Bearing assembly with internal prime-retaining pressurized lubrication system

A bearing assembly comprising:

• a bearing housing;
• a support bearing installed in the bearing housing and configured to radially support a horizontal, rotatable shaft;
• and
• a lubrication system comprising:
• a sump formed in a lower section of the bearing housing, the sump being configured to contain a lubricating liquid;
• a plurality of lubricating liquid passages formed in the bearing housing;
• and
• a lubricating rotor installed in the bearing housing above the sump and configured to be rotated by the shaft, the lubricating rotor, in combination with the lubricating liquid passages, being configured to draw the lubricating liquid from the sump, pressurize the lubricating liquid, and direct the pressurized lubricating liquid to the support bearing;
• wherein the lubricating liquid passages comprise:
• a suction passage configured to direct the lubricating liquid at ambient pressure from the sump to the lubricating rotor;
• a vertically downward or downward-sloping passage having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area, the vertically downward or downward-sloping passage being configured to receive the pressurized lubricating liquid from the lubricating rotor;
• and
• a charge-retaining section extending substantially horizontally from the vertically downward or downward-sloping passage to a lubrication delivery passage proximate the support bearing, the lubrication delivery passage providing liquid access from the charge-retaining section to the support bearing via a vertically upward or upwardly sloping segment, the vertically upward or upwardly sloping segment being substantially uniform in cross-sectional area and the charge-retaining section being thereby configured to retain a charge of the lubricating liquid when the lubricating rotor is not rotating.