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US 7,575,413 B2Granted
Abrasion resistant pump thrust bearing
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsRyan P. Semple, Robert C. DeLong, Christopher Brunner, Arturo L. Poretti, Terry W. Shafer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A centrifugal pump has a stationary diffuser with a bore. A thrust bearing has a tubular portion that inserts into the bore. The thrust bearing has an external shoulder that contacts a support surface in the bore of the diffuser for transmitting downward thrust from an upstream impeller to the diffuser. The thrust bearing has an internal shoulder for transmitting upward thrust from a downstream impeller to the diffuser.
Claims18
A centrifugal pump, comprising:
- a stationary diffuser having a bore with a support shoulder formed therein;
- a stationary thrust bearing having a tubular portion inserted into the bore of the diffuser;
- an upstream facing external shoulder on the tubular portion that contacts the support shoulder in the diffuser to transfer downward thrust from a downstream impeller to the diffuser;
- an upstream facing internal shoulder on the tubular portion to transfer upward thrust from an upstream impeller to the diffuser;
- and
- a thrust runner having a downstream end for engagement with the downstream impeller and an upstream end that rotatably engages a downstream end of the thrust bearing, the upstream end of the thrust runner having a radial width substantially equal to a difference between an outer radius of the external shoulder less an inner radius of the internal shoulder.
3 more elements
A centrifugal pump, comprising:
- a stationary diffuser having a bore with a support shoulder formed therein;
- a stationary thrust bearing secured to the diffuser, the thrust bearing having a tubular portion with a downstream end that has a generally I-shaped cross-section, defining an upstream facing external shoulder extending radially outward from the tubular portion and an upstream facing internal shoulder extending radially inward from the tubular portion;
- a downstream facing thrust face on a downstream end of the thrust bearing, the thrust face having a radial width substantially equal to a difference between an outer radius of the external shoulder less an inner radius of the internal shoulder;
- a thrust runner that rotatably engages the thrust face of the thrust bearing for transmitting downward thrust from an upstream impeller to the thrust bearing;
- the external shoulder contacting the support shoulder in the bore of the diffuser for transmitting the downward thrust from the thrust runner to the diffuser, and
- the internal shoulder being positioned for transmitting upward thrust from an upstream impeller to the diffuser.
3 more elements
A centrifugal pump, comprising:
- a stationary diffuser having a bore;
- an upstream impeller in rotatable engagement with an upstream portion of the diffuser, and a downstream impeller in rotatable engagement with a downstream portion of the diffuser, each of the impellers having a central hub containing a bore;
- a shaft extending through the bores of the diffuser and impellers for rotating the impellers;
- a support shoulder in the bore of the diffuser;
- a thrust bearing having a tubular base that is secured stationarily within the bore of the diffuser;
- an upstream facing external shoulder extending externally from the base of the thrust bearing that contacts and is supported by the support shoulder in the diffuser for transmitting downward thrust imposed on the thrust bearing to the diffuser;
- an upstream facing internal shoulder extending internally from the base of the thrust bearing;
- a sleeve extending within the base between the hub of the upstream impeller and the internal shoulder in the thrust bearing for transmitting upward thrust from the upstream impeller to the thrust bearing and the diffuser;
- a thrust face on a downstream end of the thrust bearing;
- and
- a thrust runner carried on the shaft and extending between the hub of the downstream impeller and the thrust face of the thrust bearing for axial movement relative to the shaft and rotational movement therewith for transmitting downward thrust from the upstream impeller to the thrust bearing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.