Seal arrangement for an electric motor
AssigneeReliance Electric Technologies, LLC
InventorsWilliam L. Subler, Harvey A. Trickel, T. Wayne Paschall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique is provided for sealing a bearing cavity in a rotating machine such as an electric motor. The bearing cavity is defined by annular elements on either side of an antifriction bearing set. Seals are provided on the sides of the bearing cavity and are secured to a support structure, such as the motor housing, and include elements which ride against the rotating shaft during operation. The seals exert a sealing force against the rotating element which results at least partially from internal pressure within the bearing cavity provided by a pressurized lubricant stream. The lubricant stream is provided in the form of an airborne oil mist.
Claims17
A method for sealing a bearing within a bearing cavity formed by a support structure and a rotating member, the method comprising:
- (a) providing first and second seals on respective first and second sides of the bearing cavity, each seal extending between the support structure and the rotating member to seal the first and second sides of the bearing cavity while allowing relative motion of the rotating member with respect to the support structure, each seal including a support portion and a sealing portion, each support portion having an opening in fluid communication with a pressure application region of the respective sealing portion the seal being configured to form and retain a thin lubricant film between the sealing portion and the rotating member during operation;
- (b) directing a flow of airborne pressurized lubricant into the bearing cavity to urge the sealing portion of each seal into a sealing position due to pressure exerted on the respective pressure application region via the respective opening;
- and
- (c) forming and retaining the thin lubricant film.
A method for sealing a bearing within a bearing cavity of an electric motor, the motor having a rotor disposed within a housing, the bearing being disposed at an end of the housing to support the rotor, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first seal on a first side of the bearing cavity, the first seal having a first support portion and a first riding portion, the first support portion having a first opening in fluid communication with the first riding portion, the first riding portion extending toward the bearing and being configured to contact the rotor and to form and retain a thin lubricant film between the first riding portion and the rotor during operation;
- (b) providing a second seal on a second side of the bearing cavity, the second seal having a second support portion and a second riding portion, the second support portion having a second opening in fluid communication with second riding portion, the second riding portion extending toward the bearing and being configured to contact the rotor and to form and retain a thin lubricant film between the second riding portion and the rotor during operation;
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- (c) applying a pressurized lubricant to the bearing cavity and through the first and second openings to urge the first and second riding portions into contact with the rotor and to form the thin lubricant films.
A method for sealing bearings of an electric motor, the motor having a rotor disposed within a housing, and first and second bearing sets supporting the rotor in rotation, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing first and second seals on sides of each of the first and second bearing sets to enclose first and second bearing cavities, respectively, each of the first and second seals having a support portion and a riding portion, the support portions including respective openings in fluid communication with the riding portions, the riding portions extending toward the respective bearing set, each riding portion being configured to form and retain a thin lubricant film between the respective riding portion and the rotor;
- (b) providing a stream of pressurized lubricant in each of the first and second bearing cavities the stream penetrating through the openings to the riding portions;
- and
- (c) sealing the bearing cavities by urging the riding portions toward the rotor under the influence of the pressurized lubricant and by forming and retaining the thin lubricant films between the riding portions and the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.