the safety pins installed. Next the set screws is to be tightened over the safety pin as well as the gib key located in the sliding clutch.
    
    
12. Finally the guard in the motor stand needs to be installed.