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US 12,492,781 B2Granted
Grease inhibitor
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorThomas F. Janecek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grease inhibitor is disposed about a rotating shaft of an electric machine. The grease inhibitor is configured to inhibit flow of grease towards electromagnetic components of the electric machine along the shaft. The grease inhibitor includes an inner member that rotates with the shaft and that interfaces with a static component to form the grease inhibiting interface.
Claims16
A grease inhibitor comprising:
- a vertically orientated shaft configured to rotate on an axis;
- an inner member configured to rotate with the shaft, the inner member having a cylindrical outer surface and at least one groove formed on the cylindrical outer surface;
- and
- an outer ring within which the at least one groove rotates to one or both of pump grease up in a first axial direction along an annular interface between the outer ring and the cylindrical outer surface and prevent the grease from leaking downward in a second axial direction along the annular interface, wherein the outer ring is spaced radially from the cylindrical outer surface;
- wherein the at least one groove comprises:
- a first groove extending in a first circumferential direction about the axis;
- and
- a second groove extending in a second circumferential direction about the axis opposite the first circumferential direction, the second groove intersecting the first groove.
5 more elements
A grease inhibitor comprising:
- a vertically orientated shaft configured to rotate on an axis;
- an inner member configured to rotate with the shaft, the inner member having a cylindrical outer surface and at least one groove formed on the cylindrical outer surface;
- and
- an outer ring within which the at least one groove rotates to one or both of pump grease up in a first axial direction along an annular interface between the outer ring and the cylindrical outer surface and prevent the grease from leaking downward in a second axial direction along the annular interface, wherein the outer ring is spaced radially from the cylindrical outer surface;
- wherein the at least one groove comprises:
- an upper lip;
- an upper surface extending into a body of the grease inhibitor from the upper lip, the upper surface extending to the base of the groove;
- a lower lip;
- and
- a lower surface extending into the body of the grease inhibitor from the lower lip, the lower surface extending to the base of the groove;
- wherein the upper surface extends a greater axial distance from the base than the lower surface.
8 more elements
A grease inhibitor comprising:
- a vertically orientated shaft configured to rotate on an axis;
- an inner member configured to rotate with the shaft;
- an outer ring within which the shaft rotates;
- and
- a dynamic ring seal mounted on the outer ring, the dynamic ring seal extending inward to overlap with the inner member, the inner member rotating relative to the dynamic seal, the dynamic ring seal including a cantilevered portion extending inward towards the axis and over an annular shelf of the inner member, the ring seal disposed such that the ring seal is normally in a disengaged state in which the cantilevered portion is spaced from the shelf;
- wherein the dynamic ring seal is configured to bend to engage the inner round member in response to increased grease pressure, the increased grease pressure pushing grease against the dynamic seal ring to flex the dynamic ring seal against the inner member to inhibit migration of grease along the vertically oriented shaft.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.