Lubrication system for a bearing
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsMark Stephen Henry, Steven Robert Wellborn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lubrication system is provided for use with a bearing including an outer race, an inner race, and bearing elements disposed therebetween. Rotation of the bearing and a shaft journaled thereby induces air movement having a first air velocity and a path adjacent the bearing. The lubrication system includes a structure providing a passageway through which a lubricant entrained in gas is delivered at a second velocity to the bearing. The lubrication system further includes a flow modifier disposed relative to the bearing and the structure to modify the first air velocity to promote movement of the lubricant into the bearing.
Claims29
A lubrication system for use with a bearing comprising an outer race, an inner race, and bearing elements disposed therebetween, the bearing defining a central axis, rotation of the bearing and a shaft journaled thereby inducing air movement having a first air velocity and a path adjacent the bearing, the lubrication system comprising:
- a structure providing a passageway through which a lubricant entrained in gas is delivered at a second velocity to the bearing,
- a flow modifier disposed relative to the bearing and the structure to modify the first air velocity to promote movement of the lubricant into the bearing, and
- wherein the flow modifier includes a screen structure to inhibit the induced air movement, thereby reducing the first air velocity.
A lubrication system for use with a bearing comprising an outer race, an inner race, and bearing elements disposed therebetween, the bearing defining a central axis, rotation of the bearing and a shaft journaled thereby inducing air movement having a first circumferential air velocity in a path adjacent the bearing, the lubrication system comprising:
- a structure providing a passageway through which a lubricant entrained in gas is delivered at a second velocity to the bearing, and
- a mechanical flow modifier disposed in the path adjacent to the bearing to reduce the first circumferential air velocity in the path to promote movement of the lubricant into the bearing.
An apparatus comprising:
- a shaft configured to rotate about a central axis,
- a bearing including an outer race, an inner race, and bearing elements disposed in a space between the outer and inner races, rotation of the bearing and the shaft journaled thereby about the central axis inducing air movement having a first circumferential air velocity in a path adjacent the bearing, and
- a nozzle disposed to dispense a lubricant entrained in gas at a second velocity into the space between the outer and inner races, and
- a mechanical flow modifier disposed in the path adjacent to the bearing to reduce the first circumferential air velocity in the path relative to the second velocity to promote movement of the gas-entrained lubricant into the bearing for lubrication of the bearing.
An apparatus comprising:
- a shaft configured to rotate about a central axis,
- a bearing including an outer race, an inner race, and bearing elements disposed in a space between the outer and inner races, rotation of the bearing and the shaft journaled thereby about the central axis inducing air movement having a first air velocity and a path adjacent the bearing,
- a nozzle disposed to dispense a lubricant entrained in gas at a second velocity into the space between the outer and inner races,
- a flow modifier disposed relative to the bearing and the nozzle to modify the first air velocity relative to the second velocity to promote movement of the gas-entrained lubricant into the bearing for lubrication of the bearing, and
- wherein the flow modifier includes a screen structure that inhibits the induced air movement.
An apparatus comprising:
- a shaft configured to rotate about a central axis,
- a bearing including an outer race, an inner race, and bearing elements disposed in a space between the outer and inner races, rotation of the bearing and the shaft journaled thereby about the central axis inducing air movement having a first air velocity and a path adjacent the bearing,
- a nozzle disposed to dispense a lubricant entrained in gas at a second velocity into the space between the outer and inner races,
- a flow modifier disposed relative to the bearing and the nozzle to modify the first air velocity relative to the second velocity to promote movement of the gas-entrained lubricant into the bearing for lubrication of the bearing, and
- wherein the flow modifier includes first baffles arranged in series about the central axis in the path of the induced air movement.
An apparatus comprising:
- a shaft configured to rotate about a central axis,
- a bearing disposed about the central axis and including an outer race, an inner race coupled to the shaft and cooperating with the outer race to form a first space therebetween, and bearing elements disposed in the first space to permit rotation of the inner race relative to the outer race about the central axis, rotation of the bearing and the shaft about the central axis inducing air movement having a first air velocity and a path adjacent the bearing,
- lubricant dispensers spaced apart about the central axis, each lubricant dispenser being configured to include a passageway through which lubricant entrained in air flows and an outlet spaced apart from the bearing to define a second space therebetween and to dispense the air-entrained lubricant at a second velocity from the outlet into the second space toward the inner race, and
- a screen structure including first baffles arranged in series about the central axis and pairs of second baffles, each pair of second baffles being coupled to one of the first baffles and forming a third space, each of the outlets being disposed in one of the third spaces so that the air-entrained lubricant dispensed from the outlets reaches the inner race to lubricate the bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.