Pump mounted thrust bearing
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorRobert De Long
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thrust bearing assembly for a surface mounted centrifugal pump utilizes the pump liquid for lubrication of a thrust bearing and radial bearings. The thrust bearing mounts to the rearward end of the intake chamber. A communication passage extends between the thrust chamber and the intake chamber. A circulation tube leads from the intake chamber to the rearward end of the thrust chamber. A portion of the water being delivered to the intake chamber is diverted through the circulation tube, where it circulates through the thrust bearing and back to the intake of the pump. The shaft passes through the thrust chamber to an electrical motor. A mechanical seal seals the shaft at the rearward end of the thrust chamber.
Claims19
An apparatus for absorbing thrust created by a centrifugal pump which has an intake on one end and a discharge on another end, comprising:
- an intake chamber adapted to be secured to the intake of the pump;
- a thrust chamber extending from a rearward side of the intake chamber, having an annular stationary thrust bearing in said thrust chamber;
- a shaft extending through the thrust chamber and thrust bearing, having a rearward end adapted to be coupled to a motor and a forward end adapted to be coupled to the pump;
- a thrust runner mounted to the shaft in sliding engagement with the thrust bearing for absorbing thrust applied to the shaft;
- the intake chamber having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of fluid and which is located forward of the thrust chamber for supplying the fluid to the intake of the pump;
- and
- a fluid communication path between the intake chamber and the thrust chamber.
A pump assembly, comprising in combination:
- a centrifugal pump which has an intake on a rearward end and a discharge on a forward end;
- an intake chamber having a rearward end and a side wall, the side wall having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of fluid;
- the intake chamber being secured to the rearward end of the pump;
- a thrust chamber extending rearward from the rearward end of the intake chamber, having a stationary thrust bearing therein;
- a motor located rearward of the thrust chamber;
- a shaft extending through the thrust chamber, having a rearward end coupled to the motor and a forward end coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
- a thrust runner mounted to the shaft in rotary engagement with the thrust bearing for absorbing thrust applied to the shaft;
- and
- a circulation path which allows a portion of the fluid to circulate from the source through the thrust chamber and into the intake chamber for merging with the fluid being directly supplied to the intake of the pump.
A pump assembly, comprising in combination:
- a centrifugal pump which has an intake on a rearward end and a discharge on a forward end;
- an intake chamber having a forward end, a rearward end, and a side wall, the side wall having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of fluid;
- the forward end of the intake chamber being secured to the rearward end of the pump;
- a thrust chamber extending rearward from the rearward end of the intake chamber, having an annular stationary thrust bearing therein;
- a motor located rearward of the thrust chamber;
- a shaft extending through the thrust chamber and to the motor, the shaft being coupled to the pump for driving the pump;
- a thrust runner rigidly mounted to the shaft in rotary engagement with the thrust bearing for absorbing thrust applied to the shaft;
- a communication port in the rearward wall of the intake chamber leading to the thrust chamber;
- a circulation tube having an upstream end in communication with a portion of the fluid being supplied from the source and a downstream end connected to the thrust chamber;
- and
- a positive pressure source which causes flow of the fluid through the circulation tube, thrust chamber and out the communication port into the intake chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.