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Gear pump
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<p>A gear pump uses the meshing of <a href="/facts/Gear/9KVHRfUR">gears</a> to <a href="/facts/Pump/UtMn3Btt">pump</a> fluid by displacement. They are one of the most common types of pumps for <a href="/facts/Hydraulic_machinery/4GeHHaKb">hydraulic fluid power</a> applications. The gear pump was invented around 1600 by <a href="/facts/Johannes_Kepler/wk6GTN3C">Johannes Kepler</a>. </p><p>Gear pumps are also widely used in chemical installations to pump high-<a href="/facts/Viscosity/QLVfrdCz">viscosity</a> fluids. There are two main variations: <i>external gear pumps</i> which use two external spur gears, and <i>internal gear pumps</i> which use an external and an internal spur gear (internal spur gear teeth face inwards, see below). Gear pumps provide <a href="/facts/Positive_displacement_pump/UtMn3Btt"><i>positive displacement</i></a> (or <i>fixed displacement</i>), meaning they pump a constant amount of fluid for each revolution. Some gear pumps are designed to function as either a <a href="/facts/Hydraulic_motor/vvF2RMGs">motor</a> or a pump. </p>