| The development of the Northern® gear pump began in the 1920’s as an outgrowth of the Pagel Pump Company into Northern Fire Apparatus Company and finally into Northern® Pump Company. With the onset of the Depression in late 1929, all business activity slowed significantly. John Hawley, owner of Northern® Pump Company, made a strategic decision to redesign the Northern® gear pump so that it could outperform other gear pumps in high pressure applications. The new pump was designed in such a way that it was easily modified to suit unique requirements imposed by customers.
The emphasis on high quality and heavy duty performance capability guided the development of the Northern® gear pump. The use of nitrided alloys allowed the pump to be used in high temperature applications, custom designed roller bearings improved pump life in high pressure applications, and the development of a proprietary bronze alloy improved both pump life and pump reliability.
In the 1950’s, the design of the Northern® pump continued to evolve. The introduction of ground gears allowed the pump to be used at higher speeds and higher pressures. Crowned rollers replaced straight rollers in the bearings to further improve the life of the pump in high pressure applications. Mechanical shaft seals began to be used to accommodate higher suction pressures. The “hydraulically balanced” drive shaft design was introduced to eliminate the axial forces imposed on the drive shaft by high suction pressure applications.
The Northern® gear pump design continues to change. The use of ceramic wear plates and tungsten carbide bearings has extended the application of the pump into abrasive applications. Improved clearance control has placed the pump into metering applications. The use of stainless steel materials has extended its use into corrosive applications.
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