Dynamoelectric machine lubrication system and method of assembling the same

In a dynamoelectric machine having a stator assembly, a rotor assembly including a shaft, and at least one bearing and lubrication system, the improvement wherein the at least one bearing and lubrication system includes an axially extending bearing having a lubricant feed window, a notch at at least one end thereof, and a circumferentially extending capillary wall which is interrupted by the notch and which establishes a circumferentially extending oil capillary passage at at least one end of the bearing about the shaft while it is accommodated in the bearing;

• and oil wicking means that includes a feeding tab disposed in the lubricant feed window, and a pick-up tip disposed in the notch and in oil capillary communication with the ends of the circumferentially extending oil capillary passage, said pick-up tip being in oil feeding communication with the feeding tab and in oil absorbing relation with the circumferentially extending oil capillary passage whereby leakage oil from the notched end of the bearing is recirculated through the pick-up tip to the feeding tab.

A dynamoelectric machine bearing and lubrication system comprising:

• a bearing mounting hub structure having at least one reoiling passage therein, an axially extending bearing supported by the hub structure and having a lubricant feed window and circumferentially extending capillary walls that establish circumferentially extending capillary passages at each end of the bearing about a shaft accommodate in the bearing;
• and oil wicking means that includes a feeding tab disposed in the lubricant feed window, a first pick-up tip disposed in oil absorbing communication with the capillary passage at one end of the bearing, and a second pick-up tip disposed in oil absorbing communication with the capillary passage at the other end of the bearing, said first pick-up tip and second pick up tip each being in oil feeding communication with the feeding tab and in oil absorbing relation with the circumferentially extending capillary passages whereby end leakage oil from the bearing is recirculated through the pick-up tips to the feeding tab;
• and said wicking means being contoured and shaped so that an air pocket is defined between said wicking means and the entrance of the re-oiling passage in the hub structure so that oil added through the re-oiling passage may accumulate in the air pocket and be absorbed directly by the wicking means.

A dynamoelectric machine bearing and lubrication system comprising:

• a bearing mounting hub structure, an axially extending bearing supported by the hub structure and having a lubricant feed window and circumferentially extending capillary walls that establish circumferentially extending capillary passages at each end of the bearing about a shaft accommodated in the bearing;
• and oil wicking means that includes a feeding tab disposed in the lubricant feed window, a first pick-up tip disposed in oil absorbing communication with the capillary passage at one end of the bearing, and a second pick-up tip disposed in oil absorbing communication with the capillary passage at the other end of the bearing, said first pick-up tip and second pick-up tip each being in oil feeding communication with the feeding tab and in oil absorbing relation with the circumferentially extending capillary passage whereby end leakage oil from the bearing is recirculated through the pick-up tip to the feeding tab;
• said system further comprising an oil absorbent mass that establishes a reservoir of oil, and also further comprising barrier means for limiting the feeding of oil directly to the feeding tab from the oil absorbent mass.

A method of assembling parts of a bearing system for a dynamoelectric machine having an end frame with a centrally located sleeve bearing accommodating hub with a frustro-conical end face, a bearing accommodating bore, and four post projecting axially from edges of such face, a flat spring steel thrust plate having four flatted corners and also having notches formed in at least two opposite edges thereof and a shaft accommodating hole in the central portion thereof, a cover having at least one circumferentially extending round inner wall, a sleeve bearing having a round axially extending bore, and wherein the end frame has a cylindrical external surface concentric with the bearing bore when the bearing is accommodated in the bearing accommodating bore;

• the method comprising:
• loosely fitting the thrust plate adjacent to the frusto-conical surface by interfitting the at least two notches with at least two of the posts;
• pressing the cover onto the cylindrical external surface of the end frame, and closely accommodating the four flatted corners of the thrust plate within the round inner wall of the cover, and thereby positioning the shaft accommodating hole of the thrust plate in concentric relation with the axially extending bore of the bearing.

A method of assembling a three-tailed lubricant feed wick having a nose projecting axially from one end thereof and three tabs extending laterally therefrom with a bearing having notches at axial ends thereof and a lubricant feed window in the central portion thereof and wherein the bearing is supported by a central hub structure of a dynamoelectric machine, the method comprising:

• moving the wick axially relative to the bearing with the nose moving past a first end notch in the bearing and a first tail of the wick moving axially past the first end notch, tilting the wick laterally relative to the bearing so as to raise a centrally located tail out of interfering relation with the end of the bearing and continuing to move the wick axially relative to the bearing so that centrally located tail approaches the feed window, and impinging a lateral portion of the nose against a portion of the hub structure, and continuing to move the wick in the same relative axial direction and thereby seating the centrally located tail in the bearing windown, a trailing tail in one end notch of the bearing, and camming the nose of the wick toward the center of the bearing and thereby seating the first wick tail at the nose end of the wick in the other bearing notch.