GEAR PUMP WITH SPRING RETAINER FOR BEARING PLATE

A gear pump includes a pair of gears (24, 26) having meshed teeth. One of the gears (24, 26) is configured for connection to a source of drive. The gears (24, 26) are received within a housing. The housing has an inlet port configured for connection to a source of fluid and an outlet port. Each of the gears (24, 26) have a shaft rotating within the housing on a bearing (30) on each axial side of each gear. At least one of the bearings associated with each of the pair of gears (24, 26) has a plurality of springs received in recesses to bias the said at least one bearing (30) against an end face of a respective one of the pair of gears (24, 26). A retention plate holds each of the plurality springs. A method of assembly is also disclosed.