Flow divider with plural metering gears, unrestrained spacers there-between and lubricated end roller bearings

Claim 1

In a flow divider for dividing the flow of a common fluid, the improvement comprising: first and second continuous gear shafts, each shaft carrying a plurality of metering gears rigidly fixed to the shaft for rendering the metering gears immovable in the axial direction relative to the shaft, the metering gears on each shaft mating with corresponding gears on the other shaft and forming mating gear sets; a main housing including a bore for enclosing said shafts and gears, said housing including first and second halves which close over said metering gears; a plurality of spacers axially positioned between adjacent gear sets and free to move in the axial direction in the bore of said housing while being in fluid sealing arrangement with said shaft; a common fluid input connected to said housing and adapted to supply said common fluid to said metering gears; a plurality of fluid outlets connected to said housing and adapted to supply a metered amount of said common fluid from each of said metering gears; first and second bearing housings abutting each end of said main housing, said bearing housings including respective roller bearings supporting each end of each said gear shafts, the bearings in said first housing being fixed in an axial location relative to said shafts and the bearings in said second housing being free to move axially therein; and means for lubricating each of said roller bearings, said means for lubricating being isolated from said common fluid being metered, whereby said flow divider is characterized by its ability to withstand sudden thermal excursions in temperature of the common fluid without experiencing binding or seizing of said gear shafts or said roller bearings.