Load-relieving device
AssigneeKSB Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsThomas Keller, Gerhard Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arrangement for compensating the axial thrust of a fluid-flow machine is provided. A load-relieving element is non-rotatably connected to a shaft. A flow-restrict gap is formed by the load-relieving element and a counter-element secured to a housing of the fluid-flow machine. The counter-element is provided with a device for maintaining the distance between the load-relieving element and the counter-element. The device includes at least one force-generating element that generates a force that acts in opposition to the axial thrust in order to avoid component contact.
Claims10
An arrangement for compensating the axial thrust of a fluid-flow machine, comprising:
- a rotatable shaft;
- a casing configured to receive the shaft;
- a load-relieving element configured for conjoint rotation with the shaft within the casing;
- a counter-element configured to be non-rotatably fixed to the casing, the counter element and the load-relieving element being arranged to cooperate to form a radial flow-restrictor gap therebetween;
- and
- a distance-maintaining element configured to prevent the radial flow restrictor gap between the counter element and the load-relieving element being closed, the distance-maintaining element including at least one force-generating element configured to generate a force opposed to an axial thrust created during rotation of the shaft within the casing.
A method for compensating the axial thrust of a fluid-flow machine having a rotatable shaft, a casing configured to receive the shaft a load-relieving element configured for conjoint rotation with the shaft within the casing, a counter-element configured to be non-rotatably fixed to the casing, the counter element and the load-relieving element being arranged to cooperate to form a radial flow-restrictor gap therebetween, and a distance-maintaining element configured to prevent the radial flow restrictor gap between the counter element and the load-relieving element being closed, the distance-maintaining element including at least one force-generating element configured to generate a force opposed to an axial thrust created during rotation of the shaft within the casing, comprising the acts of:
- generating a force opposing the axial thrust with the at least one force-generating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.