Split Bearing Assemblies, Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers and Related Methods
AssigneeGreene, Tweed of Delaware, Inc.
InventorGary E. Gibson, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bearing assemblies are provided that include a bearing having a split bearing body that includes a material such as a composite or a thermoplastic; and at least one recess configured for receiving a rotary seal assembly; and at least one rotary seal assembly comprising an energizing component. The bearing assemblies may further include at least two recesses and/or an energizing component that is an o-ring.
Claims25
A bearing assembly comprising:
- (a) a bearing having:
- a split bearing body that comprises material chosen from a composite or a thermoplastic;
- and
- at least one recess configured for receiving a rotary seal assembly;
- and
- (b) at least one rotary seal assembly comprising an energizing component that comprises an elastomeric material.
A bearing assembly comprising:
- (a) a bearing having:
- a split bearing body that comprises material chosen from a composite or a thermoplastic;
- and
- at least one recess configured for receiving a split metal spring-energized seal assembly;
- and
- (b) at least one split metal spring-energized seal assembly, wherein each split metal spring-energized seal assembly comprises:
- a seal assembly body having a first seal assembly body portion and a second seal assembly body portion, the first seal assembly body portion and the second seal assembly body portion each having a generally semi-circular cross-sectional configuration when viewed in an axial direction of the bearing assembly so that when the first and the second seal assembly body portions are joined to form the seal assembly body, they also form a generally circular cross-sectional configuration in the axial direction of the bearing assembly and
- wherein the seal assembly body portions are shaped so as to define a groove within each of the first and the second seal assembly body portions, wherein the grooves in the first and the second seal assembly body portions together are configured to meet in generally facing engagement;
- a spring element configured to be received within the grooves, the spring element having an opening configured so as to receive an energizing component;
- and
- an energizing component.
A bearing assembly comprising:
- (a) a bearing having:
- a split bearing body that comprises material chosen from a composite or a thermoplastic;
- and
- at least one recess configured for receiving a split metal spring-energized seal assembly;
- and
- (b) at least one split metal spring-energized seal assembly.
A bearing assembly comprising:
- (a) a bearing having:
- a split bearing body that comprises material chosen from a composite or a thermoplastic;
- and
- at least two recesses, each configured for receiving a rotary seal assembly;
- and
- (b) at least two rotary seal assemblies that comprise an energizing component.
An air-cooled heat exchanger, comprising a bearing assembly that comprises:
- (a) a bearing having:
- a split bearing body that comprises material chosen from a composite or a thermoplastic;
- and
- at least one recess configured for receiving a rotary seal assembly;
- and
- (b) at least one rotary seal assembly that comprises an energizing component that comprises an elastomeric material.
A method of manufacturing an air-cooled heat exchanger comprising providing to the air-cooled heat exchanger a bearing assembly that comprises:
- (a) a bearing having:
- a split bearing body that comprises material chosen from a composite or a thermoplastic;
- and
- at least one recess configured for receiving a rotary seal assembly;
- and
- (b) at least one rotary seal assembly that comprises an energizing component that comprises an elastomeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.